SSC CHSL Tier 1 2022 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word elucidate means to make something clear, explain it, or shed light on it. Its direct antonym is obfuscate, which means to deliberately make something obscure, unclear, or difficult to understand.

Explanation

The phrase close to functions as a prepositional expression where to is a preposition. In English grammar, prepositions are followed by a noun, pronoun, or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb acting as a noun). Therefore, the gerund happening is the grammatically correct choice to complete the sentence.

Explanation

In the context of cloud computing and Amazon Web Services (AWS), storage services are designed to save, retain, and manage digital information. The verb "store" directly describes this primary function of keeping data secure and accessible for a website.

Explanation

The word timid is defined as showing a lack of courage or confidence, or being easily frightened. The opposite of this quality is bravery and confidence. The word courageous means possessing or characterized by courage and bravery, making it the direct antonym of timid.

Explanation

The grammatical structure "one of the" must always be followed by a plural noun because it denotes selecting a single member from a group of multiple entities. In this sentence, the singular noun phrase "swear word" must be pluralized to "swear words" to maintain grammatical accuracy. Thus, the correct phrase is "That's one of the strongest swear words".

Explanation

The idiom "in a pickle" is a common English expression that means to be in a difficult, embarrassing, or troublesome situation. In this sentence, the phrase "end up in the same pickle" uses this idiomatic meaning to convey that the speaker repeatedly finds themselves in the same difficult predicament despite their best efforts.

Explanation

The idiom to bridge the gap means to reduce or eliminate the differences between two opposing groups, viewpoints, or situations, thereby helping them to reach an agreement or understand each other better. It is a metaphorical expression derived from the physical act of building a bridge to connect two separate pieces of land, symbolizing reconciliation, connection, and the resolution of a division.

Explanation

The word timorous means showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence. Its antonym must denote boldness, confidence, or a lack of shame. The word brazen means bold and without shame, making it the direct opposite in meaning to timorous.

Explanation

The idiom "a shot in the dark" refers to an attempt, guess, or action that is made without any previous knowledge, information, or certainty of success. It is derived from the literal act of firing a weapon in pitch darkness where the target cannot be seen, making the outcome purely a matter of chance. Thus, it signifies randomly doing something when the final outcome is completely unknown.

Explanation

The phrase "try to" is followed by the base form of the verb to form an infinitive. Therefore, the verb "travel" must be in its base form rather than the gerund form. The adverb "lightly" correctly modifies the verb to describe the manner of traveling.

Explanation

When converting a sentence from indirect to direct speech, the past continuous tense (was playing) changes back to the present continuous tense (is playing) because the reporting verb (said) is in the past tense. Additionally, pronouns must shift to reflect the speaker's direct words: the third-person possessive pronoun (his father) becomes the first-person possessive pronoun (My father), and the pronoun (him) becomes (me). The conjunction (that) is removed and replaced with a comma and quotation marks enclosing the direct statement.

Explanation

Correct Answer: A

Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, human behavior, biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics in both the present and past, including the study of human ancestors and their development through time. Derived from the Greek words anthropos meaning human and logia meaning study, it encompasses the evolutionary history of Homo sapiens and related hominids.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the introductory clause "The team plans to", which grammatically requires a base verb to complete the infinitive construction. Part Q begins with the verb "use", making it the direct continuation of the opening phrase. The preposition "of" at the end of part Q requires an object, which is provided by the noun phrase "health-promoting compounds of interest" in part R. Part R ends with the conjunction and verb "and employ", which requires an object representing what is being employed; this is resolved by "biotechnological approaches" in part S. Finally, the phrasal verb "speed up" at the end of part S logically connects to its target object, "flowering and fruit production in apple trees" in part P. This sequence creates a grammatically correct and logically coherent statement about research plans.

Explanation

The passage is structured chronologically, starting with the German invasion of the Netherlands before moving to the invasion of Belgium. Sentences R, P, and Q form a continuous timeline of the Dutch campaign: the invasion begins on May 10 in R, progress is made by May 12 in P, and the Dutch surrender occurs after May 13 in Q. Sentence S transitions to the Belgian campaign, noting that the invasion of Belgium also began on May 10. This leads directly into the final sentence, which describes the collapse of the Belgian front on May 11.

Explanation

The word "Dissiminate" is incorrectly spelt. The correct spelling is "Disseminate", which means to spread or disperse information, news, or ideas widely. It is derived from the Latin word "disseminare", which literally means to scatter seed.

Explanation

A vault refers to an underground chamber, storage room, or tomb, typically featuring an arched ceiling, used for safekeeping valuables or for burials. A crypt is an underground chamber or vault beneath a church, traditionally used as a chapel or a burial place.

