SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word associate is correctly spelled as a-s-s-o-c-i-a-t-e. In this context, it functions as a verb meaning to connect with or spend time with a specific person or group. The spelling is derived from the Latin root associare, which combines the prefix ad- (meaning to) with sociare (meaning to join or share), resulting in the standard English form used to describe social or mental connections.

Explanation

When converting the direct speech sentence into indirect speech, the reporting verb said, combined with the affirmative Yes, is correctly represented by the verb admitted. Following the rules of backshifting, since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present tense am in the original statement changes to the past tense was. The first-person pronoun I is changed to the third-person feminine pronoun she to maintain reference to the speaker, Priya. The conjunction that is used to introduce the reported clause, resulting in a grammatically accurate indirect statement.

Explanation

The term extempore is derived from the Latin phrase ex tempore, which literally translates to out of the time or at the moment. In the context of oratory and linguistics, it is used to describe a speech, performance, or piece of music that is delivered without any prior preparation, planning, or rehearsal. It signifies the act of speaking or performing on the spur of the moment, often requiring the speaker to organize their thoughts and arguments instantaneously upon being given a topic. This method of delivery is a standard requirement in competitive public speaking and debating where participants must demonstrate quick thinking and fluent articulation without the aid of notes or prepared scripts.

Explanation

The idiom reach fever pitch refers to a state of extreme excitement, agitation, or intensity. It is used to describe a situation where emotions, public interest, or activity levels heighten to such a degree that they become almost uncontrollable or reach a peak of intensity. In the context of a competitive event like a football match, it signifies that the atmosphere and the feelings of the participants or spectators have become overwhelmingly powerful and passionate.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the preposition to after the verb confided. In English grammar, the phrasal verb confide in is used when expressing that someone shares secrets or private matters with another person because they trust them. Since the context of the sentence involves King Lear placing his trust and sharing his thoughts with Cordelia, the verb should be followed by the preposition in. The usage of confide to is typically reserved for instances where a direct object, such as the specific secret or information being shared, is mentioned before the prepositional phrase, for example, Lear confided his fears to Cordelia. Because the direct object is absent here, confided in is the grammatically correct choice.

Explanation

The term discharged is the specific technical and formal verb used in a medical context to describe the official process of allowing a patient to leave a hospital. It signifies that the patient has completed their treatment or that the medical authorities have formally authorized their departure from the facility. Unlike general terms for leaving a place, discharge implies a formal administrative and clinical conclusion to a period of inpatient care.

Explanation

The sentence The keys have been forgotten by Jyoti is in the passive voice of the present perfect tense. The structure for present perfect passive is Subject + has/have + been + past participle (V3) + by + Agent. To convert this into the active voice, the agent Jyoti becomes the subject, and the recipient the keys becomes the direct object. The active voice structure for the present perfect tense is Subject + has/have + past participle (V3) + Object. Since Jyoti is a singular noun, it takes the auxiliary verb has followed by the past participle forgotten. Therefore, the active sentence is Jyoti has forgotten the keys.

Explanation

The word polite describes someone who shows good manners, respect, and consideration for others in their speech and behavior. The term rude serves as its direct antonym because it characterizes behavior that is discourteous, ill-mannered, or intentionally offensive. While a polite person adheres to social etiquette and shows kindness, a rude person disregards these norms, exhibiting a lack of respect or civility.

Explanation

The word precise means characterized by being exact, accurate, and definite in detail. In the context of medical testing, it refers to the high degree of accuracy or specificity of a test result. The word rough is used to describe something that is approximate, not exact, or lacking in detail and precision. Therefore, rough acts as the most suitable antonym for precise, as it represents the opposite of being exact or accurate.

Explanation

Sentence P introduces the primary ecological role of many deadwood beetle species, which is the recycling of nutrients in woodlands. Sentence S logically follows P because it elaborates on the specific mechanism of this recycling process, explaining how the beetles work with fungi and bacteria to break down wood and return nutrients to the soil. Once the explanation of nutrient recycling is complete, sentence Q introduces a different functional role regarding pest control through predation and parasitism. Sentence R concludes the sequence by using the transition word Others to add a final, recently discovered role of these beetles as pollinators.

Explanation

The term populous is the most appropriate adjective to describe a country or region that has a large number of inhabitants. While the word populated simply indicates that an area is inhabited by people, populous specifically emphasizes the scale or density of the population. In the context of a sentence mentioning 120 million people, populous provides the necessary descriptive weight to signify a high population count, aligning with standard grammatical usage for demographic descriptions of nations.

