SSC CGL Tier 1 2022 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The adjective crucial means extremely important or necessary for the success or failure of something. In the sentence, it functions as a modifier for the noun key to emphasize that moderation is the most essential or vital factor in achieving the health outcomes discussed in the research. The phrase crucial key is a common idiomatic expression used to highlight an indispensable element of a situation or strategy.

Explanation

The word disenfranchised is spelled correctly, following the standard English prefix dis-, which denotes the negation or reversal of the verb enfranchise. This term describes the state of being deprived of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote. The spelling avoids the incorrect use of the prefix dys-, which is typically reserved for medical or functional disorders. Additionally, all other words in the sentence, such as communities, voices, and position, are written without any orthographic errors, making the sentence technically correct in terms of spelling.

Explanation

Sentence D provides the necessary introduction by establishing the temporal and geographical setting of Scythia in the 5ᵗʰ and 4ᵗʰ centuries BC. Sentence C follows this by using the phrase This place to refer directly back to the location established in the opening sentence, while describing the skills of the people there. Sentence B introduces the description of the inhabitants' attire, specifically their trousers and boots. Sentence A concludes the paragraph by adding further detail to their clothing, using the word also to connect the mention of felt caps to the garments described in the preceding sentence. The logical progression moves from the general identification of a region to the specific characteristics and appearance of its people.

Explanation

The segment contains a grammatical error in the choice of preposition used within the relative clause. The verb go, or its past tense went, necessitates the preposition to when indicating a destination or movement toward a specific location. Since the sentence identifies the town library as the destination, the relative pronoun which must be preceded by the preposition to. The phrase for which he went incorrectly suggests a purpose or reason for the place itself, rather than the act of traveling to it. Changing the segment to to which he went aligns with standard English usage for describing a destination, ensuring the preposition correctly relates the noun place to the verb went.

Explanation

The word sporadic is used to describe something that occurs at irregular intervals or only in a few places, characterized by a lack of pattern or frequency. In the context of the sentence, it implies that the invigilators gave instructions at scattered and infrequent moments throughout the exam. The term occasional is a direct synonym, as it also refers to events that happen from time to time or at irregular intervals rather than being constant or frequent.

Explanation

The verb have is a stative verb when it is used to indicate possession, ownership, or permanent relationships. Stative verbs describe a state of being rather than a physical action and are generally not used in the continuous or progressive forms. Since the sentence refers to Rajan's siblings, it denotes a permanent relationship. Therefore, the simple present tense form has must be used to agree with the third-person singular subject Rajan.

Explanation

The adverb thoroughly indicates a state of being complete, exhaustive, or in-depth. In the context of the sentence, it describes the extent of the modern-day student's engagement and familiarity with technology. It suggests that students are fully immersed and well-versed in the use of digital tools and platforms, which aligns with the passage's later mention of their constant interaction with social media and various internet platforms.

Explanation

The error lies in the incorrect use of the preposition in after the verb deciding. In standard English usage, when the verb decide refers to making a choice or selection among several possibilities, it must be followed by the preposition on or upon. Consequently, the phrase deciding in a gift is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with deciding on a gift to properly convey the process of choosing a present.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the Simple Past tense, indicated by the verb sold. To convert this into passive voice, the object of the active sentence (the newly introduced car) must become the subject. The passive construction for the Simple Past tense follows the formula: Subject + was/were + past participle (V3). Since the subject is singular, the auxiliary verb was is used with the past participle sold. Finally, the original subject (the company) is introduced at the end of the sentence using the preposition by.

Explanation

The idiom born with a silver spoon in his mouth refers to someone who is born into a very wealthy and privileged family. Historically, silver was a precious metal and owning silver utensils was a sign of high social status and affluence. The phrase suggests that the individual has inherited wealth and luxury from birth, providing them with various advantages and opportunities in life without having to struggle for them.

