SSC CGL Tier 1 2024 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word epitome refers to a summary or a condensed representation of a larger work, or a person or thing that perfectly typifies a whole. It fundamentally involves the concept of brevity and the reduction of something to its essential parts. Expansion is the act of becoming larger, more extensive, or more detailed. In linguistic terms, while an epitome shrinks or distills information into a concise form, an expansion increases the volume and scope of the material, making it the most appropriate antonym.

Explanation

The segment contains two distinct errors. First, there is a subject-verb agreement error because the subject Mr. Surya is a singular third-person noun, which requires the singular verb has instead of the plural form have. Second, the sentence uses the incorrect adjective interior. The standard idiomatic expression for a hidden or secondary reason for doing something is ulterior motive. An interior refers to the inside of a physical structure or object, whereas ulterior describes something intentionally kept concealed. To be grammatically and lexically correct, the segment should read has no ulterior.

Explanation

The preposition for is used to indicate the purpose or the reason for something. In the context of the sentence, the team anticipates a bowling-friendly pitch because they view it as the necessary condition or means for achieving their easy victory. The use of for correctly links the anticipated condition (the pitch) with the intended outcome (the victory), whereas the original preposition on and the other alternatives fail to establish this logical relationship of purpose or requirement.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the Active Voice using the Simple Future tense, which follows the structure: Subject + will + base verb + Object. To convert this into the Passive Voice, the Object (the winner) is moved to the subject position, and the verb is changed to the form: will + be + past participle (announced). The original Subject (the team) follows the verb, preceded by the preposition by. The adverb of time (tomorrow) is typically placed at the end of the sentence. Applying these rules, the sentence becomes: The winner will be announced by the team tomorrow.

Explanation

The sentence requires the Future Perfect Continuous tense because it describes an action that will continue up until a specific point in the future, indicated by the phrase By the end of this month. The standard grammatical formula for the Future Perfect Continuous tense is Subject + will + have + been + verb-ing. In the segment will been working, the auxiliary verb have is missing. To correct the grammatical error, the auxiliary have must be inserted to form the complete construction will have been working.

Explanation

Acrophobia is the clinical term for an extreme or irrational fear of heights. The word is derived from the Greek words akros, meaning summit or peak, and phobos, meaning fear. Individuals suffering from acrophobia experience significant anxiety and panic when they are at a high elevation, such as on a mountain, a bridge, or the upper floors of a tall building. This fear often leads to the avoidance of high places, which explains why Kamal is unwilling to purchase an apartment on the 12th floor.

Explanation

Homophones are words that share the same pronunciation but differ in meaning, origin, or spelling. The word their is the possessive form of the pronoun they, and it is pronounced exactly like the adverb there. Both words are pronounced as /ðɛər/ in phonetic notation, satisfying the definition of homophones.

Explanation

The idiom turned a deaf ear to means to purposefully ignore or refuse to listen to something, such as a request, a complaint, or a piece of advice. It implies a conscious decision to pay no attention to what is being said, often suggesting a dismissive or stubborn attitude. To disregard something means to treat it as unworthy of consideration or to pay no heed to it, which perfectly captures the essence of the idiom.

Explanation

The idiom a bad patch refers to a specific duration or phase in someone's life, career, or relationship that is marked by persistent difficulties, setbacks, or a lack of success. It is most commonly used in the phrase going through a bad patch to describe a temporary sequence of misfortunes or a period of emotional or professional struggle. The term patch figuratively represents a portion of time, implying that the troubles, while significant, are a phase that the person is currently experiencing.

Explanation

The word large is used to describe something of considerable size, extent, or capacity. Its direct antonym is tiny, which refers to something that is very small or minute in scale. In the context of the sentence describing the physical scale of a mammal, tiny represents the opposite extreme of the size spectrum.

Explanation

The word incorrigible is derived from the Latin root corrigere, which means to correct, combined with the prefix in-, meaning not. In English, it is used to describe a person or their behavior that is so firmly established or ingrained that it is beyond the possibility of being corrected, reformed, or improved. It typically refers to habits, tendencies, or individuals that do not change despite various attempts at correction or punishment.

Explanation

The word ambiguous describes something that is open to more than one interpretation, lacks a clear meaning, or is intentionally vague. Its direct antonym is certain, which refers to something that is definite, clearly established, and not subject to doubt or multiple interpretations. While an ambiguous statement or work leaves the observer unsure of the intended message, a certain one provides a single, unmistakable, and reliable meaning.

