SSC CHSL Tier 1 2023 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The word inadvertent means unintentional, accidental, or done without conscious thought. Its antonym is deliberate, which means done consciously, intentionally, or carefully and slowly. In the context of the sentence, speaking in a deliberate manner refers to speaking with careful thought and clarity, making it the antonym that fits the blank.

Explanation

The sentence compares Syamala with her sister, requiring the comparative degree of the adjective tall. The correct comparative form of the monosyllabic adjective tall is taller. Using more together with taller results in a double comparative, which is grammatically incorrect. Therefore, the single comparative form taller is the correct substitution to make the sentence grammatically proper.

Explanation

When referring to a specific address that includes a house or building number, the correct preposition to use is "at" rather than "in". The preposition "in" is used for general streets, cities, or countries without a specific number. Therefore, "in 45 Church Street" is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with "at 45 Church Street".

Explanation

The relative pronoun what cannot be used to refer back to a specific antecedent noun. In this sentence, the specific antecedent is the toy. When a relative clause modifies a preceding noun, the relative pronoun that or which must be used instead of what. Therefore, the relative pronoun what should be replaced with that or which to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The sentence contains an error in parallel structure. The preposition "of" governs the gerund "accepting". The coordinating conjunction "and" links this with another action, which must also be in the gerund form to maintain grammatical parallelism. Therefore, "lied" should be changed to the gerund "lying" to correctly parallel "accepting" as part of what the politician was accused of doing.

Explanation

The word paragon refers to a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence or a perfect example of a particular quality. Similarly, the word epitome refers to a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type, making it the most appropriate synonym.

Explanation

Sentence B serves as the opening sentence because it introduces the protagonist, Sarah, and her lifelong dream of traveling the world, setting up the context of her graduation. Sentence D logically follows B, as the phrase "With her degree in hand" directly connects to her graduating from college, describing the start of her journey. Sentence C continues the chronological narrative, using the transition phrase "Along the way" to describe her interactions and experiences during the journey. Sentence A serves as the perfect concluding sentence, as the phrase "Through these experiences" summarizes her journey and describes her returning home with a renewed perspective.

Explanation

The word crux refers to the most important, vital, or pivotal point of a matter, problem, or argument. Similarly, the word essence refers to the intrinsic, indispensable, and core quality of something that determines its character. In the context of a literary work like a play, both terms denote the central, most critical part of the plot, making them synonyms.

Explanation

A flaw is defined as a mark, fault, or imperfection that mars the substance or appearance of something, directly matching the description of an imperfection, a blemish, or a crack.

Explanation

Procrastination is the act of delaying, postponing, or putting off tasks or decisions. Indecisiveness refers to the state of being unable to make decisions quickly or effectively. When someone is indecisive, they hesitate and delay taking action, which directly manifests as procrastination. Therefore, indecisiveness serves as a highly suitable synonym in this context, as the inability to make a decision is the root cause of delaying and ultimately losing an opportunity.

Explanation

The word "intervene" means to intentionally become involved in a situation, especially to prevent conflict or to influence the outcome. In the context of others' personal affairs, it carries the meaning of interfering or intruding without invitation, which is the precise definition of "meddle".

Explanation

The word alludes means to suggest or call attention to indirectly, or to hint at. In this context, it serves as a synonym for implies, which means to suggest something indirectly. Additionally, alludes grammatically pairs with the preposition to in the sentence, making it the most appropriate word to indicate that the text makes an indirect reference to several themes.

Explanation

Correct Answer: B

The segment "are slattered" contains a spelling error. In the context of the sentence, which discusses the large-scale killing of animals, the correct word to use is "slaughtered". The spelling "slattered" is incorrect and does not fit the intended meaning of the sentence.

Explanation

The word scrutiny refers to a close, careful, and detailed examination or investigation of something. In the given sentence, analysis is the most appropriate synonym, as it denotes the process of examining something in detail to understand its nature or structure. Both terms convey the idea of deep, systematic inspection and evaluation.

