SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word impede means to delay or prevent someone or something by obstructing them or interfering with their progress. It is derived from the Latin word impedire, which literally means to shackle the feet. Similarly, the word hinder means to create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction. Both terms are used to describe the act of slowing down a process or making an action more difficult to accomplish, making them direct synonyms in the context of obstruction or interference.

Explanation

The word Poliseman is spelled incorrectly according to the standard rules of English orthography. The correct spelling is Policeman, which is a compound word formed by combining police and man. The root word police is derived from the Middle French word police and the Latin word politia, both of which maintain the letter c. In this context, the letter c followed by the vowel e produces the soft s sound. Replacing the letter c with an s results in a misspelling of the common occupational title used to describe a member of a police force.

Explanation

The word vivacious is an adjective used to describe a person who is attractively lively, spirited, and animated. It is derived from the Latin root vivax, meaning long-lived or vigorous, which originates from vivere, meaning to live. When used to describe a speaker, it implies she possesses great vitality and animation. Energetic serves as the most appropriate synonym because it characterizes someone who shows great spirit and activity, directly aligning with the definition of being full of life and vigor.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the passive voice using the simple past tense, as indicated by the auxiliary verb was followed by the past participle opened. To convert this into the active voice, the object of the preposition by (the peon) must become the subject of the sentence. In the simple past tense, the active voice requires the second form of the verb (V2) without an auxiliary verb. Consequently, was opened is replaced by the simple past form opened. The original subject (the gate) then functions as the direct object of the verb, completing the structural shift from the receiver of the action to the performer of the action.

Explanation

Sentence S serves as the introductory statement by identifying the subject, heat pumps, and their projected role in future home heating. Sentence R follows by defining how these devices function, using the demonstrative phrase these devices to refer back to the heat pumps mentioned in S. Sentence P transitions the discussion from technology to economics, noting that they are already available but expensive. Sentence Q provides a logical conclusion to the paragraph by elaborating on the cost factor introduced in P, explaining the variables that determine the final price for a homeowner.

Explanation

The sentence describes a situation where an employee was dismissed from her position due to an illicit action. In English grammar, the phrase to be caught doing something is a standard idiomatic construction used when someone is discovered in the act of performing a prohibited or dishonest deed. Since the subject she is singular, the verb must be the singular past tense was rather than were. The expression she was caught taking school supplies logically explains the cause for being sacked, as it indicates she was discovered stealing or misappropriating property. This substitution provides both the necessary subject-verb agreement and the appropriate contextual meaning for the sentence.

Explanation

The term Legacy refers to traditional or older lighting systems that are currently being transformed by new technologies. In the context of the sentence, Legacy lighting acts as the subject that must evolve to become a disruptor. The sentence follows a logical sequence: the lighting needs to become human-centric (Q) because human physiological and psychological requirements change throughout the day (R), which in turn necessitates that the lighting system adapts to these shifting needs (S). This progression from the traditional state to an adaptive, human-centric model accurately describes modern trends in smart lighting technology.

Explanation

Mercy refers to the compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone who could be punished or treated harshly. Clemency is a direct synonym that signifies leniency or an act of mercy, particularly when exercised by a person in authority to reduce a penalty or show favor to an offender. Both terms describe a disposition to be kind and forgiving rather than severe or vengeful.

Explanation

Ablutions refers to the act of washing one's body, particularly as a ceremonial or ritual purification. The term originates from the Latin word ablutio, which means a washing or cleansing. In formal or religious contexts, it specifically describes the process of cleaning oneself as a prescribed part of a spiritual practice or a routine of personal hygiene.

Explanation

The direct form is constructed by reversing the standard rules of indirect speech. The reporting verb told indicates that the original verb was said to. In indirect speech, the past tense knew suggests that the original statement was in the present simple tense know. Furthermore, pronouns must be adjusted to reflect the original speaker's perspective: the indirect subject I, which refers to the listener me, reverts to the second-person pronoun You, and the indirect object him, which refers to the speaker Aryan, reverts to the first-person pronoun me. The resulting structure correctly captures the original spoken words in the present tense.

Explanation

The idiom hit below the belt means to act unfairly or to say something cruel and personal to gain an advantage. It originates from the sport of boxing, where striking an opponent below the waist is considered an illegal and unsportsmanlike move. In the given context, revealing someone's private personal problems to a superior to undermine their chance at a promotion is a clear example of such unfair and malicious behavior.

Explanation

The grammatical error in this segment is the incorrect use of the preposition on in the phrase forget all on it. In English, the standard idiomatic expression used to indicate that someone should stop thinking about or worrying about something is forget all about it. The verb forget, when used with a preposition to refer to the subject matter being dismissed from memory, requires about rather than on. The preposition on typically refers to physical surfaces or specific days, making it contextually inappropriate in this sentence.

