SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The conjunction until is used to denote a period of time up to a specific event or point. In this context, it indicates that the state of the concert being suspended continued for the entire duration preceding the moment the rain ceased. It functions as a temporal marker, establishing that the suspension was in effect throughout the rainy period and remained so until the point in time when the rain finally stopped.

Explanation

The phrasal verb tear down is used in this context to describe moving at a very high speed or rushing headlong in a specific direction. When applied to an elephant moving through streets, it signifies that the animal is rampaging or running through the area with great force and velocity. This usage highlights the momentum and destructive energy of the elephant's movement as it passes through the urban environment.

Explanation

The word scuttle refers to a metal bucket or container, typically with a handle and a sloping mouth, used for carrying and storing coal for a fire. Similarly, a brazier is a portable metal container, often in the form of a pan or stand, used to hold burning coals or charcoal for providing heat. Both terms describe specialized metal vessels used in the management of coal and solid fuels, making them similar in meaning within the context of domestic heating equipment.

Explanation

The word loquacious is derived from the Latin root loqui, which means to speak. It is an adjective used to describe an individual who is extremely communicative or tends to talk a great deal. In English vocabulary, it serves as a direct synonym for talkative, characterizing someone who is prone to frequent or lengthy conversation.

Explanation

The word obfuscate means to make something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible, often by deliberately making it more complex or confusing. It refers to the act of clouding a subject so that its meaning is hidden. In contrast, clarify means to make a statement or situation less confused and more comprehensible. It involves removing ambiguity or complexity to ensure that the information is easily understood, making it the direct antonym of obfuscate.

Explanation

Triumph refers to a great victory, achievement, or the state of exultation and joy that follows a significant success. Its primary meaning involves positive emotion and successful outcomes. Sorrow represents the direct emotional opposite, signifying deep distress, sadness, or grief typically caused by loss, disappointment, or failure. While triumph marks the peak of success and happiness, sorrow marks the depth of misfortune and unhappiness, making it the most suitable antonym among the provided choices.

Explanation

The idiom chicken-hearted is used to describe a person who lacks courage or is easily frightened. This expression draws a comparison to the timid and skittish nature of chickens, which are known to flee from potential threats rather than face them. Therefore, someone described as chicken-hearted is characterized as a coward because they exhibit a lack of bravery or spirit when confronted with challenging or intimidating situations.

Explanation

The idiom red letter day refers to a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or of great importance. This expression originates from the medieval practice of marking church festivals and saints' days in red ink on ecclesiastical calendars to distinguish them from ordinary days. Over time, the term evolved to signify any date that is memorable, happy, or significant in an individual's life or a nation's history.

Explanation

The sentence describes a past event where one action occurred during the progress of another background action. The conjunction while is typically used to indicate that an action was ongoing at the time a specific incident took place. In such contexts, the past continuous tense (was/were + verb-ing) is required to show the continuity of the background state. Since the train was in motion at the moment the person jumped off, the past continuous form was running accurately depicts this simultaneous progression of events in the past.

Explanation

In sentences where the conjunction since introduces a specific point in time or an event in the past, the main clause requires the present perfect tense. This grammatical structure is used to describe an action or state that began at that past point and has continued up to the present moment. The use of have not seen correctly indicates that the lapse in contact has persisted from the meeting two years ago until the time of speaking.

Explanation

The term tyro designates a person who is a beginner or novice in a particular field, craft, or profession. It implies that the individual is in the early stages of learning and lacks the extensive experience or skill set of a seasoned professional. The word is derived from the Latin tiro, meaning a recruit or a young soldier, and is used in modern English to characterize someone who is just starting out in their career or area of expertise.

Explanation

The term extempore refers to a speech, performance, or presentation delivered without any prior preparation or practice. It is derived from the Latin phrase ex tempore, which literally translates to out of the time or at the moment. In competitive speaking and academic contexts, extempore indicates that the speaker has been given a topic and must organize their thoughts and deliver the address immediately, relying on their existing knowledge and spontaneous thinking skills.

