SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The conjunction unless is inherently negative and means if... not. In English grammar, it is redundant and incorrect to use a negative word like don't or not within a clause introduced by unless, as it creates a double negative. To make the sentence grammatically correct, the negative auxiliary verb should be removed, changing the phrase to Unless you obey. Alternatively, one could use If you don't obey, but within the structure of the provided sentence, the error lies in combining unless with a negative verb.

Explanation

In English grammar, when a plural noun denotes a specific quantity, distance, weight, or amount of time that is considered as a single unit or a collective whole, it takes a singular verb. In this sentence, fourteen kilometres refers to a specific, unified distance rather than individual units, which requires the singular verb is to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The verb reflects means to manifest, show, or demonstrate the nature or character of something. In this context, the habit of good reading acts as an indicator or a mirror that showcases the values, depth, and orientation of a liberal educated mind. The sentence structure requires a transitive verb that establishes a relationship between an observable practice and an underlying intellectual quality, making reflects the most semantically appropriate choice to describe how one's reading choices represent their mindset.

Explanation

The word frivolous refers to something that lacks a serious purpose or value, often being characterized as carefree, superficial, or trivial. Similarly, puerile describes behavior or ideas that are childishly silly and trivial. Both terms convey a sense of insignificance and a lack of intellectual or emotional maturity. In many contexts, a frivolous action is one that is not worth serious attention, much like a puerile remark is dismissed for its lack of depth and adult-like reasoning. Therefore, puerile is the most appropriate synonym as it aligns with the core meaning of being light-minded or lacking in substance.

Explanation

The word petrify originates from the Greek root petra, meaning rock or stone, and the suffix fy, meaning to make. Literally, it refers to the process of turning organic matter into a stony substance by encrusting it with or replacing it with calcium carbonate or another mineral. Figuratively, it describes the state of being paralyzed or rendered rigid with fear or astonishment. Consequently, harden is the most accurate synonym as it denotes the transition into a solid, stiff, or inflexible state.

Explanation

Gregarious describes an individual who is sociable, outgoing, and thrives in the company of others. In contrast, an introvert is a person who is characterized by being quiet, reserved, and preferring solitude or the company of a very limited number of people. Since the term gregarious implies a strong tendency to seek out social interaction, introvert serves as its direct opposite by describing a preference for being alone or away from social crowds.

Explanation

The word tremulous is derived from the Latin term tremulus, which refers to shaking or quivering. It is used to describe a person or object that is unsteady, often due to nervousness, fear, or physical frailty. Because it characterizes a lack of equilibrium or firmness, its direct opposite is stable, which defines something that is steady, fixed, and not prone to shaking or changing. While tremulous denotes agitation and insecurity, stable represents a state of being firm and resolute.

Explanation

The idiom originates from the Greek alphabet, where Alpha is the first letter and Omega is the last. Consequently, the phrase refers to the beginning and the end of something, representing the entire span or the totality of a series or process. It is often used to describe the most essential part or the basic features of a subject from start to finish. In religious and literary contexts, it signifies the comprehensive nature of an entity that encompasses everything from the very first to the very last.

Explanation

The idiom throw up the sponge originated in the sport of boxing during the 18th and 19th centuries. In a match, a sponge was used by a boxer's seconds to wipe away blood and sweat between rounds. If a boxer was too badly beaten to continue, his seconds would toss the sponge into the air or into the center of the ring to signal that their fighter was conceding the bout. This act served as a formal acknowledgment of defeat. Over time, the phrase entered general English usage to describe the act of surrendering, giving up a struggle, or admitting that one has been beaten in any competitive or difficult situation.

Explanation

In English grammar, the word few is used with plural countable nouns to indicate a negative sense, meaning hardly any or not enough. The second part of the sentence provides the necessary context: the speaker must go to the market to buy more eggs. This necessity implies that the current supply of eggs is insufficient. While the original phrase a few suggests a small but positive amount (some), the word few emphasizes the lack or deficiency of the item. Therefore, few correctly establishes the logical connection between the shortage of eggs and the requirement to purchase more.

Explanation

The adjective indifferent follows a fixed prepositional pattern in English grammar, where it is idiomatic to use the preposition to. When describing a lack of interest, concern, or sympathy toward a particular subject or person, the standard construction is indifferent to something. Consequently, replacing about with to is necessary to satisfy the requirements of conventional usage and prepositional collocations.

Explanation

An elegy is a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead. It is a form of lyric poetry specifically designed to express grief or sorrow for the loss of an individual, characterized by its somber and melancholy tone. Historically and literarily, it serves as a tribute that mourns the passing of someone while often providing a sense of consolation or reflection on the nature of mortality.

