SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word stringent refers to regulations, requirements, or conditions that are extremely strict, precise, and exacting. It is commonly used to describe rules or standards that must be followed with absolute adherence and allow for no deviation or laxity. Rigorous is a direct synonym because it describes a process, rule, or system that is characterized by strictness, thoroughness, and a high level of severity in its application. Both terms convey the idea of firm, unyielding control or high standards that are difficult to satisfy.

Explanation

Vexatious refers to something that causes annoyance, frustration, or worry, often through persistent irritation or trouble. It describes a state of being agitated or distressed. In contrast, soothing describes something that has a gentle, calming, or relieving effect, serving to reduce pain, discomfort, or agitation. Since vexatious implies the creation of irritation and soothing implies the removal or mitigation of it, the two words are opposite in meaning.

Explanation

Burgeon means to grow or increase rapidly, flourish, or put forth new shoots, often used to describe something that is expanding quickly and healthily. Shrivel is the direct opposite, meaning to shrink and wrinkle, often due to a loss of moisture or vitality, representing a decline or contraction rather than growth.

Explanation

The idiom live from hand to mouth describes a situation where a person spends all their money on basic necessities like food and shelter, leaving absolutely nothing for savings or emergencies. It originates from the literal idea of consuming food as soon as it is obtained—moving it directly from the hand to the mouth—without any surplus being stored for future use. It characterizes a state of financial precariousness where one is only just managing to survive on current earnings.

Explanation

The idiom to face the music means to accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of one's own actions, especially to accept criticism or punishment for something wrong that has been done. It describes a situation where an individual must take responsibility for their behavior rather than trying to escape or avoid the resulting repercussions. The expression is often used when someone is forced to confront the reality of a difficult situation they have caused.

Explanation

The sentence describes two actions that occurred in the past. The verb thanked is in the Simple Past tense, indicating the point of reference. The action of doing something for the wife happened prior to the act of thanking. In English grammar, when two actions occur at different times in the past, the earlier action is expressed using the Past Perfect tense (had + past participle). Therefore, have done must be changed to had done to correctly establish the chronological sequence of events.

Explanation

The word hardly is a negative adverb that means scarcely or barely. In English grammar, using hardly alongside another negative word like nothing creates a double negative, which is incorrect. To maintain the intended meaning of a near-total lack of assistance, the negative adverb must be followed by an indefinite pronoun like anything. This combination correctly conveys that almost nothing was provided without violating the rule against double negatives.

Explanation

Filicide refers to the deliberate act of a parent killing their own son or daughter. The term is derived from the Latin words filius, meaning son, or filia, meaning daughter, combined with the suffix -cide, which denotes the act of killing. It specifically categorizes the victim by their relationship to the perpetrator, rather than just their age or developmental stage.

Explanation

The term ergophile is derived from the Greek words ergon, meaning work, and phile, which denotes a lover of or one who has a strong affinity for something. In English vocabulary, the prefix ergo- is consistently used in terms related to labor, energy, or work, such as in ergonomics or ergometer. Therefore, an ergophile is a person who finds great pleasure or satisfaction in working and is devoted to industrious activity.

Explanation

The word Personal is often confused with Personnel in competitive examinations. While personal refers to individual matters, personnel refers to a body of persons employed in an organization or service. In the context of this specific exam paper, the word was intended to be Personnel, and its presence in the list serves as the incorrectly spelt or inappropriately used entry compared to the standard spellings of the other options provided.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression from a general philosophical premise to a specific historical observation. Sentence S introduces the foundational theme by quoting the well-known maxim that knowledge is power. Sentence R builds upon this by defining education as the instrument that imparts knowledge, thereby establishing its indirect control over power. Sentence Q uses the transition word therefore to state the logical consequence of this relationship: because education is a source of power, those already in power have historically sought to control it. Sentence P concludes the sequence by describing the historical result of this control, where education has served as the handmaid or servant of the ruling class.

