SSC CHSL Tier 1 2020 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The singular subject 'Keeping a dog or cat as a pet' requires a verb that grammatically agrees with it and can be followed by the to-infinitive 'to be made'. The verb 'needs' correctly functions as a main verb in this context, forming the passive construction 'needs to be made mandatory' to express a recommendation or requirement. The other options are modal auxiliary verbs which are followed directly by a bare infinitive without the preposition 'to'.

Explanation

The passage discusses methods to cultivate children's interest in nature and wildlife, as highlighted by references to the column Down in Jungle land, keeping pets, and exploring wilderness areas. Within this context of environmental and wildlife education, pairing national parks with sanctuaries is the most fitting choice because wildlife sanctuaries are protected natural habitats dedicated to conserving biodiversity, making them the logical destination alongside national parks for engaging children with nature.

Explanation

The word even is used as an intensifier before comparative adjectives to emphasize a greater degree of a quality. In this context, treks in wilderness areas are being compared to the previously mentioned regular visits to national parks and sanctuaries. Therefore, the comparative degree of the adjective, better, is grammatically correct and fits the sentence structure perfectly.

Explanation

The segment contains a subject-verb agreement error. The singular count noun Scientist cannot be paired with the plural auxiliary verb have. To make the sentence grammatically correct, the plural noun Scientists should be used instead of the singular form, resulting in Scientists have recently announced.

Explanation

The word knack is defined as an acquired or natural skill, talent, or aptitude for doing something easily and proficiently. It represents an innate ability or a clever way of performing a task that comes naturally to a person.

Explanation

The word opulent is used to describe something that is lavish, costly, and characterized by rich abundance, wealth, or luxury. Therefore, luxurious is its direct synonym as both words convey a sense of high quality, comfort, and grandeur associated with great wealth.

Explanation

The word meticulous refers to someone who shows great attention to detail and is extremely careful and precise in their work or actions. It denotes a high level of thoroughness, ensuring that even the smallest elements are handled with utmost accuracy and diligence to avoid any errors.

Explanation

The idiom "like talking to a brick wall" is used to describe a situation where a person completely ignores, disregards, or fails to pay attention to what someone is saying. Just as a physical brick wall cannot hear, respond, or react to speech, an inattentive listener remains entirely unresponsive and unaffected by the speaker's words. Therefore, it signifies being highly inattentive or unwilling to listen.

Explanation

The word "diverse" is defined as showing a great deal of variety, or being very different and distinct in nature or form. The term "identical" means being exactly the same, alike in every detail, or agreeing in all qualities. Since "diverse" refers to things that are varied and different, and "identical" refers to things that are completely the same, "identical" serves as the most appropriate antonym.

Explanation

The chronological progression and cause-and-effect relationships determine the correct order of the sentences. Sentence B establishes the initial historical context in the 1970s, describing how Vietnamese living in Cambodia faced deportation. Sentence A logically follows by describing the subsequent events of the 1980s, when some returned but were legally prohibited from owning or reclaiming land. Sentence C presents the direct consequence of this land restriction, explaining that their only remaining option was to live in floating wooden homes on the lake. Finally, sentence D brings the narrative to the present day, describing how they continue to live on the lake by relying on fishing and tourism. This creates a cohesive flow of BACD.

Explanation

The preposition in is used to indicate a location, territory, or defined region. Since five villages represent the geographical locations where the language is used, the phrase spoken in correctly establishes the relationship between the language and the places where it is spoken.

Explanation

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, a present perfect tense (have finished) in the reported clause changes to the past perfect tense (had finished) because the reporting verb (asked) is in the past tense. Additionally, the second-person pronoun (you) changes to the third-person pronoun (she) to agree with the object (Ritu). In indirect questions, the sentence structure changes from interrogative (verb before subject, "have you finished") to assertive (subject before verb, "she had finished"), and the question mark is omitted. This correctly gives the indirect statement where Ravi asked Ritu how many sets of class 12 practice papers she had finished.

Explanation

The idiom "bite off more than one can chew" is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to undertake a task or project that is too large, difficult, or demanding for them to manage successfully. It metaphorically compares taking a bite of food that is too big to masticate with taking on commitments, responsibilities, or challenges that exceed one's ability, resources, or time.

