SSC CGL Tier 1 2021 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

In the context of the passage, which discusses the broadening of horizons and shifting points of view through study, the term outlook is the most appropriate fit. Outlook refers to a person's point of view or general attitude toward life and the world. Higher education is described as a process that refines an individual's mental perspective and vision, allowing them to approach community and societal issues with a more informed and constructive mindset. This directly complements the earlier mention of an undergoing change in point of view and the subsequent reference to providing a global perspective.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the positive impact of higher education and refined ideas on the collective progress of a community. Societal development is a standard phrase used to describe the systematic improvement, growth, and advancement of a society's social and economic structures. In this context, individuals with higher education contribute their knowledge and skills to foster this growth, making development the most logically and contextually appropriate term to describe the overall advancement of the community and society.

Explanation

The sentence discusses how ideas from educated individuals contribute to the nation's overall outlook. The term perspective refers to a particular way of regarding something or a mental view. Given that the passage previously mentions the expansion of horizons and changes in points of view, perspective is the most appropriate fit as it describes the global outlook or frame of reference that these ideas provide to the nation.

Explanation

The idiom to the nines means to the highest degree or to perfection. It is frequently used in the context of being dressed to the nines, which describes someone wearing very high-quality or elaborate clothing, often for a special occasion. The phrase signifies reaching the ultimate point or the highest level of excellence. Historically, the number nine has often been used to represent completion or the highest standard in various contexts, such as the nine muses in Greek mythology or the fact that nine is the highest single-digit number, symbolizing the peak of a scale.

Explanation

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, the tense of the reported statement remains unchanged if it expresses a universal truth, a habitual fact, or a permanent law of nature. The sentence "Man is mortal" is a well-established universal truth. Consequently, even though the reporting verb "said" is in the past tense, the verb "is" in the reported clause does not change to "was." The transformation simply requires the addition of the conjunction "that" to link the reporting verb with the statement.

Explanation

In the context of real estate and online listings, descriptions refer to the detailed written accounts of a property's features, specifications, and condition. When searching for properties for sale on the Internet, potential buyers typically review these summaries to evaluate the location, size, price, and amenities of various listings. This information allows the reader to form a clear picture of the property before taking the next step of contacting a real estate agent for a viewing or further information. The word descriptions is the standard term used to denote the narrative or technical details provided in such advertisements.

Explanation

The paragraph begins with sentence D, which introduces the central subject, global warming, and establishes its significance. Sentence B follows logically as it provides a definition for the term introduced in the first sentence. Sentence C then transitions from the definition to identifying the primary cause of the phenomenon, which is carbon dioxide. Finally, sentence A completes the coherence by mentioning the existence of secondary reasons alongside the primary cause already established in sentence C. This structure follows a logical progression from a general introduction to a specific definition and finally to a detailed explanation of causes.

Explanation

A dormitory is a large room containing several beds, designed to provide communal sleeping quarters for a number of people within an educational or residential institution. The term is derived from the Latin dormire, meaning to sleep, and specifically denotes the physical room or building where students or members of an organization live and sleep together in a shared space.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the opening statement by introducing the general theme of increasing health awareness in modern times. Sentence A logically follows B because it uses the demonstrative phrase "This awareness" to directly refer back to the health consciousness mentioned in the first sentence. Sentence C builds on the topic of physical exercises introduced in A by adding health supplements as a complementary health-seeking behavior. Finally, sentence D provides a specific cautionary advice regarding the consumption of these supplements mentioned in C, completing a coherent logical progression from a general trend to a specific recommendation.

Explanation

Harmony signifies a state of agreement, peace, and internal consistency where different elements blend together smoothly. The term conflict serves as its direct antonym because it describes a state of discord, clash, or active disagreement where opposing forces or ideas are at odds with one another, effectively breaking the state of balance or unity.

