SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The term emitted is the most appropriate word to describe the release or discharge of gases, smoke, or radiation into the atmosphere from a specific source. In environmental and technical contexts, chimneys and vehicle exhausts are said to emit pollutants, as the word specifically denotes the process of sending out or giving off substances from a contained environment into the open air.

Explanation

The context of the passage focuses on the destructive impact of pollution on the natural world. In ecology, nature is typically characterized by a state of equilibrium or stability. Environmental pollution acts as a disruptive force that disturbs this equilibrium, leading to a state of imbalance. This lack of proportion or stability in the environment is what directly causes negative consequences such as the threat to the survival of various species of birds, animals, and plants mentioned in the subsequent part of the sentence.

Explanation

The passage describes the detrimental effects of pollution on the natural environment. The phrase on the verge of is a standard idiomatic expression used to indicate that something is very close to a specific state or event, often a negative one. In biological and environmental contexts, when species such as birds, animals, and plants are threatened by habitat destruction and poisonous gases, they face the risk of dying out completely. Extinction refers to the end of an organism or a group of organisms, making it the logically correct choice to describe the terminal threat posed to biodiversity by environmental pollution.

Explanation

The sentence identifies a solution to the ongoing crisis of environmental degradation. To eradicate means to completely destroy, get rid of, or eliminate something that is considered harmful or undesirable. Given that the passage describes pollution as a force destroying nature and pushing species to the verge of extinction, the verb eradicate appropriately conveys the intended goal of removing this threat through the massive planting of trees.

Explanation

The sentence structure uses the coordinating conjunction and to link the blank with the word protect. In this context, the passage discusses the harmful effects of pollution and the necessity of planting trees to save nature. Therefore, the required word must be a verb that conveys a positive action consistent with environmental conservation. To preserve means to maintain something in its original or existing state or to keep it safe from harm or injury. This aligns perfectly with the responsibility of safeguarding the environment mentioned in the text.

Explanation

The idiom a snake in the grass refers to a treacherous or deceitful person who pretends to be a friend while secretly harboring malicious intentions. The phrase draws an analogy to a snake camouflaged in tall grass, which remains invisible to a passerby until it strikes unexpectedly. It is used to describe a hidden enemy or an untrustworthy individual who poses a danger that is not immediately apparent.

Explanation

The word famished describes a state of extreme hunger or being starved. Its antonym is satiated, which refers to being fully satisfied or filled to capacity, particularly regarding food or desire, such that one no longer feels the need for more. While famished represents a severe deficit or lack, satiated represents a state of complete fulfillment or abundance.

Explanation

In the conversion of indirect speech to direct speech for imperative sentences, the reporting verb told followed by an infinitive phrase to stay away indicates a command or instruction. The reporting verb in the direct speech must maintain the past tense, represented here by said. The children, who were the object of the reporting verb in indirect speech, are addressed directly in the vocative case within the quotation marks. The infinitive to stay away is converted back to the imperative form stay away, which is the standard way to express an order or direction in direct speech.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the Present Perfect Passive voice, which follows the structure: Subject + has/have + been + past participle (V3) + by + Agent. To convert this into the Active voice, the agent of the action (a stray dog) becomes the subject, and the recipient of the action (the watchman) becomes the object. The verb form for the Present Perfect Active is: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3) + Object. In this case, the singular subject "a stray dog" requires the auxiliary verb "has" followed by the past participle "bitten" to complete the transformation.

Explanation

Feeble refers to a state of being weak, frail, or lacking in physical or mental strength, often as a result of age, illness, or lack of force. The word strong serves as the most appropriate antonym because it denotes possessing great power, robustness, and the physical or mental capacity to exert significant force or withstand pressure.

Explanation

The word Annivarsary is misspelled. The correct spelling is Anniversary, which is derived from the Latin words annus (year) and versus (past participle of vertere, to turn). It refers to the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event. In the correct spelling, the letter v is followed by the vowel e, not a.

Explanation

Sentence D serves as the introductory statement of the paragraph, establishing the primary subjects (two brothers) and the setting (adjoining farms). Sentence A follows by providing descriptive details about their long-term relationship and history of smooth cooperation. Sentence B introduces a narrative shift using the transition word Then, which presents the first conflict to occur after forty years of harmony. Sentence C concludes the sequence by describing the final consequence of that conflict, where their long-standing collaboration unfortunately fell apart. This arrangement follows a logical chronological order: introduction, background of cooperation, the onset of a quarrel, and the ultimate result.

Explanation

The term resilient refers to the capacity of an individual or system to recover quickly from difficulties, setbacks, or trauma. It signifies psychological or physical toughness and the ability to regain a positive state of mind or successful trajectory after facing adversity. This quality of bouncing back or maintaining flexibility in the face of stress is the defining characteristic of resilience in both emotional health and material science.