Explanation

The sentence is structured logically by starting with the gerund phrase Smoking in your youth, which serves as the grammatical subject. The segment Smoking in (A) leads directly into your youth (B) to complete the prepositional phrase. This subject is followed by the compound predicate, beginning with the transitive verb stunts (B) and its object the body (C). The conjunction and (C) then connects this first action to the second verb phrase clouds the brain (D). When arranged in the sequence ABCD, the parts form a coherent statement describing how smoking during one's early years negatively impacts both physical development and mental clarity.

Explanation

Barbarity refers to extreme cruelty, brutality, or a savage lack of humanity and civilization. Compassion represents the direct opposite, as it signifies a deep feeling of sympathy, empathy, and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, accompanied by a desire to alleviate that pain. While barbarity involves heartless or primitive behavior, compassion embodies the humane and kind qualities of a civilized being.

Explanation

An affidavit is a written declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by an oath or affirmation before a person having the legal authority to administer such oaths, such as a notary public or a commissioner of oaths. It serves as a formal piece of evidence in legal proceedings where the person making the statement, known as the affiant, swears that the information provided is true to the best of their knowledge. Unlike general statements, an affidavit carries legal weight and subjects the affiant to penalties for perjury if the information is found to be intentionally false.

Explanation

A grudge refers to a persistent feeling of ill-will, resentment, or bitterness resulting from a past insult or grievance. In contrast, benevolence denotes the quality of being well-meaning, kind, and possessing a charitable desire to do good for others. While a grudge involves maintaining negative emotions and enmity toward someone, benevolence represents a positive and generous disposition, making it the most appropriate antonym for the word.

Explanation

The word preveiled is an incorrect spelling of prevailed. The term is derived from the Latin verb praevalere, which means to be more powerful or to be very strong. In modern English, the word follows the standard spelling pattern where the second syllable contains the ai digraph to represent the long a sound. Therefore, the correct form used to describe something that existed or was most common at a particular time is p-r-e-v-a-i-l-e-d.

Explanation

The given sentence is a negative imperative instruction. To convert a negative imperative sentence from active to passive voice, the standard structure follows the pattern: Do not be + past participle of the main verb + by + agent. In this transformation, the active verb fool is converted into its past participle form fooled, and the agent Dylan is preceded by the preposition by. This maintains the original meaning and instructional tone while shifting the focus from the agent to the person receiving the action.

Explanation

The passage discusses the different states of consciousness that characterize human existence. The word aspects is the most appropriate fit for the blank because it refers to the various parts, features, or distinct elements of a broader subject. In this context, sleeping, dreaming, and waking are presented as the fundamental components or dimensions of the daily experience for ordinary humans, making them essential aspects of their lives.

Explanation

In the context of spiritual philosophy and transcendental studies, the adjective deep is the most appropriate collocate for knowledge. It signifies a profound, thorough, and insightful understanding of complex metaphysical concepts. The passage discusses high-level spiritual realizations held by figures like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramana Maharshi, which implies a level of comprehension that goes far beyond the surface level. Therefore, deep correctly characterizes the intensity and completeness of the transcendental knowledge possessed by these individuals, indicating that their understanding of reality, dreams, and the self is rooted in significant insight rather than a mere acquaintance with the subject matter.

Explanation

The sentence requires a reporting verb in the third-person singular form to attribute the preceding quote to Adi Shankaracharya. In English literature and philosophical discussions, the simple present tense is the standard choice for attributing statements or teachings to historical figures because their ideas are considered enduring and timeless. The use of says provides the necessary grammatical agreement with the singular subject Adi Shankaracharya and follows a common stylistic inversion where the verb precedes the subject after a direct quotation.

Explanation

The passage explains the Advaita perspective where the waking and dreaming states are considered fundamentally identical in their illusory nature. Ramana Maharshi taught that both states are forms of dreams, with the waking state being a long-duration dream and the dream state being a short-duration one. By stating that the transition is from one unreal world to another unreal world, the text maintains linguistic and philosophical parallelism, reinforcing the idea that neither state possesses absolute reality.

Explanation

The passage employs the present tense to describe universal philosophical truths and the nature of different states of consciousness. In the final sentence, the text contrasts the waking state, where happiness is missing, with the state of sleep. To maintain grammatical consistency with the preceding present-tense verbs like is and keeps, the passive construction is gained is required. This indicates that real happiness is attained or realized as a result of the absence of the mind and the physical world during sleep.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the definite article the before hundred. In English grammar, when hundred is used as a numerical quantifier for a noun, it typically requires the indefinite article a to form the phrase a hundred, signifying the quantity 100. The definite article the is reserved for cases where a specific, previously identified group of one hundred is being discussed. In this context of expressing a large number of excuses, the idiomatic and grammatically correct expression is a hundred reasons.