Explanation

The word Pessymist is incorrectly spelt. The correct spelling is Pessimist, which refers to a person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen. This term originates from the Latin word pessimus, meaning worst. In English, the suffix -ist is added to the root to denote a person who follows a specific belief or practice, resulting in the spelling with an i instead of a y in the second syllable.

Explanation

The sentence is in the past perfect tense, following the active voice structure: Subject + had + past participle (V3) + Object. To convert this to the passive voice, the object the letter becomes the new subject, and the verb form changes to had been + past participle. The original subject the postman is then added as the agent using the preposition by. Following the rule for past perfect passive, the structure becomes: New Subject + had been + V3 + by + Agent. This yields the correct passive construction: The letter had been delayed by the postman.

Explanation

The word rejuvenate is derived from the Latin prefix re, meaning again, and the root juvenis, meaning young. It refers to the process of making someone or something look or feel better, younger, or more vital. Similarly, to refresh means to give new strength or energy to something or to reinvigorate it. Both terms convey the core idea of restoring vitality, energy, or a youthful state to an object or person, making them synonymous in contexts involving restoration and revitalization.

Explanation

The word Luxurius is incorrectly spelt. The correct spelling is Luxurious. This adjective is derived from the noun luxury. In English morphology, when the suffix -ous, which means full of or possessing the qualities of, is added to a noun ending in -y, the y is replaced by the letter i before appending the suffix. Consequently, the correct construction is luxurious, signifying something characterized by opulence, grandeur, or extreme comfort.

Explanation

The word elated refers to a state of being extremely happy, jubilant, or in high spirits, often as a result of a success or a fortunate event. It conveys a sense of emotional exaltation and great joy. In contrast, depressed describes a state of being in low spirits, feeling miserable, or suffering from a lack of hope and dejection. Because elated represents a peak of positive emotion and depressed represents a state of deep emotional sadness, they are direct antonyms.

Explanation

Chaos is defined as a state of utter confusion or lack of order. It describes a condition where there is no visible organization, leading to a situation characterized by unpredictability and turmoil. The word confusion serves as a direct synonym because it represents a lack of clarity or a state of being bewildered and disorganized. Both words convey the absence of structure and the presence of muddled or jumbled elements within a particular context or environment.

Explanation

The phrase one of the is a standard grammatical construction used to single out one individual or thing from a specific group. This structure requires the preposition of to indicate membership within a set, followed by a plural noun. When used with a superlative adjective like most popular, it correctly identifies Sholay as a specific movie belonging to the group of the most popular Hindi movies. This follows the rule of one of the + superlative adjective + plural noun.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is Much of the truth. In English grammar, much is a quantifier used with uncountable nouns, and it always takes a singular verb. Since truth is an uncountable noun, the singular verb was is the correct grammatical choice for subject-verb agreement. Additionally, the sentence correctly uses the passive voice construction (was + past participle) to indicate that the information remained undisclosed.

Explanation

A caravan refers to a group of people, such as merchants, pilgrims, or travellers, who journey together for mutual protection and shared resources, especially when crossing deserts or hazardous terrain. Historically, these groups utilised pack animals like camels or horses to carry goods and supplies over long distances. In modern usage, the term also applies to a fleet of vehicles or trailers travelling together for a common purpose or destination.

Explanation

The idiom apple of one's eye refers to a person who is cherished above all others and is someone very precious or dear. This expression has its roots in ancient anatomy, where the apple of the eye originally referred to the pupil. Because the pupil is the central and most essential part of the eye for sight, it was considered extremely valuable and was carefully protected. Over time, this literal anatomical reference evolved into a metaphor for any person or thing that is held in high esteem, loved intensely, or treated with special affection, such as a favorite child or a beloved family member.

Explanation

In English grammar, modal verbs such as would, can, could, and should are always followed by the base form of the main verb, also known as the bare infinitive. In the given sentence, the modal verb would is followed by the past participle liked, which is grammatically incorrect. The base form like must be used instead to correctly form the polite offer Would you like.

