SSC CHSL Tier 1 2015 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The idiom to make up one's mind means to reach a decision or resolve on a course of action after a period of doubt, hesitation, or consideration. It represents the process of bringing one's thoughts to a final, settled conclusion.

Explanation

The idiom French leave refers to the act of departing from a social gathering, or absenting oneself from work or duty, without seeking permission, giving prior notice, or saying goodbye. The phrase originated in the 18th century from a French social custom of leaving a party without formally taking leave of the host or hostess, in order to avoid disrupting the entertainment or attracting unnecessary attention. Over time, the expression was adopted into English and expanded to mean any unauthorized absence or departure.

Explanation

The idiom "the gnomes of Zurich" is a slang term used to describe powerful, secretive Swiss bankers or big international bankers who possess significant influence over global financial and monetary affairs. The phrase was popularized in the mid-20th century by British politicians to criticize Swiss financiers for their speculative activities in the currency market and their strict policy of banking secrecy. The comparison links these bankers to mythical, secretive gnomes guarding buried underground treasures, symbolizing the discreet and highly influential nature of international banking institutions operating out of Zurich.

Explanation

In a sentence describing two related events in the past, the simple past tense is used for the action that happened later, while the past perfect tense is used for the action that happened earlier. The action of seeing him happened first, which is correctly expressed in the past perfect tense as had seen. The act of realization happened after this, meaning it must be expressed in the simple past tense as realized.

Explanation

The phrase "Inspite of being ill" correctly introduces a concession or contrast, which is logical because falling ill is normally a reason to stay away from work. The original participle clause "Being ill" implies a causal relationship (suggesting he came to work because he was ill), which is semantically incorrect. Using "Inspite of" resolves this logical contradiction by showing that the action of coming to work occurred regardless of his sickness.

Explanation

The sentence requires the correct passive verb construction "are born" followed by the adjective "deaf", which functions as a subject complement describing the state of the children at birth. Placing the verb "are born" before the adjective "deaf" and ending with the temporal modifier "every" properly aligns with standard English syntax to form the coherent phrase "are born deaf every year".

Explanation

In the sentence, the word willing is an adjective functioning as a subject complement after the linking verb is. The construction to be willing to do something is a standard English idiom meaning to be ready, prepared, or happy to do something. Because the sentence is grammatically correct and carries the intended meaning perfectly, no improvement is required.

Explanation

Metallurgy is the domain of science, technology, and engineering concerned with the chemical, physical, and thermal behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which fundamentally includes the art and craft of working with metals to extract, refine, and shape them into usable objects.

Explanation

An aviary is a large enclosure, cage, or building specifically designed for keeping, housing, and breeding birds. The term is derived from the Latin word avis, which means bird, making it the precise word for a place where birds are kept.

Explanation

The term congregation refers to a group of people assembled for religious worship, prayer, or spiritual instruction at a religious venue like a church, temple, or mosque.

Explanation

A lexicographer is a person who writes, compiles, or edits dictionaries. The term is derived from the Greek words lexiko, meaning of words, and graphia, meaning writing. This professional is responsible for researching, collecting, defining, and organizing words and their meanings, pronunciations, and usages into a dictionary format.

Explanation

The word laboratory is correctly spelled with a single b, a single r in both positions, and the suffix -ory. Derived from the Latin laborare, meaning to work, it refers to a room or building equipped for scientific research, experiments, or testing.

Explanation

The word humane is an adjective that means having or showing compassion, benevolence, or consideration for others. It is the correct spelling of the term, derived from the Latin root humanus, with the suffix -ane denoting qualities associated with civilized or compassionate behavior.

Explanation

The word equanimous is an adjective that means calm, composed, and even-tempered, especially under stress or in a difficult situation. It is derived from the Latin roots aequus, meaning even or equal, and animus, meaning mind or soul. The correct spelling combines these roots with the standard adjectival suffix -ous, yielding equanimous.

