SSC CGL Tier 1 2019 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The sentence is in the past continuous passive voice, which follows the structure Object + was/were + being + V₃ + by + Subject. To convert this into the active voice, the tense must be maintained as past continuous active, following the formula Subject + was/were + V₁ + ing + Object. In this specific transformation, the agent the police becomes the subject of the active sentence, the verb were being removed is converted to the active form was removing, and the passive subject the injured becomes the object. This structure accurately reflects that the police performed the continuous action of removal in the past.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the passive voice of the past continuous tense, which follows the structure: Subject + was/were + being + V3 (checked). To convert this into the active voice, the tense must remain consistent as the past continuous. The formula for the active voice in this tense is: Subject + was/were + V-ing + Object. Here, the custom officers becomes the subject of the active sentence. Since the subject is plural, the auxiliary verb were is used followed by the present participle checking. This results in the construction: the custom officers were thoroughly checking one of the passengers.

Explanation

The idiom lock, stock and barrel refers to the three main components of a musket or rifle: the lock (the firing mechanism), the stock (the wooden frame), and the barrel (the metal tube). Since these three parts together constitute the entire firearm, the phrase evolved to mean the whole of something or everything included. In modern usage, it signifies doing something completely, entirely, or in its entirety, leaving nothing out.

Explanation

The word dense refers to something that has its parts crowded together or is closely compacted in substance, indicating a high concentration. Its direct antonym is sparse, which describes something that is thinly dispersed, scattered, or occurring in small amounts over a large area. In terms of distribution and density, these two words represent opposite ends of the spectrum.

Explanation

The term deployed refers specifically to the strategic positioning of military troops or equipment in an area for tactical or combat readiness. In the context of cross-border tensions, it describes the systematic movement and stationing of security forces at critical locations to ensure they are prepared for immediate engagement or defensive action if the situation necessitates.

Explanation

The word stale describes something that has lost its original freshness, flavor, or vigor, often becoming flat, dry, or weak over time. In a linguistic context, it refers to ideas or expressions that have become unoriginal or uninteresting due to overuse. The word strong serves as its antonym because it denotes potency, intensity, and full vigor. While stale signifies a state of decay or diminished quality, strong indicates that a substance or concept retains its full power and characteristic impact.

Explanation

The word lethal originates from the Latin term lethalis, meaning deadly or mortal. It is used to describe something that is capable of causing death or is extremely dangerous. Similarly, the word fatal refers to an event, condition, or substance that results in death or leads to a disastrous end. Both words are used interchangeably in contexts involving life-threatening situations, such as a lethal dose of medicine or a fatal accident, making them synonyms.

Explanation

The preposition with is used here to denote accompaniment or circumstance, indicating that the state of extreme disunity was a direct consequence of or occurred simultaneously alongside the decline of the Mughal empire. In this context, it establishes a causal link where the fragmentation of the central authority (the Mughals) provided the conditions for political instability across the subcontinent. The word with serves to introduce the specific historical situation that characterized the eighteenth century, showing how one condition followed or was tied to the other.

Explanation

In this sentence, the adjective other is used in conjunction with the determiner no to indicate that no alternative or additional political entity among the various states in India succeeded in achieving the same status as the declining Mughal Empire. The construction no other is a standard idiomatic expression used to emphasize the absence of any comparable substitute or successor. It correctly modifies the singular noun phrase Indian power to convey that, despite the presence of various regional states, none possessed the specific combination of strength and prestige required to establish a new central authority over the subcontinent.

Explanation

The phrase take its place is a standard English idiom used to describe a situation where one person or thing succeeds or replaces another in a specific position, function, or status. In the context of eighteenth-century Indian history, the passage describes the power vacuum created by the decline of the Mughal Empire. It signifies that no other Indian political entity possessed the necessary strength or prestige to step into the vacancy of central leadership and sovereign authority that the Mughals had previously held. Therefore, place is the most appropriate term to denote the transition of power and the failure of a successor to occupy the dominant role in the subcontinent.

Explanation

The passage discusses the overarching political landscape of the Indian subcontinent during the eighteenth century following the disintegration of the Mughal Empire. In historical and political contexts, when referring to the attempt to bring the entire Indian landmass under a single, unified administration or central authority, the term country is the most appropriate. It signifies the whole nation or the vast geopolitical entity that was previously consolidated under the Mughals and which later powers, like the Marathas, failed to reunify completely.

