SSC CGL Tier 1 2021 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The adjective tantamount means being virtually the same as or equivalent to something in value, significance, or effect. It is idiomatic to use the construction tantamount to when expressing that one action or situation is essentially equal to another, especially when referring to a negative consequence or admission. In this sentence, the act of apologizing is described as being equivalent to admitting failure, which perfectly matches the meaning and required prepositional usage of the word.

Explanation

The verb persuade means to convince someone to do something through reasoning or argument. In the context of the sentence, it implies that effort was required to overcome Gopal's reluctance or hesitation toward watching a horror movie. The infinitive phrase to persuade Gopal to watch fits the grammatical structure and logical flow of the sentence, describing the difficulty of influencing his choice or behavior.

Explanation

In English grammar, when a plural noun describes a specific quantity, weight, distance, or amount of money considered as a single collective unit, it requires a singular verb. In this sentence, fifty litres refers to a single total quantity of milk being donated. Therefore, the plural verb are is grammatically incorrect and must be substituted with the singular verb is to maintain proper subject-verb agreement. The use of the simple present tense is appropriate here as the sentence describes a recurring weekly action.

Explanation

The term Utopia refers to an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. Coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book of the same name, it describes a fictional island society possessing highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its citizens. It is specifically used to denote a social and political system where common human problems such as poverty, inequality, and suffering have been eliminated through ideal laws and governance.

Explanation

The segment more warmer contains a grammatical error because it uses a double comparative; since warmer is already the comparative form of warm, the word more is redundant and incorrect. The correct usage is much warmer.

Explanation

The idiom fair and square describes an action or victory achieved in a completely honest and direct manner, strictly adhering to the established rules. It signifies that no cheating, deception, or unfair advantage was involved in the process. Historically, the word fair relates to justice and impartiality, while square symbolizes something that is level, balanced, and straightforward. When used in the context of a competition or a business deal, it emphasizes that the outcome is legitimate and beyond any suspicion of foul play.

Explanation

The phrasal verb fell behind means to fail to maintain the same pace as others or to fail to complete work according to a schedule. In the context of academics, when a student is unable to keep up with their curriculum or classmates due to an obstacle like illness, they are said to have fallen behind in their studies. This correctly expresses the idea of lagging in progress, whereas the original phrase refers to a physical loss of balance.

Explanation

The word hassled refers to a state of being harassed, bothered, or constantly annoyed by persistent demands or difficulties. It implies that a person is feeling pressured, agitated, or under significant stress due to external circumstances. The word relaxed serves as the most appropriate antonym because it describes a state of being free from such tension, anxiety, or worry. While being hassled involves agitation and being troubled, being relaxed indicates a condition of calmness, ease, and peace of mind.

Explanation

The word calm denotes a state of tranquility, peace, or the absence of agitation and nervous energy. When a person or environment is described as calm, it implies a lack of disturbance or stress. Relaxed is the most appropriate synonym because it describes a similar state of being free from tension, anxiety, or rigidity. Both words characterize a composed and steady condition, whether referring to a person's demeanor or the atmosphere of a setting.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice using the simple present tense (am/is/are + V3). The construction "am paid" indicates a regular or habitual action. To convert this into the active voice, the agent "my organisation" becomes the subject, and the verb is changed to its simple present active form "pays" to maintain subject-verb agreement with a singular noun. The subject of the passive sentence "I" shifts to the object position and becomes "me," resulting in the active form: My organisation pays me weekly.

Explanation

The word poignant is used to describe something that evokes a keen sense of sadness or regret, effectively piercing or pricking the emotions. It characterizes situations, memories, or artistic works that are deeply moving and have a sharp emotional impact. Touching is the most appropriate synonym because it also refers to something that is emotionally moving or likely to arouse strong feelings of sympathy and pity. Both terms signify a profound effect on a person's feelings, making them interchangeable in contexts where an experience is described as being deeply felt or emotionally affecting.

Explanation

Sentence D serves as the introductory statement, establishing the setting and the characters by mentioning that a lion went hunting with three other beasts. Sentence A logically follows by describing the immediate aftermath of the hunt when it was time to divide the spoils, with the lion claiming the first portion due to his status as king. Sentence B continues the chronological sequence of the lion's demands, stating that he took a second portion for being a partner and a third for being the strongest. Sentence C concludes the narrative by explaining how the lion claimed the fourth and last portion through a threat of harm to anyone else who touched it.

Explanation

A fallacy is defined as a mistaken belief, a misconception, or an error in reasoning that leads to a false or invalid conclusion. It represents a lack of factual accuracy or logical soundness. Therefore, its direct antonym is truth, which refers to the state of being in accord with fact or reality and represents the quality of being actual or correct.

