SSC CHSL Tier 1 2020 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word assertion refers to a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief. Similarly, a declaration is defined as a formal, explicit, or emphatic statement or announcement. Both terms represent the act of stating something with confidence, authority, and clarity, which makes them direct synonyms.

Explanation

The word is spelled incorrectly. The correct spelling is faithfully, which is formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective faithful, resulting in a double l.

Explanation

The active sentence is in the simple past tense, as indicated by the verb beat and the time adverbial last night.

To convert a simple past active sentence into passive voice, the structure is: Subject + was/were + past participle + by + agent.

The object of the active sentence, a number of protestors, becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Because the phrase a number of is plural, it takes the plural verb were. The past participle of the verb beat is beaten. Additionally, the time adverbial last night converts to the night before. Combining these parts gives the correct passive form: A number of protestors were beaten by the police the night before.

Explanation

The idiom up in arms originated in the late sixteenth century, originally referring to armed rebellion where people literally took up weapons to fight. Over time, the phrase evolved into a figurative expression meaning to be extremely angry, outraged, or protesting vigorously against a decision, policy, or situation.

Explanation

The correct option is B because the adjective "excessive" is needed to modify the noun "usage" to describe the over-utilization of smartphones. Other options are either verbs, adverbs, or grammatically incorrect in this context.

Explanation

The passage highlights the urgent importance of disconnecting from the virtual world, stating that digital detox is the need of the hour rather than a temporary trend. To match this serious and urgent tone, the verb think needs an adverb that denotes earnestness and gravity. The adverb seriously correctly modifies the verb think to convey that we must deeply and sincerely contemplate our smartphone consumption and the necessity of a digital detox.

Explanation

The definite article "the" is used before a noun when the noun refers to something specific, unique, or already known to the reader. In this sentence, "virtual world" represents a specific, singular concept—the digital and online environment associated with technology and smartphones. Because it refers to a distinct, well-defined realm in contrast to the physical world, the definite article "the" is the grammatically correct choice to complete the phrase.

Explanation

The verb nudge typically follows the pattern nudge + object + to-infinitive when used to mean coaxing, encouraging, or gently persuading someone to perform an action. In this sentence, the verb nudged is followed by the object all smartphone users, which grammatically requires the to-infinitive to take to complete the infinitive construction and express the intended action of taking a step backward.

Explanation

In the context of the passage, which discusses the need for a digital detox and disconnecting from the virtual world, the phrasal verb switch off is the most appropriate fit. To switch off a device means to turn it off by operating a control, which directly aligns with the speaker's plea for smartphone users to temporarily stop using their devices in order to connect with their loved ones in real life.

Explanation

The word guile (written as guil in the question) refers to sly or cunning intelligence used to mislead or trick someone. Deceit represents the practice of deceiving or misleading someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth, making it the direct synonym.

Explanation

The grammatical structure "as + adjective + as" is used to make comparisons of equality in affirmative sentences. While "so... as" is typically reserved for negative comparisons, "as... as" is the standard form used to show that two things are equal in a positive context. Since the clause "is claimed to be..." is affirmative, the comparison requires "as durable as". Additionally, the verb "claim" is idiomatically followed by a to-infinitive, making "to be as durable as" the grammatically correct choice.

Explanation

The sentence uses a conditional structure to describe a situation where, in the absence of the social media video, people would not have known about the occurrence. The word unaware means having no knowledge of a situation or fact, and it is grammatically followed by the preposition of. Therefore, unaware of the tragedy fits the context perfectly to show that the world would have remained ignorant of the event.

Explanation

The word demolish means to pull down, tear down, or completely destroy a structure or building. The word construct means to build, erect, or put together different parts to create a structure. Because constructing is the act of creation or building up, it serves as the direct opposite and most appropriate antonym of demolishing, which is the act of tearing down.