Explanation

The term somnambulist is derived from the Latin roots somnus, which means sleep, and ambulare, which means to walk. It refers to a person who experiences somnambulism, a sleep disorder where an individual performs motor activities, most commonly walking, while remaining in a state of sleep. This condition typically occurs during the deep stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

Explanation

The word Gaurantee is incorrectly spelt because the correct spelling is Guarantee. In English orthography, the word is spelled as g-u-a-r-a-n-t-e-e, where the vowel u immediately follows the g. The error in the given option arises from misplacing the u after the first a instead of placing it directly after the g to form the correct initial syllable.

Explanation

Sentence R serves as the introductory sentence because it establishes the subject, Mohanlal, and the initial context of his arrival in Kolkata late at night. Sentence Q follows logically by providing the reason for his confusion: it was his first time in the city. Sentence S introduces a potential solution to his situation, which was his thought to stay at a choultry to save on rent. Sentence P concludes the sequence by presenting the immediate obstacle to that plan; the pronoun one in sentence P refers back to the choultry mentioned in sentence S, explaining that he did not know how to find such a place at that late hour.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression of spiritual and personal growth. Sentence Q initiates the sequence by describing the transformation of energy into compassion and love. Sentence P continues this thought, using the conjunction and to show the progression from that state toward the pinnacle of self-awareness and a sense of unity with all life. Sentence R builds on this unity, stating that when one is experientially a part of everything, morality becomes an inherent trait rather than a taught behavior. Sentence S concludes the sequence by explaining the practical outcome of this state, which is the ability to act and improve situations without the hindrance of anger.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the Past Continuous tense, which follows the active voice structure: Subject + was/were + V-ing + Object. To convert this into passive voice, the structure used is: Object + was/were + being + V3 (Past Participle) + by + Subject. In this case, "a beautiful song" is the object, "Ram" is the subject, and "singing" is the main verb. Following the rule, "a beautiful song" takes the singular auxiliary "was" followed by "being" and the past participle "sung". Adding the agent "by Ram" and the prepositional phrase "for his mother" completes the transformation.

Explanation

The sentence is in indirect speech and needs to be converted into direct speech. In the transition from indirect to direct speech, the time expression the next day is converted back to tomorrow. Furthermore, the reporting verb advised followed by the negative infinitive not to go indicates that the original direct speech was a negative imperative sentence. In direct speech, a negative imperative starts with Don't. Combining these transformations, the direct speech version correctly uses the imperative Don't go and the time reference tomorrow to match the original meaning and structure.

Explanation

The word affected is used as a verb meaning to produce a change in or to influence something. In the context of the passage, job performance is the outcome that is influenced or changed by various independent variables such as motivation, ability, and technology. The sentence structure requires a past participle to describe how these factors act upon the level of performance, making affected the standard term to denote this impact or influence.

Explanation

The sentence employs a double comparative structure, often used to express a direct proportionality between two elements: The [comparative], the [comparative]. In this context, the passage establishes a positive relationship where the quality of the outcome depends on the strength of the inputs. Since ability and motivation are described as having higher levels, the resulting level of performance follows the same trend. In English usage, levels of performance are standardly categorized as high or low, making higher the grammatically and logically appropriate comparative to describe an improved or increased state of performance.

Explanation

The term optimal refers to the best or most favorable degree of a particular condition for obtaining a specific result. In the context of job performance and motivation, theories such as the Yerkes-Dodson Law suggest that performance increases with mental arousal or motivation, but only up to a certain peak point. Once motivation surpasses this optimal level, the person experiences excessive pressure and anxiety, which eventually impairs their ability to function effectively. Therefore, any increase in motivation beyond this peak or optimal threshold leads to a decline in performance and produces dysfunctional results.

Explanation

The word produce is the most appropriate verb in this context as it means to cause a particular result or situation to happen. The passage discusses the relationship between motivation and performance, explaining that while motivation generally improves performance, excessive levels can lead to negative consequences. In English grammar and collocations, a cause-and-effect relationship is often expressed by stating that a specific action or condition will produce a certain result. Here, the action of increasing motivation beyond an optimal point creates or yields a dysfunctional outcome due to the accompanying rise in anxiety.

Explanation

The context of the passage describes a situation where one psychological state occurs in conjunction with another. The term accompanied is used to indicate that two things happen at the same time or exist together. In the framework of job performance and motivation, when motivation is pushed beyond a certain threshold, it is naturally joined by a simultaneous increase in anxiety. This co-occurrence of high motivation and high anxiety explains why performance may eventually suffer, as the presence of stress follows the rise in intensity.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the negative adverb "Hardly," which requires a specific correlative conjunction to connect the two clauses. In English grammar, "Hardly" and "Scarcely" are traditionally paired with "when" or "before" to indicate that one event happened immediately after another. In part 2, the word "where" is used incorrectly as a connector. To make the sentence grammatically correct, "where" must be replaced with "when" to satisfy the standard correlative structure: Hardly + auxiliary verb + subject + past participle... when + simple past clause.