Explanation

The term greenhorn refers to a person who is new to or inexperienced in a particular activity, job, or industry. It originates from the description of young animals with newly grown, undeveloped horns, symbolizing youth and lack of experience. Thus, it perfectly matches the meaning of being inexperienced.

Explanation

The sentence begins with the subject Forbes followed by the verb wanted (E). This is followed by the infinitive phrase to simplify filling taxes (A) which acts as the object of the verb. The method used to achieve this simplification is introduced by the prepositional phrase by narrowing (D). The verb narrowing is transitively applied to the object the current five rates (C), which is completed by the prepositional phrase to a single flat rate (B), completing the construction narrowing something to something else. Together, these parts form the grammatically correct and coherent sentence: "Forbes wanted to simplify filling taxes by narrowing the current five rates to a single flat rate."

Explanation

The active sentence "She killed the cockroach" is in the simple past tense, which follows the structure: Subject + past tense verb + Object.

To convert a simple past tense sentence into the passive voice, the structure is: Object + was/were + past participle of the verb + by + Subject.

In this sentence, the object "the cockroach" becomes the new subject. Since "the cockroach" is singular, the auxiliary verb "was" is used. The past participle of "killed" remains "killed". The subject pronoun "She" changes to the object pronoun "her" after the preposition "by". Applying these rules yields "The cockroach was killed by her."

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple past tense, indicated by the verb "asked". To convert a simple past tense sentence into the passive voice, the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" is used along with the past participle (V3) form of the main verb.

Since the direct object "a question" is singular, it takes the singular auxiliary verb "was", followed by the past participle "asked". The agent of the action "the student" is introduced by the preposition "by", resulting in the correct passive structure: "A question was asked by the student to the teacher during class."

Explanation

The correct spelling of the word required to fill the blank is "evacuated". It means to remove someone from a place of danger to a safe place, which perfectly fits the context of a rescue team assisting people after an earthquake.

Explanation

Sentence A introduces the central theme of the paragraph, which is the global challenge of electronic waste. Sentence D logically follows by describing the active efforts of recycling industries to mitigate this waste. Sentence B introduces a limitation to these recycling efforts by highlighting that unnecessary consumer purchasing continues unabated. Finally, sentence C offers a resolving alternative to this limitation by suggesting that spreading awareness about reducing and reusing can be highly beneficial. This creates a coherent flow from the introduction of a problem, to current industry efforts, to consumer-side challenges, and finally to a prospective solution.

Explanation

The passage describes housewives visiting a supermarket where a notice promises that one customer each week will receive their purchased goods for free. In this context, the collective term for the items a customer purchases at a supermarket is shopping. Therefore, shopping is the most grammatically and contextually appropriate word to complete the sentence, indicating that the lucky customer would not have to pay for the items they gathered.

Explanation

The context of the passage revolves around a supermarket promotion where one customer each week receives their purchases for free. This event is repeatedly described as a matter of luck, as seen in the first paragraph where housewives want to be the lucky customer, and in the later paragraphs where the characters dream of being told that it is their lucky day. Therefore, the word lucky is the most appropriate fit for blank 2 to complete the phrase about the customer's fortunate day.

Explanation

The passage describes a supermarket promotion where one shopper every week receives their purchased goods for free. Mrs. Batliwala, as a frequent shopper at the supermarket, hopes to be the chosen individual. In this context, the person purchasing goods is referred to as a customer, making customer the grammatically and contextually correct word to complete the sentence.

Explanation

In the passage, the supermarket promises that one lucky customer per week will receive their goods for free. When Mrs. Batliwala dreams of winning, she envisions the manager telling her that all the items she has gathered are free of charge. The pronoun "everything" perfectly fits this context, indicating that all contents of her shopping basket are free, which is also mirrored in the final sentence of the passage where the manager confirms that everything in her basket is indeed free.

Explanation

The word capable means having the ability, fitness, or necessary skills to do something successfully. In the given sentence, competent is used to describe Jayesh's suitability and skill level for the post of clerk. Since competent means having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully, it is the direct synonym of capable.