Explanation

The paragraph begins with sentence S, which establishes the broad global context by explaining how water influences political boundaries across the world. Sentence Q narrows the focus to India, introducing the specific issue of water conflicts and the prediction that they will intensify before being resolved. Sentence P provides additional details about the consequences of these conflicts, using the conjunction And to list the likely victims, ranging from the poor to the natural water sources themselves. Sentence R concludes the sequence by using the temporal link Till then to refer back to the period before the resolution mentioned in sentence Q, while the pronoun they refers to the conflicts, describing the significant threats they pose to economic and ecological health.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression starting with sentence R, which introduces the central theme regarding the power dynamics and challenges faced by an outsource despite their dominant position. Sentence P follows as the first specific point supporting R, introducing the condition of a sales guarantee required by entrepreneurs. Sentence S provides a detailed definition of this guarantee, identifying it as the minimum guarantee clause and explaining its mechanism. Finally, sentence Q concludes the sequence by describing the negative behavioral consequence of the clause defined in S, where the word This in Q refers directly to the compensation structure mentioned in S.

Explanation

The active voice sentence follows the structure: Subject (Somebody) + Verb (told) + Indirect Object (me) + Noun Clause (that there had been...). To transform this into the passive voice, the indirect object me is shifted to the subject position as I. The simple past tense verb told is changed to its passive form, which consists of the auxiliary verb was and the past participle told. The original subject somebody is included as the agent using the preposition by. The noun clause that there has been a robbery in the jewellery exhibition is then attached to complete the predicate, maintaining the communicative intent of the original sentence while shifting the focus to the recipient of the information.

Explanation

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, the reporting verb is adjusted to match the tone of the sentence; here, "said" becomes "wondered" because the speaker is asking a speculative question. The first-person pronoun "I" changes to the third-person "he" to align with the subject, Rohan. Regarding the modal verb, "shall" is changed to "would" to indicate a future-in-the-past, as it now refers to a third person. Furthermore, specific time and demonstrative expressions must be updated: "this time" shifts to "that time," and "next month" is converted to "the following month" to reflect the change in the frame of reference from the speaker's original moment.

Explanation

The passage establishes a fundamental contrast between the methodologies of science and religion. By stating that science relies on experiment while religion is based on experience, and further noting that science is marked by objectivity whereas religious experience is personal, the text highlights the divergent nature of the two fields. The use of the conjunction whereas in the second sentence reinforces this distinction, indicating that the modes of action in these two domains are not identical but are inherently different.

Explanation

The passage establishes a direct contrast between the methodologies of science and religion. While science is defined by experimentation, the preceding sentence explicitly states that religion is based on experience. To maintain thematic consistency and logical flow, the subsequent sentence refers to a religious experience. This term encapsulates the internal, spiritual realizations of figures like Christ or Ramakrishna, aligning with the description of religion as something personal and subjective compared to the objectivity of scientific theory.

Explanation

The passage establishes a clear contrast between the methodologies of science and religion. While science is defined by its objectivity and reliance on external, verifiable experiments, religion is characterized by internal, individual experiences. The term subjective describes knowledge or experiences that proceed from or take place within the individual mind rather than the external world. Since the text explicitly mentions that religious experience is personal and contrasts it with the objectivity of science in the following sentence, subjective is the most logically consistent term to describe the nature of a personal religious experience.

Explanation

The passage distinguishes between the subjective nature of religion and the objective nature of science. Scientific theories require validation through empirical and concrete evidence to be accepted. The word tangible describes proof that is real, definite, and capable of being perceived or measured. In this context, tangible proof is necessary because science aims to produce material comforts and physical appliances for actual use, requiring a foundation in observable and physical reality.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the scope of science, moving from theoretical understanding to practical application. The use of the word frontiers suggests a boundary or range of influence. When the passage states that these frontiers do not end in knowledge but are extended to the formation of appliances, it indicates that the reach of science stretches further than mere intellectual discovery. The word extended fits the context of enlarging the field of operation from abstract concepts to the physical creation of functional tools for actual use.

