SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The grammatical error is located in the third part of the sentence where the phrase was back them is used. In this context, the intended meaning is that the men were providing support. To express this correctly after the auxiliary verb was, the word back should be in its present participle form, backing, to form the past continuous tense. Alternatively, the prepositional phrase behind them could be used to indicate support. The existing construction was back them is ungrammatical because it fails to establish a proper functional relationship between the verb and its object in a way that aligns with standard English syntax for expressing support or position.

Explanation

The error lies in the second part of the sentence where the word interior is used incorrectly. Interior is primarily an adjective or a noun and cannot function as a preposition to indicate the movement of the birds. In this context, a preposition like into or inside is required to show the direction and placement of the birds within their home. The sentence should correctly read as one by one, into their or one by one, inside their.

Explanation

The verb incinerate means to destroy something completely by burning it until only ashes remain. In the context of a military assault or an enemy attack, it describes a total-destruction tactic where property, vegetation, and structures are set ablaze. This extreme level of devastation logically justifies the fear mentioned in the first part of the sentence, as it implies the enemy leaves nothing behind. The term fits the thematic requirements of a scorched-earth policy or a highly aggressive offensive where everything in the path of the advancing force is consumed by fire.

Explanation

The sentence requires a noun that denotes a way of resolving a difficult situation or answering a challenge. The word solution refers to a means of solving a problem or a way of dealing with a difficult situation. While the other terms provided are primarily used in chemical contexts to describe substances and their interactions, only solution has the established figurative meaning appropriate for addressing a national crisis or problem.

Explanation

Redundancy refers to the state of being unnecessary or superfluous, typically occurring when there is a surplus or an amount of something that exceeds what is actually required for a particular purpose. In various contexts, such as linguistics, mechanics, or data management, it denotes the presence of extra elements that provide a backup or repeat information. Excess is a direct synonym because it likewise describes a quantity or amount that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable, aligning perfectly with the concept of having more than enough.

Explanation

An inhibitor is a substance, factor, or person that restrains, hinders, or prevents a particular process or action from occurring. It acts as a block or a deterrent to the progress of an activity. Similarly, avoidance is the act of shunning or staying away from something to prevent its occurrence or to refrain from a specific engagement. In various contexts, particularly in behavioral sciences and logic, both terms align under the concept of suppression or the prevention of a response. Thus, they are similar in meaning as they both involve the act of stopping or keeping a process from proceeding.

Explanation

Bifurcate is derived from the Latin roots bi- meaning two and furca meaning fork, referring to the act of splitting or dividing something into two separate branches or parts. The word combine is its direct antonym as it means to join or merge separate entities together to form a single, unified whole. While bifurcation involves separation and division, combination signifies the process of unification and integration.

Explanation

Dissension refers to a state of strong disagreement, discord, or friction within a group, often resulting from a difference of opinion that leads to conflict. Harmony represents the state of peaceful agreement, concord, and cooperation where all parts or people are in sync. Because harmony denotes the absence of conflict and the presence of unity, it serves as the direct antonym to dissension.

Explanation

The idiom get up on the wrong side of the bed is used to describe a person who starts their day in a grumpy, irritable, or bad mood for no particular reason and continues to be unpleasant throughout the day. The phrase originated from an ancient Roman superstition that the left side of the bed was unlucky; stepping out of bed with the left foot first was thought to bring a day of bad luck and a sour disposition. In modern usage, it characterizes someone whose morning irritability negatively impacts their temperament for the rest of the day.

Explanation

The idiom learn by heart means to memorize something word-for-word so that it can be recalled or recited perfectly from memory without the need to consult written material. This process involves deep repetition and rote learning to ensure the information is retained for a long duration. Historically, the phrase originates from the ancient belief that the heart, rather than the brain, was the center of memory and intellect. In modern usage, it is commonly applied to situations where someone must commit specific text, such as a poem, script, or musical score, to their permanent memory for flawless reproduction.