Explanation

The sentence starts in the past tense with the verb came in the first part. To maintain tense consistency and grammatical parallelism throughout the sentence, the subsequent verb in part (b) must also be in the past tense. Therefore, the present tense verb begin must be replaced with its past tense form began to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct and free of errors. The indefinite pronoun subject "one" is correctly paired with its corresponding possessive pronoun "one's". The modal verb "must" is correctly followed by the base form of the verb "obey", and "teachers" serves as the appropriate direct object. Since all grammatical components of the sentence are accurate, there is no error in the sentence.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

The error lies in part b of the sentence. The verb fed requires a direct object, which is the noun children. The use of the possessive apostrophe in children's is grammatically incorrect because there is no noun following it to show possession. It should simply be the plural noun children to serve as the direct object of the action.

Explanation

The error lies in part (c) of the sentence due to the incorrect usage of the adjective absorbed. The past participle adjective absorbed is used to describe a person who is deeply interested or fully occupied with something. To describe writing or speech that has the quality of holding someone's attention, the active present participle adjective absorbing must be used instead. Replacing absorbed with absorbing also maintains parallel structure with the coordinate adjective engrossing.

Explanation

The modal auxiliary verb must is always followed by the bare infinitive, which is the base form of the verb without to. In this case, the base form is conform. Additionally, the verb conform idiomatically takes the preposition to when it means to comply with or behave in accordance with established rules, standards, or laws. Therefore, the phrase conform to is the grammatically correct fit for the sentence.

Explanation

The phrasal verb live up to means to match or equal a high standard, reputation, or expectation. The idiom live up to one's name is used to describe someone behaving or performing in a manner that aligns with their reputation or the meaning of their name. In this context, line up serves as the option representing live up to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The sentence describes two actions that occurred in the past. The verb in the main clause, handed, is in the simple past tense. To maintain tense consistency and express that both actions occurred at the same time in the past, the verb in the subordinate clause introduced by as must also be in the simple past tense. Therefore, the simple past verb came correctly completes the sentence.

Explanation

The term economic slowdown refers to a period where economic growth decreases and economic activity declines. During an economic slowdown, consumer spending drops and overall market demand contracts. This decline in economic activity directly leads to a significant decrease in corporate sales, making it the contextually correct phrase to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The word pawn means to deposit an object as security for a debt or a loan. Similarly, a pledge refers to a bailment of personal property as security for a debt or engagement. Therefore, pledge is the closest synonym that best expresses the meaning of the word pawn.

Explanation

The word maestro refers to a distinguished musician, conductor, or master of any art or field. It is used to describe someone who possesses outstanding talent, supreme skill, and mastery in their respective domain, making it synonymous with a genius.

Explanation

The word feeble means lacking physical strength, vigor, or force, typically as a result of age, illness, or exhaustion. It is directly synonymous with weak, which also refers to a state of being frail, infirm, or lacking in power and energy.

Explanation

The word chastise means to criticize, reprimand, or discipline someone severely. The word upbraid similarly means to find fault with someone or to scold and criticize them severely. Both words convey the sense of strong disapproval and rebuking, making upbraid the closest synonym to chastise.

Explanation

The word bizarre refers to something that is extremely strange, unusual, or unconventional. Its antonym must denote something that is normal, standard, or commonplace. Ordinary fits this definition perfectly as it describes something that is regular, customary, or standard, which is the direct opposite of bizarre.

Explanation

The word guilty describes a person who has committed a specified offense, crime, or violation, or who is responsible for a specified wrongdoing. The direct antonym is innocent, which refers to a person who is free from guilt, blame, or sin, particularly in a legal context where they have not committed the crime or action in question.

Explanation

An accusation is a formal charge or claim that someone has committed a crime, error, or wrongdoing. Conversely, exculpation refers to the act of clearing someone from alleged fault, blame, or guilt. Therefore, exculpation is the direct antonym of accusation as it represents the official exoneration or vindication of a person who has been accused.