Explanation

The word enrage means to make someone extremely angry, furious, or incensed. Similarly, the word infuriate means to make someone extremely angry or impatient. Both words are synonymous in expressing the act of provoking intense anger or wrath in someone.

Explanation

The given active voice sentence is in the simple past tense, as indicated by the verbs lashed and brought.

To convert a simple past tense active sentence into its passive voice form, the structure used is: Subject + was/were + past participle (V₃) + by + agent.

Applying this rule to both clauses of the compound sentence: Rains lashed Delhi becomes Delhi was lashed by rains. and brought the temperature down becomes and the temperature was brought down.

Combining both parts gives the correct passive sentence: Delhi was lashed by rains and the temperature was brought down by a few degrees.

Explanation

The verb locate is used in the passive voice to describe the geographical position of a static entity such as a city, building, or port. When expressing that something is situated in a particular place, the present passive construction are located is grammatically appropriate to denote this state.

Explanation

The logical sequence starts with sentence C, which introduces the initial situation of constructing over 150 clinics. This is followed by sentence D, which uses the transition word "But" to introduce the obstacles or roadblocks encountered during their expansion. Sentence A then provides a specific illustration of these roadblocks using the phrase "For example," detailing how their project files were kept pending. Finally, sentence B connects to the preceding sentences by referring to "such hindrances" and explains that despite these challenges, they persevered to establish 450 clinics. This creates a cohesive and chronological narrative flowing from C to D to A and finally to B.

Explanation

The word Placque is incorrectly spelled. The correct spelling of the word is Plaque, which refers to an ornamental tablet, plate, or a sticky deposit on teeth that encourages the growth of bacteria.

Explanation

The preposition for is used to denote a period of time or duration. Because more than 16 years represents a length of time rather than a specific starting point, the preposition for must be used instead of since to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

In first conditional sentences, which express a possible condition and its probable result in the future, the conditional clause (the if-clause) must be in the simple present tense, while the main clause uses the simple future tense. Using the future auxiliary verb "will" in the conditional clause is grammatically incorrect. The correct structure requires the simple present verb "wins" instead of "will win" in the conditional clause.

Explanation

A portfolio is a collection of drawings, documents, photographs, and other representative materials that showcase a person's, especially an artist's, skills, style, and progress over time.

Explanation

The preposition among is used to indicate that certain things are part of a larger group, collection, or category. In this context, the sentence introduces a list of specific sights—such as beautiful temples, ruins, and royal pavilions—that are included within the broader set of Hampi's attractions. Using among at the beginning of the sentence correctly establishes that the items listed are representative examples of the overall attractions found in Hampi.

Explanation

The sentence refers to a plural subject, which consists of the various attractions of Hampi, such as beautiful temples, ruins of palaces, and ancient market streets. Since the entire passage is written in the present tense, the plural verb are is required to maintain correct subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

In the context of describing the historical ruins of Hampi, the noun remains refers to the surviving parts, traces, or remnants of ancient architectural features. The phrase remains of aquatic structures fits grammatically and contextually to describe the surviving structures of the historical water management systems, reservoirs, and baths found at this heritage site.

Explanation

The word endless is the most appropriate fit for blank 4 because the expression the list is practically endless is a standard English collocation used to describe a list of items that is so long it seems to have no limit. In this context, it perfectly describes the vast number of historical attractions and ruins available to visitors in Hampi.

Explanation

The blank requires a word that describes the geographical position or physical location of the Hospet Junction railway station relative to Hampi. The word situated means being in a particular position or place, which perfectly fits the context of locating a station about 13km away from a specific destination.

Explanation

The preposition "on" is used to indicate a position on a surface or a physical support, which is appropriate for a kitten sitting physically on a branch. Additionally, the definite article "the" before "tree" is correct because it refers to a specific, contextually defined tree in their garden.