Explanation

The construction started walking follows the grammatical rule where the verb start acts as the finite verb in the past tense, while walking serves as a gerund acting as its object. In English, certain verbs like start, begin, and continue are frequently followed by the -ing form of a verb to indicate the commencement or continuation of an action. This structure correctly conveys that the subject initiated the physical act of moving on foot at a specific point in time in the past without providing a verbal response.

Explanation

The modal verb must is always followed by the base form of a verb. To express a logical deduction or a state of being in the past or present completion, the structure must + have + past participle is used. In this sentence, have is the base form required by the modal, and been is the past participle of the verb to be, which correctly completes the passive or state-based construction describing the subject's condition of being overwhelmed.

Explanation

Salience refers to the quality or state of being prominent, conspicuous, or particularly noticeable relative to its surroundings. Derived from the Latin word salire, which means to leap, the term describes something that stands out or is of primary importance. In various contexts such as psychology or communication, it signifies the degree to which an object or information captures an observer's attention and remains prominent in their perception.

Explanation

The term virulent is used to describe a disease, toxin, or pathogen that is highly infectious, malignant, or lethal. It originates from the Latin word virulentus, which means poisonous. In pathology, virulence refers to the degree of damage caused by a microbe to its host, making it the most appropriate term for a poison or disease that is extremely severe or harmful in its effects.

Explanation

The correctly spelt word is "analogues," which is the plural form of "analogue," meaning things that are comparable or similar to something else. Options A, B, and D are incorrect spelling variations.

Explanation

The correct spelling is unruffled, which means calm and not easily disturbed. It is formed from the root word ruffle with the prefix un-.

Explanation

The sequence YXZ forms a grammatically and logically sound sentence: It was three o clock in the afternoon before we woke, to find our bearers preparing to return. The introductory phrase sets the time, which is immediately followed by segment Y to establish the temporal condition of waking up. The preposition to at the end of segment Y leads into the infinitive verb find in segment X, creating the phrase to find our bearers. Finally, segment Z uses a present participle phrase, preparing to return, to describe the state or action of the bearers at the moment they were discovered. This structure adheres to the standard English construction of finding someone doing something.

Explanation

The introductory phrase the first and most requires a following adjective and noun to form a complete subject. Fragment Y contains simple appearance, which fits this grammatical requirement, followed by the phrase is where to introduce a descriptive clause. Fragment X provides the beginning of this clause, stating that strata of marine origin occur above the. Finally, fragment Z completes the spatial description by identifying the level of the sea and its horizontal position. This sequence creates the logical sentence: Now the first and most simple appearance is where strata of marine origin occur above the level of the sea in horizontal position.

Explanation

The sentence is in the Active Voice and uses the Simple Past tense, as indicated by the verb read (the past tense form of read). To convert a sentence from Active to Passive Voice in the Simple Past tense, the structure follows the formula: Object + was/were + past participle (V3) + by + Subject. In this sentence, the object is the entire novel (singular), which requires the auxiliary verb was. The past participle of read is also read. Therefore, the object the entire novel becomes the subject, followed by was read, then the agent by my daughter, and the adverbial phrase in one day.

Explanation

When converting an imperative sentence from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb said to is changed to a word that reflects the tone of the sentence, such as commanded. The verb commanded is a transitive verb that takes a direct object, so it is followed immediately by the person addressed (the child) without the preposition to. For negative commands beginning with Don't, the reported speech uses the construction not followed by a to-infinitive. Consequently, Don't make is transformed into not to make. This follows the standard grammatical rule for reporting negative orders, ensuring the instruction is conveyed correctly in the indirect form.

Explanation

The text explicitly identifies the participants as snorkelers who are observing marine life through a mask. The author describes specific technical aspects of the activity, such as the necessity of breathing through the mouth instead of the nose to prevent the mask from fogging and the use of a breathing tube that remains in the mouth. The focus on viewing underwater organisms like sea cucumbers, clown fish, and sea horses from just below the surface while using this specific equipment confirms the activity is snorkelling.