Explanation

The word "Recieve" is misspelled. According to the common English spelling rule "i before e, except after c" when the sound is a long "e", the letter "e" must precede "i" because it directly follows the letter "c". Therefore, the correct spelling is "Receive".

Explanation

The idiom "stir up a hornet's nest" refers to the act of initiating a highly controversial, troublesome, or hostile situation. This expression draws a parallel to physically disturbing a nest of hornets, which are aggressive insects. Doing so causes them to swarm out in anger and attack. In a figurative sense, taking an action or making a statement that disturbs the status quo can provoke widespread anger, intense opposition, or major complications.

Explanation

The reporting verb asked is in the simple past tense, which requires the tense of the reported speech to change from the simple present tense to the simple past tense. The direct speech is a yes or no question, so the conjunction if is used to connect the reporting clause and the reported clause. The interrogative form Do you attend is changed to the assertive form I attended in the simple past tense, with the pronoun you shifting to I to match the context of the conversation. This results in the construction He asked me if I attended the film festival at Goa every year.

Explanation

Sentence D introduces the main subject, which is the new driving test recently introduced by the Regional Transport Offices of Delhi. Sentence A logically follows D because the pronoun phrase "This test" directly refers back to the "new driving test" mentioned in sentence D. Sentence C then elaborates on "the fully automated Driving Test Track" introduced in sentence A, describing it as a fully-automated track with six segments. Finally, sentence B connects to sentence C by referring to "Each of these specific skills", which relates directly to the "specific driving skills" mentioned in sentence C. Therefore, the coherent and logical sequence is DACB.

Explanation

Sentence B introduces the main subject by defining The Secret Life of Frogs as the first-ever film on Indian amphibians. Sentence C naturally follows by describing where the film was shot, which is in the Western Ghats. Sentence D then uses the pronoun "It" to refer back to the film and explain what it showcases, namely unique and critically endangered frog species. Finally, Sentence A uses the pronoun "them" to refer back to these endangered species, highlighting the Purple Frog as the most well-known example. This creates a cohesive flow from a general introduction to specific details in the sequence B-C-D-A.

Explanation

The grammatical error lies in the phrase "one of a pioneers". The standard grammatical structure used to refer to a specific group is "one of the + plural noun". Since "pioneers of Indian art" refers to a specific, defined group of individuals, the definite article "the" must be used instead of the indefinite article "a". Therefore, the segment should be corrected to "one of the pioneers".

Explanation

The word redundant refers to something that is no longer needed or useful, typically because it is superfluous, duplicate, or has been superseded by something better.

Explanation

The sentence describes a general fact or a regular daily occurrence. To express habitual actions, general truths, or facts, the simple present tense is used. Since India is a singular subject, it must be paired with the singular third-person verb witnesses to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "Your skill", which is a singular noun. According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, a singular subject must be paired with a singular verb. The verb "lie" is plural and should be replaced with the singular form "lies" to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The word furtive means attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble. It describes stealthy, clandestine, or quiet behavior aimed at keeping something hidden. Secretive is its closest synonym as it refers to a person or action characterized by concealment, stealth, and a tendency to keep thoughts, intentions, or actions private.

Explanation

The idiom actions speak louder than words emphasizes that people are more likely to believe and respect what you do rather than what you say. It highlights that concrete deeds and behaviors are a far more reliable indicator of a person's true character, intentions, and commitments than mere verbal assertions or promises.

Explanation

The adverb generally means usually, commonly, or in most cases. Given the opening premise that the choices we make in life determine who we are, the sentence explains that a person's life is typically or normally characterized by the exemplary choices made throughout their journey. The word generally perfectly establishes this standard or typical relationship in a passive construction.

Explanation

The preposition along is used to denote progression, movement, or events occurring at various points during a path or route. In the context of the passage, journey represents the path of a person's life. The exemplary choices are made at different stages as one progresses through this life path, making along one's journey the grammatically correct and idiomatic expression to indicate occurrence during the course of that journey.

