SSC CHSL Tier 1 2012 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The preposition since is used to indicate a specific point in time when an action started, such as a day, a year, or a specific hour. Conversely, the preposition for is used to denote a period or duration of time. Because four hours represents a duration of time rather than a starting point, the preposition for must be used instead of since. The correct phrasing is for four hours.

Explanation

The sentence uses the third conditional structure, which represents a hypothetical condition in the past and its probable result. The grammatical rule for the third conditional requires the past perfect tense in the conditional clause (if-clause) and would have followed by the past participle of the verb in the main clause.

Since the conditional clause correctly uses the past perfect tense (had walked), the main clause must use would have got (or would have caught) instead of the future tense will get to maintain grammatical correctness and tense agreement.

Explanation

When a singular noun is repeated after a preposition to form a phrase, both nouns must remain in their singular form. Therefore, the phrase Speakers after speakers is grammatically incorrect and must be written as Speaker after speaker. This standard rule applies to similar repetitive structures in English, such as day by day, page after page, and row upon row.

Explanation

The verb told is a transitive verb that directly takes a person as its object. When reporting speech, told must be followed immediately by the indirect object without the preposition to. Therefore, the preposition to in the first part is redundant and grammatically incorrect. The sentence should correctly read as The teacher told the students or alternatively The teacher said to the students.

Explanation

The preposition to in the phrase pay attention to must be followed by a gerund (verb + ing). In the first part of the comparison, the preposition is correctly followed by the gerund seeing in to seeing films. To maintain grammatical parallelism across the comparison, the preposition to in the second part must also be followed by a gerund rather than an infinitive. Therefore, than to read books is grammatically incorrect and must be changed to than to reading books.

Explanation

The correct English proverb is "Old habits die hard". In this expression, "hard" functions as an adverb meaning with great difficulty or resistance. The word "hardly" is a different adverb that means scarcely, barely, or almost not at all, which distorts the intended meaning and is grammatically incorrect in this context. Therefore, "hardly" must be replaced by "hard".

Explanation

In English grammar, questions in the simple past tense are formed using the auxiliary verb did followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb. In this sentence, did acts as the auxiliary verb indicating the past tense, which requires the main verb to remain in its base form, fall.

Explanation

The auxiliary verb do is used in the present simple tense to form questions with the base form of a verb. The verb want is followed by a to-infinitive, as in want to see, which correctly completes the question expressing an invitation or inquiry about the listener's desire.

Explanation

The adjective subsequent is the correct choice because it modifies the noun programmes. It means following or coming after in time, indicating that all the programmes that followed the initial setback were successful. Since programmes is a noun, it requires an adjective to describe it rather than an adverb.

Explanation

In English grammar, the standard idiomatic expression used to describe working to support oneself financially is "to earn a living". The verb "earn" collocates naturally with "living" to indicate that a person receives money or a livelihood in return for their labor. Therefore, the singular present tense form "earns" correctly completes the sentence to show a habitual action.

Explanation

The preposition from is used with make when the original material undergoes a complete transformation or chemical change to produce the final product. Since wheat is processed, ground into flour, and baked to make bread, its physical and chemical properties are completely altered, and it cannot be easily reverted to its original form. Therefore, made from is the correct phrase to use in this context.

Explanation

The word bliss refers to a state of supreme happiness, utter joy, or complete contentment. Therefore, happiness is the synonym that best expresses its meaning.

Explanation

The word candid refers to someone who is truthful, straightforward, and sincere in their speech or expression. It describes a person who speaks openly and honestly without attempting to hide their thoughts, which is the precise definition of being frank.

Explanation

The word meagre means lacking in quantity or quality, deficient, or scanty. It is typically used to describe something that is not enough or is insufficient to meet a requirement or need. The word inadequate is a direct synonym, as it also refers to something that is lacking in quality or quantity required for a particular purpose.

Explanation

The word incessant describes something that continues without any interruption or pause, meaning constant or unceasing. The direct antonym is intermittent, which describes something that occurs at irregular intervals, stopping and starting rather than being continuous.

Explanation

The word eternal means lasting or existing forever, without end or beginning. The opposite of this is temporary, which means lasting, existing, or serving for only a limited period of time.

Explanation

Comedy and tragedy are classical antonyms originating from ancient Greek drama. A comedy is a lighthearted literary work or play characterized by its humorous tone and happy ending, whereas a tragedy is a serious, somber work dealing with sorrowful events and having a disastrous ending, typically involving the downfall of the protagonist.