Explanation

The grammatical error in the sentence occurs in the segment wanted to known. In English grammar, the to-infinitive construction requires the base form of the verb to follow the particle to. The word known is the past participle form of the verb know, whereas the base form know should be used to form the correct infinitive wanted to know.

Explanation

The word impenetrable describes something that is impossible to pass through or enter, often due to being extremely dense or thick. In the context of a jungle, it refers to vegetation so thick that it restricts movement and visibility, directly causing the progress of those traveling through it to be slow and difficult.

Explanation

In the context of education and vocational training, the term skill development refers to the process of identifying skill gaps and developing the necessary abilities to enhance productivity and employability. This phrase is a standard collocation used in policy and academic discussions to describe the practical application of learning alongside formal education, aligning workforce capabilities with the requirements of various industries.

Explanation

The passage emphasizes the necessity of bridging the gap between formal education and practical skill development. In the context of modern professional environments, multidisciplinary abilities and personality enhancement are fundamental necessities for success across all industries. Therefore, describing these skills as essential requirements accurately reflects their indispensable nature in meeting the demands of various service sectors.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the active implementation of changes within the higher education system to better align academic learning with industry needs. In linguistic usage, reforms are typically introduced, established, or implemented. The term introduced specifically conveys that these new policies and structures are being brought into the educational framework to facilitate the desired correlation between skills and formal education. This choice maintains the logical progression of the passage regarding proactive steps taken to evolve the education sector.

Explanation

The passage discusses the alignment of formal education with the practical requirements of the workforce. In the context of industry and labor markets, the term "need" refers to the specific skills, manpower, or functional requirements demanded by different industries. Reforming higher education to co-relate academics to the need of various service sectors ensures that the curriculum is relevant to the real-world demands of employers, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical learning and professional application.

Explanation

The sentence structure uses the verb help followed by an infinitive phrase. In English grammar, when the particle to precedes a verb in this context, it requires the base form of the verb to create a to-infinitive. The base form meet is necessary here to express the purpose or capability of the innovative models in satisfying the requirements of different labour sectors. This construction properly completes the verbal phrase help to meet, indicating that these models are instrumental in fulfilling the specific needs of both skilled and unskilled workers.

Explanation

In indirect speech, when a question is introduced by a question word such as how, why, when, or where, the conjunction that is not used because the question word itself acts as the connector. Additionally, the word order in an indirect question changes from interrogative (verb before subject) to assertive (subject before verb). Since the reporting verb asked is in the past tense, the reported clause must also maintain the past tense was. The construction how far his office was correctly follows these rules by omitting that and placing the subject his office before the verb was.

Explanation

The idiom a storm in a teacup refers to a situation where people get very angry or upset about something that is actually quite trivial or unimportant. It describes a disproportionate reaction where a minor disagreement or event is treated as a major crisis, resulting in a great deal of unnecessary fuss and excitement. The metaphor illustrates a large, chaotic disturbance like a storm being confined within the tiny, insignificant space of a teacup, suggesting that the commotion is localized and will quickly dissipate without having any real or lasting impact. It characterizes a lot of agitation over a small matter that is destined to be forgotten once the initial excitement dies down.

Explanation

An infirmary is a specialized room or facility dedicated to the medical treatment and care of individuals who are sick or injured, specifically within the confines of a larger establishment such as a school, university, monastery, or military camp. It functions as a localized healthcare unit providing first aid and short-term nursing care for the members of that institution.

Explanation

A constellation is a term used to describe a recognizable group of stars that forms a specific pattern or shape when viewed from Earth. These configurations are often named after mythological characters, animals, or objects and serve as a map for astronomers to divide the night sky into distinct regions for the identification and location of celestial bodies.

Explanation

The word dilemma is misspelled because it incorrectly includes a double l. The correct spelling is dilemma, which originates from the Greek roots di, meaning two, and lemma, meaning a premise or proposition. It refers to a situation requiring a choice between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones. In standard English orthography, the word contains only one l followed by a double m.