Explanation

The adverb thoroughly is used to emphasize the degree or extent to which listening skills have been impacted. In the context of the passage, which contrasts the proficiency students have with technology against the decline in other areas, thoroughly indicates that the effect on listening is deep, complete, and pervasive. It effectively modifies the verb affected to convey that the change is not superficial but has influenced the skill set of students in a comprehensive and significant manner.

Explanation

The phrase to be in touch with someone is a standard English idiomatic collocation that means to maintain regular communication or stay connected with others. In this context, the sentence encourages maintaining a consistent bond with loved ones due to the unpredictable nature of life. While other words might seem related to the concept of staying connected, they do not form the specific established prepositional idiom required by the structure be in ___ with in this informal and personal context.

Explanation

In converting indirect speech to direct speech, the reporting verb told me is changed back to said to me. The conjunction that is replaced by a comma and quotation marks. The first-person pronoun I and the reflexive pronoun myself in the indirect statement refer to the listener me, so they revert to the second-person pronouns You and yourself in direct speech. Furthermore, the past tense modal could not is changed back to its present form cannot, and the demonstrative that is changed to this. This makes option d the accurate direct representation of the original sentence.

Explanation

Fatigue refers to a state of extreme physical or mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged exertion, labor, or stress. It describes the condition of being weary and having depleted energy levels. Tiredness is the direct synonym as it specifically denotes the feeling of needing rest or sleep after physical or mental activity. Both terms characterize a lack of energy and the resulting diminished capacity for work or activity.

Explanation

The expression earn a decent living is a standard English idiom used to describe making enough money to support oneself at a satisfactory and respectable level. The verb earn is the linguistically appropriate term for acquiring income through labor or effort, and the adjective decent correctly modifies living to indicate an adequate standard of life. Grammatically, the sentence uses the phrase in order to followed by the base form of the verb earn, which is the correct structure to indicate purpose. Because the original phrasing is both idiomatically precise and grammatically sound, the sentence requires no changes.

Explanation

The idiom an olive branch refers to a gesture or offer of peace or reconciliation. This expression has its roots in ancient Greek tradition and the biblical narrative of Noah, where a dove returns with an olive leaf to signal the end of the flood and God's peace with mankind. In modern usage, to extend an olive branch means to take the first step toward ending a dispute or conflict, which perfectly substitutes for the phrase hold out a gesture of peace.

Explanation

Leisure denotes free time or time spent away from work and duties, often used for rest or recreation. In the context of the sentence, working characterizes the period specifically dedicated to labor or professional obligations. Because working represents time spent in activity for a livelihood while leisure represents time spent at one's own discretion for enjoyment, they are contextual antonyms.

Explanation

The word accommodative is misspelled in the given sentence. The correct spelling of the word requires two sets of double consonants: a double c and a double m. In the sentence, the word appears as accomodative with only one m, which is a common spelling error. This pattern is consistent across all derivatives of the verb accommodate, such as accommodation or accommodating, which all maintain both the double c and the double m.

Explanation

A hangar is a large, specialized building or enclosed structure designed to hold aircraft in protective storage. These structures are typically built of metal, wood, or concrete and provide a spacious internal area used for the maintenance, repair, and housing of airplanes and helicopters to shield them from weather conditions and sunlight.

Explanation

The sentence is in the Simple Past tense, indicated by the auxiliary verb Did. The structure for converting an interrogative sentence in the Simple Past to passive voice is: Was/Were + subject + past participle (V3) + by + object. In this case, the object of the active sentence you becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Since you always takes the plural auxiliary verb were, and the past participle of call is called, the sentence becomes Were you called by Rani?

Explanation

The passage discusses the decline of effective communication skills, specifically focusing on the lack of engagement in the listening process. In the context of communication theory, an active listener is someone who provides full attention, processes information deeply, and responds empathetically to the speaker. The text suggests that while students are constantly consuming information, they lack the ability to engage meaningfully with what they hear. By stating that students are extremely poor active listeners, the passage emphasizes their deficiency in focused engagement, which subsequently leads to the rise of passive listeners who merely hear words without understanding or empathy.