Explanation

The word failed in an academic context means to be unsuccessful in a test or course by not reaching the required standard. Its direct antonym is passed, which means to be successful in an examination or to reach the necessary level of achievement to complete a class or program. Therefore, passed is the most appropriate word to replace failed to convey the opposite meaning in the sentence Sheila passed all her classes.

Explanation

The idiom straight shooter refers to a person who is consistently honest, candid, and direct in their dealings with others. It characterizes an individual who is truthful and does not engage in deception, manipulation, or ambiguity. Such a person is considered upright because they possess high moral integrity and are straightforward in expressing their thoughts and intentions without trying to hide the truth.

Explanation

An arena is a large, level area designed for public spectacles, sporting events, or musical performances, characterized by a central floor space that is completely enclosed or surrounded by tiered rows of seating for spectators.

Explanation

The sentence contains an error in tense consistency. The main verbs started, published, and allowed are all in the past tense, indicating that the events described have already taken place. To maintain chronological and grammatical harmony, the introductory clause must also use the past tense. Using the present tense retire creates a temporal contradiction with the subsequent past actions. The segment should instead use the past tense retired to correctly establish the sequence of events occurring in the past.

Explanation

The word celebrate means to acknowledge a significant or happy day or event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity, or to express great joy and pride in something. Rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight, typically in response to a positive occurrence or success. Both terms convey the act of expressing happiness and appreciation for a favorable situation, which makes them synonymous in the context of experiencing and marking a joyful event.

Explanation

The noun floor refers to the lower surface of a room or the level base of a building. In the context of the sentence, it serves as the physical space or platform upon which decorations like candles and chocolates are placed. This choice is logically appropriate for an area that can be decorated everywhere within an interior setting.

Explanation

The word is incorrectly spelled as Tangiable. The correct spelling is Tangible, which is derived from the Latin word tangibilis, meaning something that can be touched or perceived by the senses. In English, this word uses the suffix -ible rather than -iable to denote capability or fitness.

Explanation

The word hit means to successfully strike or reach a target. In the context of a competition where someone loses a medal by a tiny margin, the opposite action is failing to strike that target. The word missed specifically denotes the failure to hit, reach, or contact the intended mark, making it the precise antonym required to complete the sentence logically.

Explanation

The term decade is used to describe a span of ten years. It is derived from the Ancient Greek word dekas, which refers to a group of ten. This unit of time is commonly used in chronology, history, and daily life to organize and reference specific ten-year periods, such as those beginning with a year ending in zero.

Explanation

The idiom once in a blue moon is used to describe an event that happens very rarely or infrequently. It is derived from the astronomical phenomenon of a second full moon occurring within a single calendar month, which is a relatively rare event happening only once every two to three years. In the context of the sentence, because the uncle lives far away in New York, the speaker sees him very seldom, which aligns with the meaning of not very often.

Explanation

A glutton is a person who consumes food and drink in excessive quantities, far beyond what is necessary for nourishment. The term is frequently used to describe someone with an insatiable appetite or a habit of overindulgence. It originates from the Latin word glutto, which pertains to devouring or swallowing greedily. In various contexts, it characterizes an individual who lacks self-control when it comes to eating.

Explanation

The word happy is an adjective that describes a feeling of pleasure, contentment, or joy. An antonym is a word that expresses the opposite meaning. Sad is the primary antonym of happy because it refers to a state of feeling or showing sorrow, unhappiness, or grief. In the context of responding to news about someone passing an exam, happy indicates a positive emotional state, whereas sad represents the corresponding negative emotional state.

Explanation

Leisure refers to the time available for ease and relaxation when one is free from work or other duties. In the context of leisure activities, it signifies hobbies or pastimes pursued for enjoyment and personal satisfaction. Recreation is a direct synonym because it refers specifically to activities done for pleasure, health, or relaxation during such free time. Both terms describe the use of non-working hours for life-enhancing or refreshing pursuits like sports or games.

Explanation

The phrasal verb put off means to delay or postpone an action or event until a later time or date. In the given sentence, the wedding is being rescheduled to a future date in January, so put off is the grammatically correct choice to indicate this postponement.