Explanation

The context of the passage establishes that the supermarket runs a weekly promotion where a lucky customer does not have to pay for their purchases, obtaining free goods. When the manager approaches Mrs. Batliwala to announce that she is the lucky customer, he confirms that everything in her basket is free, which directly completes the meaning of the promotional offer described throughout the text.

Explanation

The active voice sentence is in the simple present tense. To convert a simple present tense sentence into the passive voice, the structure is: Object + is/am/are + past participle of the verb + by + Subject.

In this sentence, the direct object English literature becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The simple present verb teaches changes to is taught. The indirect object us is retained as to us, and the active subject your mother is introduced by the preposition by. This structure yields English literature is taught to us by your mother.

Explanation

The segment contains a grammatical error in the word unimpress. After the linking verb were, an adjective is required to describe the state of the judges. The correct form is the past participle adjective unimpressed, making the correct sentence He sang beautifully but the judges were unimpressed at the end.

Explanation

The word stationary is used to describe something that is not moving, remaining in one place, or static in position. Its direct opposite is moving, which refers to an object or entity that is in motion, active, or changing its position.

Explanation

The grammatically and orthographically correct word to complete the sentence is "elevate". In this context, it functions as a verb meaning to raise or lift something to a higher position or level. Standard English orthography dictates this spelling, which is derived from the Latin verb "elevare", meaning to lift up.

Explanation

The verb "fall" is used to describe an event, date, or anniversary occurring on a specific day or date. In the sentence "My birthday will fall on a Friday this year," the word indicates that the birthday will happen or occur on that particular day of the week. Therefore, the definition "to come at a particular time or happen in a particular place" is the most appropriate meaning of the homonym in this context.

Explanation

The idiom play it by ear originates from music, where it refers to playing a tune by memory or by listening to it rather than reading from sheet music. In a broader sense, it means to perform, act, or manage a situation spontaneously as it unfolds, without any prior plans, preparation, or rehearsals.

Explanation

The correct order of the jumbled parts is B, A, D, C, which forms a grammatically coherent and meaningful sentence: "Poe's work owes much to the concern of Romanticism with the occult and the satanic which in turn, owes much also to his own feverish dreams, to which he applied a rare faculty of shaping plausible fabrics out of impalpable materials."

In this structure, the phrase "concern of Romanticism" in part B naturally pairs with the prepositional phrase "with the occult and the satanic" in part A. The relative clause in part A, ending with "owes much also to", links directly to the noun phrase "his own feverish dreams" in part D. Finally, the prepositional phrase "faculty of" at the end of part D is completed by the gerund phrase "shaping plausible fabrics out of impalpable materials" in part C, creating a seamless and logical flow.

Explanation

Correct Answer: D

The pronoun "one" is a singular subject, which requires agreement with a singular verb form. In this context, the relative pronoun "who" refers to this singular "one", making the singular past continuous construction "was hiding" grammatically correct. Additionally, the phrase "behind a rock" is the natural and appropriate prepositional expression to denote position, replacing the awkward "at the back of a rock".

Explanation

The word mundane refers to something that is lacking interest or excitement, or is commonplace, ordinary, and dull. It perfectly matches the meaning of the underlined phrase ordinary and dull in the given sentence.

Explanation

The superlative degree of the adjective happy is happiest. For two-syllable adjectives ending in y, the y is changed to i and -est is added to form the superlative degree. The superlative form is preceded by the definite article the to indicate the highest degree of quality among all the afternoons of her life. Changing happy to happiest correctly expresses the sentence in the superlative degree.

Explanation

The correct arrangement of the jumbled parts starts with the subject-verb construction in R (drought, floods, war and economic instability are) followed by the complement in Q (some of the causes of famine in that region). This main clause is succeeded by the relative clause in S (which not only causes severe shortage of food) that describes "famine". Finally, S connects with P (but results in widespread hunger, death and social unrest) to complete the correlative conjunction structure "not only... but...". Combining these in the order RQSP yields a grammatically sound and meaningful sentence.

