SSC CGL Tier 1 2023 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The proverb familiarity breeds contempt suggests that close association with or detailed knowledge of a person or thing leads to a loss of respect or the development of dislike. It implies that as the initial mystery or superficial charm wears off through constant exposure, an individual begins to notice flaws and negative traits, which results in a lack of appreciation or growing resentment toward the person.

Explanation

Prohibition refers to the formal act of forbidding or banning something through authority, law, or decree. It signifies a state where an action is restricted or disallowed by a rule. Permission represents the direct opposite concept, as it denotes the act of allowing, consenting to, or granting formal authorization for an action to take place. While prohibition establishes a barrier or veto against a particular conduct, permission removes such constraints by providing the legal or social liberty to proceed. Thus, permission is the most appropriate antonym because it replaces the condition of being forbidden with the condition of being authorized.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the past perfect tense, which follows the structure: Subject + had + past participle (V3). To convert a past perfect sentence from active to passive voice, the auxiliary verb had is combined with been and the past participle of the main verb. The standard formula for this transformation is: Object + had been + V3 + by + Subject. Following this rule, the object the scholar takes the position of the subject, followed by the passive verb form had been regarded, with the original subject the French functioning as the agent at the end of the sentence.

Explanation

The phrasal verb cut down means to reduce the consumption, frequency, or amount of something. In the context of health and lifestyle habits, it is the standard idiomatic expression used when advising someone to decrease an activity like smoking or drinking. Using cut down in place of reduce maintains the grammatical integrity of the sentence while providing a more natural and common phrasing for a medical recommendation.

Explanation

A relic is defined as an object, custom, or fragment that has survived from a previous age, often carrying historical or sentimental value. It represents a physical trace of the past that remains in the present, serving as a connection to an earlier era or civilization. In linguistic terms, it refers to something that has continued to exist even though the culture or system it belonged to has since passed away or changed significantly.

Explanation

The term sustainable refers to something that is capable of being maintained at a certain level or continued for a long period of time, especially in a way that is enduring and does not deplete resources. In the context of sustainable development, it signifies a process that is lasting and viable for future generations. The word imperishable means enduring, permanent, or not subject to decay and destruction. Both terms share the underlying meaning of being long-lasting and persistent. In this specific sentence, imperishable serves as the most appropriate synonym because it reflects the quality of development that is intended to remain effective and enduring over time.

Explanation

During the 19th-century Industrial Revolution in Europe, there was a massive shift from an agrarian economy to an industrial one. This period was characterized by large-scale rural-to-urban migration, where millions of people moved from traditional rural settlements like villages to rapidly growing urban centers. This migration was driven by the decline of cottage industries and the consolidation of agricultural land, which pushed laborers toward cities to seek employment in the newly established large-scale factories. The sentence structure establishes a clear contrast between the destination (cities) and the place of origin, which historically and contextually refers to rural areas or villages.

Explanation

The context of the passage describes a shift where people are moving out of major cities in search of a better quality of life. The adjective greener logically complements cleaner to describe an environment with more vegetation, parks, and less pollution. In the context of urban planning and environmental health, a greener environment represents the natural, eco-friendly surroundings that contrast with the industrial and congested city centers people are leaving behind.

Explanation

The passage highlights a shift in the labor market from traditional sectors to newer ones. The word Instead is used as a transitional adverb to indicate that one situation is being replaced by another. Since the text mentions a decline in heavy industry jobs and a corresponding rise in service sector jobs, this word perfectly connects the two sentences by showing that the growth in banking, tourism, and food delivery is occurring in place of the older industrial employment model.

Explanation

The term commute refers to the act of traveling some distance between one's place of residence and place of work on a regular basis. In the context of the passage, the sentence discusses how advancements in modern transport have simplified this daily travel, allowing individuals to reside further from urban hubs. The prepositional phrase to work following the blank reinforces that the missing word must describe the physical movement or travel associated with employment.

Explanation

The passage describes the 21st-century trend of "spread cities," where urban growth occurs by expanding away from the central core toward the periphery. Since the text specifies that people are choosing to live at significant distances of 40 to 60 kilometers from the city centers, the expansion is moving toward the outskirts. The term outwards correctly identifies this directional flow from a central point to the surrounding geographic areas.

Explanation

The sentence follows the present continuous tense structure, which consists of the auxiliary verb is/am/are followed by the present participle (verb+ing). To convert a present continuous sentence into the passive voice, the object becomes the subject, followed by is/am/are + being + past participle of the main verb + by + the original subject. Applying this formula, the lesson (object) moves to the start, followed by is being explained (passive form) and by the teacher (agent), resulting in the lesson is being explained by the teacher.

Explanation

The word bear is used incorrectly in the context of the sentence. The intended idiom is bare minimum, where bare functions as an adjective meaning the smallest or least amount possible. While bear refers to the large mammal or the verb meaning to carry or endure, bare signifies something that is basic, uncovered, or minimal. Consequently, the correct spelling for the phrase describing starting a business with the lowest amount of resources is bare minimum.

Explanation

The sentence employs the common English idiom "tip of the iceberg," which means that a small, visible part represents a much larger, hidden problem. In this context, the termites were just a small sign of the extensive structural damage causing the house to nearly collapse.