Explanation

The sentence uses the correlative conjunction No sooner, which must always be followed by than to introduce the subsequent clause. This grammatical structure is used to indicate that one event happens immediately after another. While the conjunctions Scarcely, Hardly, and Barely are paired with when or before, No sooner specifically requires than. In the given sentence, the use of when in the second part is incorrect and should be replaced with than to complete the correlative pair correctly.

Explanation

The verb advert means to refer to something or to turn one's attention toward a specific subject. It is traditionally followed by the preposition to. In the context of a formal address or speech, using adverted to signifies that the speaker made a reference to or touched upon the problem of air pollution. This term is often employed in literature and formal communication to describe the act of mentioning or calling attention to a particular matter.

Explanation

The word magnanimous refers to someone who is very generous, kind, or forgiving. The sentence structure uses the so... that construction to show a cause-and-effect relationship between Rohan's character and the reaction of others. Because Rohan is generous and kind, people naturally feel a strong desire or willingness to assist him. Eager is the most appropriate word here as it means characterized by a keen interest or intense desire to do something, perfectly describing the positive response elicited by Rohan's magnanimity.

Explanation

The word succulent is derived from the Latin term succulentus, which stems from succus, meaning juice or sap. It is typically used to describe food that is tender, moist, and full of flavor. In botanical terms, it refers to plants with thick, fleshy tissues that are specialized for water storage, giving them a plump and hydrated quality. Because the primary characteristic of something succulent is its high moisture content and richness, juicy is the most accurate synonym.

Explanation

The word congregation refers to a gathering or a collection of people, animals, or things, typically for a specific purpose such as religious worship. The term assembly refers to a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose, making it a direct synonym. Both words describe the act of individuals coming together to form a collective group or body.

Explanation

A panegyric is a formal public speech or a written text delivered in high praise of a person or thing. It functions as a tribute or a laudatory discourse intended to celebrate excellence or achievements. Criticism represents the direct antonym as it involves the expression of disapproval, the analysis of faults, or the delivery of a negative judgment regarding someone or something. While a panegyric seeks to exalt its subject, criticism seeks to evaluate and often highlight shortcomings or errors.

Explanation

The idiom to put a spoke in one's wheel originates from the practice of inserting a sturdy wooden bar or spoke into the radial spokes of a moving wheel to act as a brake or to stop the vehicle entirely. Figuratively, it refers to the act of intentionally hindering, obstructing, or thwarting someone's plans or progress. When someone puts a spoke in another person's wheel, they are creating an obstacle or interference that prevents a process from moving forward smoothly or successfully.

Explanation

The idiom at loggerheads describes a situation where two people or parties are in strong disagreement or direct dispute with one another. It signifies a state of persistent conflict or a quarrel where neither side is willing to compromise, leading to a deadlock. The phrase is commonly used to characterize strained relations between individuals, political parties, or organizations that find themselves in total opposition regarding a specific issue or decision.

Explanation

In formal grammar, when two or more superlative adjectives are used to describe the same person or thing, the definite article the should be placed before each adjective. This repetition of the article ensures parallel structure and grammatical consistency within the sentence. By using the before both best and wisest, each superlative quality is emphasized individually as a distinct attribute of the subject, fulfilling the requirement for coordination in comparative constructions.

Explanation

In English grammar, comparisons must be logical and parallel, meaning like things must be compared with like things. The sentence intended to compare the people of Japan with the people of America. However, comparing people directly to a country is a category error. To maintain parallelism without repeating the noun people, a demonstrative pronoun is used. Since the noun people is plural, the plural demonstrative pronoun those is required. The phrase those of America serves as a substitute for the people of America, ensuring the comparison is grammatically correct and logically consistent.

Explanation

A raconteur is a person who excels in telling anecdotes and stories in a skillful, amusing, and engaging manner. The word is derived from the French verb raconter, which means to recount or to tell. It specifically describes someone who has a natural talent for narrative, often using wit and descriptive flair to captivate their audience during a conversation or performance.

Explanation

Arsonphobia refers to an intense or irrational fear of fire. The term is derived from the word arson, which pertains to the act of setting fire, and phobia, which denotes an extreme aversion or dread. Individuals with this condition often experience severe anxiety or panic when exposed to fire, smoke, or the threat of a blaze, often leading to avoidant behaviors related to flames or heat sources.

Explanation

The correct spelling of the word is Hygiene, where the letter i precedes the letter e. The spelling provided in the option, Hygeine, is incorrect because it transposes these two vowels. Derived from the Greek word hygieinos, meaning healthful, the term refers to conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.