Explanation

The idiom "live from hand to mouth" means to have only just enough money or food to survive day-to-day, with nothing left over for savings or the future. In the context of inflation, it describes a state of financial struggle and hardship where people barely make ends meet. Therefore, "miserably" accurately captures the difficult and precarious nature of this hand-to-mouth existence.

Explanation

The idiom hard and fast is used to describe rules, guidelines, or distinctions that are fixed, definite, and unalterable. When used in a sentence, it indicates that the regulations or standards are established and cannot be modified to suit individual circumstances. Therefore, no hard and fast rules means that the rules are not fixed.

Explanation

The idiom hold your tongue means to refrain from speaking, keep quiet, or remain silent, especially when expressing an opinion or saying something might lead to negative consequences, trouble, or regret. In the context of the sentence, the person is being cautioned to stay silent in the matter to avoid future repentance.

Explanation

The idiom "take exception" means to object to, disagree with, or express opposition or disapproval toward something. In the given sentence, it indicates that the speaker objected to the remarks made and therefore decided to leave the meeting.

Explanation

The idiom "turn a deaf ear" means to deliberately ignore, disregard, or refuse to listen to what someone is saying, advising, or requesting. In this context, turning a deaf ear to his parents' advice means he chose not to listen to them and refused to obey their guidance.

Explanation

The adverbial phrase of time "last night" indicates a specific, completed time in the past. In English grammar, when a definite past time expression is used, the simple past tense is required rather than the present perfect tense. Therefore, the present perfect verb "has left" must be replaced with the simple past verb "left" to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The phrase "know right from wrong" is a standard and widely accepted idiomatic expression in the English language. It means to possess the moral capacity to distinguish between behavior that is ethically correct and behavior that is incorrect or bad. Because the original sentence is grammatically sound and uses the correct idiomatic phrasing, no improvement is required.

Explanation

The idiom "at the eleventh hour" is a standard and widely used English expression that means at the last possible moment or almost too late. In the given sentence, this idiom is used grammatically and contextually correct to convey that it is not wise to delay work until the very last moment. Therefore, the sentence is already correct as written and requires no improvement.

Explanation

The pronoun "one" requires the possessive form "one's" to indicate ownership or association when referring to a person in general. In the given sentence, it expresses that books are the best friends of a person. Therefore, the apostrophe followed by "s" is correctly used to form the singular possessive "one's".

Explanation

On a significant personal and professional milestone such as a fiftieth birthday, a person of high standing, like a school Principal, is typically bestowed with respect, admiration, and public recognition. The term honoured is the most appropriate word to describe this gesture of showing high respect, tribute, and appreciation during such celebratory occasions.

Explanation

In the grammatical construction "one of those who...", the relative pronoun "who" refers back to the plural antecedent "those". Since the antecedent is plural, the relative pronoun "who" must agree with it and take a plural verb. The plural form of the verb is "believe", making the original sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is the noun phrase "This box of chocolates", where the head noun is "box". Since "box" is a singular noun, it requires a singular verb to maintain proper subject-verb agreement. The demonstrative determiner "This" refers to an object present in the current situation, which signifies a state of current possession. Therefore, the simple present tense singular verb "belongs" is the grammatically correct form to express this relationship.

Explanation

The term cavalry historically refers to soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. This branch of the military was known for its mobility, speed, and shock value in battle, serving as a major component of armies prior to the advent of modern mechanized warfare.

Explanation

A spokesman is a person who is chosen to speak officially on behalf of another person, group, or organization, representing their opinions, beliefs, and decisions to the public or the media.

Explanation

An illiterate person is someone who lacks the ability to read and write. The term originates from the Latin word illiteratus, where the prefix il- means not and litteratus means literate or marked with letters, thus specifically denoting the lack of basic reading and writing skills.

Explanation

Mutiny refers to an open rebellion against lawful authority, specifically when a group of people, such as soldiers, sailors, or crew members, refuse to obey the orders of their officers or leaders. This term precisely denotes the act of rising up against established and legally recognized authority.

Explanation

The word embarrass is correctly spelled with a double r and a double s. It is derived from the French word embarrasser, meaning to block or obstruct, and is defined as causing someone to feel confused, self-conscious, or ashamed.

Explanation

The word "release" is the correct spelling, which means to allow something to escape, to set free from confinement or restraint, or to make something available to the public. It originates from the Old French word "relesser" and functions as both a verb and a noun in the English language.