Explanation

The sentence B introduces the subject, Vidya Subramaniam, establishing her position in the dance world and setting the context. Sentence D follows B by introducing a specific instance of her thoughts using the pronoun she, which directly references Vidya Subramaniam, focusing on how the concept of respect has changed over time. Sentence C expands on this change by describing how respect was practiced in the past (back in the day). Sentence A concludes the sequence by presenting her quote about how respect is shown in the present day (today), contrasting directly with the past custom mentioned in sentence C. Therefore, the logical sequence of sentences is BDCA.

Explanation

The word altruistic refers to showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others. The antonym of altruistic is selfish, which describes a person who is chiefly concerned with their own personal profit or pleasure, lacking consideration for others.

Explanation

The word foliage refers collectively to the leaves of a plant or tree, or to leafy vegetation in general. Greenery is the most appropriate synonym as it likewise denotes green foliage, growing plants, or lush vegetation.

Explanation

The passage follows a logical chronological sequence of events. Sentence C introduces the main character, Akito, and his action of purchasing a teapot and taking it home, making it the ideal opening sentence. Sentence D continues this narrative by explaining what he did with the teapot later that day, which was cleaning it until it shone. Sentence A naturally follows by describing his immediate action after cleaning the teapot, which was putting it down to dry and leaving to count his coins. Finally, sentence B concludes the sequence by describing his observation when he returned from counting his coins, noting that the teapot seemed to have moved. This creates a coherent flow in the order CDAB.

Explanation

The context of the sentence refers to the phasing out of traffic signal timers due to operational or electronic failures in the system. The word glitch refers to a sudden, temporary malfunction or fault in equipment or a system. Therefore, technical glitches is the most appropriate and idiomatic collocation to complete the sentence, indicating that minor technical errors or system malfunctions are causing the removal of these timers.

Explanation

A fleet is the standard collective noun used to describe a group of ships sailing together, typically under the same command, ownership, or engaged in a common activity.

Explanation

The word constraint refers to a limitation, restriction, or something that imposes a boundary or check on an action or behavior. Similarly, control in this context refers to the power or mechanism of directing, regulating, or restricting an activity, tendency, or phenomenon. Thus, control is the most appropriate synonym as both words convey the concept of limiting or regulating actions within set boundaries.

Explanation

A mosaic is defined as a picture or pattern produced by arranging together small colored pieces of hard material, such as stone, tile, or glass. Therefore, a pattern of small stones arranged to create an artistic design or image is referred to as a mosaic.

Explanation

The word disclose means to make secret or new information known, to reveal, or to uncover. Its most direct antonym is conceal, which means to hide, keep secret, or prevent something from being known or seen.

Explanation

When converting the indirect speech "Brinda told her doctor that she was leaving for Boston the next day" into direct speech, the reporting verb "told her doctor" changes back to "said to her doctor". The conjunction "that" is removed, and the quoted speech is introduced. The third-person pronoun "she" changes to the first-person pronoun "I" to reflect the speaker's own words. The past continuous verb "was leaving", which indicates a planned future action in indirect speech, changes back to the present continuous "am leaving". Additionally, the time expression "the next day" shifts back to "tomorrow".

Explanation

The idiom get the hang of means to learn how to do, operate, or use something, particularly something that requires a bit of practice or skill. In the context of the sentence, it refers to Rohan taking a long time to learn how to operate the machinery in the new factory.

Explanation

The word "Intention" is correctly spelt. It refers to an aim, purpose, or plan that a person intends to carry out. It is derived from the Latin word "intentio," meaning stretching, purpose, or effort.

Explanation

Option A is the correct passive voice representation of the given sentence. It correctly shifts the focus to the receiver of the action (I) as the subject, while maintaining the overall meaning of the sentence, whereas the other options are either in the active voice or change the meaning.

Explanation

The idiom "fit as a fiddle" means to be in excellent physical condition, robust health, or very energetic. Historically, the word "fit" was used to mean suitable, and the comparison to a fiddle (a violin) highlighted something that is well-tuned, maintained in precise shape, and functioning perfectly. Thus, the phrase is commonly used to describe someone who is healthy and strong.

Explanation

The segment contains a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English. The negative contraction don't (do not) is used in combination with the negative pronoun none. To make the sentence grammatically correct, the negative pronoun none should be replaced with the positive pronoun any, resulting in "I don't recognise any of".