SSC CGL Tier 1 2021 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The indefinite pronoun no one is grammatically singular and requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. In English, pronouns ending in -one, -body, or -thing, such as someone, everybody, and nothing, always take singular verb forms. The verb are is plural, making it grammatically incompatible with the singular subject no one. The correct singular auxiliary verb for the present tense in this context is is. Additionally, the phrase be supposed to is a standard idiomatic expression used to denote obligation, expectation, or intended purpose, and here it correctly follows the singular verb is.

Explanation

The verb ask, when used to indicate a request or an instruction to someone to perform an action, follows the grammatical structure of ask + object + to-infinitive. In this sentence, the teacher is the subject, the students are the object, and the action requested is the act of filling the form. Therefore, the preposition for must be replaced by the infinitive marker to followed by the base form of the verb fill to create the correct to-infinitive phrase to fill.

Explanation

The word dividing refers to the process of separating something into parts, sections, or groups, effectively creating a split or gap between components. Its direct antonym is connecting, which signifies the act of joining, linking, or bringing separate elements together to form a unified whole or relationship. While dividing emphasizes isolation and partition, connecting emphasizes union and attachment.

Explanation

The word segregate means to set apart from the rest or to isolate individuals or groups from one another, often leading to separation or division. In contrast, integrate means to combine various parts or groups to form a unified whole or to bring together different elements into a single system. Since segregate focuses on the act of dividing and isolating, while integrate focuses on the act of unifying and combining, integrate serves as the most appropriate antonym.

Explanation

The verb pamper means to indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness, or to treat oneself to something special and luxurious. In the context of using a new perfume, the sentence suggests a sense of self-indulgence and personal care. The expression fits the idiomatic usage of treating oneself to a pleasant sensory experience, making it the most appropriate choice for the blank.

Explanation

The error lies in the subject-verb agreement within the first part of the sentence. The subject He is a third-person singular pronoun, which requires the verb to be in its singular form wins in the simple present tense. Alternatively, if the sentence describes a completed action in the past, the past tense form won should be used. Using the base form win with a singular subject is grammatically incorrect.

Explanation

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, such as said, the modal verb will in the quoted sentence changes to would. Additionally, the first-person pronoun I must be changed to the third-person pronoun he to correspond with the subject Rohan. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting verb with the reported clause, resulting in the construction Rohan said that he would work hard to get the first rank in class.

Explanation

The error lies in the phrase too much windy. In English grammar, the word too is used as an intensifier before adjectives and adverbs to indicate an excessive degree. Conversely, too much is used as a determiner before uncountable nouns. Because windy is an adjective, it must be modified by too or the phrase much too. The construction too much is grammatically incorrect when placed directly before an adjective without a following noun. Therefore, the sentence should correctly use too windy to describe the atmospheric condition.

Explanation

Sentence C serves as the introductory statement by establishing the central theme of problems arising from river exploitation. Sentence D follows by specifying a particular type of exploitation, which is the artificial improvement of channels for commercial navigation. Sentence A provides a direct consequence of the channel deepening mentioned in D, explaining how lowering the river bottom affects the water table and agriculture. Sentence B concludes the sequence by using the transition words also and another problem to introduce canalization and its impact on riverine ecosystems as a separate issue.

Explanation

The term campaign refers to a series of planned and organized activities or an intensive course of action intended to achieve a specific goal, such as the promotion or launch of a product. In the context of marketing and business, an advertising campaign is the standard phrase used to describe a strategic effort to build brand awareness and drive sales for a new line of goods or services.

Explanation

The sentence Who wrote the Ramayana? is in the active voice and follows the structure: Interrogative Pronoun (Subject) + Verb (Past Tense) + Object. To convert an interrogative sentence starting with Who into the passive voice, the pronoun Who is changed to By whom.