Explanation

The verb accuse is correctly followed by the preposition of rather than for. Therefore, the phrase accuses him for contains a grammatical error and should be accuses him of.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the Simple Present tense, following the structure: Subject + V1 + Object. To convert this into passive voice, the object (Cantonese) becomes the new subject, followed by the auxiliary verb (is/am/are) and the past participle (V3) of the main verb. For the singular subject Cantonese in the present tense, the auxiliary verb is is and the past participle of speak is spoken. In passive constructions where the agent is obvious or general, such as people, the by-agent phrase is typically omitted for conciseness. Therefore, the correct passive form is: Cantonese is spoken in Hong-Kong.

Explanation

The word quit is the most appropriate collocation in this context because it specifically denotes the permanent cessation of a habit, addiction, or regular practice. In English, quit drinking or quit smoking are standard idiomatic expressions used to describe giving up a behavioral pattern or lifestyle choice, especially after realizing its harmful consequences.

Explanation

The phrase little over is a standard idiomatic expression used to indicate a duration that is slightly more than a specific amount of time. In this context, little over a year ago means that the event occurred slightly more than twelve months prior. The word little acts as an adverb of degree that modifies the preposition over to signify a small margin beyond the one-year mark.

Explanation

The sentence describes the origin of the capital Rama Rao used to establish his business agency. Inherited is the most appropriate term here as it indicates that the money he used for the security deposit was acquired through a legacy or succession from his family. In the context of the story, this highlights that he invested his personal or family savings into the venture that eventually failed due to external economic circumstances.

Explanation

The word enough is used to indicate a sufficient amount or degree. In the context of the passage, the subsequent phrase just enough to help him keep his wife and children in good comfort explicitly defines the quantity of money Rama Rao earned from his business. The repetition of the concept of sufficiency reinforces that his income was adequate for his family's needs during those five years. Grammatically, enough functions as an adjective modifying the uncountable noun money to show that the amount earned met the required standard for a comfortable life.

Explanation

The idiom a bolt from the blue refers to an event that happens suddenly and unexpectedly, much like a lightning bolt appearing from a clear blue sky. In the context of the passage, Rama Rao's business had been stable and providing a comfortable living for five years. The sudden collapse of the gramophone company and the resulting loss of his job and security deposit occurred abruptly, making this phrase the most appropriate choice to describe the unexpected misfortune that befell him.

Explanation

In the context of trade, commerce, banking, and politics, the word circumstances refers to the state of affairs or the set of conditions that influence an event or situation. The passage explains that the gramophone company went out of existence due to a series of external developments in these sectors. These broader economic and political occurrences are collectively described as circumstances, which characterize the environment leading to Rama Rao's loss of employment and the forfeiture of his security deposit. This usage aligns with the narrative where the protagonist's downfall is attributed to systemic shifts and external factors beyond his control.

Explanation

In English grammar, a collocation is a pair or group of words that are habitually used together to sound natural to native speakers. When describing the imposition of a significant financial penalty, the adverb heavily is the standard intensifier used with the verb fined. The phrase heavily fined is a common idiomatic expression in legal and regulatory contexts to indicate that the amount of money charged for a violation or infraction is substantial. This specific combination is used to emphasize the severity of the punishment.

Explanation

The idiom fair and square refers to something done in an honest, direct, and straightforward manner, strictly according to the rules. It is commonly used to emphasize that a victory or a deal was achieved without any cheating, deception, or unfair advantage. The word fair denotes justice and impartiality, while square in this context implies being level, balanced, and upright in conduct.

Explanation

The sentence establishes a past timeframe with the clause when I was young. The modal verb could is the past tense of can and is used to express a general ability or capacity that existed in the past. Substituting the original phrase with could swim across maintains grammatical consistency and accurately conveys that the speaker had the ability to perform the action during that specific period of their life.

Explanation

The phrase of side this track contains a prepositional error. In English, the preposition of is used to indicate belonging, origin, or composition, which does not fit the spatial context of the sentence. To describe a position relative to a boundary like a track, the correct term should be off or outside. The combination of side is not a standard prepositional structure for indicating location, making the entire underlined portion grammatically unsound.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression to pay a visit is a standard English collocation used to describe the act of visiting a person or a place. When a specific individual is being visited, the phrase typically takes the form pay someone a visit. In this context, because the subject misses him, the decision to pay him a visit is the only idiomatically accurate way to complete the sentence.

Explanation

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, the reporting verb said to changes to told. The first-person pronoun I changes to she to match the subject Latika. In terms of tense, the simple past tense got must be converted into the past perfect tense had got because the reporting verb is in the past tense. Furthermore, the demonstrative adjective this changes to that to indicate the shift in perspective. The conjunction that is used to link the reporting clause with the reported statement. Combining these changes results in the sentence: Latika told him that she had got a hefty discount on that television.

Explanation

A negotiator is a person who conducts discussions and attempts to reach a settlement or agreement, particularly in business, politics, or complex situations. Their primary role is to act as an intermediary between two or more parties to facilitate communication, resolve differences, and find a mutually acceptable resolution or conclude a deal. In situations involving conflicting interests or intricate details, the negotiator uses communication skills and strategic thinking to bridge the gap between parties and secure a favorable outcome.

