SSC CGL Tier 1 2020 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

In changing direct speech to indirect speech for an interrogative sentence, the reporting verb said to is converted into asked. When the direct speech begins with a question word like what time, that word acts as the connector, and no conjunction like that or if is used. The interrogative structure of the reported clause is transformed into an assertive structure, meaning the subject the banks precedes the verb. Additionally, since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present simple verbs open and close must be changed to their past simple forms, opened and closed. The auxiliary verb do is omitted in the assertive past simple construction.

Explanation

The word deficiency refers to a state of lacking something necessary or a condition where the amount available is less than what is required. It is commonly used to describe a shortage in quantity, quality, or strength. Inadequacy is a direct synonym because it denotes the state of being insufficient or failing to meet a required standard or amount. Both terms characterize a situation where there is a deficit or a failure to satisfy a particular need or expectation.

Explanation

The sequence follows a logical progression from the general environment to a specific biological process. Sentence B sets the context by establishing that air surrounds all parts of the earth. Sentence A provides the definition for this surrounding air, using the pronoun 'It' to refer back to the air mentioned in B and naming it the atmosphere. After defining the atmospheric context, sentence C introduces the interaction between living beings and this air through the act of breathing. Sentence D concludes the logical flow by identifying the specific activity described in sentence C, using the phrase 'This process' to name the act of breathing as respiration.

Explanation

The idiom to add fuel to the fire refers to the act of making a conflict, argument, or difficult situation even more intense or unpleasant. Just as adding flammable material to a physical flame causes it to burn more fiercely, saying or doing something provocative when a situation is already unstable serves to aggravate the problem and increase the level of hostility or distress involved.

Explanation

The word commemorate is derived from the Latin word commemoratus, which is the past participle of commemorare, meaning to call to mind or bring to remembrance. The prefix com- (meaning together) is joined with the root memorare (meaning to mention or relate), which comes from memor (mindful). In its standard English form, the word is spelled with a double m at the start of the root and a single m in the middle, resulting in the sequence c-o-m-m-e-m-o-r-a-t-e. This verb is primarily used to describe the act of honoring or preserving the memory of a significant person, place, or historical event.

Explanation

A fable is a succinct fictional story, written in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, or inanimate objects which are given human qualities. The primary purpose of a fable is to illustrate a particular moral lesson or truth, often referred to as the moral, which is typically stated explicitly at the end of the narrative. This genre relies on anthropomorphism to make ethical or social instructions more engaging and universal for the reader.

Explanation

A hangar is a large, specialized building or shed-like structure specifically designed to house aircraft for storage, maintenance, and repair. These structures are typically built with high ceilings and wide, clear spans to accommodate the wingspan and height of airplanes and helicopters. The term is derived from the French word for a shed or enclosure, and modern hangars are essential infrastructure at airports and airbases to protect aircraft from weather conditions and provide a controlled environment for technical inspections and mechanical work.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression to have a command over or to have a command of signifies having a great knowledge of or ability to use something, particularly a language. In this sentence, the indefinite article a is necessary because it refers to a general quality or ability possessed by the subject, rather than a specific, previously identified instance. The preposition over is a standard collocations used with command to indicate proficiency. Consequently, the phrase a good command over correctly replaces the original segment by providing the appropriate article and the correct preposition required for the context of linguistic mastery.

Explanation

The word catastrophic originates from the concept of a sudden, violent change or overturning. It describes an event that results in immense damage, suffering, or total failure. Disastrous is a direct synonym because it characterizes a situation that leads to great misfortune, ruin, or destruction. Both terms are used to emphasize the extreme scale and devastating nature of an occurrence, such as a natural calamity or a complete collapse of a system.

Explanation

The word persist means to continue firmly in an opinion or a course of action despite difficulty, opposition, or the passage of time. It denotes endurance and the act of carrying on without stopping. The word cease serves as the most appropriate antonym because it means to come to an end or to bring a specific activity or state to a complete stop. Therefore, while one word implies the continuation of an action, the other signifies its termination.