Explanation

The sentence follows a logical syntactic structure starting with the subject modified by an infinitive phrase. The opening phrase The decision not is naturally followed by the infinitive to include in part P. The conjunction or at the end of part P requires a second noun to complete the compound object, which is provided by income tax in part R. The non-restrictive relative clause which would be the fairer option in part R describes the tax and requires the preposition for in part S to specify the purpose. The phrase social care funding in part S qualifies the noun crisis at the start of part Q. The remainder of part Q, has proven controversial, serves as the main predicate for the initial subject The decision. This arrangement P-R-S-Q creates a grammatically complete and coherent sentence.

Explanation

Faith is the most appropriate synonym for belief as both terms refer to the acceptance of something as true or the feeling of complete trust in someone or something. While a religion is a system of beliefs, the word faith directly matches the core meaning of belief.

Explanation

The sentence in option b is orthographically correct, meaning every word is spelled according to standard English conventions. Architecture is correctly spelled with the ch digraph representing the k sound and the suffix ure. The word designing properly includes the silent g before the n, and buildings correctly follows the u before i vowel pattern. Science adheres to its Latin root scientia, ensuring that all technical and common terms in the sentence are accurate.

Explanation

In English grammar, the verb congratulate is conventionally paired with the preposition on when specifying the reason for the congratulations. The standard idiomatic structure is congratulate someone on something. In the given sentence, the action of congratulating is directed at the person for the achievement of securing a new job, making on the grammatically appropriate preposition to establish the relationship between the verb and the specific occasion or success.

Explanation

The word inherent refers to a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute that is intrinsic to the nature of something or someone. It describes qualities that are fundamental and inseparable from the entity itself rather than being acquired or added from the outside. Similarly, the word inborn denotes a natural quality or trait that exists from birth or is a basic part of an individuals nature. Because both terms describe qualities that are internal, natural, and fundamental to the existence of a person or thing, they are synonyms.

Explanation

In English grammar, when two or more singular subjects are joined by the conjunction and, they form a compound plural subject. In this sentence, the subject consists of two individuals, Reeta and Ronika, which necessitates the use of a plural verb. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, the singular auxiliary verb has is only used with third-person singular subjects. Since the subject here is plural, the verb must be changed to the plural form have to ensure grammatical correctness.

Explanation

The phrase dawn of time is a standard English idiom used to refer to the very beginning of human history or the earliest known period of existence. In this context, it signifies that human migration is a phenomenon that has existed since the earliest stages of humanity. The word dawn metaphorically represents the first appearance or the start of something, making it the most appropriate choice to describe the origin point of human movement through history.

Explanation

The term ties is the standard linguistic collocation used to describe the social, emotional, and kinship connections between individuals within a group. In the context of human migration, family ties and clan ties refer to the relationships and bonds that influence an individual's decision to move, often acting as a pull factor when joining relatives or as a social support network during the migration process. This usage accurately reflects the interpersonal connections that drive movement alongside other factors like economic conditions or education.

Explanation

The sentence uses the conjunction because to establish a causal relationship between the multiple reasons for migration and the nature of the migration patterns themselves. Since the passage lists a wide variety of causes—ranging from climate change and war to economic conditions and educational opportunities—the resulting patterns of movement necessarily reflect this variety. The term diverse correctly describes these patterns as being varied, multifaceted, and non-uniform, directly following the logic that multiple distinct causes lead to multiple distinct outcomes in how and where people move.

Explanation

The verb determine means to firmly decide or conclude something after considering various factors. In the context of the passage, potential migrants are depicted as active decision-makers who must weigh multiple reasons for moving, such as economic considerations or living conditions. The sentence structure not only determine whether or not to migrate, but also where they will go indicates a two-step mental process: first making a choice about the act of moving itself and then selecting a specific destination. This analytical decision-making aligns with the subsequent sentence regarding individuals making diverse decisions based on observed and unobserved features.