Explanation

The sentence follows the correlative conjunction structure Hardly... when, which is used to describe an event that happens immediately after another. In this construction, when the sentence begins with Hardly, it triggers inversion where the auxiliary verb had precedes the subject we. Since the past perfect tense is used, the auxiliary had must be followed by the past participle form of the verb, which is got. Additionally, the adverb Hardly is traditionally paired with the conjunction when or before to introduce the second clause. Therefore, the phrase we got in when correctly satisfies both the requirement for the past participle and the proper correlative pairing.

Explanation

The word arid describes a climate, land, or region that is characterized by a severe lack of available water, moisture, or rainfall. It typically refers to environments that are too parched or barren to support significant vegetation. The word dry is the most accurate synonym as it directly denotes the absence of wetness or moisture, which is the defining characteristic of an arid environment.

Explanation

The term vertebrate is used to describe any animal that possesses a vertebral column or backbone. This skeletal structure consists of individual bones called vertebrae that surround and protect the spinal cord, which is the main bundle of nerves connecting the brain to the rest of the body. In the biological classification system, these animals belong to the subphylum Vertebrata, and the presence of this bony or cartilaginous spine is their defining anatomical characteristic.

Explanation

The term coward refers to a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things. In the given sentence, Mohan's refusal to enter the dark lane indicates a lack of bravery or a sense of fear, making coward the logically and contextually appropriate noun to describe his behavior.

Explanation

The error in this sentence is related to subject-verb agreement. The subject is "A shop nearby", where the head noun "shop" is singular. In the simple present tense, a singular subject requires a singular verb, which typically ends in "s" or "es". Therefore, the plural verb "sell" is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with the singular form "sells" to agree with the singular noun "shop".

Explanation

The sentence requires the present perfect tense because it uses the preposition since to indicate an action that started in the past and continues into the present. The simple past tense lived implies a completed action with no connection to the current time. According to the rules of English grammar, when since is used as a time marker for duration, the main verb should be in the present perfect form, such as has lived, or the present perfect continuous form, such as has been living. Therefore, the segment Smita lived is grammatically incorrect.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the preposition of in the phrase a doctor of. In English, when referring to a person's place of employment or their professional association with a specific institution like a hospital, the preposition at or in is required. The preposition of is typically used to denote a specific academic degree or a field of expertise, such as a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Philosophy. Since the sentence refers to the subject's previous workplace, it should correctly state that he was a doctor at the corporate hospital to indicate his location of service.

Explanation

The phrasal verb make up is the correct idiomatic choice in this context. To make up one's mind is a standard English expression that means to reach a decision or to resolve a doubt. In the sentence provided, the speaker is expressing an inability to decide whether to take a winter vacation, making make up the appropriate substitution for make out. While make out pertains to understanding or perceiving something with difficulty, it is not used in the specific idiomatic structure concerning one's mind or decision-making process. The use of make up ensures the sentence conveys the intended meaning of making a choice or coming to a conclusion.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the present perfect passive voice, characterized by the structure have been + past participle (informed). To convert this into the active voice, the tense must remain consistent as present perfect, which uses the structure has/have + past participle. The implied agent of the action, They (derived from the context of their decision), becomes the subject of the active sentence, while the passive subject I becomes the object me. Consequently, the active form is They have informed me of their decision.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is Our team, which is a collective noun. In standard English grammar, collective nouns are treated as singular units when the group acts as a single entity. Therefore, the singular subject Our team requires the singular auxiliary verb has instead of the plural have to maintain subject-verb agreement. The correct sentence should be Our team has won the match.

Explanation

The verb arrived is the grammatically correct choice because it is followed by the preposition at to indicate reaching a specific destination or location, such as at work. In English grammar, arrive functions as an intransitive verb that typically requires a preposition like at or in to connect with a location. The sentence describes the physical act of the banker reaching his office the next morning, making arrived at the standard idiomatic expression for this context.

Explanation

The passage establishes in the first sentence that the banker taped a picture to his office wall. In the following sentence, the text describes the situation the banker encountered the next morning regarding that specific item. To maintain logical consistency and referential cohesion within the narrative, the noun must identify the object that was previously mentioned as being placed on the wall. Therefore, the word picture correctly identifies the item that was covered by the notice.

Explanation

The word large is the most appropriate adjective to describe the physical size of the notice in this context. Since the text specifies that the notice covered the child's drawing, it emphasizes the physical dimensions of the paper or placard used by the office administration. In standard English usage, large is the most natural and direct descriptor for the size of signs, notices, or posters to indicate that they occupy a significant amount of space or are highly visible.