Explanation

To convert a yes/no question from direct to indirect speech, use whether/if as a conjunction, change the interrogative word order to assertive, and shift the tense from simple present to simple past. Option B correctly changes is the door closed to whether the door was closed.

Explanation

The verb analysed is the most suitable choice because it refers to the systematic examination of data or information to identify patterns, relationships, or trends. In the context of student marks and comparing performance, one must evaluate and interpret the numerical data to draw meaningful conclusions. This methodical approach to examining information to understand its nature or determine its essential features is precisely what analysis entails in an academic or statistical setting.

Explanation

The verb put is irregular and its past tense form is put, not putted. Therefore, the segment Raman putted the vegetables contains the grammatical error.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical narrative sequence beginning with sentence C, which introduces the dispute between the wind and the sun. Sentence B follows by stating they agreed to resolve the dispute with a test, sentence A defines the specific criteria for that test, and sentence D describes the commencement of the actual competition. This sequence (CBAD) maintains chronological and thematic coherence.

Explanation

The word adjust means to alter or modify something to achieve a desired fit or to become used to new conditions, which is most closely synonymous with adapt. While shift and change are related in specific contexts, adapt is the primary synonym used for the process of modification for suitability.

Explanation

The singular subject medicine requires the singular verb is, and the relative pronoun which refers back to the singular pronoun one, necessitating the singular auxiliary verb has instead of have. Choice A correctly applies these subject-verb agreement rules.

Explanation

The given sentence is an imperative sentence, which is converted into passive voice using the structure: Let + object + be + V3 (past participle). Option D correctly follows this grammatical rule, whereas the other options contain structural errors.

Explanation

The idiom "at the eleventh hour" refers to the latest possible moment or the very last minute before an event or deadline. It is a figurative expression and does not refer to a specific time on the clock.

Explanation

The term New Year's resolution is a common idiomatic expression referring to a firm decision or goal one sets at the start of the year. Thinking positively is a typical personal goal, which fits the definition of a resolution perfectly compared to the other options.

Explanation

Magnificent refers to something grand, impressive, or extravagant, whereas modest refers to something simple, humble, or moderate, making it the most appropriate antonym. Options A, C, and D are synonyms or related in meaning to magnificent.

Explanation

The word hazard means a danger, risk, or source of harm. The most appropriate antonym is safety, which refers to the state of being protected from or not exposed to danger.

Explanation

The adjective pleased is typically followed by the preposition with when expressing satisfaction with someone or something. In this sentence, to John's should be replaced with with John's to be grammatically correct.

Explanation

Sentence C sets the chronological beginning of the narrative by establishing the time and the action of returning home. Sentence A logically follows as the immediate observation made upon reaching the house, discovering it was unlocked. Sentence D describes the emotional and physical reaction to that discovery, where the narrator rushes inside fearing a robbery. Sentence B concludes the sequence by providing the resolution to the mystery, explaining that the son's arrival with a spare key was the cause of the unlocked door.

Explanation

The word slack means characterized by a lack of attention, effort, or energy, making careless the most appropriate synonym among the given options. Options A, C, and D are antonyms or near-antonyms that describe high levels of energy or focus.

Explanation

The sentence requires the passive voice construction (are + past participle) to describe how the produce is cultivated. Since grown is the past participle form of the verb grow, it is the grammatically correct choice to follow the auxiliary verb are.

Explanation

The term locally is the most appropriate adverb to describe farm-produced goods in this context, indicating they are grown within the region by the local population. Closely does not make semantic sense when describing the origin or production method of vegetables and fruits.

Explanation

The phrase the majority of the population is the standard idiomatic expression used to describe a large part of a group, especially when referring to demographic statistics. It fits the grammatical structure and the context of the sentence perfectly, whereas the other options are either grammatically incorrect or semantically awkward.