Explanation

The error lies in the omission of the definite article before the adjective little. In English grammar, little means hardly any and carries a negative connotation, whereas a little means some and carries a positive connotation. However, the little is used to denote not much, but all that is available or the specific small amount being discussed. Since the sentence contains the relative clause that she possessed, it refers to the specific entirety of the small amount of knowledge she had. Consequently, the phrase must be corrected to The little knowledge to properly qualify the noun knowledge followed by a defining clause.

Explanation

The error in part (2) involves the misuse of a phrasal expression. The phrase "done with" means to have finished a task or to no longer be involved with something, and it typically requires an object to be grammatically complete in this sense. However, the context of the sentence indicates that the speaker is in a state of distress or trouble because they have not completed their homework and the teacher is now demanding it. The appropriate idiomatic expression for being in serious trouble, doomed, or facing certain defeat is "done for". Replacing "done with" with "done for" aligns the sentence with the intended meaning of facing negative consequences.

Explanation

The phrasal verb meet with is standardly used to describe experiencing or encountering something, typically something unpleasant such as an accident, opposition, or failure. In this context, encountering a negative outcome in an examination is expressed as meeting with failure. The sentence utilizes the present perfect tense, where the past participle met follows the auxiliary verb has to indicate an event that has occurred repeatedly in the past.

Explanation

The phrasal verb call for means to demand, require, or request something as necessary or appropriate. In this context, the manager's conduct necessitated a justification or account, so he was required to provide an explanation. The structure of the sentence in the passive voice indicates that the demand for an explanation was directed at the manager due to his actions.

Explanation

Eloquent describes a person who is persuasive, articulate, and expressive in their speech or writing. It signifies the ability to use language effectively and clearly to convey thoughts or emotions. Fluent is the most suitable synonym because it refers to the capacity to express oneself easily, smoothly, and accurately, which is the fundamental characteristic of being eloquent.

Explanation

Nefarious is an adjective used to describe actions, intents, or individuals that are flagrantly wicked, villainous, or impious. It often carries the connotation of being criminal or deeply detestable. The term iniquitous (appearing as inquisuous in the provided text) is a direct synonym, referring to something characterized by gross injustice or moral depravity. Both terms emphasize a profound lack of righteousness and are used to condemn behaviors that are considered evil or socially and morally unacceptable.

Explanation

The word ensconce means to settle or lodge someone or something in a comfortable, safe, or secret place, often implying that the object is tucked away or hidden for security. The word unveil means to remove a cover from something or to reveal or make public what was previously hidden. Because ensconcing involves securing or hiding something away, unveiling acts as its direct opposite by exposing or bringing that thing into the open.

Explanation

Lugubrious refers to being excessively mournful, dismal, or gloomy in appearance or sound. Since the word characterizes a state of deep sadness and a negative or bleak outlook, the opposite term is optimistic, which denotes being hopeful, positive, and confident about the future or the success of something.

Explanation

The idiom ended in a fiasco refers to a situation that concludes as a total or humiliating failure. The word fiasco is derived from the Italian phrase far fiasco, which literally means to make a bottle, but evolved in theatrical contexts to describe a performance that failed miserably. When an event or plan ends in a fiasco, it signifies that it was completely unsuccessful, often in a disorganized or embarrassing manner, resulting in a disastrous outcome instead of the intended success.

Explanation

The idiom sow wild oats refers to a period in a person's life, typically during their youth, when they behave in an undisciplined, reckless, or irresponsible manner. This expression is often used to describe someone engaging in a series of youthful follies or casual relationships before settling down to a more stable and serious lifestyle. The phrase originates from the fact that wild oats are a useless weed that resembles cultivated oats but yields no grain; therefore, sowing them represents wasting one's time and energy on unproductive and foolish activities that yield no future benefit.