Explanation

The sentence is in the Present Perfect tense, which follows the structure: Subject + have/has + Past Participle (V3) + Object. To convert this into passive voice, the object (the box) becomes the new subject, followed by the auxiliary verb has been (since the box is singular), the past participle form of the verb (made), and the agent (by the children). The resulting structure for the passive voice in the Present Perfect tense is: Object + has/have + been + V3 + by + Subject.

Explanation

The sentence follows a logical temporal and situational structure starting with the time reference. Part D, During the previous, serves as a modifier for the time period Week, which begins part C. The concluding phrase of part C, there had been, introduces the subject of the sentence, which is Continuous rain on found in part B. This rain is then geographically located by part A, The upper part of the river. By following the sequence DCBA, the parts form the grammatically sound and meaningful statement: During the previous week, there had been continuous rain on the upper part of the river.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the present continuous tense, which follows the active voice structure: Subject + is/am/are + V-ing + Object. To convert this into the passive voice, the object (a concert) becomes the new subject, and the verb form changes to follows the structure: New Subject + is/am/are + being + Past Participle (V3) + by + Agent. In this case, a concert is singular, so it takes the auxiliary verb is followed by being and the past participle organised. The phrase for charity remains as an adverbial adjunct within the sentence.

Explanation

Sentence D introduces the main subject, Alessandro Volta, and his invention of the electric battery, making it the most logical starting point for the sequence. Sentence C follows by detailing the first step of his process, where he prepared strips of different metals. Sentence B maintains the flow by using the demonstrative phrase these metal strips to refer back to the specific components mentioned in sentence C and describes their placement in a sulphuric acid solution. Sentence A concludes the sequence by explaining the result of this specific setup, stating that electricity flows when the completed design is connected with a wire.

Explanation

An earthquake is characterized by the sudden and instantaneous release of accumulated tectonic stress within the Earth's lithosphere. When the internal pressure along a fault line exceeds the mechanical strength of the rock, the crust ruptures or snaps instantaneously rather than gradually. The term abrupt correctly describes this immediate and violent breaking of the rocky crust, which is the fundamental mechanism that generates seismic waves and causes the ground to shake.

Explanation

In the context of natural disasters, the term triggered is used to describe how a primary event, such as an earthquake, initiates secondary geological hazards. Seismic vibrations destabilize the soil and rock on slopes, causing them to lose their structural integrity and move downward. Because the earthquake acts as the specific catalyst that sets the landslide in motion, it is the most linguistically and scientifically accurate word to describe this causal relationship.

Explanation

In the context of physical geography and natural disasters, a tsunami is characterized as a series or sequence of sea waves. The term succession refers to a number of things following one after another in a specific order or time frame. When an undersea earthquake occurs, it displaces a massive volume of water, generating multiple waves that travel across the ocean in a continuous sequence. Therefore, succession accurately describes the physical manifestation of these damaging waves as they follow each other toward the coastline.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the physical harm and loss of life resulting from falling debris and collapsing structures during an earthquake. In this context, fatalities refers to deaths caused by an accident, disaster, or catastrophe. The phrase many fatalities and injuries is a standard colocation used to describe the total human toll of a disaster, categorizing those who died alongside those who were hurt. Given that the previous sentences mention destruction and loss of life, this word accurately completes the description of the consequences of structural failure during seismic events.

Explanation

The magnitude of an earthquake provides a measure of its size based on the total energy released during the seismic event. This is physically determined by the seismic moment M₀, which follows the relation M₀ = μ AD. In this formula, A represents the area of the fault that ruptured, which corresponds to how much rock cracks, and D represents the average slip or displacement, which corresponds to how far the rock shifts. Therefore, magnitude is the property that is defined by these specific physical movements of the earth's crust.

Explanation

Prosperity refers to a state of being successful, flourishing, or thriving, particularly regarding financial status or material well-being. It characterizes a period of growth and achievement. Failure is the most appropriate antonym among the choices because it signifies a lack of success or the inability to meet objectives, representing the opposite condition of the success and advancement implied by prosperity.

Explanation

An ambassador is a high-ranking diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country. They reside in the host nation to maintain political, economic, and social relations, serving as the primary spokesperson for their home government and managing the embassy's operations to facilitate international cooperation and protect their nation's interests.

Explanation

The sentence Martha made pancakes yesterday is in the simple past tense. To convert a simple past active sentence into passive voice, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence, followed by the auxiliary verb was or were and the past participle of the main verb. The formula used is: New Subject + was/were + V3 + by + New Object. In this case, the object pancakes is plural, so it requires the auxiliary verb were. The past participle of made remains made. Therefore, the passive construction is Pancakes were made by Martha yesterday.