Explanation

The grammatical error lies in the phrase "a widely remit and a wise legacy." In this sentence, the word "remit" is functioning as a noun that refers to the scope of authority or responsibility of the judiciary. Because "remit" is a noun, it must be modified by an adjective rather than an adverb. The adverb "widely" should be replaced with the adjective "wide" to make the phrase grammatically correct as "a wide remit".

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

The word "Fortuous" is misspelled. The correct spelling is "Fortuitous", which is an adjective meaning happening by accident or chance rather than design, typically resulting in a good or favorable outcome.

Explanation

The grammatical error lies in the segment "the biggest landslide in history." The phrase "one of" must be followed by a plural noun because it refers to one member out of a larger group. Therefore, the singular noun "landslide" must be replaced with the plural noun "landslides" to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The infinitive construction in English requires the preposition "to" to be followed by the base form of the verb. In the given sentence, "to" must be followed by "provide" instead of the past-tense form "provided" to express purpose. The preposition "at" is also grammatically correct when referring to a specific level of education, such as "the secondary level".

Explanation

The sentence describes the historical origin and creation of the modern pizza in Naples, Italy. The verb invented means to design or create something new that did not exist before, which perfectly fits the context of originating a new culinary dish.

Explanation

The phrase "Greek in origin" is grammatically correct and semantically appropriate in this context, meaning that the word "pizza" has its source or ancestry in the Greek language. This is directly supported by the subsequent clause "derived from the Greek word pektos", which explains the etymological source of the word. Therefore, the noun "origin" fits the blank perfectly to denote the linguistic derivation of the word.

Explanation

The context of the passage establishes a direct connection to Greek history, as the preceding sentence explains that the word pizza is Greek in origin and derived from the Greek word pektos. Therefore, the subsequent sentence refers to the ancient Greeks, who historically prepared flatbreads by topping them with oils, herbs, and cheese, establishing the early culinary foundation for what would eventually evolve into modern pizza.

Explanation

An innovation is the introduction of something new, such as a new method, idea, or product. In the context of the passage, adding tomato as a topping to flatbread was a major new creative development that transformed the traditional flatbread into the modern pizza. Therefore, innovation is the most grammatically and contextually appropriate word to describe this culinary breakthrough.

Explanation

The preceding sentence highlights that the key development leading to the creation of flatbread pizza was the introduction of tomato as a topping. To maintain logical consistency and continuity in the narrative, the subsequent sentence explains that the poor people of Naples began adding tomato to their yeast-based flatbread, which marked the actual beginning of the modern pizza.

Explanation

In this sentence, the noun hair is used as an uncountable noun to refer to the mass of hair on a person's head. The word haired is an adjective and cannot function as the noun object of the verb cuts. The adjective short acts as an object complement, describing the resulting state of the hair after it is cut. Therefore, the grammatically correct structure is the noun hair followed by the adjective short.

Explanation

The phrase "all but" is an established English idiom meaning "almost completely" or "virtually". In this context, "all but extinct" correctly expresses that the skill of herbalism has become virtually extinct in the Western world. The past perfect tense "had become" is grammatically correct to describe a state completed in the past. Therefore, the sentence is grammatically sound and requires no modification.

Explanation

Sacrilege is defined as the violation, desecration, or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred, holy, or highly respected. Blasphemy refers to the act of speaking sacrilegiously or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things. Because both terms describe the irreverent treatment or violation of sacred entities, they are synonymous in meaning.

Explanation

The sentence describes a standard rule of etiquette before entering a room or building. The action of knocking on a door is the universally accepted way to signal one's presence and request permission to come inside, which perfectly aligns with the subsequent action of awaiting instruction to enter.

Explanation

The word Clovver is incorrectly spelt, as the correct spelling is Clover, which refers to the herbaceous plant. All other options, namely Sharpen, Sunrise, and Happen, are spelt correctly.

Explanation

The noun fit in this context is a singular countable noun and is part of the idiomatic phrase in a fit of. Therefore, it requires the indefinite article a before it, making the correct phrasing Today, in a fit of frenzied rage and.

Explanation

An accessory is a supplementary, secondary, or non-essential item that is added to something else to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive. The word essential describes something that is fundamental, indispensable, and absolutely necessary for the existence, operation, or completeness of a thing. Therefore, essential is the direct antonym of accessory.

Explanation

The comparative adjective older is used when comparing the age of two different entities. When expressing the absolute age or milestone of a single entity, the positive degree adjective old must be used. Therefore, the phrase 70 years older is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with 70 years old to correctly indicate the age of the Republic.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "The Supreme Court", which immediately requires a verb phrase to complete its action. Part P begins with the modal verb phrase "must remind", establishing a grammatically correct start.