Explanation

The provided text explicitly states the instructor's primary rule for snorkeling to maintain visual clarity: Breathe through your mouth, not your nose; else the mask will fog up. This instruction ensures that warm, moist exhaled air is directed through the snorkel tube rather than into the air pocket of the mask, where it would condense on the cooler lens and cause fogging. Consistent mouth breathing allows the snorkeler to view the underwater environment with high-definition clarity.

Explanation

In the passage, the narrator uses the phrase Nemo's universe to describe the vibrant and diverse environment encountered while snorkeling. This reference is immediately followed by an enumeration of various marine creatures such as sea anemones, clown fish, sea horses, and starfish. Within the context of the narrative and popular culture available at the time, Nemo refers to the famous clownfish character, making it the name of an underwater animal used here to represent the entire marine ecosystem being observed by the writer.

Explanation

The author provides an explicit list of the marine creatures and fish observed while snorkeling in the underwater world. The passage mentions sea cucumbers, sea anemone, clown fish, star fish, sea horses, parrot fish, and butterfly fish. It further describes specific groups such as a shoal of canary-yellow fish and another group of vibrant blue fish. The text does not contain any reference to vibrant green fish, making it the only item listed that was not seen by the writer.

Explanation

The author describes the awe-inspiring experience of snorkeling and the physical constraints involved in using the equipment. According to the text, the snorkelers had to consciously resist opening their mouths wide in amazement at the beauty of the marine life because the act of opening the mouth would cause the breathing tube to lose its grip and fall off.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the preposition upon in the third part of the sentence. The word upon (or on) is used to indicate that one action happens immediately after another action is completed. In this context, the lady was struck by the car during the process of moving across the street. Therefore, the conjunction while or the preposition when should be used to denote that the two actions were occurring simultaneously. The corrected sentence should read: The lady was knocked down by a speeding car while crossing the road.

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct as the subject Grandfather is followed by the appropriate past tense verb led. The phrase lead a life is a standard English idiom used to describe a person's way of living, and the use of the indefinite article a before peaceful life is correct. The prepositional phrase after his retirement from the army follows standard usage, where the definite article the is correctly used before a specific organization like the army. There are no errors in subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, or article placement.

Explanation

The word treacherous is used to describe something that is hazardous or dangerous because of hidden or unpredictable risks. In the context of driving up a mountain at night, winding roads present significant physical dangers such as sharp turns, poor visibility, and steep drops, making the journey inherently risky and unsafe. Therefore, this adjective accurately characterizes the perilous nature of the situation.

Explanation

Stupor refers to a state of near-unconsciousness, insensibility, or a daze where an individual lacks normal mental clarity and responsiveness. It is a condition of reduced consciousness often characterized by a suspension of the senses. Slumber denotes a state of sleep or dormancy, which represents a similar condition of inactivity and lack of outward awareness. In the context of vocabulary and synonyms, both words describe a state where active consciousness and alertness are diminished or absent.

Explanation

The word subtle describes something that is fine or delicate in meaning and intent, often being difficult to perceive or understand because it lacks obviousness or intensity. In a similar vein, understated refers to a style or statement that is restrained, subtle, and avoids being over-the-top or conspicuous. Both terms characterize a quality of being clever and indirect rather than being blunt or overtly noticeable. Thus, understated is the most appropriate synonym for subtle as it captures the essence of being delicately suggestive rather than obvious.

Explanation

The word sullen describes someone who is bad-tempered, gloomy, and resentfully silent or repressed. It implies a person who is difficult to engage with due to their morose or surly disposition. The word agreeable refers to a person who is pleasant, charming, and easy to get along with, reflecting a willing and friendly temperament. Since sullen denotes a negative and uncooperative mood, agreeable serves as its direct opposite by representing a positive and cooperative state of mind.