Explanation

The passage establishes a direct relationship between listening skills and empathy, asserting that listening is the prime ingredient for empathy. Since the text warns that a decline in listening skills will lead to a global deficiency in this quality, it follows that the world will see a decrease in the number of individuals who practice empathy. The term empathisers refers to people who understand and share the feelings of others, making it the only word that maintains the thematic consistency of the sentence.

Explanation

The sentence explains why individuals make diverse decisions and choose different locations for migration. The word varying serves as an adjective to describe the observed and unobserved features of these individuals, indicating that these traits differ from person to person. This diversity in personal characteristics is what leads to the heterogeneous or diverse decisions mentioned later in the sentence. Therefore, varying provides the necessary logical link between the differences in individual profiles and the resulting variety in migration patterns.

Explanation

When converting the indirect sentence She said that she could not believe him into direct speech, several grammatical shifts are reversed. The reporting verb said remains in the past tense, followed by a comma and quotation marks. The pronoun she in the reported clause refers to the speaker, so it changes back to the first-person pronoun I. Additionally, the modal verb could not in indirect speech is the backshifted form of the present modal cannot. The third-person pronoun him remains unchanged as it refers to a third party. Therefore, the direct form is She said, I cannot believe him.

Explanation

Anticipated means to foresee or expect a future event and often to prepare for it. In the context of a competition, when a team anticipates an opponent's move, they have already formed an expectation of what will happen based on logic, observation, or previous patterns. Predicted is the most suitable synonym because it specifically refers to the act of forecasting or stating that an event will occur before it actually happens. Both terms describe the cognitive process of looking ahead and determining a likely outcome or action in advance.

Explanation

The phrase give credit to is a standard English collocation used to acknowledge someone's contribution, influence, or help in achieving a particular result, especially a successful one. In this sentence, Akshay is acknowledging Johana's role in his success. The structure give credit to someone for something is the idiomatic way to express that someone is responsible for a positive outcome. This usage aligns with the positive context of achieving success, making it the most appropriate lexical choice to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The word imparts means to communicate information, knowledge, or a specific quality to someone else. In the context of education and teaching, it describes the process of a teacher conveying lessons or skills to their students. The word transmits is the most appropriate synonym here because it refers to the act of passing on or sending something, such as information, signals, or knowledge, from one person or place to another. Both terms effectively capture the sense of transferring intellectual content from a source to a recipient, making them interchangeable in the sentence provided.

Explanation

The idiom cock and bull story refers to an improbable, far-fetched, or completely fabricated tale that is presented as the truth, often as an excuse or a justification. It describes a narrative that lacks credibility because it is so absurd or unlikely that it is difficult for any reasonable person to believe. The phrase is believed to have originated from competing travelers' tales told at two famous coaching inns, The Cock and The Bull, in Stony Stratford, England. Consequently, it denotes a narrative that is wildly exaggerated or falsified rather than being based on facts.

Explanation

The sentence is entirely free of orthographic errors. The term serrated is correctly spelled with a double r, conforming to its Latin root serra, and describes an object with a saw-like or notched edge. Additionally, the word knives is the correct irregular plural form of the singular noun knife, where the terminal fe changes to ves. The verbs and nouns such as purchase, asked, mother, and edges are all rendered in their standard correct spellings, ensuring the sentence adheres to proper English conventions.

Explanation

Alimony refers to the legal obligation of a person to provide financial support to their spouse before or after marital separation or divorce. The term is derived from the Latin word alimonia, which means sustenance or nourishment. It is usually a periodic or lump-sum payment intended to help the dependent spouse maintain their standard of living or meet basic needs following the dissolution of the marriage or a legal separation.

Explanation

The sentence "The secretary was noting down the dictation" is in the past continuous tense, which follows the active voice structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing + object. To convert this into the passive voice, the object "the dictation" becomes the new subject, and the verb form changes according to the formula: Subject (Object of active) + was/were + being + past participle (V3) + by + agent. Applying this rule, "was noting" is transformed into "was being noted," while "down" remains attached to the verb as a particle. This ensures the continuous nature of the action is preserved in the passive construction.