Explanation

The sentence describes a progression or transition in Ratan Tata's life journey between two points in time. In English grammar, the correlative prepositional structure from ... to is standard for indicating a starting point and an ending point of a journey, transition, or range. Here, the starting point is being a seven-year-old boy, which is paired with the preposition to before the subsequent event of being moved by the plight of a family. Therefore, the preposition from is the grammatically correct choice to complete the relationship.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression "play one's part in" means to be actively involved in, contribute to, or participate in a collective activity or event. In the context of the sentence, it refers to the young Ratan Tata contributing or participating in the freedom struggle. Therefore, "part in" is the correct choice to complete the phrase "played his part in the freedom struggle".

Explanation

The Tata Nano was conceptualized by Ratan Tata as an affordable and low-cost alternative for families who could otherwise only afford two-wheelers. In this context, describing the Tata Nano as the world's most economical car aligns perfectly with its actual historical marketing, purpose, and design of being highly cost-effective and budget-friendly.

Explanation

The sentence lacks a finite verb to function as the main predicate. The present participle "meaning" cannot act as the main verb on its own. To make the sentence grammatically correct, "meaning" must be replaced with the finite verb "means" to establish a proper subject-verb relationship with the singular noun phrase "Freedom of expression".

Explanation

The word exempted means to be officially excused or released from an obligation, duty, or payment. In the context of taxation, individuals whose earnings fall below a specified threshold are legally freed from the liability of paying income tax, making this the most appropriate term to complete the sentence.

Explanation

The word rebuked means to express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions. In this context, cheating is a serious misconduct, making it appropriate for the teacher to rebuke the student for their actions.

Explanation

When converting a direct speech sentence into indirect speech, the tense of the verb in the reported speech changes if the reporting verb is in the past tense. Here, the reporting verb is "asked" (past tense), and the reported clause "Has it been snowing all night?" is in the present perfect continuous tense. In indirect speech, the present perfect continuous tense changes to the past perfect continuous tense, which is "had been snowing." Since the reported speech is a yes/no question, the conjunction "if" is used to connect the clauses, and the interrogative sentence structure is changed to an assertive one. This results in "Sitab asked his mother if it had been snowing all night."

Explanation

The word reserved describes someone who is quiet, distant, cold, or hesitant to show their feelings and socialize with others. The most appropriate antonym is friendly, which describes someone who is warm, open, welcoming, and outgoing, representing the opposite behavioral trait of being distant or aloof.

Explanation

Sentence C acts as the opening sentence because it introduces the central subject, the film 'Douch' and a young Iranian village boy. Sentence B logically follows C as the pronoun 'He' refers to the boy introduced in C, explaining his need for a bicycle to pay off his father's debt. Sentence A follows B as 'that bicycle' directly refers to the bicycle mentioned in B and explains his plan to buy it. Finally, sentence D follows A as it introduces a hurdle regarding the 'illiterate person' mentioned at the end of sentence A, making CBAD the correct, coherent sequence.

Explanation

The word enigma refers to something that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Its most appropriate antonym among the given choices is clarity, which means the quality of being clear, coherent, and easy to understand.

Explanation

The indefinite article an must be followed by a word starting with a vowel sound. The word enormous starts with a vowel sound, making it grammatically correct in this position. From a contextual perspective, enormous perfectly describes the massive, heavy, and severe impact that rising prices of essential food items have on the poor.

Explanation

The word unscrupulous is used to describe a person or action that has or shows no moral principles, honesty, or fairness. It is derived from the word scruple, which refers to a feeling of doubt or hesitation with regard to the morality of an action. An unscrupulous individual acts without any such moral constraints, hesitations, or ethical standards.