Explanation

The idiom with one's eyes closed is used to describe a task that is so familiar or easy due to frequent repetition that it can be performed without much effort or even without looking. In this sentence, the context of having painted the picture so often establishes that the person has achieved a high level of proficiency and muscle memory. The phrase correctly functions as an adverbial adjunct describing the ease of the action, making the original sentence grammatically and idiomatically sound.

Explanation

The verb let is a causative verb that is followed by an object and a bare infinitive, which is the base form of a verb without the word to. In the structure let you have, the word you serves as the object and have acts as the bare infinitive. This grammatical construction is used to express the granting of permission or the action of allowing someone to possess or use something. The sentence requires this specific form to correctly convey that the person will be permitted to use the notes if approached nicely.

Explanation

The term gullible is an adjective used to describe a person who is overly trusting or naive, making them susceptible to being deceived or tricked by others. It is derived from the word gull, which historically means to cheat or fool. A gullible individual often accepts information or claims without sufficient evidence or skepticism, leading to them being easily duped in various situations.

Explanation

Repentance describes the sincere regret or remorse for one's sins or wrongdoings, often accompanied by a commitment to change one's behavior and make amends. It represents the internal state of sorrow and the external act of seeking forgiveness, which aligns directly with the concept of atonement as the act of making reparation for a moral or religious offense.

Explanation

The word Tracable is incorrectly spelled; the correct spelling is Traceable. In English orthography, when adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (such as -able) to a root word ending in -ce or -ge, the silent e is retained to preserve the soft pronunciation of the consonant. Without the e, the letter c followed by a would typically take a hard /k/ sound. Therefore, the root word trace keeps its terminal e before the suffix to maintain the soft /s/ sound, resulting in the correct form traceable.

Explanation

The paragraph begins with sentence Q, which introduces the core subject by defining laws of nature as statements of facts rather than commands. Sentence S follows logically by critiquing the terminology used in the opening statement, pointing out that the word law is an unfortunate choice in this scientific or philosophical context. Sentence P then provides a constructive alternative to the problematic term, suggesting that uniformities of nature would be a more appropriate description. Finally, sentence R explains the logical benefit of adopting the term proposed in P, noting that it eliminates the common fallacy that the existence of a law necessarily implies a conscious law-giver.

Explanation

Sentence Q serves as the introductory statement by establishing the central theme, which is Time as the great equalizer. Sentence S logically follows Q because the pronoun It refers back to Time and provides a specific example of how it equalizes mankind by taking away everyone regardless of their status. Sentence R continues the discussion on Time by transitioning from its role in death to its role in life, stating that it offers opportunity but requires respect or regard. Sentence P concludes the paragraph by providing the ultimate reason why time must be regarded: once life ends, the opportunities mentioned in R are gone, and there are no second chances to fix errors.

Explanation

The sentence follows the structure Subject + Verb + Object + Present Participle (V-ing) + Object of Participle. When converting such sentences into passive voice where the focus is on the action being witnessed, the participle phrase itself is often transformed. The active participle phrase conducting the seminar on personality development changes into its passive form being conducted by him, where the object of the participle (the seminar) takes the lead within that phrase. This maintains the continuous aspect of the original sentence while correctly shifting the voice of the action described in the participial clause.

Explanation

In direct to indirect speech conversion for interrogative sentences starting with a Wh-word, the reporting verb said to is changed to asked. The Wh-word itself acts as the conjunction, which means that is not used. The sentence structure must change from interrogative form to assertive form, meaning the subject comes before the verb. Consequently, the present tense is becomes the past tense was, and the order changes from is the telephone exchange to the telephone exchange was.

Explanation

Corruption is metaphorically described as a poison because it acts as a toxic and destructive influence that permeates the consciousness of individuals. The phrase spread in the mind suggests an internal, corrupting force that alters an individual's ethical framework and leads to the mistreatment of public resources. By characterizing it as a poison, the passage emphasizes how corruption contaminates the moral integrity of a society and hinders its development from within, much like a toxin compromises a biological system. This choice aligns with the description of corruption as a pervasive evil that affects the growth and development of the nation across social, economic, and political spheres.