Explanation

Sentence S serves as the ideal opening statement by introducing the central theme that India is fundamentally a country of villages. Sentence R follows logically by providing statistical support for this claim, noting that the rural population remains numerically dominant over the urban population. Sentence Q shifts the focus to the nature of urban existence, observing that the risks and disadvantages of city life generally outweigh the benefits. Sentence P concludes the paragraph by highlighting a paradox; the demonstrative pronoun This in P refers to the unfavorable conditions or the demographic status described in the preceding sentences, which persist despite the rampant migration of rural families to cities. This sequence establishes a coherent flow from a general introductory fact to a specific demographic observation, followed by a qualitative assessment and a concluding contrast.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the Active Voice and uses the Simple Past tense, as indicated by the verb celebrated. To convert a Simple Past active sentence into Passive Voice, the structure follows: Subject + was/were + past participle (V3) + by + Object. Here, the object of the active sentence, Diwali, becomes the subject. Since Diwali is a singular noun, the auxiliary verb was is used followed by the past participle form celebrated. The original subject, The residents, becomes the object of the preposition by. Applying these rules results in the sentence: Diwali was celebrated by the residents.

Explanation

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, the reporting verb said to is changed to told because it is followed by an object. The conjunction that is used to introduce the reported statement. Pronouns are adjusted based on the context of the speaker and the listener: the first-person pronoun I changes to he to refer to the foreman, and the second-person pronoun you changes to them to refer to the workers. Additionally, because the reporting verb is in the past tense, the modal verb cannot undergoes a backshift to its past form, could not. These changes ensure the sentence correctly reflects the reported message in the past tense.

Explanation

The word realistic refers to an approach that is based on what is sensible and practical in a given situation, rather than on how one might wish things to be. In the context of the passage, the author points out that instances of voter intimidation and official negligence are documented facts. Consequently, dismissing all reports of booth capturing as mere complaints from those who lost the election would be a failure to acknowledge the actual state of affairs. Using realistic indicates that it is not practical or grounded in truth to ignore these allegations when evidence exists to support them.

Explanation

The term disgruntled describes individuals who are dissatisfied, frustrated, or moody, particularly because of a perceived grievance or a disappointing outcome. In the context of the passage, losers who make allegations of booth capturing and rigging are frequently characterized by their opponents as disgruntled losers to imply that their complaints are merely the result of their resentment over losing rather than being based on factual evidence. The phrase murmurs of disgruntled losers is a standard idiomatic expression used to dismiss such claims as the bitter grumblings of those who cannot accept defeat.

Explanation

The word instances refers to specific occurrences, cases, or examples of a particular action taking place. In the context of the passage, which discusses reports of electoral malpractice like booth capturing and rigging, the term is used to describe the documented events of intimidation that have been revealed or have come to light. It is the most appropriate choice to indicate that various individual examples of such misconduct have been observed or reported in different villages and communities.

Explanation

The context of the passage revolves around electoral malpractices, such as booth capturing and the intimidation of voters. The term unscrupulous refers to individuals who lack moral principles or honesty. In such a scenario, dishonest politicians are likely to use coercive tactics to ensure that election officials do not interfere with their illegal activities. The word threatened logically completes the sentence by describing how these politicians use pressure or fear to force officials into turning a blind eye, or intentionally ignoring, corrupt practices during the election process.

Explanation

The passage describes illegal and unethical electoral activities such as booth capturing, rigging, and the intimidation of voters by unscrupulous politicians. The word unjust refers to actions that are not based on what is morally right or fair. Within this context, the practices that officials are being pressured to ignore are those that subvert the democratic process and violate the principles of equity and justice, making unjust the most appropriate descriptor for these corrupt activities.

Explanation

The sentence features a compound subject, your father and your elder brother, which consists of two distinct individuals joined by the conjunction and. In English grammar, when two singular subjects are connected by the conjunction and, the resulting subject is plural and necessitates a plural verb. The verb Are is the correct plural form of the verb to be to agree with this compound subject. Furthermore, the interrogative structure and the placement of the adverb not are grammatically sound. Since the subject and verb are in perfect agreement and the syntax is correct, the sentence contains no errors.

Explanation

The error in the second part of the sentence involves the use of prepositions. When referring to the highest level or the roof of a physical structure like a building, the prepositional phrase on the top or on the top floor is more precise than at the top. Additionally, when describing the dimensions or the total space occupied by a structure, the preposition in is not idiomatic. Instead, the preposition with or the participle covering should be used to link the building or restaurant to its specified size, resulting in the phrase with an area or covering an area. The preposition in typically indicates location within a larger geographical region rather than the magnitude of the object itself.

