SSC CHSL Tier 1 2021 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The given sentence is in the past continuous tense in the passive voice, which follows the structure: Subject + was/were + being + past participle (V3) + by + Object.

To convert this into the active voice, the tense must remain the same (past continuous). The active voice structure for the past continuous tense is: Subject + was/were + present participle (V-ing) + Object. Using this structure, the agent "our grandmother" becomes the subject, the verb phrase "were being prepared" becomes "was preparing" to agree with the singular subject, and "Diwali sweets" becomes the direct object. This yields "Our grandmother was preparing Diwali sweets."

Explanation

The sentence expresses a hypothetical desire or a wish about a situation that is contrary to fact. In English grammar, when the verb wish is used to express a regret or a hypothetical situation, the verb in the accompanying subordinate clause must be in the past subjunctive or simple past tense. The past tense form had correctly indicates this counterfactual state, whereas the present tense has is grammatically incorrect in this subjunctive context. Changing the verb to had properly establishes the required subjunctive mood.

Explanation

The phrase "in the future" at the end of the sentence indicates a time that has not yet occurred, necessitating the use of the future tense. The verb phrase "will be" correctly establishes this future reference while agreeing with the singular subject "This cat and mouse game".

Explanation

The idiom "hard of hearing" is used to describe someone who has a hearing impairment or difficulty in hearing sounds clearly, which means they are partially deaf. It denotes a physical limitation in auditory perception rather than a complete absence of hearing.

Explanation

The passage describes the actions of the British military during the Second World War in gathering a large group of wireless interceptors. The word assembled is the grammatically and contextually correct verb for the first blank because it means to bring together or gather a group of people for a specific purpose. For the second blank, the word broadcasts is the correct fit because the interceptors were tasked with tuning into the radio transmissions or signals sent out by the German military divisions.

Explanation

The idiom elbow grease refers to vigorous physical labor or hard manual effort, typically required to perform a task such as cleaning, polishing, or manual work. It originates from the idea of using the muscles of one's arm and elbow to accomplish a strenuous physical task, symbolizing the application of hard physical effort to get a job done.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple present tense, following the structure: Subject (The rules) + Verb (forbid) + Object (passengers) + Infinitive phrase (to cross the railway bridge).

To convert this structure into the passive voice, the object of the active sentence (passengers) becomes the new subject. The passive structure for the simple present tense is: New Subject + is/am/are + Past Participle (V3) + by + Agent + Infinitive phrase. Since "passengers" is a plural noun, it is paired with the helping verb "are" followed by the past participle of forbid, which is "forbidden". Combining these elements yields: "Passengers are forbidden by the rules to cross the railway bridge."

Explanation

The word exaggerate means to represent or describe something as being larger, greater, better, or more important than it actually is. Its antonym is understate, which means to represent or present something as being smaller, less significant, or less important than it really is. In the given sentence, understate is used to show that Rajni minimized or downplayed the value and effort of Sheila's work.

Explanation

The phrasal verb set up means to establish, organize, or create an institution, business, or committee. In the given sentence, the committee is the direct object of the verb. The inclusion of the preposition for in the original phrase had set up for is grammatically incorrect and redundant. Substituting the segment with had set up corrects this grammatical error, making the sentence read: The organisation had set up a Free Mandela Committee and launched a lively campaign with the slogan 'Free Mandela'.

Explanation

The word panacea originates from the Greek panakeia, which literally means all-healing, derived from pan meaning all and akos meaning cure. It refers to a hypothetical remedy, medicine, or solution that is capable of curing all diseases, illnesses, or solving all difficulties.

Explanation

The given active voice sentence follows the structure: Subject (He) + Verb (ordered) + Object (the police) + Infinitive phrase (to pursue the robber and his gang).

To convert this sentence into the passive voice, the object of the active verb "the police" is made the subject of the passive sentence. Because "the police" is a collective noun that is treated as plural and the active verb "ordered" is in the simple past tense, the auxiliary verb "were" is paired with the past participle "ordered" to form "were ordered". This is followed by the infinitive phrase "to pursue the robber and his gang", while the original subject "He" is omitted as the agent.