Explanation

The idiom "go the extra mile" means to make a special effort or do more than what is expected of one in order to achieve a goal. In the given sentence, Ashu is described as a dedicated employee who is committed to the growth of his company, making this idiom the most appropriate fit to describe his willingness to put in exceptional effort.

Explanation

The word mandatory is the correct spelling for the term that means required by law or rules, or compulsory. In the given sentence, it correctly describes the legally prescribed age limit for retirement.

Explanation

The grammatical structure too + adjective + to-infinitive is used to indicate that a quality exists to such an excessive degree that a certain result is impossible or highly unlikely. In this sentence, the adverb very must be replaced with too to correctly form the common idiomatic expression too good to be true, which means something is so detailed or wonderful that it is difficult to believe. Therefore, the phrase very good contains the grammatical error.

Explanation

The segment contains a spelling and usage error where the homophone wave is used instead of waive. In the context of fees, the correct spelling is waive, which means to voluntarily refrain from demanding or enforcing a payment, fee, or rule. The word wave means to move back and forth or refer to a disturbance.

Explanation

The term innocent refers to a person who is free from moral wrong, sin, or guilt, and who lacks knowledge, awareness, or experience of evil and wrongdoing. This makes it the perfect one-word substitute for the described state of being free from guilt and unaware of any misconduct.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is the noun phrase "The chief collector of revenue" (D), which initiates the statement. This subject is directly followed by the main verb phrase "Looks first to his own profit" (A) to describe the collector's primary action. The logical continuation of this action is "And then to the king's," (B), which completes the comparison of whose profit is prioritized. Finally, the alternative action "Or destroys the king's gain altogether" (C) is appended to describe the alternative outcome of the collector's behavior, resulting in a coherent and grammatically complete sentence.

Explanation

The word potential refers to latent qualities, abilities, or capacity that can be developed to achieve future success or handle specific tasks. In the given sentence, capability represents the power, ability, or capacity of Radhya to face difficult situations, making it the most appropriate synonym for potential in this context.

Explanation

The word strength denotes the quality or state of being physically strong, having great force, or possessing mental or moral power. Power refers to the capacity or ability to direct or influence behavior, events, or physical force, making it the closest synonym in meaning.

Explanation

Feasibility refers to the state or degree of being easily, practically, or conveniently done. In many contexts, particularly in project planning and assessment, it denotes the likelihood or chance of a plan or project being successfully realized, which directly aligns with the concept of probability. Both terms measure the likelihood of occurrence or successful execution of a given outcome.

Explanation

The given sentence is in the passive voice, following the structure: Would + patient (pizza or burger) + rather + be + past participle (eaten) + by + agent (you)?

To convert this to the active voice: The agent "you" becomes the grammatical subject. The passive verb construction "rather be eaten" changes to the active form "rather eat" because the modal auxiliary phrase "would rather" must be followed by a bare infinitive. The patients "pizza or burger" become the direct objects placed after the verb.

Combining these elements creates the active question: Would you rather eat pizza or burger?

Explanation

The idiom "beating around the bush" means to discuss a matter without coming to the point, or to avoid speaking directly about a sensitive or important topic. In the given sentence, the speaker wishes that she would express her thoughts directly and clearly, which indicates that she is currently avoiding the main point of discussion. This aligns perfectly with the definition of avoiding speaking directly about a topic.

Explanation

An orthopaedicist is a medical specialist who focuses on the diagnosis, correction, prevention, and treatment of patients with skeletal deformities and disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. The term is derived from the Greek words orthos, meaning straight, and paidion, meaning child, which historically related to correcting skeletal deformities in children but has evolved to encompass all bone and musculoskeletal system treatments for patients of all ages.

Explanation

The word elaborate means involving many carefully arranged parts or details, or being highly detailed and complicated in design. The word complex refers to something consisting of many different and connected parts that are intricate or complicated, making it the most appropriate synonym for elaborate.