SSC CHSL Tier 1 2023 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The idiom "far and wide" means across a large area or from many distant places. In the given sentence, it perfectly substitutes the phrase "all around the world" to convey that visitors travel from many diverse and distant locations across the globe to see the Taj Mahal.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice, using the simple future tense interrogative structure: When + will + object + be + past participle (V3).

To convert this into the active voice, the structure changes to: When + will + subject + base verb (V1) + object. Introducing the active subject "they" and using the base form of the verb "announce" yields the correct active sentence: "When will they announce the results of the dance competition?".

Explanation

The word epitome is defined as a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. In the context of the sentence, the old castle possesses all the classic characteristics of a medieval fortress (towering walls, creaky gates, and secret passages), making it the perfect representation or embodiment of one.

Explanation

In the given sentence, a noun is required after the definite article "the" to function as the subject. The noun "effect" means the result, consequence, or outcome of an action or event, which perfectly fits the context of discussing the consequences of the new legislation.

Explanation

The word Personel is misspelled. The correct spelling is personnel when referring to the body of persons employed in an organization, or personal when referring to something belonging to or affecting a particular individual.

Explanation

The verb allow in the passive voice structure (was allowed) is followed by a to-infinitive to indicate permission. The grammatically correct construction requires the preposition to followed by the base form of the verb, which is go. Therefore, the phrase not allowed to go correctly completes the sentence.

Explanation

The sentence establishes a past-tense context with the verb impressed in the first clause. To maintain grammatical consistency and tense parallelism across the coordinating conjunction and, the subsequent verb must also be in the simple past tense. Changing inspires to inspired correctly aligns with this past-tense structure. Additionally, the pronoun them correctly refers to the plural noun colleagues, the infinitive phrase to continue followed by the gerund pursuing is grammatically correct, and the possessive pronoun their properly indicates that the dreams belong to the colleagues.

Explanation

The given sentence "Do you obey your elders?" is an interrogative sentence in the simple present tense.

To convert an interrogative sentence in the simple present tense from active voice to passive voice, the helping verb do/does is replaced by is/are/am depending on the number of the new subject. The passive structure follows: Is/Are/Am + subject (the original object) + past participle form of the verb (V3) + by + agent (the original subject).

In this sentence, the active object is the plural noun "your elders", which becomes the passive subject and requires the helping verb "Are". The main verb "obey" is changed to its past participle form "obeyed", and the active subject "you" becomes the agent "by you". This gives the correct passive form: "Are your elders obeyed by you?".

Explanation

The word resolute means firm, determined, and unwavering in purpose or character. Its direct antonym is indecisive, which refers to a person who is hesitant, uncertain, and unable to make decisions effectively. This fits the context of the sentence perfectly, as the speaker is commenting on someone's inability to make a simple decision about dinner.

Explanation

The jumbled parts form a coherent sentence when arranged in the order ADCB.

Part A, "We must not complain", initiates the sentence by stating a negative action.

Part D, "that roses have thorns", is a subordinate noun clause that completes the action of the verb by explaining what we should not complain about.

Part C, "but rather be grateful that", acts as a contrasting transition introduced by the coordinating conjunction "but rather", shifting the focus from complaining to gratitude.

Part B, "thorns bear flowers", is another subordinate noun clause explaining the reason for gratitude.

Combining these parts in the order ADCB creates the grammatically correct and philosophically meaningful sentence: "We must not complain that roses have thorns but rather be grateful that thorns bear flowers."

Explanation

The sentence contains a grammatical error in the use of the indefinite article. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, whereas "a" is used before words beginning with a consonant sound. Since the word "new" starts with the consonant sound /n/, the correct article to use is "a". The grammatically correct sentence is "I need to buy a new iPhone."

Explanation

The word year begins with the consonant sound /j/ (the 'y' sound), which means it must be preceded by the indefinite article a.

The acronym NCC refers to a specific, well-known organization, the National Cadet Corps, and therefore takes the definite article the before it.

Explanation

The word captivated means to attract and hold the attention and interest of someone, leaving them charmed, fascinated, or enchanted. The antonym of this state is disillusioned, which means being freed from illusion, charm, or enchantment, often leading to a feeling of disappointment or dissatisfaction.

Explanation

The word punctual refers to the habit of arriving, happening, or doing something at the exact, expected, or agreed time, which means being on time. Conversely, the word late means arriving or occurring after the proper, expected, or scheduled time. Therefore, late serves as the direct antonym of punctual.

Explanation

The correct spelling of the first word is charismatic, which means possessing a compelling charm or inspiring devotion in others, derived from the Greek word charisma. The correct spelling of the second word is admirable, which means deserving respect and approval, formed by adding the suffix -able to the verb admire while dropping the final silent e.

Explanation

The term extempore refers to an action, particularly a speech, that is spoken, done, or performed without any prior preparation or practice. It is derived from the Latin phrase ex tempore, which translates to out of the moment or offhand, describing something done spontaneously on the spur of the moment.