Explanation

Sentence C introduces the central theme of the paragraph, which is noise exposure and its impact on workers' hearing. Sentence D logically follows by using the pronoun "It" to refer back to "Noise exposure" and expanding on how it affects the working class both mentally and physically. Sentence B then transitions to solutions, mentioning that preventive measures involve having proper equipment. Finally, sentence A concludes the paragraph by giving a concrete example of "such equipment" with noise cancellation headphones, completing the logical flow from the identification of the problem to its effects and eventual mitigation.

Explanation

The word startlingly is an adverb that means to a degree that is very surprising, astonishing, or remarkable. In the context of the sentence, it describes Joyonto's handsome appearance as being so striking that it immediately attracts attention and causes astonishment. The word amazingly similarly denotes a degree that causes great surprise, wonder, or admiration, making it the most appropriate synonym to convey this level of remarkable handsomeness.

Explanation

The primary objective of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 is to enhance livelihood security in rural areas. It achieves this by legally guaranteeing at least one hundred days of wage employment in a financial year to any rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work, thereby providing a secure source of income and sustenance to vulnerable families.

Explanation

The idiom "donkey's years" is a colloquial expression meaning a very long period of time. The phrase is thought to have originated as a play on words based on "donkeys' ears," which are notably long, combined with the fact that donkeys are animals with a relatively long lifespan. Over time, this wordplay evolved into a common figure of speech to denote an exceptionally long duration.

Explanation

The word utilitarian refers to something that is designed to be useful, practical, and effective rather than decorative or purely aesthetic. In the context of a government's stance, it implies a practical approach focused on utility, usefulness, and delivering actual benefits to the public. The word functional directly shares this meaning, as it describes something designed to serve a practical purpose or perform a specific task efficiently.

Explanation

The word abrogate means to formally or officially abolish, annul, or do away with a law, right, or agreement. Similarly, repeal means to revoke, rescind, or formally annul a legislative act or law. Both terms are frequently used in legal and political contexts to denote the official cancellation of an established rule or authority.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice and uses the past continuous tense, indicated by the verb phrase was being sung. To convert this sentence into the active voice, the agent performing the action, young students, becomes the grammatical subject of the active sentence. Consequently, the auxiliary verb structure was being sung changes into the past continuous active form were singing to align with the plural subject. The original grammatical subject, the national anthem, is repositioned as the direct object of the verb.

Explanation

The word "Delay" refers to the act of postponing, slowing down, or lingering, which causes a late start or arrival. Conversely, "Haste" represents rapidity of motion, swiftness, or urgency of movement. Since "Haste" implies rushing or acting quickly to complete a task, it is the direct antonym to "Delay", which denotes putting things off or acting slowly.

Explanation

The word maintained is the most appropriate fit because to maintain means to uphold, preserve, or keep something in its proper condition or state. In standard English usage, maintaining discipline is a common collocation that refers to the act of ensuring that rules, order, and self-control are preserved and enforced consistently.

Explanation

The word inevitable means certain to happen and impossible to avoid or prevent. The word inescapable similarly refers to something that is unavoidable, certain, or impossible to escape. Both words describe an outcome or state that cannot be averted, making them direct synonyms.

Explanation

The word percussion is misspelled as percusion in the sentence. The correct spelling is percussion, which contains a double s (p-e-r-c-u-s-s-i-o-n). It refers to musical instruments played by striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums.

Explanation

The phrase according to popular belief is a standard English idiom used to refer to a widely held opinion or conviction among the general public. In this context, the adjective popular modifies the singular noun belief to act as the object of the preposition according to, completing the sentence grammatically and idiomatically.