Explanation

The verb rise is used with the preposition to when describing the movement toward or the achievement of a specific rank, level, or status. In this historical context, the phrase rose to the position of pre-eminence correctly indicates that the Marathas ascended to a state of superior power and influence following the decline of the Mughal Empire. The preposition to functions here to show the result of the process of rising into a new role of authority among the Indian states.

Explanation

A cauldron is a large, deep, heavy metal pot with an open top, historically used for boiling liquids or cooking food over an open fire. Its design allows it to be suspended over a hearth or placed directly on a heat source to accommodate large volumes of food or liquid. This vessel is characterized by its significant size and durability, making it suitable for communal cooking and outdoor heat sources.

Explanation

The sentence requires a noun to identify the role of the company Talgo in the train industry, and 'creators' is the only option that fits logically and grammatically. Options B, C, and D are irrelevant sentence fragments that do not suit the context.

Explanation

The verb forget, when followed by another verb to indicate a failure to perform a task, requires the to-infinitive form. In the segment She forgot lock, the word lock is a bare infinitive, which is grammatically incorrect in this construction. It must be replaced with the to-infinitive to lock to properly connect the main verb with the object of the action. Therefore, the correct sentence structure should be She forgot to lock the door.

Explanation

The original sentence is an imperative sentence expressing a request, as indicated by the use of the word please. To convert such sentences into the passive voice, the word please is omitted and replaced with the formal phrase You are requested to. This introductory phrase is followed by the base form of the main verb to create an infinitive construction. Consequently, the instruction Please take is correctly transformed into You are requested to take, which preserves the polite tone and grammatical function of the original request while shifting it into the passive structure.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the introductory statement because it presents the main event, which is Boeing's decision to ground the entire global fleet of 737 Max aircraft. Sentence A follows B logically by using the phrase the move to refer back to the grounding action and providing the immediate reason, which was the fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash. Sentence D provides context to the Ethiopian crash by stating that it was the second time in five months that this specific aircraft model had crashed. Finally, sentence C identifies the first of those two crashes, mentioning the Lion Air incident in Indonesia, which completes the chronological and causal link between the events.

Explanation

The sentence requires the use of the correlative conjunction so... that to express the relationship between a degree of action and its consequence. The structure so + adverb + that is used to indicate that the quality of an action has reached a point that produces a specific result. Since well is an adverb modifying the verb performed, the word so must replace very to correctly link the performance to the result of it being difficult to judge.

Explanation

The sequence begins with C, which introduces the traditional viewpoint that walking a dog is beneficial for older people. Sentence B naturally follows to elaborate on this positive perception by highlighting the specific benefits of companionship and exercise. Sentence A introduces a transition using the word However to shift the focus from the benefits to potential drawbacks revealed by new research. The paragraph concludes with D, which provides the specific evidence for these drawbacks by citing a medical journal report regarding the increasing prevalence of dog-walking-related injuries among seniors.

Explanation

A bouquet is an attractively arranged bunch of flowers that is specifically designed to be presented as a gift or used for ceremonial purposes. It is characterized by the deliberate selection and artistic grouping of flowers and foliage to express sentiments such as gratitude, love, or congratulations on various social occasions.

Explanation

The error lies in the subject-verb agreement within the relative clause. The relative pronoun 'that' refers back to its antecedent 'other places', which is a plural noun. According to the rules of grammar, the verb in a relative clause must agree in number with its antecedent. Since 'other places' is plural, the singular verb 'is' must be replaced with the plural verb 'are' to maintain grammatical consistency. Therefore, the segment 'that is crowded and noisy' is the grammatically incorrect portion of the sentence.

Explanation

The word prevalent refers to something that is widespread, predominant, or extensively occurring in a particular area or at a specific time. It describes conditions, beliefs, or practices that are generally accepted or encountered frequently. Because common denotes something that happens often or is found in large numbers, it serves as a direct synonym for prevalent. Both terms indicate a high frequency or a state of being usual within a given context.

Explanation

The sentence follows the rule of question tags, where a positive statement requires a negative tag. The main clause He came late is in the simple past tense. To form a question tag for the simple past tense, the auxiliary verb did is required. Since the statement is affirmative, the tag must be in the negative form didn't. Furthermore, the pronoun in the tag must correspond with the subject of the sentence, which is he. This results in the grammatically correct tag didn't he.

Explanation

The idiom in the pink is a shortened version of the phrase in the pink of health. Historically, the word pink was used to denote the highest point, pinnacle, or embodiment of excellence. When applied to a person's physical state, it signifies that they are in peak condition, robust, and enjoying excellent health.