Explanation

The word empowered means having the authority, power, or freedom to act and make choices. Its direct antonym is enslaved, which means being stripped of freedom, power, and autonomy, and being placed under the complete control of another.

Explanation

In the context of communication, expressing one's thoughts and feelings to others is naturally described as sharing them. The phrase sharing our thoughts and feelings aligns with the cooperative and expressive nature of communication, which involves conveying personal internal states to others so that they can be understood. This completes the parallel structure of talking, sharing, and listening as core components of daily human communication.

Explanation

The adverb effectively means in a way that is successful in producing a desired result. In the context of the sentence, communicating well allows people to collaborate and perform tasks in a productive, successful manner, making effectively the most appropriate and natural fit to describe how people work together.

Explanation

In the context of the passage, effective communication in a professional setting is highlighted as a means to enhance teamwork and productivity. Clear and precise communication ensures that instructions and expectations are fully understood, which directly prevents errors and mistakes in execution. By avoiding these errors, workflow remains smooth and efficient, which naturally increases overall productivity.

Explanation

The sentence discusses the positive societal role of communication in sharing information, ideas, and knowledge, which enables people to understand different cultures and viewpoints. The word perspectives means points of view or ways of regarding situations, which perfectly fits the context of mutual understanding and cultural appreciation.

Explanation

The verb advocate means to publicly support, plead, or recommend a particular cause or policy. In the given sentence, it is grammatically and contextually correct to use advocate because it is typically followed by the preposition for when expressing active support for a cause, as in advocating for important causes. This fits the overall theme of using communication to champion social improvements and positive developments within communities.

Explanation

When the noun man is used in a general sense to represent humanity or the entire human race, it does not take any article before it. Therefore, using the definite article the before man is grammatically incorrect. The sentence should begin with Man instead of The man, making the correct sentence Man is a social animal.

Explanation

The correct idiomatic expression is "make hay while the sun shines". This proverb means to take advantage of opportunities or favorable conditions while they last. In the context of a successful businessman, it signifies making the most of a good situation or a profitable opportunity.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple past tense and interrogative form, which follows the structure: Did + subject + base verb + object.

To convert an interrogative simple past tense sentence into the passive voice, the structure changes to: Was/Were + new subject (the original object) + past participle of the verb + by + new object (the original subject).

In this sentence, the original object is the singular noun phrase "a new product", so the singular auxiliary verb "was" is used. The base verb "launch" is converted to its past participle form "launched", and the original subject "the company" is introduced by the preposition "by". The time adverbial "last month" remains at the end of the sentence. This results in: "Was a new product launched by the company last month?"

Explanation

The idiomatic phrase in accordance with is a standard English prepositional expression that means in agreement, conformity, or compliance with something, such as a rule, law, or advice. When preceded by the preposition in, the noun accordance must be followed by the preposition with to form a grammatically correct structure. In this sentence, it correctly expresses that the action of taking the medicine was done in compliance with the advice received.

Explanation

The word trivial refers to something of little value, importance, or significance. In general usage, it denotes matters, details, or things that are minor, insignificant, or small in scale or consequence. Therefore, small is the most appropriate synonym as it directly captures the meaning of being of minor importance or size.

Explanation

The word "judicious" means having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense, reflecting wisdom, caution, and soundness of mind. The direct antonym of a word that denotes wisdom and sensible behavior is "unwise," which describes actions or decisions that are foolish, imprudent, or lacking in good judgment.

Explanation

The word jovial describes someone who is cheerful, friendly, and full of high-spirited humor. The word petulant means childishly sulky, bad-tempered, or irritable, making it the direct antonym of jovial.

Explanation

The conjunction but is used to introduce a clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding statement. In this sentence, there is a direct contrast between the speaker's attempt to study and the inability to do so because of the surrounding noise. Substituting the underlined phrase with but it is logically connects these opposing ideas, establishing a clear and grammatically correct relationship.

Explanation

The active voice sentence Suresh stole my book is in the simple past tense, which follows the structure of Subject + second form of the verb (V₂) + Object.

To convert a simple past tense sentence into the passive voice, the structure used is Subject (the object of the active sentence) + was/were + third form of the verb (V₃) + by + Agent (the subject of the active sentence).

Applying this rule, my book is a singular noun, so was is used as the auxiliary verb, and stolen is the third form of the verb steal. This gives the correct passive sentence: My book was stolen by Suresh.

Explanation

The idiom "having a chip on one's shoulder" originates from an old nineteenth-century American custom where a person looking for a physical fight would place a piece of wood on their shoulder and dare others to knock it off. Over time, the phrase evolved to describe someone who maintains a persistent grievance, resentment, or grudge, leading to an easily irritated, defensive, and unfriendly attitude.

Explanation

The correct sequence of the jumbled parts forms the grammatically coherent and meaningful sentence: He has been so upset about his divorce and that made him so rude to everyone he knows.