Explanation

The preposition beyond is used to express that something is outside the range, limits, or sphere of a particular capability, state, or activity. In this context, the standard English idiom beyond the comprehension of is used to convey that the concepts of science are too difficult, advanced, or complex for ordinary minds to understand. This aligns with the passage's description of science as a remote and enigmatic idea.

Explanation

The idiom "a piece of cake" is a widely used English colloquial expression that describes a task, activity, or job that is incredibly easy to accomplish and requires very little effort. The phrase likely originated in the early 20th century, drawing a comparison between the simplicity of performing an action and the pleasant, effortless experience of eating a slice of cake.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the fact that science is the very foundation of our daily lives with the common perception that it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary minds. When the reality of a situation is the exact opposite of what is logically expected, it is described as ironic. Therefore, "ironic" is the most appropriate word to highlight this unexpected contradiction.

Explanation

The word bedrock refers to the fundamental principles or the solid foundation on which something is established. In the context of the passage, mathematics is described as the foundational base of science, as it gives meaning to the concept of quantification. Using this term emphasizes that mathematics serves as the essential, underlying support system for all scientific disciplines.

Explanation

The context of the sentence highlights the significant and precise role of mathematics in giving meaning to quantification and establishing an unquestionable significance for humans. The word unequivocal means leaving no doubt, clear, or unambiguous. When used in this context, it indicates a clear, certain, and undeniable value that mathematics provides to human understanding and scientific advancement.

Explanation

To profess means to claim, assert, or declare openly one's faith, belief, or opinion. Both words refer to the act of making a formal or public announcement of one's feelings, intentions, or status, which makes declare the most appropriate synonym.

Explanation

The word is incorrectly spelt. The correct spelling is queue, which refers to a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed. The spelling given in the option contains extra and redundant letters.

Explanation

The word solicitous means showing interest, care, or concern for someone's well-being or safety. Heedless means showing a lack of care, attention, or concern, making it the direct antonym.

Explanation

The idiom "heart skipped a beat" is used to describe a sudden, intense feeling of nervousness, fear, excitement, or anxiety. When the coach observed the team performing poorly in the initial quarter, the sudden rush of extreme apprehension and nervousness is appropriately expressed by saying their heart skipped a beat.

Explanation

All the words in this sentence are spelled correctly. The noun vacation is spelled accurately as v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n, which refers to a period of recreation, holiday, or leisure.

Explanation

The context of the passage discusses harmful, unfavorable, or negative medical consequences allegedly associated with vaccinations, such as autism, speech disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease. The adjective adverse means preventing success or development, harmful, or unfavorable. In clinical and medical contexts, the collocation adverse health conditions is standard terminology used to denote undesirable and harmful medical effects or states. This makes it the most linguistically and contextually accurate choice to modify health conditions.

Explanation

The sentence uses the past tense reporting verb "believed" to describe a past belief. In accordance with the rules of sequence of tenses, the verb in the subordinate clause must also be in the past tense. Since "autism" is a singular noun, the singular past tense verb "was" is the grammatically correct choice to complete the sentence.

Explanation

Meagre means lacking in quantity, quality, or substance, or being scant and deficient. Plentiful means existing in great quantities, abundant, or more than sufficient, which makes it the direct antonym of meagre.

Explanation

The word slender refers to something that is thin, slim, or delicate in build, structure, or strength. Similarly, the word frail describes something or someone that is physically weak, delicate, or fragile. Both words share the core meaning of being delicate and lacking in robust physical strength or substance, making them appropriate synonyms in contexts describing a delicate physical form or a weak state.

Explanation

The idiom to draw a blank means to fail to get a response, find a result, or recall something. The origin of this expression comes from historical lotteries in which tickets were drawn from a container. Tickets that did not win a prize were left blank, so drawing a blank meant getting nothing and failing to achieve the desired outcome. In modern usage, it specifically describes being unsuccessful in eliciting a response, finding an answer, or remembering a piece of information.