The verb wrote is in the simple past tense, which in passive voice requires the auxiliary was or were followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb. Since the Ramayana is a singular object, the auxiliary was is used. The resulting passive structure follows the formula: By whom + auxiliary verb + object (as subject) + past participle. Therefore, the correct transformation is By whom was the Ramayana written?

Explanation

An obituary is a news article or public notice that reports the recent death of a person along with an account of their life and information regarding the upcoming funeral services. Derived from the Latin word obitus, meaning death or departure, it serves as a formal announcement in newspapers or digital platforms to inform the community of a passing while often providing a brief biographical tribute to the deceased individual.

Explanation

The sequence follows a logical chronological order and a cause-and-effect structure. Sentence B introduces the primary subject and object, Anil and his new car, establishing the background. Sentence C introduces the central event, which is the accident involving the car mentioned in the previous sentence. Sentence D then elaborates on this event by providing the specific cause, attributing it to the carelessness of the driver. Finally, sentence A provides the resolution or consequence of the driver's actions, noting that the police caught him at the scene. This arrangement ensures that each sentence naturally flows into the next through clear contextual links.

Explanation

The word Camoflage is misspelled because it omits the letter u. The correct spelling is Camouflage, which refers to the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance. It is derived from the French word camoufler, meaning to disguise, and is commonly used in military or biological contexts to describe blending into the environment.

Explanation

The word adress is spelled incorrectly because it lacks the necessary double d. In English, the correct spelling of the term used to denote a location or a formal speech is address, containing two d's and two s's.

Explanation

The idiom pat on the back is used to signify praise, commendation, or approval for an achievement or a job well done. It stems from the physical gesture of tapping someone on their upper back to express appreciation or to congratulate them. In a metaphorical sense, giving or receiving a pat on the back indicates that an individual's efforts or successes have been recognized and validated by others, serving as a means of providing encouragement and positive reinforcement.

Explanation

The word kernel refers specifically to the soft, edible part found inside the shell of a nut or the stone of a fruit. While pulp refers to the fleshy part of a fruit, it does not describe the inner content of a stone or nut shell.

Explanation

In English grammar, the indefinite article a is used before singular countable nouns that begin with a consonant sound. In the given sentence, the word crime is a singular countable noun starting with the consonant sound /k/. The context of the passage describes a specific instance of law-breaking—robbing a bank—which indicates that a single criminal act was committed. Therefore, the indefinite article a is the grammatically correct choice to precede the noun.

Explanation

The passage describes a criminal sequence involving Ben. The verb robbed is the most appropriate fit for blank 2 because it specifically describes the illegal act of stealing from an institution like a bank. This action provides the necessary context for why Ben committed a crime and was subsequently charged by the police and put behind bars.

Explanation

The verb witnessed is the most appropriate choice in this context as it means to see an event, typically a crime or accident, take place. In the narrative, someone observed Ben committing the crime at the bank and subsequently reported it to the police. This role of an eyewitness is the logical prerequisite for providing information to law enforcement that leads to an arrest and criminal charges.

Explanation

The verb charge, when used in a legal context to denote a formal accusation of an offense, is idiomatically followed by the preposition with. The standard grammatical construction follows the pattern of charging someone with a specific crime or misconduct. This fixed prepositional phrase is used universally in English to describe the official action taken by law enforcement or judicial authorities when an individual is formally accused of breaking the law. In the given sentence, since the police are performing the act of formal accusation, the preposition with correctly links the person being accused to the crime committed.

Explanation

An accomplice is a person who knowingly, voluntarily, or intentionally gives assistance to another in the commission of a crime. In the context of the passage, the police suspect that Bill assisted his brother Ben in the bank robbery, making him a participant in the criminal act. Therefore, the term accomplice specifically describes someone who helps a principal offender perform a legal or moral wrong.

Explanation

The idiom a stumbling block refers to a circumstance, event, or obstacle that prevents a person from making progress or achieving a desired goal. It metaphorically describes something that causes one to trip or falter while moving forward, signifying a hindrance or a difficulty that must be overcome to succeed in a particular endeavor.