Explanation

When two subjects are joined by the phrase as well as, the verb must agree with the first subject mentioned. In this sentence, the first subject is John, which is singular, requiring a singular verb. The adverb always indicates a habitual action, necessitating the simple present tense. The verb seeks is the most appropriate choice because to seek permission is a standard idiomatic expression meaning to request or try to obtain consent. While other verbs might be grammatically singular, seeks correctly fits the context of requesting authorization before an activity.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is My sister, which is a third-person singular noun. Phrases such as unlike my brothers are prepositional and do not change the number of the subject. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject requires a singular verb. In the simple present tense, the singular form of the verb is created by adding an s to the base form. Therefore, wants is the correct choice as it agrees with the singular subject My sister.

Explanation

The word boisterous is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is noisy, energetic, and cheerful, often in a rowdy or unrestrained manner. It frequently refers to crowds, children, or weather conditions that are stormy and loud. Clamorous is a synonym that describes a loud and persistent outcry or a confused noise. Both terms convey the idea of high-volume, tumultuous sound and exuberant activity, making clamorous the most appropriate similar word for boisterous.

Explanation

Haggard is an adjective used to describe someone who looks exhausted, gaunt, and unwell, often due to fatigue, worry, or prolonged suffering. The term emaciate refers to the condition of being abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food. Both words convey a physical appearance of being wasted away and severely worn down, making them synonyms in the context of describing a depleted physical state.

Explanation

Ostentation refers to a pretentious or vulgar display of wealth, luxury, or skill, specifically intended to impress others or attract attention. It is characterized by showiness, flamboyance, and an boastful nature. In contrast, modesty involves being unassuming, humble, or moderate in the estimation of one's own qualities or possessions. A modest person or style avoids unnecessary display and does not seek to be the center of attention. Therefore, modesty serves as the direct semantic opposite of ostentation by emphasizing simplicity and a lack of pretension.

Explanation

Commiserate means to express or feel sympathy or pity for someone who is suffering or has experienced misfortune. It involves emotional engagement and the act of sharing in another person's sorrow. Indifferent describes a state of being unconcerned, having no particular interest, or lacking any sympathy or feeling. While commiserating requires an active emotional response of care and compassion, being indifferent signifies a complete lack of such emotions, making it the antonym of the given word.

Explanation

The idiom pillar to post, often used as from pillar to post, refers to the act of moving from one place to another, typically in a harried or aimless fashion. It originated from sports or historical contexts where an individual was passed around or forced to move between different points without achieving a definitive result. In modern usage, it describes a situation where someone is constantly redirected or shifted between various locations or people while trying to resolve an issue or complete a task.

Explanation

The idiom Hobson's choice refers to a situation where a person is offered a choice that is actually no choice at all, effectively a take it or leave it scenario. The phrase originated from Thomas Hobson, a 16th-century stable owner in Cambridge, England. To ensure all his horses were worked equally, Hobson gave his customers the choice of taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking no horse at all. While it appears to offer a selection, there is only one actual option provided, meaning the individual must accept what is offered or get nothing.

Explanation

The sentence employs the superlative degree of the adjective, indicated by the phrase the greatest. In English grammar, the superlative degree is used to compare an individual or thing against the entirety of the group to which it belongs. When using this construction, the word other is omitted because the subject is a member of that group. The use of other is specifically reserved for comparative degree structures to exclude the subject from the group being compared. Therefore, the phrase all the is the grammatically appropriate choice to indicate that William Shakespeare holds the highest rank among the total set of writers.

Explanation

The phrase be used to functions as an idiom meaning accustomed to. In this construction, used is an adjective and to is a preposition. Grammatically, a preposition must be followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb). Since the sentence uses the auxiliary verb is before used to, it requires the gerund sleeping to complete the prepositional phrase. This is distinct from the expression used to without a preceding be verb, which functions as a modal verb to describe past habits and is followed by the base form of a verb.