Explanation

The word negociation is misspelled. The correct spelling is negotiation, which refers to the process of formal discussion between groups or individuals aiming to reach an agreement. In English, this term is derived from the Latin root negotiari, and it retains the t spelling before the -iation suffix.

Explanation

The sentence refers to historical events during the reign of Aurangzeb, which necessitates the use of the past tense. In the construction beginning with the introductory there, the verb must agree with the following real subject. Since the subject revolts is plural, the plural past tense form were is required to maintain subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The pronoun in blank (2) refers back to the noun revolts mentioned in the preceding sentence. Since revolts is a plural noun and is followed by the plural verb were, the plural demonstrative pronoun these is required to maintain grammatical agreement. It serves to introduce and specify the particular uprisings involving the Marathas, the Sikhs, and the Jats that occurred during Aurangzeb's reign.

Explanation

The word many is used as a quantifier to describe a large but indefinite number of countable plural nouns or pronouns. In this context, it modifies the plural pronoun others to indicate that there were numerous other groups, besides the Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats, who revolted against the Mughal empire. The phrase and many others is a standard idiomatic expression used in English to signify that the preceding list is not exhaustive and includes various additional participants of a similar nature.

Explanation

The term disintegrate is the most appropriate word to describe the process of a large political entity or empire breaking apart into smaller, independent components. In historical discourse, it signifies the loss of central authority and the fragmentation of a unified structure into constituent pieces. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire experienced a rapid decline in its central power, leading to the emergence of regional kingdoms and the eventual collapse of the imperial framework. This specific process of crumbling from a whole into fragments is precisely defined by the word disintegrate.

Explanation

The phrasal verb broke up is used to describe a situation where a large entity, such as an empire or a country, disintegrates or fragments into several smaller pieces or independent parts. In the historical context of the post-Aurangzeb era, the centralized Mughal administration weakened, leading to the political fragmentation of the subcontinent. As regional governors and local powers asserted their autonomy, the empire ceased to function as a single unit and instead separated into various smaller territories. Therefore, broke up is the most linguistically and historically accurate choice to describe this division.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the preposition from in the segment from colours. In English grammar, when an action involves using a specific material or medium to cover a surface, the preposition with is used to denote the instrument or substance. The verb splash, when used to describe applying a liquid or medium to a surface, requires the preposition with to show what is being applied. Therefore, the phrase should correctly read splashing the wall with colours instead of from colours. The preposition from typically indicates a source, origin, or starting point, which does not fit the context of using colors as the medium for the artistic action.

Explanation

The original sentence is an imperative sentence expressing a request, as indicated by the word Please. When converting an imperative request into the passive voice, the word Please is replaced by the phrase You are requested to, followed by the base form of the main verb. This construction shifts the focus while maintaining the polite tone of the original instruction. In this case, adding You are requested to before the verb take and the rest of the object phrase completes the transformation correctly.

Explanation

In English grammar, the determiner such is used for emphasis before an adjective and a singular countable noun by following the pattern such + a/an + adjective + noun. Since distance is a singular countable noun in this context, it requires the indefinite article a. This construction effectively intensifies the adjective long to describe the extent of the journey. While so can also be used for emphasis, it would require the word order so long a distance to be grammatically valid, making such a long distance the correct idiomatic choice.

Explanation

In the context of global agricultural output and economic rankings, the term producer is the standard designation used to describe a country's total yield of a raw commodity. As of 2019, India was recognized as the second largest producer of cotton in the world, following China, based on total volume of lint harvested. This specific terminology is used by international organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to quantify a nation's contribution to the global supply of primary agricultural products.

Explanation

A casserole is a large, deep dish, typically made of ceramic or glass, used for both baking food in the oven and serving it directly at the table. The term is derived from the French word for a small saucepan and specifically refers to a vessel designed to withstand oven temperatures while remaining aesthetically suitable for presentation during a meal.

Explanation

Sentence C introduces the subject and Boeing's vision for the aircraft, making it the best starting sentence. Sentence B provides a chronological point (2017) which is necessary for the phrase Since then in sentence A to make sense. Sentence D concludes the paragraph by providing a contrast to the previous success with the news of the market value drop.