Explanation

Testify is a verb that means to provide evidence or serve as proof of something, often in a formal or legal setting. Affirm means to state as a fact or to strongly assert the truth of a statement. Both words involve the act of confirming, validating, or declaring something to be true, making them synonyms in the context of asserting the truth of a situation or fact.

Explanation

The word Hygeinic is misspelled because the vowel sequence is reversed. The correct spelling is Hygienic, where the letter i precedes the letter e. This follows the standard orthographic pattern for the word hygiene, which is derived from the Greek word hygieinos, meaning healthful. In English, the correct construction of this adjective requires the i-e placement to properly represent the gie syllable.

Explanation

The word disrupt means to drastically alter or interrupt the normal sequence or progress of an activity, process, or event by causing a disturbance. It specifically refers to the act of throwing an established system or planned occurrence into a state of confusion or disorder, effectively preventing it from continuing as intended.

Explanation

The idiom a kick in the teeth is a figurative expression used to describe a grave setback, a major disappointment, or an act of perceived unfairness. It conveys the sense of being treated poorly or receiving bad news, especially at a time when one expected encouragement or a positive result. The phrase highlights the emotional or professional blow felt when an outcome is unexpectedly harsh or discouraging, much like the physical shock of a sudden injury.

Explanation

The sentence context refers to a period of time spent by people standing in a queue or staying in one place before being allowed to enter a building. In this grammatical structure, wait is used as a noun to denote a duration of time or a delay. The phrase long wait is a standard expression describing the time spent in anticipation of an event or service, which aligns with the consequence of people becoming tired and choosing to leave the mall.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression from a general statement to a specific focus. Sentence D introduces the broad context by mentioning that America has several long river systems. Sentence C then narrows this focus to a specific river, the Rio Grande, acknowledging its importance despite it not being the longest. Sentence B provides a qualifying detail that distinguishes the Rio Grande from the other river systems mentioned in D, stating that it is not used for shipping. Sentence A completes the sequence by explaining the specific reason for the importance first mentioned in sentence C, which is its geographical location. This arrangement ensures a smooth transition from an introductory premise to a detailed explanation of the subject's significance.

Explanation

The adjective tall is a monosyllabic word, and its comparative degree is formed by adding the suffix -er to the base form. In English grammar, it is incorrect to use the modifier more with an adjective that already possesses the -er suffix, as this creates a redundant double comparative. Using the single word taller correctly establishes the comparison between the two individuals mentioned in the sentence.

Explanation

The word fortuitous describes an event that happens by chance rather than through intention or planning, particularly when that event results in a fortunate or beneficial outcome. It is derived from the Latin word fortuitus, which means happening by chance. In English usage, it specifically characterizes an occurrence that is both accidental and advantageous, making it the precise term for something that is to one's benefit but occurred without design.

Explanation

The word abolish means to formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution, typically through legal or official means. Similarly, eliminate means to completely remove, get rid of, or exclude something from consideration or existence. Both terms describe the act of terminating or removing something entirely, making them synonyms in the context of ending a specific procedure or rule.

Explanation

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the reporting verb said to followed by an object changes to told. The first-person pronoun I in the reported speech changes to she to match the subject of the reporting verb, Sneha. For tense changes, the Past Continuous tense (was watching) shifts to the Past Perfect Continuous tense (had been watching) when the reporting verb is in the past tense. The comma and quotation marks are replaced by the conjunction that. Following these grammatical rules, the sentence is correctly transformed into Sneha told me that she had been watching TV.

Explanation

The word downcast describes a state of being low in spirits, despondent, or discouraged. It is often used to characterize someone who feels sad, depressed, or gloomy, frequently reflected in a dejected facial expression or downward gaze. Cheerful serves as the most appropriate antonym because it signifies being noticeably happy, optimistic, and full of high spirits. It represents the emotional opposite of the melancholy and heavy-hearted nature of being downcast.