Explanation

The word Mahabharata is a unique proper noun referring to a specific religious epic and must be preceded by the definite article the instead of the indefinite article a. The use of to in the phrase love to read is grammatically correct.

Explanation

Rapid increase in population often strains a nation's resources, infrastructure, and essential social services. When the rate of population growth exceeds the rate of economic development, it leads to challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and inadequate access to healthcare and education. These factors collectively act as an obstacle or hindrance to the sustained economic and social progress of a country, particularly in developing economies where resources are finite. The term increase fits the context of the sentence by highlighting how uncontrolled demographic growth can impede a country's overall development and standard of living.

Explanation

A cosmopolitan is a person who considers themselves a citizen of the entire world rather than being limited to a single country or locality. The other options refer to non-believers, city-dwellers, or charitable individuals, which do not fit the definition.

Explanation

Oblivious means not being aware of or concerned about what is happening around oneself, which directly matches the definition provided. The other options, such as absent or uneducated, refer to being not present or lacking formal schooling respectively.

Explanation

Selective means being highly careful, fastidious, or discriminating in making choices. Careless is the most appropriate antonym because it describes a lack of attention, thought, or concern in one's actions or selections.

Explanation

A cemetery is a large area of land specifically designated for the burial of the deceased and the placement of graves. The term is derived from the Greek word koimeterion, which translates to a sleeping place, reflecting its purpose as a final resting ground. It serves as a permanent site for interring human remains, often containing numerous headstones or monuments to mark individual burial plots.

Explanation

The word cadaverous is derived from the Latin root cadaver, meaning a corpse. It describes a person who is extremely pale, thin, or gaunt, often appearing so ill or exhausted that they resemble a dead body. In the context of the sentence, medications that render a patient completely lifeless and unresponsive create a physical state that mimics death, making cadaverous the most appropriate substitution for characterizing this death-like appearance and lack of vitality.

Explanation

The idiom to pour cold water on something means to be critical, discouraging, or to express doubt about an idea or plan. Option C accurately reflects this definition by describing the act of being critical of a plan someone is excited about.

Explanation

In this context, predators refers to individuals who ruthlessly take advantage of others for their own gain, which is synonymous with exploiters. The other options—supporters, philanthropists, and benefactors—describe people who help or assist others, which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

Explanation

The correct sequence is BDAC because sentence B introduces the topic by providing a clear definition of nostalgia. Sentence D follows by elaborating on the nature of that emotion, while sentence A explains its general psychological benefits and sentence C concludes by mentioning its specific adaptive functions.

Explanation

The sentence is in the present continuous tense (are hitting), so its passive form must follow the structure is/am/are + being + past participle. Since the past participle of hit is hit, the correct passive construction is The ball is being hit by them.

Explanation

The word exultant means expressing great joy or triumph, while disconsolate means extremely unhappy and unable to be comforted. Since the task is to find the antonym, disconsolate is the correct choice, whereas the other options are synonyms.

Explanation

The noun weight is the most appropriate word to describe a physical attribute of a coin that could cause amazement. Options A, B, and D are either contextually irrelevant or grammatically incorrect in this sentence structure.

Explanation

Fragile refers to something that is easily broken or damaged, and delicate is its closest synonym as it describes something of fine or thin structure that is easily broken. Options B, C, and D have entirely different meanings related to strength, temperament, and enthusiasm.

Explanation

The auxiliary verb will must always be followed by the base form have, never has, regardless of the subject. Changing the phrase to she will have been corrects the grammatical error in the future perfect continuous tense.

Explanation

Tremulous means shaking or quivering slightly, especially as a result of anxiety, fear, or dread. Prudent means showing care for the future, corpulent means fat, and hysterical implies uncontrolled extreme emotion.

Explanation

The conjunction that is used to introduce a noun clause that serves as the object of the verb see, completing the thought can we see that the earth is a globe. Options like where or how do not fit the grammatical structure or the logical meaning of the sentence in this context.

Explanation

The verb begin is followed by an infinitive with to, making to disappear the grammatically correct choice. Option A is incorrect because to being disappeared is not a standard English construction.

Explanation

The word until is the most appropriate conjunction as it indicates a continuous progression or sequence of events leading up to a specific moment. The passage describes the ship sinking lower and lower up to the point where only the top is visible, before it disappears entirely.

Explanation

The context describes a deliberate experiment to observe how an object disappears over a curved surface. Turning the orange slowly is necessary to mimic the gradual disappearance of a ship as it sails away, making it the most logical choice.

Explanation

The conjunction just as is used to introduce a clause of comparison, indicating that one action happens in the same way or manner as another. In this passage, it establishes a direct parallel between the visual disappearance of the pin on the rotating orange and the visual disappearance of a ship as it moves along the curvature of the Earth. The structure just as followed by a subject and an auxiliary verb like does is the standard grammatical construction for comparing two similar processes or behaviors.

