SSC CGL 17 September 2025 · Shift 1 · English Comprehension — questions with answers

76

Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word. Uphold

A.Support
B.Maintain
C.Abrogate
D.Defend

Solution

Antonym — Uphold 'Uphold' means to support, maintain or defend something. 'Abrogate' means to repeal or formally do away with — the opposite. Support, maintain and defend are all synonyms of uphold. Hence option (c).

77

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: The writer was chewing the cud of reflection before starting his next novel.

A.Eating slowly
B.Daydreaming without focus
C.Pondering deeply
D.Mentally preparing for battle

Solution

Idiom — chew the cud 'To chew the cud' means to think something over deeply and at leisure. The image is of cattle slowly re-chewing their food. So the writer was pondering deeply before beginning his novel. Hence option (c).

78

Select the correct spelling.

A.Persiflage
B.Persiphledge
C.Pursiflage
D.Perciflage

Solution

Correct spelling 'Persiflage' (light, teasing banter) is the correct spelling. The word comes from French persifler — to banter. The other three distort the spelling. Hence option (a).

79

Select the correct spelling.

A.Causticity
B.Costicity
C.Causiticity
D.Caustisity

Solution

Correct spelling 'Causticity' (the quality of being caustic or sarcastic) is spelt correctly. It comes from caustic + -ity. The other options drop or add letters wrongly. Hence option (a).

80

Choose the correct one-word substitute for: 'A person who advocates change'.

A.Conservative
B.Idealist
C.Reformer
D.Dogmatist

Solution

One-word — Reformer A 'reformer' works for change and improvement. A conservative resists change and prefers tradition — the opposite. An idealist follows high principles; a dogmatist holds rigid beliefs. Hence option (c).

81

Choose the correct one-word substitute for: "Something so old that it seems to belong to prehistoric or biblical times."

A.Tale
B.Obsolete
C.Antediluvian
D.Primitive

Solution

One-word — Antediluvian 'Antediluvian' literally means before the biblical flood — extremely ancient or old-fashioned. Obsolete merely means no longer in use; primitive refers to an early stage of development. A tale is a story. Hence option (c).

82

Select the correct indirect/direct form of the given sentence. She said to her friend, "I am feeling tired today."

A.She told her friend that she is feeling tired today.
B.She said her friend that she was feeling tired that day.
C.She told her friend that she was feeling tired that day.
D.She told that she was feeling tired today.

Solution

Direct → indirect 'Said to' becomes 'told'; present continuous backshifts to past continuous. 'Today' changes to 'that day'. (a) keeps the present tense, (b) uses "said her friend" wrongly, (d) drops the listener. Hence option (c).

83

Select the correct indirect/direct form of the given sentence. The historian said, "Future generations will judge our actions more harshly than we expect."

A.The historian said that future generations would judge their actions more harshly than they expected.
B.The historian said that future generations will judge our actions more harshly than we expect.
C.The historian said that the next generations would judge his actions harshly.
D.The historian said that their actions will be judged more harshly than expected.

Solution

Direct → indirect (future) 'Will' backshifts to 'would' and 'expect' to 'expected'. The pronouns shift as well: 'our' → 'their', 'we' → 'they'. (b) keeps will/we, (c) and (d) change the meaning. Hence option (a).

84

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The anthropologist’s conclusions were so controversial that they were initially ____.

A.disregarded
B.appreciated
C.acclaimed
D.endorsed

Solution

Vocabulary — disregarded 'So controversial that…' signals a negative reaction at first. 'Disregarded' means ignored or not taken seriously — it fits the contrast. Appreciated, acclaimed and endorsed are all positive and contradict the sentence. Hence option (a).

85

The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them contains an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. The new research facility (1)/ is equipped with advanced instruments (2)/ that allows scientists to conduct (3)/ complex molecular experiments. (4)

A.(1)
B.(2)
C.(3)
D.(4)

Solution

Error — subject-verb The relative pronoun 'that' refers to 'instruments' — plural. So the verb must be 'allow', not 'allows'. Correct: 'that allow scientists to conduct'. Hence option (c).

86

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in the Active/Passive voice. They are repairing the old bridge after the monsoon.