Explanation

The sentence states an absolute biological fact that water is a fundamental requirement for the survival of all living creatures. The negative determiner "no" is used to modify the singular countable noun "animal" to indicate a complete negation. In this context, placing "no" in the blank conveys the meaning that there is not a single animal that has the ability to survive in the absence of water, which perfectly fits both the grammatical structure and the logical meaning of the passage.

Explanation

In this context, the noun want is used in its formal sense to mean lack, scarcity, or a state of being deprived of something necessary. In desert regions, the greatest deprivation or absence of essential resources to sustain life is the process of drying up, representing a severe lack of water. Therefore, want perfectly fits the context to denote this critical deficiency.

Explanation

In this sentence, the definite article "the" is used before "little water" to refer to a specific, limited amount of water that is available in that environment. The relative clause "that exists in arid areas" specifically defines and restricts this water, making the definite article "the" the grammatically correct choice to complete the noun phrase "the little water".

Explanation

The preposition among is used to indicate that something belongs to a larger group or class. In this context, the sentence refers to the hardy camel as being one of nature's masterpieces out of all the various creatures that are equipped to cope with desert life. Therefore, among correctly connects the noun phrase nature's masterpieces with the class of animals described as creatures equipped to cope with desert life.

Explanation

The phrasal verb cope with means to deal successfully with a difficult situation or environment. In the context of the passage, the camel is described as being equipped with biological adaptations that allow it to manage and survive the harsh, arid conditions of desert life. Grammatically, the verb cope is the correct fit as it naturally collocates with the preposition with to express the capacity to handle or endure these challenging conditions.

Explanation

The context of the passage describes the extraordinary ability of camels to survive and travel extremely long distances, such as 800 miles in eight days, without drinking water. This exceptional capacity is best described by the adjective remarkable, which means outstanding, striking, or worthy of attention. Using this word to qualify endurance highlights the highly impressive and unique physical stamina of these animals in adapting to harsh desert conditions.

Explanation

The verb cover is the standard English collocation used when referring to traveling or traversing a physical distance. In the context of the passage, the sentence describes the physical movement of camels traveling over a span of about 800 miles, making cover the grammatically and contextually correct choice to complete the phrase cover a distance.

Explanation

The passage describes how desert creatures, specifically the camel, manage to survive with extremely limited water. In this sentence, the text highlights the camel's legendary endurance by explaining that it can travel a massive distance of 800 miles over eight days of continuous travel without consuming even a single drop of water. The preposition without correctly conveys this sense of lack or exclusion of water intake during their long journey, completing the meaning of the sentence logically and grammatically.

Explanation

The passage refers to the widespread notion that camels store water in their humps. The sentence following blank 94 clarifies this myth by stating, "Water is indeed stored there but in the form of fat." The noun "belief" correctly denotes a widely accepted opinion, trust, or conviction held by people that may or may not be factually correct. Using "belief" in this context seamlessly bridges the popular misconception about camel humps to the scientific reality of fat storage.

Explanation

The sentence following the blank states, "Water is indeed stored there but in the form of fat." This explains that while water is not stored in its liquid form, it is practically stored in the hump through fat, which releases water upon metabolic breakdown. Hence, the popular belief is, in a way, correct.

Explanation

The noun phrase species of insects uses the preposition of to connect the general category species with the specific organisms being described. In English grammar, the construction species of is the standard idiomatic expression used to specify classification, category, or group membership of biological organisms.

Explanation

The sentence structure "little is known about..." is a standard idiomatic collocation in English used to indicate a lack of knowledge or information regarding a subject. In this context, although a million insect species have been identified, scientific information and understanding regarding some of these species remain very limited, making "known" the grammatically and contextually correct fit.

Explanation

The phrase shape and size is a standard English collocation used to describe the overall physical form and dimensions of objects or living organisms. In this passage, it pairs with shape to highlight the vast physical diversity in external appearance among different insect species before transitioning to discuss their shared anatomical characteristics.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the conjunction "although," which establishes a contrast between the outward variations of insects (their shape and size) and their fundamental anatomical makeup. To contrast with the idea of varying so much, the blank requires a word that denotes uniformity. The phrase "the same structure" fits grammatically and logically, indicating that all insects share a common, identical basic body plan. This uniform blueprint is further illustrated in the next sentence, which states that all insects normally possess six legs.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence, "All insects", is a plural noun. In English grammar, a plural subject requires a plural verb to maintain proper subject-verb agreement. Since the passage describes a general, timeless scientific fact about insects, the simple present tense plural verb "have" is required to show possession.