Explanation

The idiom hard nut to crack is used to describe a person, thing, or situation that is particularly challenging to understand, influence, or resolve. Just as some nuts have extremely tough shells that require significant effort and specific tools to break open, certain problems or individuals require extensive effort, persistence, or cleverness to overcome. This expression is frequently applied in various contexts to characterize a complex issue that defies easy solutions or an individual who is difficult to deal with or persuade.

Explanation

The active sentence follows the structure Subject + has to + V1 + Object, where has to expresses necessity. When converting this to passive voice, the object (Fifty-one cakes) becomes the subject. Because Fifty-one cakes is plural, the auxiliary verb must change from has to to have to to maintain correct subject-verb agreement. The passive form for semi-modals like have to is constructed as have to + be + V3 (past participle). Consequently, bake is transformed into be baked. The resulting sentence correctly aligns the plural subject with the appropriate verb form while preserving the original tense and meaning.

Explanation

A wreath is a circular arrangement or band of flowers, foliage, or other materials, traditionally used as a decorative or symbolic tribute. In formal contexts, particularly when honoring those who have died in service to their country, a wreath is laid at memorials or gravesites as a mark of respect and remembrance. The specific description of a circular arrangement of flowers matches the definition of this commemorative floral structure.

Explanation

The word incessant is used to describe something that continues without pause or interruption, implying a ceaseless or constant state. In the context of the village fair, it indicates that the rain was non-stop. The word sporadic serves as the most appropriate antonym because it refers to events occurring at irregular intervals, occasionally, or in scattered instances with frequent interruptions. While incessant implies a continuous flow, sporadic implies a lack of continuity and consistency.

Explanation

Lexicography is the specialized branch of linguistics that involves the practice of compiling, writing, and editing dictionaries. The term is derived from the Greek words lexis, meaning word, and graphein, meaning to write. It encompasses the systematic description of words in a language, focusing on their definitions, pronunciations, origins, and usage within a reference format.

Explanation

The word trivial denotes something of little value, importance, or consequence, often being trifling or insignificant. Its most appropriate antonym is significant, which refers to something that is important, meaningful, or worthy of attention. In linguistic context, these two words represent opposite ends of the spectrum regarding the importance or impact of an object, idea, or event.

Explanation

The word object means to express opposition, disagreement, or disapproval regarding a statement or action. Its direct antonym is assent, which means to express official agreement, concurrence, or approval. While objecting involves challenging or protesting a claim, assenting involves accepting or agreeing with it.

Explanation

The idiom first and foremost means most importantly or as the primary consideration. It is used to highlight the thing that is of the highest priority or rank in a given situation. In the provided sentence, Riya views sincerity, devotion, and dedication as the most significant qualities of an employee, making first and foremost the appropriate idiomatic replacement for the phrase highest priority.

Explanation

The word credible describes something that is convincing, believable, or worthy of trust. In the context of information provided by an informer, it signifies that the data is reliable and can be acted upon. Dependable is the most appropriate synonym as it refers to someone or something that is trustworthy and can be relied on with confidence. Both terms emphasize the quality of being consistently good in performance or character, making them interchangeable in this sentence.

Explanation

The sequence begins with B, which introduces the subject (London) and describes its chaotic and dusty environment. Sentence A logically follows as it uses the pronoun "It" to refer back to London and concludes that the city is not a walker's paradise due to the conditions mentioned in B. Sentence D provides a specific consequence of these conditions using the phrase "For these reasons," explaining why the character Max avoids walking. The paragraph concludes with C, which uses the transitional phrase "On the contrary" to shift the focus from the hectic city life to the contrasting, relaxed atmosphere of the countryside where walking is common.

Explanation

The sentence is in the present continuous tense, which follows the active voice structure: Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing + object. To convert a present continuous sentence into the passive voice, the object becomes the subject, and the verb form changes to: is/am/are + being + past participle (V3). In this case, the newspaper becomes the subject, is remains the auxiliary verb followed by being to indicate the continuous aspect, and read (pronounced red) is the past participle of reading. The original subject, my father, is then introduced by the preposition by.

Explanation

The verb describe is a transitive verb, meaning it acts directly upon its object without the need for an intervening preposition. Using the preposition about after describe is grammatically redundant. Since the sentence context involves an action completed in the past, indicated by the word yesterday, the simple past tense form described is appropriate. The correct structure requires the verb to be followed immediately by the noun phrase the scenery.

Explanation

The word Robbust is incorrectly spelt because it contains an unnecessary double b. The correct spelling is Robust, which is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is strong, healthy, and vigorous. In standard English orthography, the word is written with a single b following the vowel o.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence, My younger brother, is a singular noun phrase. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject must be accompanied by a singular verb form. The use of the plural auxiliary verb were is grammatically incorrect in this context. Additionally, the phrase these days indicates an action or state occurring in the present time, which suggests that the present continuous form is attending would be the most appropriate correction to ensure both grammatical agreement and temporal consistency.

Explanation

The modal auxiliary verb might must be followed by the base form of a verb to maintain grammatical correctness. In the sentence structure provided, succeed is the verb form required to follow the modal. The use of might succeed correctly expresses the purpose of the action described in the main clause, which is in the past tense. This follows the standard rule where modal verbs like may, might, can, or could are paired with the infinitive form of the main verb without to.