A.The old bridge has been repaired after the monsoon.
B.The old bridge is repaired after the monsoon.
C.The old bridge is being repaired after the monsoon.
D.The old bridge will be repaired after the monsoon.

Solution

Active → passive (present continuous) 'Are repairing' is present continuous active. Its passive form is is/are + being + past participle. (a) shifts to present perfect, (b) to simple present, (d) to future. Hence option (c).

87

The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them contains an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. Not only did the committee reject the proposal (1)/ for its impracticality, but also criticized (2)/ the team for poor presentation. (3)/ No error (4)

A.(1)
B.(2)
C.(3)
D.(4)

Solution

Error — parallelism With 'not only … but also' the two verbs must be in the same grammatical form. Part (1) uses 'did … reject', so part (2) must read 'but also criticize'. The mismatch of forms breaks parallelism. Hence option (b).

88

Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word: The bishop denounced the practice as simony under church law.

A.The preacher was accused of simony for demanding money for blessings.
B.The court compared the sale of indulgences to simony.
C.The alchemist could not interpret the simony in his equations.
D.Simony was widespread in medieval religious institutions.

Solution

Homonym — simony In the given sentence 'simony' means the buying or selling of church offices or privileges. Options (a), (b) and (d) all use it in that same religious sense. Only (c) uses the word in a different, non-religious sense. Hence option (c).

89

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in the Active/Passive voice. The meeting has been postponed by the director until further notice.

A.The director postpones the meeting until further notice.
B.The director postponed the meeting until further notice.
C.The director has postponed the meeting until further notice.
D.The meeting was postponed until further notice.

Solution

Passive → active (present perfect) 'Has been postponed' is present perfect passive. The active form keeps the present perfect: has postponed. (a) is simple present, (b) simple past, (d) still passive. Hence option (c).

90

Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underline/Bold segment in the given sentence. He is keen to learn of swimming.

A.to learn swimming
B.on learning swimming
C.in learning to swim
D.on learning to swim

Solution

keen on + gerund 'Keen' takes the preposition ON when followed by an activity. After 'on' the verb must be a gerund: on learning. The natural phrase is 'keen on learning to swim'. Hence option (d).

91

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word: Radiant

A.Luminous
B.Dull
C.Dim
D.Opaque

Solution

Synonym — Radiant 'Radiant' means shining brightly, glowing with light. 'Luminous' means emitting or reflecting bright light — the closest synonym. Dull, dim and opaque all point the other way. Hence option (a).

92

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word: Scanty

A.Exiguous
B.Huge
C.Excessive
D.Abundant

Solution

Synonym — Scanty 'Scanty' means insufficient, barely adequate in amount. 'Exiguous' means very small in size or amount — the closest synonym. Huge, excessive and abundant are opposites. Hence option (a).

93

Directions (Qs. 93-97): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from the realm of science fiction to a pervasive force reshaping industries and daily life. At its core, AI involves machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Early AI research, emerging in the mid-20th century, focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. However, the true inflection point arrived with advancements in machine learning, particularly deep learning, which leverages neural networks inspired by the human brain. This paradigm shift has led to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. The integration of AI into various sectors — healthcare, finance, transportation, and education — promises unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. In medicine, AI assists in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, while in finance, it optimizes trading strategies and fraud detection. Yet, this rapid proliferation of AI is not without its challenges. Concerns about job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion, and the potential for autonomous weapons systems loom large. Ethical frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, leading to calls for robust regulation and responsible AI development. The 'black box' problem, where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque, further complicates accountability. Moreover, the concentration of AI power in a few tech giants raises questions about market dominance and democratic control. Ultimately, the future of AI hinges on a delicate balance: harnessing its transformative potential while meticulously addressing its societal and ethical implications. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and the public will be crucial in steering AI towards a benevolent future.

What was the primary focus of early AI research?

A.Deep learning and neural networks
B.Symbolic reasoning and expert systems
C.Image recognition and autonomous systems
D.Natural language processing

Solution

RC — early AI research The passage says early AI research emerged in the mid-20th century. It focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. Deep learning and image recognition came much later. Hence option (b).