Explanation

The term replica refers to a copy or reproduction of a work of art or a historical object. In English usage, the adjective exact frequently collocates with replica to describe a reproduction that is identical to the original in every detail, dimension, and appearance. Frits Holm, a Danish explorer, commissioned a precise copy of the Nestorian Stele after failing to acquire the original. This copy was specifically intended to be a faithful and indistinguishable reproduction, making exact the linguistically and contextually appropriate choice to describe the quality of the duplication.

Explanation

The word illuminating is the most appropriate synonym for lighting up in this context. It specifically refers to the action of shining light on something to make it visible or to decorate it with lights. In art galleries and museums, illumination is the technical and standard term used to describe the controlled application of light to artworks to enhance their visibility and aesthetic appeal.

Explanation

The idiom in full swing describes a situation or activity that has reached its highest level of intensity and is operating at its peak speed or energy. It signifies that an event is fully underway, completely operational, and moving forward with maximum momentum. When a game is said to be in full swing, it means the action is happening at its most vigorous and lively stage, making very active the most appropriate meaning.

Explanation

The word cogent is used to describe an argument or reason that is clear, logical, and highly persuasive. It implies that the evidence or logic presented is strong enough to convince a reasonable person. The term unconvincing is the direct opposite as it refers to something that fails to persuade or lacks the necessary credibility and logic to be believed. Therefore, unconvincing is the most appropriate antonym because it represents the absence of the compelling and sound nature of a cogent reason.

Explanation

The sentence construction follows a logical grammatical progression starting with the subject and auxiliary verb Thorium has. This requires a past participle to form the present perfect tense, which is provided by part R (been tested as a fuel in other types). The noun phrase other types in part R necessitates a prepositional qualifier, leading directly to part Q (of nuclear reactor in countries including). The phrase countries including in part Q then requires the specific list of nations found in part S (the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom). Finally, the comma at the end of part S and the conjunction in part P (and is part of a nuclear programme in India) create a coordinate clause that adds a second predicate to the original subject, Thorium, completing the statement.

Explanation

The segment is grammatically incorrect because the word hurry is functioning as a noun or a verb, but it is placed where an adjective or a prepositional phrase is required. After the modal verb must and the auxiliary be, the sentence requires an adjective like hurried or a prepositional phrase such as in a hurry. Alternatively, the modal must can be followed directly by the base form of the verb hurry without the word be. Therefore, the construction be hurry fails to follow standard English syntax for expressing urgency.

Explanation

The verb stand, when used in the sense of to tolerate or endure, requires a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) when it is followed by an action. In this sentence, the segment his father beat him is grammatically incorrect because it uses a finite verb form instead of the required gerund. To correctly express the activity that the boy could no longer tolerate, the verb beat must be changed to beating. The appropriate construction should be his father beating him or his father's beating him, which allows the phrase to function as the object of the verb stand.

Explanation

Sentence C serves as the thematic introduction by establishing neck pain as a widespread and frequent problem. Sentence A logically follows by providing a common, everyday cause for this condition, such as poor posture while working. Sentence B introduces a shift in the narrative using the contrastive conjunction However to indicate that neck pain is not always benign and can signify more serious health concerns. Sentence D provides the necessary elaboration on the serious issues mentioned in B by identifying specific symptoms like numbness or shooting pain and advising on the appropriate course of action.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice of the past continuous tense, which follows the structure: Subject + was/were + being + V3 (past participle) + by + Object. To convert this into the active voice, the structure must be: Subject + was/were + V1-ing (present participle) + Object. In this transformation, the agent of the passive sentence "his son" becomes the subject of the active sentence, and the subject "football tournament" becomes the object. Applying the past continuous active formula, the sentence becomes "His son was avoiding football tournament."