The adverb "constitutionally" at the end of part P is followed by the parallel adverbs "lawfully and justly" in part Q, joined together to describe how the state must act.

Part Q ends with the incomplete phrase "across the", which naturally connects to the noun "country" at the beginning of part R, forming the complete prepositional phrase "across the country".

Part R ends with the transition "matters involving", which requires an object. Part S provides this object with the noun phrase "those who oppose the party in office with peaceful means", completing the sentence in a logical and grammatically coherent flow.

Explanation

Effervescent describes a liquid that is actively giving off bubbles of gas, often due to a chemical reaction or carbonation. The term comes from the Latin verb effervescere, meaning to boil up or bubble up, directly corresponding to the action of releasing gas bubbles.

Explanation

The idiom "in black and white" means to have something documented in written or printed form, rather than just spoken. This expression relies on the visual contrast of black ink on white paper, which provides a permanent, official, and indisputable record of an agreement, statement, or decision.

Explanation

The term herbivorous is derived from the Latin words herba, meaning grass or vegetation, and vorare, meaning to devour. It is used to describe animals and other organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to feed exclusively on plants and plant-based materials, such as leaves, fruits, seeds, and nectar, for their main source of nutrients and energy.

Explanation

The word dandy is used as an adjective to describe something that is excellent, first-rate, fine, or highly pleasing. In a qualitative or expressive sense, it is synonymous with beautiful, which also denotes something that is of high quality, excellent, or aesthetically pleasing.

Explanation

The word young refers to someone or something in an early stage of life, growth, or development, often associated with immaturity or lack of experience. The word mature means having reached full physical, mental, or emotional development, representing the opposite stage of growth and readiness. Thus, mature is the direct antonym of young.

Explanation

The phrasal verb meaning to get rid of, throw away, or sell something is dispose of, which uses the preposition of with a single f. The usage of off with a double f is incorrect in this context. Therefore, the phrase dispose off a cargo of cotton which contains a grammatical error and should be corrected to dispose of a cargo of cotton which.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence, "This whole plot", is a singular noun phrase. In the simple present tense, a singular subject requires a singular verb. Therefore, the verb "come" must be "comes" to maintain correct subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The active sentence consists of a main clause, I know, and a subordinate noun clause, he will play his guitar. To convert this sentence into the passive voice, both clauses are transformed. The main clause, I know, becomes It is known to me, because the verb know takes the preposition to instead of by in the passive voice. The subordinate clause, he will play his guitar, uses the simple future tense, which converts to his guitar will be played by him. Combining these passive forms with the conjunction that yields the correct passive sentence.

Explanation

The verb continue means to persist in an activity or process. In this sentence, the context describes an ongoing, uninterrupted physical enlargement of the abdomen, indicated by the repetitive phrase to grow and grow. Grammatically, continue is followed by the infinitive to grow, making it the logically and structurally appropriate word to describe a persistent action that will only stop once the condition of confessing the crime is met.

Explanation

The correct term to describe a study appearing in a scientific journal like Nature Human Behaviour is "published". Academic research papers, articles, and studies are formally published in peer-reviewed journals to share findings with the scientific community, making "published" the most appropriate and collocative word to fill the blank.

Explanation

The correct spelling of the word is grudge, which refers to a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury. The spelling grudje is incorrect because the soft g sound at the end of the word is properly represented by the letters dge.

Explanation

The idiom "bite the dust" is a figurative expression that means to die, particularly in battle or as a result of a conflict. It originates from the physical act of a wounded warrior falling face-forward into the ground or dirt upon being slain. Over time, this vivid imagery has been used in literature and common parlance to denote death or ceasing to live.

Explanation

The pronoun neither is grammatically singular and always takes a singular verb when used as the subject of a sentence. In the phrase neither of the two, the pronoun neither is the subject, representing not one nor the other of the two. Therefore, it must be paired with the singular auxiliary verb has instead of the plural verb have to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

A heretic is a person who holds beliefs, opinions, or doctrines that are contrary to established religious dogmas or orthodox teachings. The term specifically refers to someone who maintains views that oppose or reject accepted religious authorities and their established belief systems.

Explanation

A habitat refers to the natural environment or home of an organism where it lives, grows, and thrives. In ecological terms, a niche represents the specific physical space, habitat, and functional role that an organism occupies within its ecosystem. Broadly, both terms denote a highly suitable, specialized place or position perfectly adapted for a particular entity.

Explanation

The word cajole means to influence, convince, or urge someone to do something by gentle coaxing, flattering, or persistent persuading. Both terms share the core meaning of winning someone over or inducing them to take a particular course of action, making persuade the closest synonym.