Explanation

Nepotism refers to the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs or positions of authority. The term originates from the Italian word nepotismo, which is rooted in the Latin nepos, meaning nephew. This historical context stems from the practice of Catholic popes and bishops, who were under vows of chastity and usually had no legitimate offspring of their own, giving their nephews such positions of preference as were often accorded by fathers to their sons. In modern usage, it describes any unfair preference shown to kith and kin in professional or political spheres regardless of their actual merit.

Explanation

The term Philistine refers to a person who is deficient in liberal culture and is either indifferent or hostile to artistic and literary values. It describes an individual whose interests are limited to material concerns and who lacks appreciation for intellectual or aesthetic pursuits. The usage was famously popularized by the Victorian critic Matthew Arnold in his work Culture and Anarchy to describe the narrow-minded middle class of his time who lacked spiritual and cultural refinement.

Explanation

The word Preceed is incorrectly spelt; the correct spelling is Precede. This verb, meaning to come before in time, order, or rank, is derived from the Latin praecedere. In the English language, most words that share this phonetic ending follow the -cede suffix pattern, such as recede, concede, and intercede. There are only three exceptions that use the -ceed spelling: exceed, proceed, and succeed. Since Precede is not one of those exceptions, the inclusion of a double e before the d is a common orthographic mistake.

Explanation

The logical sequence starts with sentence S, which introduces the definition of a lie as something that did not happen. Sentence Q provides a contrast by stating that only one thing actually happens at a given time and place. Sentence R expands on this by noting that while only one thing happens, an infinite number of things do not happen. Finally, sentence P concludes the thought by explaining the cognitive consequence of focusing on something that did not happen (referring back to the lie or the infinite possibilities in R), leading to thoughts about all other non-events. This sequence (SQRP) follows the original text from Mark Haddon's novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Explanation

Sentence Q serves as the introductory statement by establishing the primary theme of the paragraph, which is the critical role of interdependence between the food and labour markets in the development process. Sentence S follows Q by detailing a specific mechanism of this interdependence, showing how changes in the food supply curve directly influence the labour demand curve. Sentence P logically succeeds S as it qualifies the relationship just described, noting that the magnitude of this interdependence is contingent upon the specific production techniques that cause the supply shifts. Finally, sentence R concludes the sequence by using the transition word Similarly to introduce an additional consequence of the food supply shift, illustrating its impact on the food demand curve and thus rounding out the explanation of market interlinkages.

Explanation

The sentence is in the Active Voice and uses the Simple Present Tense. To convert an interrogative sentence starting with Who into the Passive Voice, the pronoun Who is changed to By whom. In the Simple Present Tense, the passive construction follows the structure: By whom + is/am/are + object (acting as the new subject) + V3 (past participle). Here, the object you becomes the subject of the passive sentence, necessitating the use of the auxiliary verb are. Consequently, the verb teaches is converted to its past participle form taught, leading to the correct construction: By whom are you taught Mathematics?

Explanation

The direct speech contains a statement followed by a question. When converting the statement "I don't know the answer" to indirect speech, the present simple tense "don't know" shifts to the past simple "didn't know" and the pronoun "I" changes to "she" to match the speaker. For the interrogative part "Do you?", which is a yes/no question, the reporting verb "asked" is used along with the conjunction "if". The elliptical question "Do you?" implies "Do you know the answer?", which in indirect speech shifts to the past tense "did" and the pronoun "you" changes to "I" based on the implied listener. Combining these components with the coordinating conjunction "and" results in a grammatically accurate reported sentence.

Explanation

The opening sentence of the passage establishes a fundamental principle or an underlying reality about the purpose of education: that it is meant for the entirety of life rather than just for earning a living. In this context, the word truth is used to represent a profound fact or a guiding philosophy. Being unmindful of this truth suggests that if society fails to acknowledge and internalize this basic reality, the quality of the educational system and the people within it will suffer. The term effectively links back to the initial assertion, framing it as a vital axiom that must be recognized for education to be effective.

Explanation

The passage emphasizes that education should serve a purpose beyond mere economic survival, focusing on the holistic development of a human being. In this context, quality refers to the standard of excellence and the intrinsic value of the educational curriculum. It denotes the character and depth of the learning process required to produce individuals who can think, feel, and act generously. When assessing whether a curriculum meets the broad philosophical goals of life rather than just the technical requirements of a livelihood, the term quality is used to describe its overall merit and standard.