Explanation

The passage focuses on the historical and ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek to achieve the same legal, social, and economic standing as their male counterparts. The first sentence establishes a comparison between women and men by stating that status was won through sacrifice rather than men's kindness. Consequently, the struggle for equal rights is directed toward attaining the same privileges and protections that have traditionally been afforded to men. This thematic consistency is reinforced later in the text when the author compares the workload and earnings of women specifically against those of men.

Explanation

The verb gained is the most suitable choice in this context as it means to obtain or secure something wanted or advantageous through effort or as a result of a process. The passage describes a historical progression where women, through struggle and legal changes, have successfully reached or acquired higher positions in political, economic, and social sectors. Gained effectively conveys this sense of achievement and the gradual acquisition of status and authority over time.

Explanation

The context of the sentence describes the negative experiences and unfair treatment women face despite legislative progress. The term discrimination denotes the unjust or prejudicial treatment of a person or group based on specific characteristics such as gender. The subsequent sentences provide clear evidence of this by pointing out that women often work more yet earn less than men and represent a disproportionate share of the global poor and illiterate population. These examples of systemic inequality and unfair practices characterize the act of discrimination.

Explanation

The passage outlines the historical and ongoing struggle of women to achieve the same rights and status as men. It highlights the disparity between legal progress and the lived reality where women work more but earn less and comprise the majority of the world's poor. Since the central theme of the text is the pursuit of parity and the removal of gender-based discrimination, the word equality is the most appropriate fit. It signifies the ultimate goal of the movement described, suggesting that despite advancements, the journey toward achieving true balance in rights and opportunities remains unfinished.

Explanation

The preposition till is used to indicate the duration of an action or state up to a specific point in time. In the sentence, labour till almost dark correctly signifies that the work continues continuously throughout the day until the moment it becomes nearly dark, marking the terminal point of the activity. Furthermore, the phrase rise with the morning lark utilizes the preposition with to show that the action of waking occurs at the same time as the lark, which is a standard idiomatic expression for rising early. This usage properly establishes the temporal boundaries of the labor performed by the subjects.

Explanation

The idiom Himalayan blunder refers to a serious, monumental, or grave mistake. It implies an error of such significant proportions that it leads to disastrous or severe consequences, much like the gravity of the mistake mentioned in the sentence that resulted in the individual being sacked from their job. The term is historically associated with Mahatma Gandhi, who famously used it to describe his misjudgment regarding the readiness of the masses for non-violent protest during the anti-Rowlatt Act agitation. In modern usage, it specifically denotes a major miscalculation or a massive oversight.

Explanation

The adjective careless is idiomatically followed by the preposition with when referring to the lack of sufficient attention or thought given to the handling of an object, money, or information. In the context of an ATM card, careless with correctly describes a failure to take proper care of the physical card or its security details.

Explanation

The word valour refers to great courage or bravery, especially when displayed in the face of danger or during a battle. It is a quality characterized by fearlessness and heroism. Cowardice represents the complete lack of such courage, describing a state where one is easily intimidated or fails to face danger with any degree of boldness. Consequently, cowardice is the most appropriate antonym for valour.

Explanation

The idiom donkey's years is used to describe an extremely long period of time. It is thought to have originated as a pun on donkey's ears, which are physically long, combined with the fact that donkeys are known for their relatively long lifespans. Substituting the phrase a very long time with this idiom effectively communicates that the speaker has maintained a vegetarian lifestyle for many years.

Explanation

A mausoleum refers to a large, stately building that houses a tomb or a series of tombs. The term is derived from the tomb of Mausolus, the ruler of Caria, whose burial structure at Halicarnassus was so magnificent that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In modern usage, it specifically describes an above-ground structure designed as a final resting place, often characterized by its architectural grandeur and significant construction cost.

Explanation

The phrase every nook and corner is a compound subject modified by the distributive adjective every, which requires a singular verb. Therefore, the plural verb were must be replaced with the singular verb was, as seen in option D.

Explanation

The sentence follows the standard rules for converting indirect speech back into direct speech. The reporting verb said remains unchanged. The pronoun he in the indirect speech refers to the speaker, John, and therefore becomes I in direct speech. The past tense verb was in indirect speech changes back to the present tense am in direct speech because the reporting verb is in the past tense. Additionally, specific indicators of distance or time revert to their proximal forms: the adverb there becomes here, and the demonstrative adjective that becomes this. Finally, the third-person plural pronoun them changes to the second-person you to represent the individuals being addressed by the speaker.