Explanation

The word Demice is spelled incorrectly. The correct spelling of the word is Demise, which uses the letter s instead of c. It is a noun that refers to the death of a person or the end, failure, or termination of an institution, system, or project. The word is derived from the Old French term demise, the feminine past participle of demetre, meaning to dismiss or relinquish. Using a c in this context is an orthographic error as the standard English form requires an s to represent the specific phoneme in this suffix.

Explanation

Sentence S establishes the foundational context by describing India's primary focus on spiritualism over materialism. Sentence R then transitions from this general theme to a specific historical figure, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, identifying him as a revered social reformer within that spiritual framework. Sentence Q follows by providing an observation about the Indian public's receptiveness and positive attitude toward social changes, which sets the stage for understanding the impact of reform. Finally, sentence P concludes the paragraph by specifying a particular action taken by the reformer mentioned in R, using the pronoun "He" to link back to Swami Dayanand and his challenge against idol-worship as a form of social and spiritual change.

Explanation

Sentence R initiates the paragraph by posing a fundamental question about the specific type of education required when investing in youth. Sentence S follows by defining the broader objective of creating an affluent yet compassionate and egalitarian society. Sentence P connects directly to this vision using the phrase For that, explaining that such a society requires individuals who possess both high skills and high values. Finally, sentence Q uses the concluding conjunction So to bridge the requirement for valued individuals back to the initial inquiry about education, stating that value-based education is the essential need of the hour.

Explanation

The sentence Please guide me is an imperative sentence expressing a request. In English grammar, when an active sentence begins with Please, the standard rule for converting it into the passive voice is to replace Please with the phrase You are requested to. This construction preserves the polite tone and the present tense of the original request. The main verb guide is then placed after the infinitive marker to, resulting in the structure You are requested to guide me.

Explanation

When a sentence in direct speech expresses a universal truth, a scientific fact, or a habitual action, the tense of the verb in the reported speech remains unchanged even if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Since the statement regarding the Earth revolving around the sun is a scientific fact and a universal truth, the present simple tense revolves is preserved in the indirect speech.

Explanation

In the context of the sentence, the word requirements refers to the total amount of energy needed or demanded by the country. The verb met specifically collocates with nouns like requirements, needs, or demands, indicating that the supply is sufficient to fulfill a specific necessity. The passage describes how India fulfills its total energy demand by utilizing a mix of commercial and non-commercial resources, making requirements the most logically and grammatically appropriate fit to describe what is being satisfied by these sources.

Explanation

The sentence lists coal, natural gas, hydroelectricity, and nuclear power, which are the primary pillars of India's commercial energy infrastructure. In descriptive passages concerning the national economy and resources, these are characterized as important sources because they provide the bulk of the power required for industrial, commercial, and domestic use. The word important correctly signifies their significant role and high contribution to the total energy mix of the country.

Explanation

The verb constitutes is used in this context to mean to be the components or parts that form a whole. In the sentence, firewood, cow-dung cakes, and vegetable waste are the specific materials that make up or compose the category of non-commercial forms of energy. It describes the relationship where these individual elements together represent the entirety of the specified classification.

Explanation

The verb meet is the standard collocated term used with demand to describe the fulfillment or satisfaction of a requirement. In the context of the passage, which discusses how various energy sources satisfy the country's energy requirements, the sentence indicates that non-commercial forms of energy fulfill a portion of the total energy demand. This usage aligns with the opening sentence of the passage, which establishes that energy requirements in India are met through a combination of commercial and non-commercial sources.

Explanation

Coal is the primary fuel for power generation in India, accounting for the highest percentage of the total commercial energy consumption. In the context of India's energy profile, thermal power plants fueled by coal provide the bulk of the nation's electricity. Because coal reserves are abundant in the country compared to other fossil fuels, it serves as the most significant and dominant contributor to the industrial and commercial energy supply chain.

Explanation

The phrasal verb deal in is used when referring to trading or doing business in a particular commodity. Since spare parts are goods being bought and sold, the preposition in is required. Conversely, deal with is used when referring to handling a problem, managing a situation, or interacting with a person. Therefore, the first part of the sentence is incorrect because it uses the wrong preposition for a business context.

Explanation

The error lies in the first part of the sentence regarding the usage of the preposition following the verb accused. In English grammar, the verb accuse is followed by the fixed preposition of rather than for. Therefore, the phrase accused for murder is grammatically incorrect and must be replaced with accused of murder. While the preposition for is commonly used with verbs like blame or punished, the idiomatic construction for the verb accuse always requires of to indicate the specific crime or wrongdoing.

Explanation

The phrasal verb pass off means to take place or be carried out in a specified way, especially regarding an event, ceremony, or organized proceeding. When used in the context of a marriage or a function, it signifies that the event happened and reached its conclusion. In this sentence, it indicates that the wedding ceremony occurred and was completed in a peaceful manner.