SSC CHSL Tier 1 2016 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct in all its parts. The indefinite article "an" is correctly placed before "only" because "only" begins with a vowel sound. The relative clause "who had been very welcome" properly modifies "child" and uses the past perfect tense correctly. Therefore, the sentence contains no grammatical errors.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "Elections globally", which requires a main verb and predicate to form a complete independent clause. Part R provides the verb and predicate "can be dry affairs". This is followed by a modifying participial phrase that begins with part P ("dominated by numbers, percentages") and is completed by the coordinating conjunction and final noun in part Q ("and tallies"). Arranging the segments in the order R-P-Q forms a grammatically correct and coherent sentence: "Elections globally can be dry affairs dominated by numbers, percentages and tallies."

Explanation

When converting an exclamatory sentence expressing grief or regret from direct to indirect speech, the exclamation Alas! is replaced with the reporting phrase exclaimed sorrowfully. The conjunction that is used to connect the reporting clause with the reported speech. The first-person pronouns I and my change to the third-person pronouns he and his to correspond with the subject Amit. Furthermore, because the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present perfect tense have broken shifts to the past perfect tense had broken.

Explanation

The phrasal verb "pass out" means to lose consciousness or faint. In the context of extreme heat during a crowded event like a concert, it is the appropriate and grammatically correct expression to describe spectators fainting.

Explanation

The preposition "Despite" is used to introduce a contrast or concession, showing that something is occurring in spite of a particular fact or obstacle. In this passage, there is a clear contrast between the visible indicators of economic distress, such as languishing industrial production and the impact of the drought, and the government's subsequent inaction or unwillingness to increase public spending. Because the blank is followed directly by a noun phrase acting as the object, "Despite" functions as the grammatically correct preposition to establish this concessive relationship.

Explanation

The word pal is an informal noun used to refer to a close friend, companion, or associate. Similarly, buddy is a common colloquial term that signifies a close friend or comrade, sharing the exact same denotation of friendship.

Explanation

The word giddy refers to having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger, which is synonymous with feeling dizzy or lightheaded. This physical state of instability and disorientation directly matches the description provided in the phrase.

Explanation

The idiomatic phrase "it is no good" is always followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) instead of an infinitive (to + verb). Therefore, the verb "cry" must be in its gerund form "crying" to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The sentence requires a noun to follow the adjective adverse and to be modified by the prepositional phrase of the drought. The correct noun meaning results or consequences is effects. Since the sentence refers to multiple consequences on both rural livelihoods and demand, the plural noun effects is grammatically appropriate to represent these various impacts.

Explanation

The error lies in part C of the sentence.

First, when a relative clause follows a superlative adjective (in this case, "the latest"), the relative pronoun "that" is preferred over "which".

Second, the time expression "in recent times" requires the present perfect tense rather than the simple past tense to connect the past action with the present. Since the relative pronoun refers to the plural antecedent "movies," the plural auxiliary verb "have" is required.

Therefore, "which appeared" must be replaced with "that have appeared" to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The noun gallows refers to a structure, typically consisting of a crossbeam on two upright posts, specifically used for the execution of condemned criminals by hanging. In this sentence, the context of execution by hanging followed by presidential clemency makes gallows the grammatically and semantically correct choice.

Explanation

The idiom "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" is a common proverb used to suggest that if you are unable to defeat, outdo, or win against a particular opponent, group, or trend, it is more practical and advantageous to ally with them, cooperate, or adopt their practices rather than continuing a losing struggle. It represents a pragmatic approach of shifting from opposition to collaboration when success through conflict is no longer possible.

Explanation

The word bequeath means to formally give, leave, or hand down property or assets to a beneficiary, typically through a will. The word receive means to take, accept, or acquire something that has been given or sent, making it the direct antonym of giving or passing something on.