Explanation

To summon is to officially order someone to be present or to call them to appear, typically in a formal or legal context like a courtroom. Dismiss is the opposite action, as it means to formally send someone away, allow them to leave, or remove them from their duties or presence. While a summons requires an individual to arrive or assemble, a dismissal orders or permits their departure, making the two words direct antonyms in both professional and legal environments.

Explanation

The idiom at the drop of a hat refers to doing something immediately, instantly, or without any hesitation. It signifies that an action is taken at once, often without needing much provocation or any prior preparation. The expression originated in the 19th century from the practice of dropping a hat to signal the start of a race or a fight, indicating that the participants should begin the moment the signal was given. In modern usage, it describes a person's readiness to act or change their mind the very moment an opportunity or suggestion arises.

Explanation

The idiom beat a dead horse refers to the act of wasting time or energy on a matter that has already been decided or is no longer relevant. It originates from the literal impossibility of making a deceased animal move by whipping or beating it; similarly, in conversation or debate, it signifies continuing to argue or dwell on a topic after a resolution has been reached or when there is no possibility of changing the outcome. It characterizes an effort that is futile and serves no further productive purpose.

Explanation

The phrasal verb give up means to stop a habit or activity and is followed by a gerund (the -ing form) when referring to an action. In this context, drinking serves as a verbal noun that identifies the specific activity being abandoned. Using the gerund after give up is a standard rule in English grammar for verbs that indicate stopping, starting, or continuing an action, ensuring the sentence correctly describes the cessation of a habitual behavior.

Explanation

The preposition without must be followed by a gerund when an action is being described as the object. A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun within a sentence. In the phrase without saying good bye, the word saying is the gerund form of the verb say and correctly serves as the object of the preposition without. This structure follows the standard rules of English syntax regarding prepositional objects.

Explanation

The word menace refers to a person or thing that is likely to cause harm, representing a threat or a danger to someone or something. It is used to describe a source of peril or a situation that presents a risk of injury, damage, or negative consequences. In various contexts, it signifies an individual whose actions or presence are considered a risk to the well-being or safety of others.

Explanation

The term phobic is the adjectival form of phobia, which is defined in psychology and linguistics as a persistent, irrational, and overwhelming fear of a specific object, activity, or situation. This condition involves a level of anxiety that is significantly out of proportion to the actual risk involved, often compelling the individual to go to great lengths to avoid the source of their fear. The word originates from the Greek root phobos, which translates to fear or dread.

Explanation

The word bereaving is the present participle form of the verb bereave, which means to be deprived of a close relation or friend through their death. The spelling is derived from the Old English word bereafian, composed of the prefix be- and the root reave. According to standard English orthography, when adding the suffix -ing to a verb ending in a silent e, such as bereave, the e is dropped to form b-e-r-e-a-v-i-n-g.

Explanation

The word diligence is correctly spelled as d-i-l-i-g-e-n-c-e. It is a noun that refers to steady, earnest, and energetic effort or persistent application to a task. It originates from the Latin word diligentia, which signifies attentiveness and carefulness. In English orthography, the word follows the standard pattern of using an i after the initial d and an e before the final nce suffix.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the phrase I've taken out my, which requires a noun phrase to function as the direct object. Segment Y provides this noun, ear buds, and introduces a purpose clause with so I can. The modal verb can must be followed by base-form verbs to complete the clause. Segment Z, listen for announcements, provides the first action. Segment X begins with the coordinating conjunction and, which allows it to logically append the second action, stay poised and vigilant, to the first. Arranging these segments in the order Y-Z-X results in the grammatically and logically coherent sentence: I've taken out my ear buds so I can listen for announcements and stay poised and vigilant.