Explanation

Tyranny refers to a form of government or rule characterized by the exercise of absolute power in a cruel, oppressive, or arbitrary manner. Autocracy describes a system of government where a single person possesses supreme and unrestricted authority. Because both terms center on the concentration of total power in the hands of one ruler, autocracy serves as the most appropriate synonym for tyranny.

Explanation

Sericulture is the specialized process of rearing silkworms for the commercial production of silk. It involves the cultivation of host plants, most commonly mulberry trees, to feed the silkworm larvae and the subsequent harvesting of cocoons to extract silk filaments. The term is derived from the Greek word serikos, meaning silk, and the Latin word cultura, meaning cultivation or rearing.

Explanation

The original sentence uses the present simple passive form (is expected) followed by a passive infinitive (to be attended). To convert this construction into its active-infinitival counterpart, the agent of the passive infinitive, thousands of people, becomes the grammatical subject. The passive infinitive (to be attended) is converted to the active infinitive (to attend). The matrix verb must remain in the present tense to match the original sentence, changing from is expected to are expected to maintain subject-verb agreement with the new plural subject, thousands of people.

Explanation

The word tyranny is derived from the Greek word tyrannos and must be spelled with a double n. In the given sentence, it is misspelled as Tyrany. The term refers to a cruel and oppressive government or the arbitrary exercise of power. Because the spelling in the sentence lacks the second n, it is the incorrectly spelled word among the options provided.

Explanation

The phrasal verb lay off means to terminate the employment of a worker, typically because there is no longer enough work for them or because the employer is facing financial difficulties. In the context of low company profits, lay off is the standard term used to describe the involuntary dismissal of staff as a cost-cutting measure. Unlike a dismissal for cause, a layoff is generally attributed to the economic circumstances of the business.

Explanation

In the given sentence, the phrase is out indicates a state of being away from a home base to perform a specific activity. When a verb follows this construction to describe the action being performed while away, it must take the present participle form (verb + -ing). This functions as an adverbial participle showing the purpose or simultaneous action of being out. Therefore, deliver must be changed to delivering to correctly complete the expression out delivering gifts.

Explanation

The word guilty refers to a state of being responsible for a specified wrongdoing, crime, or offense, or feeling a sense of remorse for such actions. Its direct antonym is innocent, which describes a person who is free from moral wrong, not guilty of a specific crime, or lacking experience with evil or unpleasantness. In legal and moral contexts, these two terms represent opposite ends of the spectrum regarding responsibility for an act.

Explanation

The word superficial refers to something that exists or occurs only on the surface and lacks depth, substance, or sincerity. In the context of the sentence, it describes a display of concern that is not deeply felt and is performed only for outward appearance. The term shallow is its primary synonym in this sense, as it characterizes feelings, thoughts, or actions that are lacking in intellectual or emotional depth and are considered insincere or trivial.

Explanation

A mint is a specialized industrial facility authorized by the state to manufacture coins, tokens, and medals. The process involves metallurgical operations such as smelting, rolling, and striking metal blanks with precision dies to create the finished currency or commemorative items. This term specifically denotes the official site where legal tender and state-recognized medals are produced under government authority.

Explanation

The active sentence is in the simple present tense, following the structure Subject + Verb (s/es) + Object. When converting such a sentence into the passive voice, the formula used is Object + is/am/are + V3 (past participle) + by + Subject. Since the object football is a singular noun, it takes the auxiliary verb is, followed by the past participle liked.

Explanation

The context describes physical improvements and aesthetic updates to a building, specifically the Tawang monastery. Renovation refers to the process of repairing, restoring, or improving a structure to return it to a good condition or to modernize its appearance. Given that the sentence mentions the addition of bright paintings on the walls following this process, renovation is the most logically and linguistically appropriate term for the physical restoration of a historical or religious edifice.

Explanation

The verb adorn means to decorate or enhance the appearance of something by adding beautiful items to it. In the context of the passage describing a monastery that has undergone recent changes, bright paintings are used to decorate and beautify the surfaces of the structure. The sentence structure requires a transitive verb that describes the relationship between the paintings and the walls, making adorn the most suitable choice to indicate that the artwork serves as a decorative element.

Explanation

A courtyard is an unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by walls or buildings, serving as a central hub for communal activities. In Buddhist monastic architecture, specifically within a large complex like the Tawang Monastery, the courtyard is the traditional venue designed to accommodate large gatherings for religious festivals and ritual performances. Ceremonial dances, such as the Cham dance, require a spacious and level open-air ground situated within the sacred precincts to allow monks to perform and the audience to observe, making this the most logical architectural feature for the activities described in the passage.