Explanation

In the context of a discussion on education and curriculum, the most logical pairing for students is teachers. The passage addresses the participants within the academic environment who are directly impacted by the educational philosophy and the structure of the curriculum. Teachers and students represent the two primary groups that interact within this system, and their collective development or state of mind is being linked to the overarching goals of education beyond just earning a livelihood.

Explanation

The passage argues that education should focus on the holistic development of an individual for life rather than just vocational training for a livelihood. If the fundamental goal of education is ignored, the resulting educational curriculum and the development of both teachers and students will necessarily be deficient. The word inadequate describes something that is insufficient or fails to meet a required standard or purpose. In this context, it accurately reflects that an education system lacking a deeper philosophical foundation remains unsatisfactory and fails to produce the well-rounded human beings the society requires.

Explanation

The passage emphasizes the value of human qualities such as emotional intelligence, empathy, and generosity, which are distinct from purely technical or computational abilities. In the context of technology and automation, robots are frequently paired with computers to represent programmed entities capable of executing complex tasks through logic and algorithms. However, these machines lack the capacity for genuine feeling and moral action. The term robots appropriately completes the contrast between human beings and the technological tools that, while efficient, cannot replicate the depth of human character and spiritual depth.

Explanation

The sentence contains an error in Part 3 due to a lack of grammatical parallelism. The main verb decided governs the infinitive phrase to get up early. When a second action, visit her aunt, is coordinated using the conjunction and, the infinitive marker to should be repeated to maintain structural clarity. This is especially important here because an intervening infinitive of purpose, to wear a nice dress, is nested within the first part of the sentence. Including the to before visit ensures the reader understands it as a primary action Ritika decided to take, matching the initial to get up. Therefore, the phrase should correctly read and to visit her aunt.

Explanation

The error lies in the inclusion of the definite article the before the comparative adjective greater. In standard English grammar, when the comparative degree of an adjective is used with the word than to compare one individual to others in a group, the definite article is omitted. The correct construction is simply greater than any other poet. The definite article the is typically reserved for the superlative degree (the greatest) or specific comparative structures such as the [comparative] of the two or parallel increases like the more, the merrier. Since this sentence uses the comparative form followed by than, the word the is grammatically redundant and incorrect.

Explanation

The phrasal verb fall through means to fail to happen or to come to nothing, especially in the context of a plan, deal, or arrangement. In the given sentence, the plan was unsuccessful because of Peter's lethargy, making through the correct preposition to complete the idiomatic expression fell through.

Explanation

The preposition within is used to indicate that an action will take place before a specific period of time has finished. In the sentence Mother shall return within an hour, it signifies that the return will occur at some point before the sixty-minute duration is complete. When used with future tenses, it establishes a time limit or a deadline, suggesting the event will happen no later than the end of that period.

Explanation

The word surreptitious is an adjective used to describe an action or behavior that is kept hidden or done by stealth, often because it would not be approved of by others. It originates from the Latin word surrepticius, meaning stolen or clandestine. In English usage, it is synonymous with words like covert, stealthy, and clandestine. Therefore, secret is the word most similar in meaning as it refers to something that is intended to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

Explanation

Inanition refers to a state of exhaustion or lack of vigor, often resulting from a lack of nourishment or a deficiency in mental or spiritual energy. It characterizes a condition of being empty, weak, or inactive. Lethargy similarly describes a state of tiredness, weariness, or a lack of energy and enthusiasm. Both terms denote a condition of diminished vitality and sluggishness, making them synonymous in the context of describing a lack of physical or mental spirit.

Explanation

The term imbroglio describes a complicated, confused, or embarrassing situation that is often difficult to resolve due to its messy and entangled nature. It suggests a lack of order and a state of being overwhelmed by complexity. Composure serves as the opposite because it refers to a state of calmness, self-possession, and mental order. Where an imbroglio involves a chaotic disturbance, composure involves the maintenance of a steady and tranquil temperament, representing the direct antithesis of situational or emotional confusion.