Explanation

The sentence structure follows a logical chronological and grammatical sequence. The introductory phrase In the Northeast, the sun requires a verb, which is provided by part Z rises as early as four in the. This phrase naturally leads into part Y morning and in winter it to complete the time reference for the sunrise. Finally, part X sets by four in the evening provides the second verb phrase that corresponds with the subject and completes the comparison of the short daylight hours in the region. The resulting sentence In the Northeast, the sun rises as early as four in the morning and in winter it sets by four in the evening is a coherent and factual statement.

Explanation

The sentence follows the Simple Present tense structure in the active voice: Subject (The majestic Asiatic Lions) + Verb (roam) + Object (the sanctuary). To convert a Simple Present sentence into the passive voice, the formula is: New Subject (original object) + is/am/are + Past Participle (V3) + by + New Object (original subject). Applying this, the object the sanctuary becomes the new subject, followed by the auxiliary verb is and the past participle roamed. The phrase majestic Asiatic lions then follows the preposition by. This transformation maintains the original meaning and tense of the statement while shifting the focus to the sanctuary.

Explanation

When converting a direct interrogative sentence into indirect speech, the reporting verb asked is retained. In questions starting with a WH-word like how, no external conjunction is used as the WH-word itself serves as the connector. The sentence structure must change from interrogative (is your grandmother) to assertive (her grandmother was). According to the rules of tense backshifting, since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present simple is changes to the past simple was. Additionally, the possessive adjective your changes to her to agree with the object of the reporting verb.

Explanation

The adverb far is used to complete the idiomatic phrase so far, which means up to this point or until now. When placed within the present perfect verb construction has so far outweighed, it indicates that throughout the historical development of India's energy policy up to the present time, the perceived advantages and potential of nuclear energy have been considered more significant than the associated risks or concerns. This temporal marker sets a baseline for the passage before it introduces recent technological shifts in wind, solar, and gas that may challenge this historical perspective.

Explanation

The sentence discusses India's energy planning and its strategic move away from traditional fuel sources like coal and oil. In the context of environmental sustainability and energy security, sources such as nuclear, solar, and wind power are pursued as substitute options to replace conventional fossil fuels. The term alternatives accurately captures this concept of seeking different choices or substitutes to diversify the energy mix. Consequently, looking for non-fossil alternatives indicates the search for viable energy sources that can fulfill the nation's power demands without relying on carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

Explanation

The preposition with is used in this context to establish a functional relationship or association between the rapid progress in technology and the specific energy sectors mentioned, such as wind and solar power. It indicates that the technological advancements are occurring in tandem with or are characterized by these alternative energy sources. Using with helps to define the specific domain and accompanying circumstances of the progress, highlighting that the evolution of technology is directly tied to the efficiency and implementation of these energy alternatives, which collectively challenge the previous reliance on nuclear energy.

Explanation

In the context of energy production and environmental policy, wind and solar power are classified as renewable energy sources because they are derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. The passage discusses India's strategy to move away from fossil fuels, and the term renewable is the standard technical descriptor for sustainable energy alternatives like solar and wind which provide a continuous supply of power without depleting finite natural resources.

Explanation

The sentence structure identifies the developments in other energy sectors—specifically rapid technological progress in wind and solar, the collapse of oil prices, and the expansion of gas projects—as the collective subject. These factors have exerted an influence on the original promise of nuclear power. The present perfect tense has dimmed is the grammatically appropriate choice to describe an action that has occurred in the recent past and carries significant consequences for the current situation. In this context, the cumulative impact of these alternative energy trends has reduced the perceived importance or viability of nuclear energy, effectively dimming that promise.

Explanation

The sentence uses the correlative conjunction no sooner, which must always be paired with than to indicate that one event happens immediately after another. When a sentence begins with the negative expression no sooner, it requires subject-verb inversion, which is correctly handled in the first part with did I come. However, the second part of the construction is grammatically incorrect because it uses when instead of than. To make the sentence correct, the word when in part (2) must be replaced with than to complete the comparative structure initiated by the word sooner. This is a fixed grammatical rule where no sooner is followed by than, while words like hardly or scarcely are followed by when.