Explanation

The word stun means to shock, daze, or highly agitate someone, causing a state of sudden confusion or temporary inability to react. An antonym must represent the act of bringing peace, relaxation, or composure. The word calm means to soothe, pacify, or restore tranquility to someone who is agitated, directly opposing the shocking or disruptive nature of being stunned.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple past tense, as indicated by the verb "ran". When converting a simple past active voice sentence into passive voice, the structural formula is:

Object + was/were + past participle (V3) of the verb + by + Subject + remaining phrase

In this sentence, the object is "the race" (singular), so the auxiliary verb "was" is used. The past participle (V3) form of the verb "run" is "run". The subject "Preeti" becomes the agent introduced by the preposition "by", and the adverbial phrase "in record time" completes the sentence. Applying this structure results in "The race was run by Preeti in record time."

Explanation

The phrase almost as soon as is grammatically correct and idiomatic in this context. It functions as a temporal conjunction to show that the action in the main clause occurred nearly at the exact moment the action in the subordinate clause took place. The adverb almost appropriately modifies the phrase as soon as to convey that the transition to sleep was nearly instantaneous upon the head touching the pillow.

Explanation

The word bestiary is spelled correctly. A bestiary is a medieval compendium of beasts, which contains descriptions and illustrations of various real or mythical animals, often accompanied by moral lessons.

Explanation

The proverb "all good things must come to an end" is a widely used English idiom which means that no matter how pleasant, exciting, or enjoyable an experience is, it will eventually have to finish or conclude.

Explanation

The verb defile means to damage the purity, cleanliness, or sacredness of something, effectively making it dirty, impure, or desecrated. Similarly, the verb besmirch means to dirty, soil, or tarnish something, whether literally making a physical object dirty or figuratively damaging a person's reputation or character. Both words share the core meaning of staining or spoiling the purity or integrity of a person, place, or object.

Explanation

The coordinating conjunction "or" is used to connect two alternatives, which in this context are the adjectives "unable" and "unwilling". The phrase "unable or unwilling" is a standard English collocation used to express that an entity either lacks the capability or the desire to perform a particular action.

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct in all its parts. The phrase better adapted correctly uses the comparative adverb better to modify the past participle adjective adapted. The preposition to is the correct preposition to follow adapted when referring to adjusting to environmental conditions like climate. Finally, the comparative clause than you is a grammatically standard elliptical construction meaning than you are adapted. Since there are no errors in syntax, prepositional usage, or comparison, the sentence is error-free.

Explanation

The phrase "It is high time" is grammatically followed by a clause containing a subject and a verb in the simple past tense to express that something should have been done already. The fragment Q, "the government started thinking", perfectly fits this structure by providing the subject "the government" and the past tense verb "started thinking". The verb "thinking" requires the preposition "about" to connect to its object, which is provided in part P, "about the cost and". This coordinate structure is then logically completed by the noun phrase in part R, "quality of power supply", to form the complete and coherent sentence.

Explanation

The sentence starts with the introductory phrase "For India, therefore," which must be followed by a subject and a verb to form a complete clause. Part Q introduces the subject "nuclear security" and the verb phrase "is not a new objective," making it the logical beginning. Part R introduces the contrasting conjunction phrase "but has always been," which connects the negative statement to an affirmative clause. Part P completes this clause by detailing what nuclear security has always been, which is "a priority along with nuclear safety." This arrangements results in the grammatically correct and coherent sentence: "For India, therefore, nuclear security is not a new objective, but has always been a priority along with nuclear safety."

Explanation

The word divining is the present participle form of the verb divine, which means to discover or declare by intuition, prophecy, or dowsing. The spelling follows the standard grammatical rule of dropping the silent e from the base word divine before adding the suffix -ing, resulting in the correct spelling d-i-v-i-n-i-n-g.

Explanation

The verb investigating is the most appropriate choice in this context as it means carrying out a systematic or formal inquiry to examine facts or establish the truth. In scientific and medical research, researchers perform detailed and systematic studies to understand the causes, patterns, or correlates of health conditions. Since diabetes is described as a lifestyle ailment, researchers need to perform a thorough, detailed inquiry into the daily habits, diets, and overall routines of patients to draw valid scientific conclusions.