Explanation

The correct order of the sentences is determined by logical progression and pronoun references. Sentence D serves as the introductory sentence because it begins with the phrase "First of all", marking the start of the event with a volley of guns announcing the Emperor's entry. Sentence B naturally follows, introducing the Emperor himself and the two decorated elephants that head the procession. Sentence A must follow Sentence B because the phrase "Behind them" directly refers back to the "two decorated elephants" mentioned in Sentence B. Finally, Sentence C, starting with "At the end", provides the concluding part of the procession, describing the platoons of soldiers coming at the rear. This sequence establishes a clear chronological flow of the procession from start to finish.

Explanation

The preposition in is used incorrectly in the phrase in the window. The correct preposition to express the vantage point or source of a view is from or through. One sees a view of the sea from the window or through the window, as the window is the medium or point of origin through which the view is visible. Replacing in with from or through makes the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The word ambidextrous comes from the Latin prefix ambi-, meaning both, and the root dexter, meaning right or skillful. It is used to describe a person who is able to use both their right and left hands with equal ease and efficiency.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the active voice and present perfect tense, which follows the structure: Subject + has/have + past participle (V3) + Object.

To convert a present perfect active sentence into the passive voice, the structure is: Object + has/have + been + past participle (V3) + by + Subject.

In this sentence, the singular object "An educational video on Traffic Rules for school students" takes the auxiliary verb "has been", followed by the past participle "shot" and the agent "by the Delhi Police". This perfectly yields the passive form: "An educational video on Traffic Rules for school students has been shot by the Delhi Police."

Explanation

The noun demise refers to the death or decease of a person, particularly someone of prominence or distinction such as a veteran actor. In the given sentence, the structure requires a noun following the definite article the and preceding the prepositional phrase of Shriram Lagoo to appropriately convey the occurrence of his death. Demise fits both the grammatical requirements and the formal tone of the sentence.

Explanation

The idiom a piece of cake is used to describe a task or activity that is extremely easy or simple to accomplish. The phrase originated in the early 20th century, drawing a comparison to the effortless and pleasant experience of consuming a slice of cake.

Explanation

The word accumulate means to gather or acquire an increasing quantity of something over time. In the context of compulsive shopping and credit card usage, people tend to build up a growing amount of financial liability, making accumulate the most appropriate verb to describe the continuous piling up of debts.

Explanation

The word adverse is an adjective that means unfavorable, harmful, or hostile. It is commonly used to describe difficult or severe conditions, particularly weather, that cause negative effects or prevent normal activities. In this sentence, adverse correctly describes the unfavorable or harsh winter weather conditions that compel people to stay inside their homes.

Explanation

The segment contains multiple grammatical errors. First, the compound subject "A Royal Bengal tigress and her three cubs" is plural, so it requires the plural auxiliary verb "were" instead of the singular "was". Second, because the action was performed on the subject, the verb must be in the passive voice, which requires the past participle form "poisoned" instead of the noun or base verb form "poison". Therefore, the grammatically correct phrasing is "and her three cubs were poisoned".

Explanation

The word malignant refers to something that is malevolent, hostile, or harmful in nature, often used in medical terms to describe a tumor that is cancerous and invasive. The word benign means kind, gentle, or non-harmful, and in medical contexts describes a disease or tumor that is not progressive or cancerous, making it the exact antonym.

Explanation

The passage discusses children's connection to the outdoors, wildlife, and animals, as highlighted by references to the column 'Down in Jungle land', keeping pets, visiting national parks, and going on wilderness treks to engage with different life-forms. The noun 'nature' perfectly fits the blank, as it refers to the physical world, plants, animals, and landscapes, which aligns with the central theme of children losing interest in the natural environment.

Explanation

The context of the passage revolves around nature, wilderness, national parks, and engaging with life-forms. Ranjit Lal's column, Down in Jungle land, focuses on these ecological themes. An environmentalist is a person who is passionate about the natural world and advocates for environmental conservation and education. Thus, designating him as an environmentalist fits the passage seamlessly, matching his suggestions of keeping pets, visiting wildlife parks, and trekking in nature to foster a connection with the environment.