Explanation

In the context of spiritual or intellectual milestones, the verb attained is the standard colocation used to describe the realization of enlightenment. In Buddhist tradition, the term signifies the successful reaching of a state of supreme knowledge or Nirvana after a period of intense meditation and spiritual effort. The sentence follows a parallel structure listing the three major events of the Buddha's life—his birth, his attainment of enlightenment, and his death—all of which are traditionally celebrated on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. Therefore, attained is the most linguistically and contextually appropriate choice for describing the achievement of this spiritual state.

Explanation

The preposition between is used to indicate a specific range or interval of time defined by two reference points. In the context of the sentence, it identifies the period starting from September and concluding in November as the ideal time for visitors. This usage correctly establishes the boundaries of the recommended season.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the Simple Past tense, following the active voice structure of Subject + V₂ + Object. To convert this into the passive voice, the object a scholarship becomes the new subject, and the auxiliary verb was is used because the subject is singular. The main verb conferred is used in its past participle form (V₃). The passive voice construction for the Simple Past tense follows the formula Subject + was/were + V₃ + by + Object. This structure accurately maintains the tense and meaning of the original statement while shifting the focus from the department to the scholarship.

Explanation

When converting direct speech to indirect speech, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, the tense of the verb inside the quotation marks must change to its corresponding past form. The present continuous tense am planning in the direct speech changes to the past continuous tense was planning in the indirect speech. Additionally, pronouns must be updated to reflect the perspective of the reporter; thus, the first-person pronoun I changes to the third-person she, and the possessive pronoun my changes to her to agree with the subject Madhurima. The conjunction that is used to introduce the reported clause after the reporting verb explained.

Explanation

The word Dimolish is spelled incorrectly; the correct spelling is Demolish, which means to pull or knock down a building. The other words, Conduct, Biopic, and Handful, are all spelled correctly.

Explanation

The word ruthlessly describes an action performed without pity, compassion, or mercy, often characterized by extreme cruelty or harshness. In the context of the sentence, it refers to the government's severe and unfeeling enforcement of tax collection during a time of great suffering. The term leniently serves as the most appropriate antonym because it signifies acting in a way that is merciful, mild, or tolerant. To be lenient is to show compassion and exercise restraint in punishment or the application of rules, directly opposing the cold and pitiless nature of being ruthless.

Explanation

The phrasal verb switch off means to stop the flow of electricity to an appliance or device by operating a switch. In the context of the sentence, the phrase as it was time to sleep indicates that the light needs to be extinguished to prepare for rest. Using switch off correctly aligns the action with the intention of sleeping, providing the necessary logical consistency for the statement.

Explanation

The word cease means to bring to an end, to stop, or to discontinue an action or process. Its direct antonym is begin, which means to perform the first part of an action or to start something into existence. While cease indicates the termination of a state or activity, begin indicates its commencement, making them opposite in meaning.

Explanation

The preposition at is used to denote a specific point, location, or position in space. When referring to the interior of an enclosed area or a room, the preposition in must be used to indicate containment. Since a classroom is a three-dimensional enclosed space, objects located inside it are described as being in the classroom rather than at the classroom. The use of at in this context is grammatically incorrect because it fails to convey the relationship of being inside the room's boundaries.

Explanation

The idiom in hot water refers to being in a difficult situation where one is likely to be criticized or punished. It originates from the literal idea of being scalded by boiling water, symbolizing the discomfort and trouble one faces when their actions lead to negative consequences or conflict with authority.

Explanation

In English grammar, the word choice most naturally collocates with the verb make rather than take. A collocation is a series of words that occur together more often than would be expected by chance, forming a standard idiomatic expression. Therefore, the phrase make a choice is the standard way to express the act of selecting between options. Utilizing the verb make in this context follows established linguistic patterns used to describe decisions or selections, ensuring the sentence is idiomatically correct and flows naturally.

Explanation

The word plausible describes an argument, statement, or explanation that seems reasonable, probable, or likely to be true. It suggests that a proposition is believable based on logic or evidence. In the context of the sentence, a plausible explanation is one that provides a convincing reason for the disappearance. Credible is a direct synonym as it refers to something that is capable of being believed or accepted as trustworthy and certain. Both terms are used to denote the quality of being persuasive and valid to a rational mind.

Explanation

The idiom quicken the pulse means to make someone feel a strong sense of excitement, interest, or anticipation. It is derived from the physiological response where a person's heart rate increases when they encounter something stimulating or thrilling. In the context of the sentence, the announcement of the new tourism policy has triggered a positive and eager reaction among the people, making this idiom the most appropriate fit for the highlighted text.