Explanation

When converting a sentence from direct to indirect speech, if the reporting verb is in the past tense ("said"), the tense of the reported speech changes accordingly. Specifically, the present perfect continuous tense ("have been reading") changes to the past perfect continuous tense ("had been reading"). Additionally, the first-person pronoun "I" changes to the third-person pronoun "he" to agree with the subject Puneet, and the conjunction "that" is introduced to connect the clauses. Applying these rules yields "Puneet said that he had been reading a story book".

Explanation

The term pariah refers to an outcast or a person who is rejected, avoided, and not accepted by a social group or society, especially because they are not liked, respected, or trusted. Derived historically from a caste in Southern India, it is used in the English language to describe anyone who has been socially ostracized and stripped of their community acceptance.

Explanation

The relative pronoun 'that' refers back to the singular noun phrase 'The new claim' and acts as the subject of the relative clause. To complete this clause, a finite verb is required. The simple past tense verb 'emerged' correctly acts as the finite verb, indicating that the claim arose in the past from misplaced confidence.

Explanation

The context of the passage relates to assessing educational outcomes and comparing costs, specifically focusing on the measurement of learning outcomes. In discussions around educational metrics, the term quantified is used to describe the act of expressing or measuring qualitative aspects, like learning, knowledge, and educational value, as a numerical quantity or value. The passage critiques the misplaced belief that every element of education can be measured and assigned a precise numerical or monetary value. Therefore, quantified is the most appropriate word to describe this attempt to measure and express all aspects of education in numerical terms.

Explanation

The blank is part of the concessive phrase "even if", which is used to introduce a hypothetical condition or concession. In this sentence, "even if" is used to suggest that even in the scenario where the learning outcomes of private schools are not superior to public schools, the cost of operating private schools remains significantly lower. This combination perfectly fits the grammatical structure and logical flow of the argument being made.

Explanation

The comparative adjective better is used to make a comparison between two entities, which are the learning outcomes of private schools and those of public schools. In English grammar, comparative adjectives are standardly followed by the conjunction than to introduce the second element in a comparison. Therefore, better than is the grammatically correct construction to complete the phrase.

Explanation

The preposition of is grammatically required here to connect the noun cost with the gerund phrase running private schools. In English, the standard idiomatic construction to denote the expense associated with performing an action or operating an entity is the cost of doing something. Therefore, of correctly completes the phrase to express the expenditure required for operating private schools.

Explanation

In the given context, the noun activity forms the standard macroeconomic collocation "economic activity." This term refers to the collective processes of producing, buying, and selling goods and services within an economy. When a government increases public spending to counter a slowdown, its objective is to stimulate these transactions, which in turn boosts production and generates employment. Therefore, activity is the grammatically and contextually correct fit for the blank.

Explanation

When converting an interrogative sentence from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb "said to" is changed to "asked". Since the reported speech is a yes/no question beginning with the modal verb "Can", the conjunction "if" is used to connect the clauses. The pronoun "you" changes to "he" to refer to the driver, and "me" changes to "her" to refer to Rupa. The modal "can" changes to its past tense form "could" to match the past tense reporting verb, and the adverb of time "now" changes to "then". This results in the sentence: Rupa asked the driver if he could take her to the doctor then.

Explanation

The error lies in part A because of an incorrect modal verb in the conditional clause. The sentence represents a hypothetical or imaginary situation, which requires the second conditional structure. The standard formula for a second conditional sentence is: If + past simple/past modal, would + verb.

Since the consequence clause uses the past modal would in the phrase "I am sure you would be looking beautiful", the condition clause in part A must also use the past modal could instead of the present modal can. Replacing "can" with "could" makes the sentence grammatically correct as "If I could see you".

Explanation

The sentence describes a situation where despite the grandfather's advanced age, his authority and leadership within the extended family remain unquestioned and accepted by everyone. The word undisputed means acknowledged or accepted by all without argument or doubt, making it the most appropriate term to describe a family leader whose position is universally respected.