Explanation

The phrase in violation of is a standard idiomatic expression used to indicate that an action has broken or failed to comply with a specific rule, law, or agreement. In a professional or corporate context, failing to adhere to established guidelines, such as the company policy mentioned in the passage regarding personal items, is formally described as a violation. This term accurately reflects the administrative and disciplinary tone of the notice placed on the banker's wall.

Explanation

The word such is used as a pre-determiner to refer back to a quality or type of thing previously described in the text. In English grammar, the standard construction for referring to a specific type of singular countable noun is such + a/an + noun. In this passage, such a reaction refers to the act of the company placing a formal notice over a child's drawing to enforce a rigid policy. It correctly characterizes the nature of the event mentioned in the preceding sentences while following the required grammatical structure for the indefinite article a that follows the blank.

Explanation

A harpoon is a long, spear-like instrument specifically designed for hunting and capturing large marine animals such as whales, sharks, and big fish. It typically features a barbed metal point that hooks into the prey and is attached to a rope or line, allowing the hunter to retrieve the catch or maintain a connection to the animal until it is exhausted.

Explanation

The word triumphant refers to the state of having achieved a great victory or success, often accompanied by a sense of pride or jubilation. It is derived from the Latin triumphare, meaning to celebrate a triumph. Victorious is its closest synonym as it specifically describes someone who has won a battle, competition, or struggle. Both words characterize the successful outcome of a contest or effort, signifying that the individual or group has overcome an opponent or obstacle to emerge as the winner.

Explanation

The word admirable is used to describe someone or something that deserves respect, praise, or approval because of its excellent qualities. The term unworthy refers to something that lacks merit, value, or the necessary qualities to deserve respect or attention. Therefore, unworthy is the most appropriate antonym as it represents the absence of the deserving nature implied by admirable.

Explanation

The noun homework is an uncountable noun and is always treated as singular in English grammar. Therefore, it requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. In the given sentence, the plural verb are is used with the singular subject holiday homework, which is grammatically incorrect. The verb should be replaced with is to make the sentence correct. The use of the gerund keeping after the prepositional phrase essential to is grammatically acceptable in this context to indicate the purpose or result of the homework.

Explanation

The sentence utilizes an inverted structure for emphasis, beginning with the adverbial phrase "So dangerous." When a sentence is inverted using the auxiliary verb "did," the main verb must always be in its base form (bare infinitive). Since "did" already indicates the past tense, the following verb "become" does not take any tense markers or inflections. This grammatical rule ensures that the auxiliary carries the tense while the principal verb remains in its simplest form.

Explanation

The sentence requires a comparative adjective modified by an intensifier to correctly describe the shops. In English grammar, intensifiers such as far, much, or way are used to modify comparative adjectives like nicer to indicate a significant difference in degree. The original phrase a bit nice is grammatically incorrect in this context because a bit typically modifies comparative adjectives or is used in the construction a bit of a. By using far nicer, the sentence correctly conveys that the shops in the town centre are of much higher quality compared to others.

Explanation

The sentence is intended as a polite request made in the present moment. The expression Would you be so kind as to is a standard, idiomatic formula used to ask someone to do something politely. The construction uses the present conditional form of the verb to be to soften the request. The original phrasing Would you have been incorrectly uses the perfect conditional, which typically refers to hypothetical situations in the past rather than a current request for action. Therefore, substituting it with Would you be ensures grammatical accuracy and maintains the appropriate tone for a polite directive.

Explanation

The sentence follows a standard and grammatically sound structure consisting of a subject, a transitive verb, and a direct object. Mrs. Verma serves as the proper noun subject, followed by the verb refused in the simple past tense. The direct object the second helping correctly employs the definite article with the ordinal number second and the noun helping, which specifically refers to an additional portion of food. The terminal prepositional phrase of ice cream accurately modifies the noun to specify the substance. Since there are no issues with subject-verb agreement, tense, or article usage, the sentence contains no grammatical errors.

Explanation

To convert the sentence from direct to indirect speech, several specific changes must be applied. The reporting verb said to changes to told when followed by an object. The conjunction that is introduced to link the reporting clause with the reported clause. In the reported speech, the first-person pronoun I shifts to she to agree with the subject of the reporting verb. The simple past tense saw is changed to the past perfect had seen because the reporting verb is in the past tense. Additionally, words expressing nearness in time or place are changed to words expressing distance: the demonstrative this becomes that, and the adverb ago is replaced by before. Applying these rules, the sentence becomes She told me that she had seen that old man long before.