Explanation

Sentence C serves as the introductory statement by establishing the primary subject, the state of Nagaland, and its geographical context. Sentence B logically follows C because the phrase this state refers back to Nagaland while introducing the specific cultural event known as the Hornbill festival. Sentence A then provides further information regarding the naming of the festival introduced in the previous sentence. Finally, sentence D concludes the paragraph by explaining the cultural significance of the Hornbill bird in Naga festivities and its use in traditional tribal headgears, creating a coherent thematic flow from the general location to specific cultural practices.

Explanation

The term crusade is used to describe a vigorous and concerted movement or campaign undertaken to promote a cause or to secure a desired change in political, social, or religious spheres. While it historically referred to the series of religious wars in the Middle Ages, its contemporary application signifies a high-energy, dedicated struggle or series of actions intended to reform a system or champion a specific ideology or principle with passion and determination.

Explanation

The verb complained is incorrectly paired with the preposition at in this context. When expressing dissatisfaction regarding a situation, condition, or specific thing like accommodation, the standard idiomatic usage requires the preposition about. Therefore, the segment should correctly read complained about the poor accommodation. The preposition at is typically used to indicate a specific location or point in time and does not function as the correct collocate for the verb complain when referring to the subject of a grievance.

Explanation

The idiom sit on the fence describes a person's refusal to take a side in an argument or to make a specific choice between two or more possibilities. It figuratively depicts someone perched on a boundary or barrier that separates two distinct sides, symbolizing a state of neutrality or indecision. This expression is commonly used when an individual remains uncommitted to a particular course of action or avoids taking a firm stand on a controversial issue, often to see which side will eventually prevail before committing.

Explanation

The pronoun in the first blank refers back to the singular, inanimate noun fire mentioned earlier in the sentence. In English grammar, the possessive adjective used to denote belonging or association with a singular, non-human entity is its. By using this word, the sentence successfully conveys that the first human beings learned about the numerous functions and applications of fire.

Explanation

The sentence uses a grammatical construction known as negative inversion, starting with the phrase Not only did. In English grammar, when the auxiliary verb did is used to indicate the past tense in such inverted structures, the main verb that follows the subject must be in its base form (the infinitive without to). The word use is the base form required to complete the verbal phrase did they use, which correctly describes the early humans' application of fire for warmth and cooking.

Explanation

The sentence structure follows the logic of the correlative conjunction pair not only... but also. Although the word but is replaced by a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses, the adverb also is necessary to indicate that additional information is being provided. This structure transitions the reader from the basic uses of fire, such as warmth and cooking, to the more advanced applications mentioned in the second clause, such as hunting and warfare. The use of also serves as an additive marker that completes the intended grammatical and logical progression of the passage.

Explanation

In the context of the passage, the word safeguard is the most appropriate choice because it describes the protective action taken by early humans. By using fire to kill insects, they were effectively protecting the berry bushes from pests that would otherwise damage or consume the fruit. This use of fire served as a primitive method of pest control to ensure that the food source remained available and intact for human gathering, fitting the logical sequence of practical survival skills mentioned in the text.

Explanation

The passage is written in the past tense, as evidenced by verbs such as learned and did. In a subordinate clause of purpose introduced by so that, the modal verb must agree with the tense of the main clause. Since the actions took place in the distant past, the modal could is used to express the past possibility or ability of the game being seen and hunted more effectively after the underbrush was cleared.

Explanation

In the conversion from direct to indirect speech, several grammatical changes occur to maintain the context and timing of the statement. The reporting verb said to is used with the conjunction that to introduce the reported clause. The first-person plural pronouns our and we are changed to the third-person plural their and they because they refer back to the professor and his research group from the perspective of the reporter. Furthermore, the tenses follow the rule of backshifting: the present perfect have come is converted into the past perfect had come, and the simple present is is changed into the simple past was. This shift ensures the reported statement aligns with the past time of the reporting.

Explanation

The idiom a bad egg refers to an individual who is consistently dishonest, untrustworthy, or behaves in a socially unacceptable manner. It originated in the mid-19th century as a metaphor suggesting that, much like an egg that looks normal on the exterior but is rotten inside, a person may appear ordinary but possesses a corrupt or unreliable character. It is used to describe someone whose lack of integrity makes them a person to be avoided in professional or personal situations.