Explanation

In the conversion of exclamatory sentences from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb said is replaced by exclaimed. The conjunction that is introduced, and the exclamatory structure is transformed into a declarative or assertive statement. The exclamatory word what a is replaced by an intensifier such as very to maintain the original sense of wonder or emphasis. Furthermore, the tense is shifted from the implied present to the past, changing the implied is to was. This results in a construction where the speaker expresses that the object in question possessed a high degree of rarity.

Explanation

The word ambivalent is derived from the Latin prefix ambi, meaning both, and valentia, meaning strength or power. It describes a psychological state where an individual holds simultaneous conflicting reactions, beliefs, or feelings toward a specific object, person, or situation. When someone is ambivalent, they experience a coexistence of opposing emotions, such as attraction and repulsion or certainty and doubt, occurring at the same time. This internal conflict often results in a feeling of indecision or being torn between two different viewpoints or courses of action.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the Present Continuous tense, which follows the structure: Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing + object. To convert this into the passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence, and the construction follows the formula: New Subject + is/am/are + being + past participle (V3) + by + New Object. In this case, the fields is a plural subject, requiring the auxiliary verb are followed by being to maintain the continuous aspect. The past participle of plough is ploughed. Applying these rules, the sentence becomes: The fields are being ploughed by the farmer.

Explanation

The sentence requires the past perfect tense to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past (coming back). The past perfect tense is constructed using the auxiliary verb "had" followed by the past participle (V3) form of the main verb. The principal parts of the verb "run" are "run" (present), "ran" (past), and "run" (past participle). Since the past participle form is "run", the grammatically correct phrase is "had run".

Explanation

The sentence structure contains a redundancy error known as a double subject. The demonstrative pronoun Those, modified by the relative clause who are late, serves as the complete subject of the sentence. The inclusion of the personal pronoun they immediately following this subject is grammatically incorrect because it attempts to provide a second subject for the same verb phrase will not be allowed. In standard English syntax, once the subject is established, the verb should follow without an intervening redundant pronoun. Removing they corrects the sentence to: Those who are late will not be allowed inside the classroom.

Explanation

The passage describes a situation where Hercules provides assistance to Atlas by taking over his burden. In English, when someone volunteers to perform a task or a favor for another person, the verb offer is used. The grammatical structure offered to hold correctly indicates that Hercules made a proposal to take the weight of the sky so that Atlas could retrieve the golden apples. This fits the narrative context of the myth where Hercules temporarily assumes Atlas's punishment as part of a mutual agreement.

Explanation

The phrasal verb look for means to search for something or try to find something. In the context of the story, Atlas leaves Hercules to go in search of the golden apples. Therefore, the preposition for correctly completes the expression to indicate the object of his search.

Explanation

The sentence utilizes a verb of perception, saw, which is typically followed by an object and a present participle to describe an ongoing action or state. The word coping indicates that Hercules was struggling to deal with or manage the immense difficulty of the task at hand. In the context of the myth, Hercules was physically straining to support the weight of the heavens, and coping captures the sense of him exerting great effort to endure that burden. The presence of the word hard following the blank reinforces this meaning, as it describes the intensity with which he was managing the strenuous weight before Atlas returned.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is the weight of the sky, where the head noun weight is a singular noun. In English grammar, a singular subject must be paired with a singular verb. Furthermore, the passage is written in the past tense, as evidenced by verbs such as was made, went, returned, and saw. The form was making is the past continuous singular which correctly agrees with the subject and maintains the chronological consistency of the narrative, describing the ongoing effect the heavy sky had on Hercules during that specific moment in the story.

Explanation

The phrasal verb take back means to resume or reclaim a responsibility, task, or possession that one previously held. In the context of the story, Atlas was the one originally sentenced to hold up the sky as a punishment. Hercules took over the burden temporarily to allow Atlas to fetch the golden apples. When Atlas returned and witnessed the physical toll the weight was taking on Hercules, he realized he did not want to resume his original role. Therefore, he was reluctant to take back the arduous job of supporting the heavens.