Explanation

The passage describes the impact of corruption across various levels of human organization. The sequence society, community, and country follows a logical progression from general social structures to specific local groups and finally to the broader national entity. This choice is reinforced by the concluding sentence of the text, which specifically addresses the effects of corruption on the growth and development of the nation. Using country maintains the thematic consistency of the passage as it transitions from discussing the mindset of individuals to the overarching political and social consequences for a sovereign state.

Explanation

Corruption inherently involves the misuse of power or position for personal gain, leading to benefits that are not earned through legitimate or merit-based processes. In the context of mistreating public resources, the advantage sought is characterized by a lack of justice and equity. The term unfair describes an advantage that is biased, dishonest, or achieved through unethical means, which aligns with the description of corruption as a practice that undermines social and political growth by favoring individuals who exploit the system over those who follow the law.

Explanation

Corruption is fundamentally defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. In the context of the sentence, the term position refers to the official rank, role, or status held by an individual within a government or non-government organization. Individuals in such roles are granted specific authorities and responsibilities to serve the public or the organization. When someone uses their official position alongside their power to gain unfair advantages or fulfill personal wishes, it constitutes an act of corruption. The pairing of power and position is a standard way to describe the tools available to an individual that can be misused for unethical purposes in a professional or administrative environment.

Explanation

The passage discusses corruption in the context of the growth and development of a nation and the mistreatment of public resources. When analyzing the progress or decline of a country, the standard framework involves evaluating social, economic, and political factors. Corruption specifically undermines a nation's financial stability, resource allocation, and market efficiency. The term economically correctly completes the parallel structure of the sentence, aligning with the other two pillars of national development, socially and politically, to describe the comprehensive negative impact of corruption on the state's prosperity.

Explanation

The preposition of is used incorrectly in the third part of the sentence. In English grammar, the phrase died of is used specifically when the cause of death is a disease or internal illness, such as died of cancer or died of thirst. However, when a person loses their life due to external circumstances like a mishap, war, or disaster, the preposition in is required. Therefore, the phrase died of an accident must be replaced with died in an accident to be grammatically accurate.

Explanation

The construction "the reason is because" is a grammatical redundancy known as a pleonasm. Since the word "reason" already indicates a cause or motive, using the conjunction "because" to introduce the following clause repeats the same meaning unnecessarily. In standard English, the noun "reason" acts as a subject that requires a noun clause as a complement. This noun clause should be introduced by the conjunction "that" rather than "because". Therefore, the sentence should correctly read as "the reason for his failure is that he didn't study at all" to avoid repetitive phrasing and ensure proper clausal structure.

Explanation

The sentence employs the idiomatic expression to add a feather to one's cap, which signifies achieving a new honor or accomplishment. In English grammar, the verb add is conventionally paired with the preposition to when indicating the object or place where something is being joined or attached. In this context, the feather represents the achievement and the cap represents the individual's collection of honors, making to the grammatically correct preposition to connect the action of adding with the recipient of that addition.

Explanation

The sentence structure implies a progression from non-violent methods to the use of physical compulsion. Persuasion refers to the act of influencing or convincing someone to do something through reasoning, argument, or requests rather than through pressure or necessity. In the context of conflict resolution or military intervention, the use of force is typically viewed as a final measure taken only after diplomatic or non-coercive efforts, such as persuasions, have proven unsuccessful in achieving the objective.

Explanation

The word pernicious is derived from the Latin perniciosus, meaning destructive or ruinous. It describes something that has a harmful, deadly, or highly injurious effect, often occurring in a subtle or gradual manner. Because it implies a state of being extremely harmful or likely to cause damage or ruin, it is synonymous with dangerous, which refers to something likely to cause harm, injury, or adverse consequences.