Explanation

The word appoint means to officially assign a job, role, or responsibility to someone. The opposite of appointing someone to a position is to officially remove them from that position, which is defined by the word dismiss. Dismiss means to discharge, send away, or remove someone from employment, office, or duty.

Explanation

The sentence structure flows logically by connecting the subject and its actions chronologically. The subject is the watchman, which is followed by the action of waking up in Q. The reason for waking up is introduced by the conjunction when in S, describing that he heard the dog barking. The subsequent action is joined by the coordinating conjunction and in P, where he found two thieves. These thieves are then described by the prepositional phrase in R as having black masks, which smoothly connects to the final phrase in 6 describing their attempt to get in. This forms the complete, grammatically coherent sentence: The watchman woke up when he heard the dog barking and found two thieves with black masks trying to get in.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the subject "The students" (1), which is logically followed by the verb phrase "arrived and" (Q). This is succeeded by the action "touched the" (P) and its logical object "feet of" (S). This prepositional phrase is completed by "their teacher" (R), which then connects smoothly to the concluding phrase "with reverence" (6). Arranging the parts in the sequence Q-P-S-R forms the grammatically correct and meaningful sentence: "The students arrived and touched the feet of their teacher with reverence."

Explanation

The sentence begins with 1, which ends with the modifier the most. This requires an adjective to complete the superlative phrase, which is provided by scorching in living memory in R.

Following R, the clause is extended by the conjunction and we have reason in Q.

The noun reason in Q is grammatically followed by the infinitive to believe in P.

The adjective next in P modifies the subject year and the year after in S, which then connects to the auxiliary verb will be hotter still in 6. This forms a grammatically correct and coherent sentence.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the main subject and verb, "Falcons have sharp angular wings". The relative clause in part S, "that give them the speed", logically modifies the noun "wings", establishing S as the immediate succeeding part. The noun "speed" is then naturally qualified by the infinitive phrase in part R, "to chase their prey". This is followed by the coordinating conjunction "and" in part Q, "and allow them", which introduces a second consequence of having such wings. Finally, the pronoun "them" in part Q is followed by the infinitive phrase in part P, "to drive sharply", which connects smoothly with the concluding phrase "to capture their victims" to complete the logical flow of the sentence.

Explanation

An imperative sentence in direct speech is converted into indirect speech by changing the reporting verb to an appropriate verb of command, advice, or instruction and using an infinitive construction (to + verb) instead of a conjunction like "that". In this sentence, the reporting verb "said to" is changed to "instructed" to reflect the teacher's command, and the imperative verb "march" is converted into the infinitive form "to march", which correctly links the reporting clause with the reported speech.

Explanation

When converting a direct speech question into indirect speech, the reporting verb said to is changed to asked. Since the reported speech is a yes/no question starting with the auxiliary verb do, it is introduced by the conjunction whether or if. The second person pronoun you changes to he to agree with the object of the reporting verb, the driver. Additionally, the simple present tense verb have in the question is changed to the simple past tense had because the reporting verb is in the past tense. This results in the sentence: The policeman asked the driver whether he had a licence.

Explanation

The preposition against is used to indicate opposition to or prevention of an action. In the context of the passage, civilized life is governed by a rule that opposes or prohibits violence. This meaning is further supported by the parallel structure in the subsequent phrase, against taking the law into our hands, which also uses against to establish a prohibition. Therefore, against perfectly fits the grammatical and contextual requirements of the sentence to show that violence is prohibited in a civilized society.

Explanation

The idiom "taking the law into one's hands" is a standard English expression that means to take the enforcement of justice or punishment into one's own hands, rather than relying on the established legal system and police. In the context of the passage, civilized society operates under a rule against violence and against individuals taking the law into their own hands.