Explanation

A tag refers to a small piece of paper, cloth, or plastic attached to something to provide information about its price, ownership, or nature. Similarly, a label is a slip of material attached to an object to indicate its contents, destination, or identity. In the context of markers used for identification and categorization, both words are direct synonyms as they describe items used to provide descriptive data about a specific object.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the introductory statement by establishing the historical context and identifying the central figure, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, along with his groundbreaking 1889 observation. Sentence A logically follows because it uses the possessive pronoun his to refer back to Cajal and names his specific hypothesis as the neuron theory. Sentence D acts as a clarification of the technical concepts introduced in A; the transition phrase That is signals an explanation of how nerve cells communicate across spaces and barriers rather than through direct continuity. Sentence C provides the concluding perspective by evaluating the theory's long-term impact and its role as a guiding principle for all subsequent studies in the field.

Explanation

To convert an active voice sentence containing a modal verb into the passive voice, the construction used is Object + Modal + be + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject. In the sentence "You can solve this problem," the modal verb is "can" and the main verb is "solve." During the transformation, the object "this problem" becomes the new subject, the modal "can" is retained to preserve the original meaning of ability, and it is followed by "be" and the third form of the verb, "solved." The original subject "you" then follows the preposition "by" to complete the passive structure.

Explanation

The word Concensus is incorrectly spelt; the correct spelling is Consensus. It refers to a general agreement or a collective opinion reached by a group of people. The term is derived from the Latin word consensus, which is the past participle of consentire, meaning to feel together or agree. A common spelling error occurs when the middle s is replaced with a c, often due to phonetic confusion or a mistaken association with the word census. However, consensus strictly uses the letter s to reflect its etymological roots related to shared sentiment and agreement.

Explanation

The sentence contains a grammatical error in the part Ranbir could not went. In English grammar, modal auxiliary verbs such as could, can, shall, should, will, would, may, might, and must are always followed by the base form of the verb, also known as the bare infinitive. The word went is the past tense form of the verb go. To be grammatically correct, the base form go must be used after the modal could. Therefore, the phrase should correctly read Ranbir could not go.

Explanation

The error in the sentence is a matter of subject-verb agreement. The subject Modern science is a singular noun phrase, representing a single field of study or body of knowledge. According to the rules of English grammar, a singular subject must be followed by a singular verb. The auxiliary verb have is the plural form, which is used with plural subjects or the pronouns I, you, we, and they. For the singular subject Modern science, the correct singular auxiliary verb is has. Therefore, the phrase should correctly read Modern science has to maintain grammatical consistency in the present perfect tense.

Explanation

Credit card fraud refers to the unauthorized use of a credit card or card information to fraudulently obtain money or property. In the context of global financial trends leading up to 2021, the expansion of digital payments and e-commerce has led to a significant and well-documented rise in such criminal activities, making fraud the most logical and appropriate term to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The word blemish refers to a small mark, flaw, or imperfection that spoils the appearance or quality of something. It signifies a defect that prevents something from being ideal or complete. Perfection is the most appropriate antonym because it denotes a state of being entirely free from any flaws, faults, or shortcomings. While a blemish represents a specific irregularity or weakness, perfection represents the absolute highest standard of excellence and wholeness where no such irregularities exist.

Explanation

In medical and biological contexts, the term reaction refers to a specific physiological response to a stimulus or substance. The phrase allergic reaction is a standard collocation used to describe the immune system's hypersensitive response to a foreign substance, such as medication, which can lead to symptoms requiring hospital admission.

Explanation

A bouquet refers to a collection of flowers that have been creatively arranged and typically tied together or wrapped. It is specifically used as a gift or for decorative purposes during ceremonies and special occasions. The term originates from the French word for a small wood or cluster of trees, but in modern English usage, it is the precise noun for a floral arrangement presented to someone.

Explanation

The word detrimental is an adjective that refers to something tending to cause harm, damage, or injury. It is derived from the Latin word detrimentum, which means a rubbing off or a loss. In contemporary usage, it describes factors or actions that have a negative impact on a situation, person, or object. Therefore, harmful is the most accurate synonym as it directly describes the quality of causing physical, mental, or abstract damage.

Explanation

The word is incorrectly spelt as Calender. The correct spelling for the common term used to describe a chart or system that organizes days, weeks, and months is Calendar, which is spelled with an a in the final syllable. This is a frequent orthographic trap where the letter e is incorrectly substituted for the letter a. Although calender exists as a specialized industrial term for a machine that presses paper or cloth, in the context of general English spelling assessments, it is identified as the erroneous spelling of the word referring to a time-tracking schedule.

Explanation

The idiom tide someone over means to provide a person with enough help or support, typically in the form of money or essential supplies, to sustain them through a difficult period or a time of shortage until more resources become available. This expression evokes the image of a tide carrying a ship over an obstacle or shallow water, providing just enough buoyancy to keep it moving until it reaches deeper water. In everyday usage, it is most frequently applied to small financial gestures, such as lending a friend money to cover basic needs until their next paycheck arrives.