Explanation

The term contemporaries refers to people who live, work, or exist during the same period of time. John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley were both major figures of the second generation of Romantic poets in the early 19th century. Because the sentence explicitly states they were poets of the same period, the word contemporaries is the most precise vocabulary choice to describe their relationship in a historical and chronological context.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the preposition "on" in the phrase "on a moderate price." In English grammar, when referring to the cost, rate, or price of an item, the preposition "at" is the correct choice. The standard idiomatic expression is "at a moderate price" or "at a reasonable price." Therefore, the preposition "on" must be replaced with "at" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a chronological narrative structure typical of a fable. Sentence C establishes the primary setting and the initial conflict where an ant is in danger of drowning in a fountain. Sentence A introduces the second character and the turning point where a dove drops a leaf to assist the ant. Sentence D logically succeeds A because the pronoun it refers directly to the leaf mentioned previously, describing how the ant used it to reach the shore. Finally, sentence B concludes the sequence by depicting a new threat to the dove and the ant's reciprocal act of saving its rescuer from a fowler, which can only happen after the ant has reached the safety of the land.

Explanation

The part to sister's house contains a grammatical error because the singular countable noun sister requires a determiner to be used correctly in this context. In English grammar, common nouns in the singular form must typically be preceded by an article, a possessive adjective, or a demonstrative. To make the sentence grammatically sound, a possessive adjective like her should be added before sister to clarify whose sister is being referred to, resulting in to her sister's house. Alternatively, using a specific name or the definite article would also satisfy the requirement for a determiner.

Explanation

The word Scorpeon is incorrectly spelled. The standard English spelling for this predatory arachnid is Scorpion. The spelling error occurs in the final syllable, where the letter e has been used instead of the letter i. The term is derived from the Latin scorpio and the Greek skorpios, both of which support the use of the i vowel in the suffix ion.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the Present Perfect Tense, following the structure: Subject + has/have + V3 + Object. When converting this to the passive voice, the structure becomes: Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject. The object in the active voice is Two good jobs, which is plural. Therefore, it requires the plural auxiliary verb have followed by been and the past participle found. The phrase in the advertisements of the newspaper remains as the adjunct. Applying this rule, the passive form is Two good jobs have been found by Imran in the advertisements of the newspaper.

Explanation

The verb advise follows the grammatical pattern of advise + object + (not) to-infinitive when used to give a command or suggestion in indirect speech. In this structure, the infinitive requires the base form of the verb, which is go, rather than the past tense form went. When negating an infinitive phrase, the adverb not is placed immediately before the particle to, resulting in the correct construction not to go.

Explanation

The word originally functions as an adverb meaning in the beginning or at first. In the context of the passage, it is used to indicate the initial time period when the Panchatantra was first created or formulated. Since the sentence specifies a historical timeframe of the 2nd century BC for its creation, this adverb properly establishes the historical starting point and origin of the collection of stories.

Explanation

The term believed is the most appropriate fit for the context of historical and traditional attribution. In the study of ancient literature, when the authorship of a text is based on long-standing tradition and scholarly consensus rather than contemporary legal documentation, it is standard practice to use the passive construction is believed to be. This indicates that the credit given to Vishnu Sharma is a widely accepted historical premise within the cultural and academic understanding of the Panchatantra's origins.

Explanation

The phrase along with is a common phrasal preposition used to indicate that someone is accompanied by someone else or that multiple parties are involved in an action together. In this sentence, it signifies that Vishnu Sharma collaborated with other scholars in the creation of the Panchatantra. The word along is the only option that grammatically pairs with the following word with to convey the intended meaning of partnership or joint effort.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is the purpose, which is a singular noun phrase. Since the passage describes the historical origins and intent of the Panchatantra written centuries ago, the sentence requires a verb in the simple past tense. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject must be paired with a singular verb. The word was is the singular past tense form of the verb to be, making it the grammatically correct choice to connect the subject to the rest of the predicate.