Explanation

In the context of the passage, the sentence describes how prevailing the rule of non-violence is in a civilized society. The pronoun most is the correct choice to complete the phrase most of us, indicating that the vast majority of people regularly adhere to this rule. This widespread adherence is what makes peaceful coexistence seem like a natural state of affairs to a great number of people.

Explanation

The phrase a great number of is a standard idiomatic expression in English used to quantify countable nouns in the plural form. Since people is a plural countable noun, the word number correctly completes the phrase to indicate a large quantity of individuals.

Explanation

The passage describes how law-abiding citizens in a civilized society take peace and structural order for granted. They go through life accepting orderliness and non-violence as an inherent and natural part of their environment. This aligns with the context of people naturally conforming to established social norms and rules without questioning them.

Explanation

In this context, the indefinite pronoun any one represents an unspecified singular individual who might disrupt the peaceful status quo of civilized society. Grammatically, this singular pronoun perfectly matches the singular verb forms comes and refuses that follow in the sentence, establishing correct subject-verb agreement while logically describing a hypothetical scenario where an individual challenges prevailing norms.

Explanation

In the given sentence, the blank requires a relative pronoun to refer back to the person or individual introduced in the previous blank. The relative pronoun serves as the subject of the relative clause that follows, namely the verb phrase starting with refuses. Since the antecedent is a person, the relative pronoun who is grammatically correct and appropriate to introduce this defining relative clause.

Explanation

In the given sentence, the coordinating conjunction "and" connects two parallel clauses that share the same singular subject represented by the relative pronoun in blank (7). The first verb, "refuses", is in the third-person singular, simple present tense. To maintain grammatical parallelism and subject-verb agreement, the verb in blank (8) must also be in the third-person singular, simple present tense. Therefore, "follows" is the grammatically correct word to fill this blank.

Explanation

In the English language, the preposition of is used to show belonging, connection, or association with a particular group, organization, or entity. In this context, the phrase members of society is a standard and correct grammatical collocation where members belong to or are part of society. Therefore, the preposition of fits perfectly in blank (9) to complete the meaning of the sentence.

Explanation

Blank 10 requires an adjective to describe the state of the law-abiding members when someone disrupts the established rules of society. Since these members do not know how to react, they feel completely powerless and unable to act. The word helpless correctly conveys this lack of control and perfectly modifies bewildered confusion, capturing their vulnerability and inability to handle the situation.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the past continuous tense, which has the structure: Subject + was/were + verb-ing + Object. When converting a past continuous sentence into passive voice, the structure becomes: Object + was/were + being + past participle (V3) of the verb + by + Subject. Applying this rule, the subject "The boys" and the object "kites" swap positions. Since "kites" is plural, it is followed by "were being made" (where "made" is the past participle of "make"), followed by "by the boys". This gives the correct passive sentence as "Kites were being made by the boys".

Explanation

The active voice sentence follows the structure: Subject (He) + Auxiliary verb (will) + negative (not) + Main verb (use) + Object (the computer).

To convert this simple future tense sentence into passive voice, the object (the computer) becomes the new subject, the auxiliary verb (will not) is followed by be and the past participle of the main verb (used), and the active subject (He) changes to its objective form (him) introduced by the preposition by. This yields the structure: New Subject (The computer) + will not be + Past Participle (used) + by + Agent (him).

Explanation

The preceding sentence states that laughter brings people together, whereas keeping to oneself distances people. Based on these premises, the subsequent statement draws a logical conclusion. The word "therefore" is used to show a direct result or consequence of the previously established facts, making it the grammatically and contextually correct choice to complete the phrase "It has therefore been rightly said that laughter is the shortest distance between two persons."

Explanation

In this context, the noun capacity refers to the mental power, strength, or ability to experience or do something. The phrase have the capacity to laugh is a common and grammatically precise expression that denotes having the inner resilience or capability to laugh at one's problems and miseries. This fits the overall positive characterization of outgoing and gregarious individuals who possess the inherent strength to cope with life's challenges through humor.