In this structure, the sentence begins with the subject and verb phrase A (he has been), followed by the adjective phrase C (so upset about his) which describes his state. The noun phrase E (divorce and that made) completes the prepositional phrase and introduces a coordinating clause where the pronoun that acts as the subject for the causative verb made. This is followed by the object and object complement in D (him so rude to), and the sentence concludes with the prepositional object and relative clause in B (everyone he knows) to complete the meaning. This matches the sequence A, C, E, D, B.

Explanation

An introverted person is typically reserved, quiet, and prefers to focus on their internal thoughts and feelings rather than seeking external social stimulation. The word shy describes someone who is timid, reserved, and hesitant in social situations, making it the most appropriate synonym in this context.

Explanation

The indefinite pronoun everyone is grammatically singular and always takes a singular verb. In the given sentence, the plural verb were must be replaced with the singular verb was to maintain proper subject-verb agreement. This makes the clause grammatically correct while keeping the past tense of the sentence.

Explanation

The sequence DBCA forms the opening statement of Jawaharlal Nehru's historic radio address to the nation on January 30, 1948, following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Part D sets the context by announcing the tragedy, Part B connects to it by describing the resulting grief, Part C introduces the speaker's personal state of shock, and Part A completes the clause by explaining what the speaker is struggling to express. Together, they form a grammatically correct and emotionally coherent sentence.

Explanation

The word lunacy refers to extreme foolishness, madness, or mental unsoundness, indicating a lack of sensible judgment or reason. Its direct antonym is sanity, which represents soundness of mind, rational thinking, and sensible behavior.

Explanation

The word intentionally is an adverb meaning deliberately or on purpose, which fits the context of Susan choosing to ignore the letters she received from the police. The correct spelling of this word is i-n-t-e-n-t-i-o-n-a-l-l-y, which is formed by adding the suffix -ally to the adjective intentional.

Explanation

The sentence is completely free of spelling errors, containing the correctly spelled words posed and productivity.

Explanation

The term misanthrope is defined as a person who dislikes, distrusts, or avoids human society and other people. It is derived from the Greek words misein, meaning to hate, and anthropos, meaning human. Therefore, it is the most appropriate one-word substitution for the underlined phrase.

Explanation

The word against is the direct antonym of for, commonly used to express opposition, contrast, or physical contact in an opposing direction. In this context, waves lapping against the shore describes the physical contact of the water striking the land, which makes against the grammatically and contextually correct antonym to fill the blank.

Explanation

The collocation act impulsively is a standard English phrase that means to perform actions suddenly and without careful thought or consideration of the consequences. In the context of the passage, which describes the emotional and behavioral tendencies of teenagers undergoing developmental changes, the verb act correctly pairs with the adverb impulsively to describe this behavioral trait.

Explanation

The verb conform is the most appropriate fit because it means to behave in accordance with socially accepted standards, rules, or laws. It is grammatically paired with the preposition to, making the phrase conform to certain expectations correct in the context of societal, parental, and peer pressure.

Explanation

The context of the sentence refers to the favorable circumstances or chances that teenagers possess during this transformative stage of life to acquire new skills, build lasting relationships, and engage in new experiences. The noun opportunity fits this meaning perfectly, as it denotes a favorable juncture or a good chance for advancement, progress, or personal growth.

Explanation

The word reduce fits contextually in blank (5) because providing teenagers with guidance, support, and resources helps to lessen, minimize, or mitigate the difficulties and hardships associated with adolescence. The verb reduce means to make smaller or less in amount, degree, or intensity, which directly aligns with easing the impact of these challenges.

Explanation

The noun phrase "the poor" is a collective noun representing poor people as a group, which is always plural in grammatical number. Under the rules of subject-verb agreement, a plural subject must be paired with a plural verb. Consequently, the singular verb "undergoes" is incorrect and must be replaced with the plural verb "undergo".

Explanation

The word attract means to pull or draw someone or something towards oneself by exerting a physical force or by arousing interest and admiration. The antonym of this action is repel, which means to force or drive back, or to cause aversion, thereby pushing something away rather than drawing it close.

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically correct because it follows standard English syntax for negative assertions. The modal auxiliary verb "could" is properly paired with the negative particle "not" and the base form of the main verb "find". The adverb "anywhere" is correctly used in this negative context to indicate the absence of the object in all possible locations, maintaining proper grammatical agreement and avoiding any double negatives.

Explanation

The sentence describes a permanent geographical state or a general fact about the road connecting the two villages. In English grammar, permanent situations and facts are expressed using the simple present tense. Since the subject "The road" is a singular noun, it requires the singular verb form "joins" to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The sentence contains an indirect question embedded within a polite request. In English grammar, when a question is embedded within another clause, the word order of the embedded question reverts from the interrogative form (verb-subject) to the declarative form (subject-verb). Therefore, the correct structure is "where the city park (subject) is (verb)".