Explanation

The word primary is used to describe something that is of first importance, fundamental, or occurring first in a sequence. Its direct antonym is secondary, which refers to things that are of lesser importance, subordinate, or derived from a primary source. This relationship is commonly seen in contexts such as education levels, research sources, and hierarchical structures where primary denotes the principal element and secondary denotes the subsequent or auxiliary element.

Explanation

The error lies in the phrase export from India because the sentence is written in the passive voice. In English grammar, when the subject of a sentence (Handicrafts) receives the action rather than performing it, the passive voice construction must be used. This requires a form of the verb to be followed by the past participle (V3) of the main verb. Therefore, the base form export must be replaced with the past participle exported to correctly indicate that the handicrafts are being sent out of the country. The corrected sentence should read: Handicrafts are exported from India to several European countries.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the adjective slow to modify the verb phrase get up. In standard English grammar, an adverb is required to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Therefore, the adjective slow should be replaced by the adverb slowly to correctly modify the verb and maintain grammatical accuracy. Adverbs of manner typically follow the verb they describe, and while slow is sometimes used informally as an adverb, the formal requirement in this context is the adverbial form ending in -ly.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a chronological and logical progression starting with statement D, which introduces Jane Goodall and her upbringing in Bournemouth. Statement C provides a specific anecdote from her childhood that illustrates her innate patience and interest in animals. Statement B moves the narrative forward in time to 1957, describing her move to Kenya and her meeting with Louis Leakey. Statement A concludes the sequence because the pronoun he refers back to Louis Leakey mentioned in the previous statement, explaining that her childhood patience led him to select her for the chimpanzee mission.

Explanation

The idiom eat like a horse is a figurative expression used to describe someone who habitually eats a very large amount of food. It draws a comparison between a person's appetite and the significant volume of consumption characteristic of a horse, which requires a high caloric intake due to its size and physical demands. In the context of a lavish party, the phrase indicates that the individual is consuming food in an excessive or voracious manner.

Explanation

The word in option d is misspelled as Pathatic. The correct spelling is Pathetic, which is an adjective used to describe something that evokes pity, sadness, or is miserably inadequate. It originates from the Greek word pathetikos, meaning sensitive or capable of feeling. In English, the second vowel in the word is e rather than a.

Explanation

A larder is a room or large cupboard used for storing food, especially meat, dairy products, and other household provisions. The term originates from the historical practice of storing lard and preserved meats in a cool, dedicated space to keep them fresh before the advent of modern refrigeration. In contemporary usage, it serves as a pantry or a specific storage area within a kitchen for dry goods and various food supplies.

Explanation

The idiom pay heed to means to give serious attention or notice to someone or something. The word heed itself is a synonym for attention or care. When an individual pays heed, they are listening closely, taking advice into account, or minding a warning with careful consideration. It is commonly used in formal contexts to emphasize the importance of focus and responsiveness to information or instructions being provided.

Explanation

The sentence is in the passive voice using the modal verb should not be followed by the past participle washed. To convert this into active voice, the structure must change to Subject + should + not + V1 (base form of the verb) + Object. Since the original sentence does not specify an agent, the pronoun you is used as the implied subject. Therefore, should not be washed becomes should not wash, and the coloured clothes becomes the object of the action.

Explanation

The word bare refers to something that is fundamental, simple, or stripped of all non-essential additions. It denotes the most primary or minimal state of an object or concept, such as the bare essentials. The term basic is a direct synonym because it also refers to things that are essential, fundamental, or form the foundation of something, lacking any extra or decorative features.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the future perfect passive voice, as indicated by the auxiliary construction will have been followed by the past participle closed. To transform this into the active voice, the auxiliary verb been is removed, and the sentence must follow the future perfect active structure which is Subject + will have + V3 (past participle) + Object. Since the passive sentence does not specify an agent, a generic subject like they is introduced. The corresponding active construction is they will have closed the booking, which correctly maintains the tense and the temporal relationship with the subordinate clause when you reach the theatre.

Explanation

The preposition against is used to describe a position in physical contact with or touching a surface, often for support or restraint. In the context of the passage, the hunters secured the lion by binding him in a way that his body was pressed or held firmly touching the trunk of the tree. Using against accurately conveys that the lion was positioned in direct contact with the vertical surface of the tree to prevent his movement or escape.

Explanation

The sentence follows the structure of the Past Continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that was ongoing at a specific point in the past. This tense is formed using the auxiliary verb was or were followed by the present participle, which is the base form of the verb ending in -ing. In this context, the phrase was struggling indicates that the lion was in the middle of a continuous effort to free himself when the mouse encountered him. This grammatical choice effectively conveys the state of the lion and the duration of his distress during the sequence of events in the story.