Explanation

The segment she have is grammatically incorrect because it violates rules regarding pronoun case and subject-verb agreement. When except is used as a preposition, it must be followed by a pronoun in the objective case rather than the nominative case; therefore, she must be replaced with her. Furthermore, the subject of the sentence is Everyone, which is a singular indefinite pronoun. Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs to maintain correct subject-verb agreement. Consequently, the plural auxiliary verb have must be replaced with the singular form has to agree with the singular subject Everyone.

Explanation

In the context of structural failure during a natural event, the verb collapsed is the most appropriate choice. It specifically describes a structure or a part of a building giving way and falling down suddenly. When a roof can no longer support its own weight or withstand external pressure such as heavy rain or high winds from a storm, it is said to have collapsed. This word effectively conveys the physical action of the roof falling inward or downward due to the storm's impact.

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 perceived timid and fearful nature of a chicken, which is often seen as a bird that flees at the slightest sign of danger. Consequently, calling someone chicken-hearted implies they are weak-willed or lacking in bravery, which aligns directly with the meaning of being cowardly. It is a common metaphorical expression in English used to denote timidity or a faint heart in the face of challenges.

Explanation

Preferred refers to something that is liked, chosen, or wanted more than another option, indicating a clear priority or partiality. Favoured carries the same meaning, describing an entity that is regarded with special preference or treated with partiality. Both terms are used to denote a choice made based on a higher degree of liking or approval compared to alternatives.

Explanation

An ovation is an enthusiastic and prolonged expression of public acclaim or approval, typically occurring at the end of a performance, speech, or ceremony. It is characterized by sustained hand-clapping, cheering, and often the audience standing to show respect. The word applause serves as a synonym because it specifically denotes the act of showing praise or approval through clapping. Both terms describe the collective physical and vocal response of an audience to honor an individual or a group for their achievement or excellence in a public setting.

Explanation

Sentence D introduces the specific subject, Andre Maginot, and the context of a war between the French and Germans, serving as the necessary starting point for the paragraph. Sentence A logically follows by using the demonstrative phrase this war to refer back to the conflict established in D, while introducing the specific location of the Western Front. Sentence C then identifies this front, creating a direct linguistic link to the terminology used at the end of sentence A and describing its physical nature as a line of trenches. Finally, sentence B describes the tactical reality of the trenches mentioned in C, explaining that both sides had dug in and suffered heavy losses for minimal territorial gain. This progression from the general historical figure and event to specific geographic and tactical details creates a coherent and chronological narrative.

Explanation

The verb wondered is used to express curiosity or a desire to know more about a specific subject. When followed by a clause beginning with an interrogative word like how, it indicates that the person is questioning the method or process by which an event occurred. In this context, it accurately describes the subject's mental state of trying to understand the secret or technique used by the magician to execute the rope trick.

Explanation

The word Sieze is spelled incorrectly. The correct spelling is Seize. In English orthography, this word acts as a notable exception to the traditional i before e except after c rule. To spell the word correctly, the letter e must be placed before the letter i. The word is defined as the act of taking hold of something or someone suddenly and by force.

Explanation

The idiom by and by is used to describe something that happens after a short period or eventually. It implies a sense of slow progression or something occurring in due course over time, which is synonymous with the term gradually. This expression often appears in literature and speech to suggest that an event or change will take place step by step as time passes rather than occurring immediately.

Explanation

A fleet is the standard collective noun used to describe a large group of ships or vessels sailing together under the same command or ownership. The term is traditionally applied to naval warships organized for a specific mission, but it also encompasses commercial merchant vessels operated by a single company or group. In maritime terminology, it represents the largest organized unit of naval ships.

Explanation

In this context, the speaker is seeking immediate shelter from the rain, which implies they would head to the specific house that is at the shortest distance from their current position. The superlative degree nearest is used to indicate the most proximal object among several possibilities or within a general area. While the comparative degree nearer is specifically used when comparing only two objects, the superlative the nearest correctly identifies the single house that offers the most immediate refuge. Standard English grammar requires the superlative degree preceded by the definite article the when referring to the most extreme instance of a quality, such as proximity in this instance.