Explanation

The idiom "back to the drawing board" is used to indicate that a plan, idea, or project has been unsuccessful, and it is necessary to start over from the very beginning with a completely new approach. The origin of the phrase traces back to the field of design and drafting, where an unsuccessful design requires the creator to return to their drafting board to devise a new plan.

Explanation

The word assemble is spelled correctly. It is a verb that means to bring or gather together into one place or group, or to fit together the separate component parts of a machine or other object.

Explanation

The verb filch is defined as the act of casually stealing or pilfering something, especially an item of small value. It implies taking something in a stealthy, quick, or casual manner without using violence or force.

Explanation

The phrase "at the same moment" is a standard idiomatic expression in English used to indicate that two actions or events occurred at the exact same point in time. In this sentence, the striking of the bell and the dismissal of school happened simultaneously, making "moment" the most appropriate and natural fit to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the introductory phrase "This means that for". The preposition "for" is followed by a gerund clause starting with "making", which is found in part P ("making a significant dent"). The idiomatic phrase "making a dent" is completed by the preposition "in" found at the start of part R ("in poverty, rural incomes"). The noun phrase "rural incomes" then acts as the subject for the plural verb phrase in part Q ("have to grow at a faster rate"). Connecting these parts in the sequence P-R-Q yields the grammatically complete and coherent sentence: "This means that for making a significant dent in poverty, rural incomes have to grow at a faster rate."

Explanation

The word conception refers to a subjective idea, belief, or mental image formed in the mind. Its antonym is fact, which represents an objective, concrete reality that exists independently of thought and can be proven to be true.

Explanation

The sentence highlights a sharp contrast between two opposite situations: people in rural areas lacking basic drinking water, and people in urban areas having an abundance of water even for luxury purposes like swimming pools. The conjunction whereas is used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or contradicts the main clause, making it the grammatically correct and semantically appropriate choice to connect these two statements.

Explanation

The verb mind is transitively followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb). In this sentence, the conjunction and connects two actions that both function as the object of mind. To maintain grammatical parallelism, both verbs must be in the same form. Since standing is a gerund, the verb eat must also be in the gerund form eating, resulting in the parallel construction standing and eating.

Explanation

The use of the conjunction as in part B is incorrect. The sentence uses the present perfect continuous tense, I've been trying, which indicates an action that began in the past and is continuing up to the present. To denote the starting point of this action in the past, namely when the person left college, the preposition since should be used instead of as. Replacing as with since makes the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The word reverent is an adjective that means feeling or showing deep and solemn respect. It is correctly spelled as r-e-v-e-r-e-n-t. The word is derived from the Latin root revereri, meaning to stand in awe of or respect, and it follows the standard English adjective suffix -ent.

Explanation

To reiterate means to say, state, or perform something again or repeatedly, especially for emphasis or clarity. Similarly, to recur means to occur again, happen repeatedly, or return to a previous state. Both verbs are fundamentally centered on the concept of repetition and happening again, making them synonyms.

Explanation

The verb expunge means to erase, delete, or completely remove text, records, or information from a document or list. The word insert means to add, introduce, or place something into a body of writing or an object. Since expunging involves removing content and inserting involves adding content, they represent opposite actions, making them antonyms.

Explanation

The word elude means to fail to be achieved or attained by someone, particularly when referring to a desired goal, success, or achievement. For example, if success or victory escapes a person or a team despite their efforts, it is said to elude them. This makes it the perfect substitute for the given phrase.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple past tense, which follows the structure: Subject + V₂ + Object. To convert a simple past tense sentence into passive voice, the structure used is: Object of active voice + was/were + V₃ + by + Subject of active voice. Since the object "the whole town" is singular, it is followed by the auxiliary verb "was", the past participle "destroyed", and the agent "by the flood". This results in the sentence: "The whole town was destroyed by the flood."