Explanation

Ambition refers to a strong desire, drive, and determination to achieve success, reach a goal, or accomplish something through hard work and persistent effort. In direct contrast, laziness is the quality of being unwilling to work or use energy, characterized by a lack of motivation and a preference for idleness over action. While ambition represents the proactive pursuit of objectives, laziness represents the absence of such initiative and industriousness, making it the most appropriate antonym.

Explanation

The word stagnant refers to a state of being still, not flowing, or lacking movement and vitality. In the provided sentence, the word motionless describes a physical state of being fixed in one place without any movement, which serves as a direct synonym for the lack of motion implied by stagnant. Both terms characterize a condition where activity or progress has ceased, making them interchangeable in contexts describing a lack of physical displacement or flow.

Explanation

The phrase the year before last is the standard idiomatic expression in English used to refer to two years ago, or the calendar year immediately preceding the previous one. It functions as a temporal adverbial phrase that correctly establishes the timeframe for the action described. The construction follows a specific logical sequence where last identifies the most recent completed year, and the year before identifies the specific period prior to that, making it the grammatically appropriate substitute in this sentence.

Explanation

The active sentence is in the Simple Past tense, following the structure: Subject + V2 + Object. To convert a Simple Past active sentence into the passive voice, the structure used is: Object + was/were + V3 (past participle) + by + Subject.

In the given sentence, the subject is the new owners, the verb is hired, and the object is a lot of new servers. Since the object a lot of new servers is plural, the auxiliary verb were is required. Combining these elements results in the passive construction where a lot of new servers becomes the subject, followed by were hired and the agent by the new owners.

Explanation

The adjective raucous is used to describe a sound that is disturbingly harsh and loud. Its correct spelling is r-a-u-c-o-u-s, which originates from the Latin word raucus meaning hoarse. The sentence follows the standard rules of English orthography for all its terms, including the past tense verb heard and the noun laughter. All words are placed in the correct grammatical order to form a clear and error-free statement.

Explanation

The term void refers to an empty space, a vacuum, or a total lack of something. In the context of differences between people of different ages, it signifies a lack of common understanding or a break in continuity. The word gap is a direct synonym that denotes a break in a barrier or a significant difference in views and experience. The phrase generation gap is a standard idiomatic expression used to describe the social and cultural differences between younger and older generations.

Explanation

The term peril denotes serious and immediate danger or the exposure to the risk of being injured, destroyed, or lost. In the context of the provided sentence, it refers to the grave health risks and life-threatening dangers associated with the habit of smoking tobacco. The word hazard is a precise synonym because it specifically identifies a source of danger or a risk that could lead to harm or adverse effects. Using either word emphasizes the inherent threats to physical well-being posed by tobacco consumption.

Explanation

The sentence requires the Present Perfect Continuous tense to describe an action that began in the past and is still continuing in the present, specifically indicated by the time phrase for the past ten years. The standard grammatical structure for this tense is Subject + has/have + been + present participle (verb+ing). Since the subject is the first-person singular pronoun I, it must be paired with the auxiliary verb have, resulting in the correct phrase have been working.

Explanation

The idiom spick and span means neat, clean, and well-organized. Since the context of the sentence describes a transition from a messy environment to one where everything is kept in order, this phrase appropriately describes the current tidy condition of the room.

Explanation

The segment is invisible from contains a prepositional error. In English grammar, the adjective invisible is followed by the preposition to when referring to the person or thing unable to see something. Therefore, the phrase should correctly read as invisible to the naked eye. The preposition from is used to indicate a source or starting point, which does not fit the context of visual perception in this sentence.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the interrogative form of the Past Perfect tense (Had + Subject + V3 + Object). When converting an active voice sentence in the Past Perfect tense into passive voice, the structure follows the formula: Had + Object + been + Past Participle (V3) + by + Subject. In the case of a negative interrogative sentence, the word not is placed after the new subject. Applying this rule, the object the exam becomes the subject, the auxiliary been is added after the negation, and the pronoun they changes to its objective form them. Thus, the passive construction becomes Had the exam not been cleared by them?

Explanation

The paragraph begins with sentence R, which establishes the primary theme by comparing the expected economic stimulus of Tokyo 2020 to the historical success of the Tokyo 1964 Olympics. Sentence S logically follows R because the phrase that Olympics directly refers back to the 1964 Games mentioned in R, detailing the infrastructure investments like the Shinkansen. Sentence P provides further specific examples of the urban infrastructure built during that period, such as the expressway linking Haneda airport and the widening of city arteries. Finally, sentence Q concludes the paragraph by using the demonstrative phrase These infrastructure improvements to summarize the projects mentioned in S and P, linking them to the subsequent Japanese economic miracle. This sequence moves from a general historical comparison to specific examples and then to their long-term results.