Explanation

A wreath is a circular arrangement of flowers, foliage, or other materials, traditionally used as a symbolic tribute for the deceased. Its continuous circular shape often represents the concept of eternal life or the cycle of nature. In many cultures, these arrangements are specifically designed to be placed on graves, memorials, or coffins during funeral rites to honor the memory of the departed.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is The Doon Valley, which is a singular noun. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject must be followed by a singular verb. Phrases introduced by words such as with, along with, together with, and as well as are parenthetical and do not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the plural verb look is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced by the singular verb looks to agree with the singular subject The Doon Valley.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice of the past continuous tense, following the structure: Subject + was/were + being + past participle (V3). To convert this into the active voice, the structure must be changed to: Subject + was/were + present participle (V-ing) + Object. In this transformation, the object of the preposition by (the staff) becomes the subject of the active sentence, and the subject of the passive sentence (the chairs) becomes the direct object. Since the staff is treated as a collective unit in this context, it takes the singular verb was. Therefore, the verb phrase were being arranged is converted to was arranging to maintain the past continuous tense in the active form.

Explanation

The word sober describes a state of being steady, serious, and composed, often reflecting a calm and sensible demeanor. In contrast, agitated refers to a state of being emotionally disturbed, restless, or nervously excited. Because sober implies a quiet and controlled temperament, agitated serves as its antonym by representing a lack of composure and a state of inner turmoil or outward excitement.

Explanation

The word in option c is spelled incorrectly. When the suffix -able is added to a word ending in a soft c or g, such as notice or change, the silent e must be retained to maintain the soft pronunciation of the preceding consonant. Consequently, the correct spelling is noticeable.

Explanation

The idiom on tenterhooks refers to a state of being in nervous suspense or filled with anticipation and worry. It originates from the traditional process of cloth-making, where newly woven fabric was stretched on a large wooden frame called a tenter and held in place by sharp hooks known as tenterhooks to ensure it dried flat and square. Metaphorically, the phrase describes a person feeling as though they are being stretched by uncertainty or anxiety while waiting for an outcome or news.

Explanation

The idiom lend an ear means to listen to someone in a kind, sympathetic, or attentive manner. It stems from the figurative idea of temporarily giving one's hearing or attention to a speaker, signifying that the listener is prepared to pay attention to what is being said, often to provide support or understanding.

Explanation

The rule for question tags states that if the main clause is negative, the question tag must be positive. Furthermore, the question tag must use the same auxiliary or modal verb present in the main sentence. In the given sentence, the main clause is "We can't live without water", which uses the negative modal "can't". Therefore, the appropriate question tag to maintain grammatical consistency and logical polarity is "can we".

Explanation

The word rampant refers to something that is spreading or flourishing in an uncontrolled, unchecked, or unrestrained manner, often used to describe something unwelcome or harmful. It implies that a condition or activity is widespread and pervasive. The term excessive is a synonym because it characterizes something that exceeds normal, necessary, or proper limits, capturing the essence of being unrestrained or overflowing that defines a rampant state.

Explanation

The word swerve refers to the action of changing direction suddenly or deviating abruptly from a straight line or intended course. Its antonym is straighten, which means to make or become straight or to move in a direct path without bending or turning. While swerving involves a sharp departure from a linear trajectory, straightening represents the process of aligning with a direct course or removing deviations to maintain a steady, uncurved movement.

Explanation

The noun impression refers to the idea, feeling, or opinion that a person forms about someone or something, often based on initial outward appearances or behavior. In English grammar, the phrase create an impression on someone is a standard colocation used to describe how one's actions or presentation influence the perception of others. In this professional context, the company management is concerned that casual attire will result in a negative perception or image of the firm in the minds of their clients.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the introductory statement by establishing the primary subject, the United States of America, and its dominant global position rooted in economic development. Sentence A follows logically by using the pronoun It to refer back to the United States and specifying its role as a leading producer of goods. Sentence C builds upon this by explaining that the enormous output mentioned in the previous sentence leads to a major share in world trade. Sentence D concludes the sequence by adding another dimension to this dominance, using the transition word also to introduce the country's leadership in innovative technology.

Explanation

The word illicit is used to describe actions, trades, or behaviors that are forbidden by law, rules, or custom. It specifically identifies activities that are illegal or unauthorized, such as the smuggling of goods or the unlicensed sale of restricted items. The term originates from the Latin illicitius, combining the prefix in (meaning not) with licitus (meaning lawful or permitted), making it the precise vocabulary choice for a trade prohibited by legal statutes.

Explanation

The word contemptible is an adjective meaning deserving of contempt or being despicable. It is correctly spelled by adding the suffix -ible to the root noun contempt. This spelling is derived from the Latin word contemptibilis. In English orthography, adjectives originating from Latin stems that end in certain consonants, particularly the cluster -pt, generally utilize the -ible suffix rather than -able.