Explanation

The term atheist is derived from the Greek word atheos, where the prefix a- means without and theos means god. It specifically refers to a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or any supreme deity. This word serves as the standard one-word substitution for an individual who does not subscribe to theistic beliefs.

Explanation

The phrasal verb pull down means to deliberately demolish a building or structure. In the context of construction and site preparation, it is the standard idiomatic expression used to describe the act of tearing down an old edifice to clear the ground for new work. Since the sentence mentions a building contractor surveying the progress of the work, the demolition of the existing structure is the logical preceding action.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a natural logical progression of a dialogue between Laxmi and her father. The conversation begins with sentence B, where Laxmi initiates the interaction by stating she needs to speak to her father. This is followed by sentence A, where the father acknowledges her and prompts her to continue. In sentence D, Laxmi presents her specific request to have a scooter bought for her. The dialogue concludes with sentence C, in which the father responds to her request by giving a reason for his hesitation or refusal. This sequence BADC ensures that each statement logically follows the preceding one in a standard conversational structure.

Explanation

Anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension, worry, and unease, typically stemming from doubt about the future or an unpredictable outcome. It represents a lack of mental peace caused by the unknown. Certainty refers to a firm conviction or the state of being sure about something, which eliminates the doubt and unpredictability that cause anxious feelings. By providing a sense of assurance and clarity, certainty serves as the direct psychological and semantic opposite of anxiety.

Explanation

The sentence refers to a well-known English proverb that uses the indefinite article to suggest that consuming any single apple daily contributes to good health. In English grammar, the indefinite article an must be used before words that begin with a vowel sound. Since the word apple starts with the vowel sound /æ/, the correct form is an apple a day.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "The five senses", which is a plural noun phrase. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a plural subject requires a plural verb. The word "are" is the plural form of the verb "to be" in the present tense, which correctly links the subject to the list of specific senses provided in the passage.

Explanation

In human biology and physiology, the five traditional senses are the primary methods through which the body perceives external stimuli. These are universally categorized as sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. The passage provides a list of these physiological senses, and since sight, hearing, taste, and touch are already mentioned, smell is the logically and scientifically correct term to complete the sequence defining the basic sensory system.

Explanation

The expression referred to as is a standard English phrasal verb construction used to name, label, or describe a particular concept. In the context of the passage, it indicates how the power of supernatural perception is commonly designated or called by people. The grammatical structure of the sentence requires a verb that collocates with the preposition to followed by as to define a term. Referred correctly completes this idiomatic pattern, establishing the link between the phenomenon being described and its common title, the sixth sense.

Explanation

The adjective aware is conventionally followed by the preposition of to indicate the object of one's knowledge or consciousness. In this context, the phrase aware of things establishes the relationship between the power of the sixth sense and the external information it perceives. This is a standard idiomatic collocation in English grammar used to describe the state of having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.

Explanation

The traditional five senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell are biological functions that rely on specific bodily organs and sensory receptors to perceive the material world. These are fundamentally physical senses because they operate through physiological processes and respond to tangible stimuli such as light, sound waves, and pressure. The passage uses this term to differentiate these standard biological capabilities from the concept of a sixth sense, which is described as being supernatural or independent of the body's normal sensory mechanics.

Explanation

The term quixotic is derived from the character Don Quixote, the protagonist of the 17th-century novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It describes a person who is motivated by lofty, romantic, or idealistic goals that are fundamentally unreachable or impractical. Such individuals possess an unrealistically optimistic outlook, often pursuing visionary schemes while ignoring the harsh realities or logical constraints of the situation at hand.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a chronological storytelling structure. Sentence D serves as the introduction, using the traditional opening phrase Once upon a time to establish the setting and the protagonist, a man in a village. Sentence A logically follows by describing a specific characteristic or habit of this man, which is stealing food from others. Sentence B introduces the conflict and the reaction of the villagers to this habit, detailing their plan to teach him a lesson by leaving rotten food. Finally, sentence C provides the resolution or consequence of the story, explaining that the man ate the rotten food and consequently fell sick. This sequence DABC creates a clear narrative flow from introduction to character trait, action, and final result.

Explanation

The word commence is a verb that means to begin or start a process, action, or event. It is often used in formal or official contexts to indicate the point in time when an activity first takes place. For example, in a formal setting, one might say that a meeting or a graduation ceremony is about to commence. This makes start the most accurate synonym, as both words describe the initiation or onset of an action.