Explanation

The preposition between is used to express a relation, connection, or association linking two distinct entities. In the given sentence, the association is being drawn specifically between two distinct subjects, which are autism and vaccines, making between the grammatically correct choice to complete the phrase.

Explanation

Plagiarise refers to the act of taking and using the ideas, thoughts, writings, or inventions of another person and passing them off as one's own. This practice involves using someone else's intellectual property or creative work without proper acknowledgment, credit, or authorization, thereby falsely presenting it as an original creation.

Explanation

When converting the indirect speech sentence "Kavi asked Gina if French was her mother tongue" into direct speech, the indirect question introduces a yes/no query using the conjunction "if". In direct speech, this conjunction is removed, and the sentence is structured as an interrogative question starting with an auxiliary verb. The past tense "was" in indirect speech changes to the present tense "is" in direct speech. Additionally, the third-person possessive pronoun "her" (referring to Gina) changes to the second-person possessive pronoun "your" in the direct address. This yields the direct speech question "Is French your mother tongue?".

Explanation

The passage discusses a mistaken belief in modern times regarding humanity's relationship with nature. The first blank requires a word that denotes a misconception or a mistaken belief, which is perfectly captured by the word fallacy. The second blank needs a word that describes how humans view the rest of creation as subordinate or existing only to serve human interests, making subservient the appropriate fit. The third blank refers to the mutually beneficial and interconnected relationship that humans once shared with other elements of nature, which is correctly described as a symbiotic relationship. Together, these three words complete the passage to convey the intended meaning coherently.

Explanation

This sentence is excerpted from A. K. Ramanujan's essay, Is there an Indian way of thinking?, where the author writes that inconsistency is not a matter of inadequate education or lack of logical rigour.

In this context, inadequate is the most appropriate adjective to describe a deficient or insufficient level of education. Similarly, rigour is the correct noun to denote strict precision, thoroughness, and adherence to logical rules. Together, these terms convey that inconsistency is not caused by a lack of proper education or a deficit in logical depth.

Explanation

The sentence context describes food items consumed for breakfast. A pear is a mild, sweet fruit with a fibrous core, making it the logically and contextually correct noun to complete the sentence alongside an apple.

Explanation

The paragraph begins with part b, which introduces the subject, Mrs. Hima Raman, and establishes her role as a school geography teacher. This is logically followed by part d, which initiates her physical description by detailing her facial features. Parts a and c form a coherent, continuous sentence where the subordinate clause starting with the conjunction though in part a connects directly to the main clause in part c to present a contrast between her slim build and her physical strength. This sequence creates a grammatically correct and meaningful flow of information.

Explanation

The word doubtful means characterized by or causing uncertainty, hesitation, or indecision. Conversely, the word decisive refers to something that is conclusive, firm, and leaves no room for doubt, resolving uncertainty. This makes decisive the direct antonym of doubtful.

Explanation

The word "their" is a possessive determiner used to show that something belongs to or is associated with a group of people previously mentioned. In this sentence, it correctly indicates that the plans belong to the plural noun "the committee members".

Explanation

The word chastise means to reprimand, punish, or correct the behavior of someone, typically through scolding or lecturing. In this context, discipline is its most appropriate synonym as it also refers to the act of punishing or training someone to ensure compliance with rules and standards of behavior.

Explanation

The verb wait is transitive in this context and requires the preposition for when it is used to express expecting or anticipating the occurrence of an event or the arrival of someone. In this sentence, the act of expecting the arrival of the cousins is correctly expressed using the phrase waiting for.

Explanation

The passage discusses the various factors that influenced public perception and shifted the focus of concern from the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases to the safety of vaccines themselves. The sentence preceding the blank establishes that misinformation and fear from discredited claims had a significant impact on how people perceived vaccine safety. The blank begins a sentence introducing another complementary factor, which is that most individuals in highly vaccinated countries have never personally witnessed these diseases. The transitional phrase "In addition" is used to add this new piece of supporting information to the ongoing argument, building a cumulative explanation for the shift in public concern described in the concluding sentence.