Explanation

The spelling of occurrence follows standard English orthographic rules regarding the doubling of consonants. When a suffix beginning with a vowel, such as -ence, is added to a multi-syllable verb that ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern and has the stress on the final syllable, like occur, the final consonant must be doubled. This results in the double r seen in the word. Additionally, the word is derived from the Latin occurrere, which determines the use of the -ence suffix rather than -ance. Therefore, the correct spelling requires double c, double r, and the e-n-c-e termination.

Explanation

The sentence follows the structure of the present perfect tense, which is formed using the auxiliary verb has or have followed by the past participle (V₃) of the main verb. For the verb become, the principal forms are become (present), became (simple past), and become (past participle). Given the presence of the auxiliary verb has, the past participle form become is grammatically required to complete the verb phrase has become.

Explanation

The word prone means having a natural tendency or being susceptible to something, usually something negative like stress, injury, or illness. In the context of the sentence, it describes how teenagers are particularly vulnerable to academic stress because of the significant personal and social transitions they undergo during adolescence. The adjective prone is idiomatic when followed by the preposition to, making it the most linguistically and contextually appropriate fit to describe a state of vulnerability.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the need for designing strategies to address and mitigate the negative impact of academic stress on students. An intervention refers to a systematic and intentional action or set of measures taken to improve a situation or solve a problem, especially in educational and psychological contexts. Therefore, designing intervention solutions involves creating structured programs and support systems specifically aimed at helping teenagers manage stress and improve their academic well-being.

Explanation

The sentence structure one of the followed by a plural noun requires a superlative adjective to define the significance of exams. In the context of the passage, exams are described as high-stakes events that everyone wants to perform well in to avoid future failure. The term crucial signifies something that is extremely important or necessary for the success or failure of something else. This accurately reflects the pivotal role exams play in determining a person's academic progress and future career opportunities.

Explanation

In the context of academic performance and the fear of failure, individuals strive to succeed to ensure a clear and defined path for their professional and personal growth. Failing an exam creates a state of uncertainty regarding next steps, career progression, and the achievement of long-term goals. Avoiding ambiguity, which refers to a lack of clarity or a state of being uncertain about the future, is a primary motivator for performing well. Success provides a sense of certainty and stability, allowing individuals to plan their lives with a precise understanding of their available opportunities and expected trajectory.

Explanation

The paragraph follows a logical progression from a general introduction to specific details. Sentence R serves as the introductory statement by establishing the broad topic of eye protection. Sentence P naturally follows R by listing general examples of protective measures like lighting and breaks. Sentence Q uses the transition word "However" to pivot from these general methods to one specific, easy habit known as the "20-20-20 rule". Sentence S concludes the paragraph by defining the specific mechanics of the rule mentioned in Q, ensuring a coherent flow of information.

Explanation

The word attracts means to draw in, interest, or pull someone or something toward a particular place or thing. In the context of the sentence, the temple pulls tourists and pilgrims toward it due to its historical and artistic significance. The word deters is the direct antonym as it means to discourage, prevent, or turn someone away from a particular course of action or location. While attracting creates an incentive for people to visit, deterring creates a barrier or reason to stay away.

Explanation

The idiom left no stones unturned means to make every possible effort, to use every available resource, or to exhaust all possibilities to achieve a specific goal. In the context of the sentence, it indicates that the student tried every possible method and did everything in their power to persuade their mother to grant permission for the school excursion to the Himalayas. This expression is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is thorough and persistent in their attempt to reach an objective or solve a problem.

Explanation

The passive sentence is in the Present Continuous tense, indicated by the construction is + being + V3 (demanded). To convert an interrogative sentence in this tense to its active form, the structure must be: Wh-word + am/is/are + subject + V1-ing + object + ?. Here, the agent in the passive voice (you) becomes the subject in the active voice. Since the subject is you, the appropriate helping verb is are. The main verb changes from being demanded to the present participle form demanding, and the subject of the passive sentence (peace) becomes the object of the active sentence. Applying these transformations results in the active sentence: Why are you demanding peace?

Explanation

In the context of sharing stories or anecdotes, the word hysterical is an informal adjective used to describe something that is extremely funny or hilarious. It implies that the stories were so amusing that they provoked uncontrollable laughter.

Explanation

Physical abuse is a standard and widely recognized term used to describe non-accidental bodily injury or trauma inflicted by one person upon another. It is a specific category of maltreatment that involves the use of force resulting in pain, injury, or physical impairment. In English grammar and social discourse, the word physical frequently collocates with abuse to identify this particular form of harm, making it the most appropriate choice for completing the sentence accurately within a legal or descriptive context.