94

Directions (Qs. 93-97): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from the realm of science fiction to a pervasive force reshaping industries and daily life. At its core, AI involves machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Early AI research, emerging in the mid-20th century, focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. However, the true inflection point arrived with advancements in machine learning, particularly deep learning, which leverages neural networks inspired by the human brain. This paradigm shift has led to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. The integration of AI into various sectors — healthcare, finance, transportation, and education — promises unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. In medicine, AI assists in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, while in finance, it optimizes trading strategies and fraud detection. Yet, this rapid proliferation of AI is not without its challenges. Concerns about job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion, and the potential for autonomous weapons systems loom large. Ethical frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, leading to calls for robust regulation and responsible AI development. The 'black box' problem, where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque, further complicates accountability. Moreover, the concentration of AI power in a few tech giants raises questions about market dominance and democratic control. Ultimately, the future of AI hinges on a delicate balance: harnessing its transformative potential while meticulously addressing its societal and ethical implications. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and the public will be crucial in steering AI towards a benevolent future.

Which technological advancement is credited with enabling major breakthroughs in modern AI?

A.Quantum computing
B.Advanced robotics
C.Machine learning, especially deep learning
D.Improved internet speeds

Solution

RC — breakthrough The passage calls the rise of machine learning — particularly deep learning — the true inflection point. Deep learning uses neural networks inspired by the human brain. That shift produced breakthroughs in image recognition, NLP and autonomous systems. Hence option (c).

95

Directions (Qs. 93-97): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from the realm of science fiction to a pervasive force reshaping industries and daily life. At its core, AI involves machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Early AI research, emerging in the mid-20th century, focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. However, the true inflection point arrived with advancements in machine learning, particularly deep learning, which leverages neural networks inspired by the human brain. This paradigm shift has led to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. The integration of AI into various sectors — healthcare, finance, transportation, and education — promises unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. In medicine, AI assists in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, while in finance, it optimizes trading strategies and fraud detection. Yet, this rapid proliferation of AI is not without its challenges. Concerns about job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion, and the potential for autonomous weapons systems loom large. Ethical frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, leading to calls for robust regulation and responsible AI development. The 'black box' problem, where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque, further complicates accountability. Moreover, the concentration of AI power in a few tech giants raises questions about market dominance and democratic control. Ultimately, the future of AI hinges on a delicate balance: harnessing its transformative potential while meticulously addressing its societal and ethical implications. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and the public will be crucial in steering AI towards a benevolent future.

According to the passage, what is meant by the 'black box' problem in AI?

A.The physical design of AI hardware
B.The difficulty in understanding how complex AI models make decisions
C.The proprietary nature of AI software
D.The use of AI in classified government operations

Solution

RC — 'black box' The passage defines the 'black box' problem directly. It is the situation where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque. That opacity makes accountability harder. Hence option (b).

96

Directions (Qs. 93-97): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from the realm of science fiction to a pervasive force reshaping industries and daily life. At its core, AI involves machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Early AI research, emerging in the mid-20th century, focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. However, the true inflection point arrived with advancements in machine learning, particularly deep learning, which leverages neural networks inspired by the human brain. This paradigm shift has led to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. The integration of AI into various sectors — healthcare, finance, transportation, and education — promises unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. In medicine, AI assists in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, while in finance, it optimizes trading strategies and fraud detection. Yet, this rapid proliferation of AI is not without its challenges. Concerns about job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion, and the potential for autonomous weapons systems loom large. Ethical frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, leading to calls for robust regulation and responsible AI development. The 'black box' problem, where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque, further complicates accountability. Moreover, the concentration of AI power in a few tech giants raises questions about market dominance and democratic control. Ultimately, the future of AI hinges on a delicate balance: harnessing its transformative potential while meticulously addressing its societal and ethical implications. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and the public will be crucial in steering AI towards a benevolent future.

What ethical concern is not explicitly mentioned in the passage regarding AI's rapid proliferation?

A.Job displacement
B.Algorithmic bias
C.Environmental impact
D.Privacy invasion

Solution

RC — not mentioned The passage lists job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion and autonomous weapons. Environmental impact is nowhere mentioned. So that is the concern left out. Hence option (c).

97

Directions (Qs. 93-97): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from the realm of science fiction to a pervasive force reshaping industries and daily life. At its core, AI involves machines performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Early AI research, emerging in the mid-20th century, focused on symbolic reasoning and expert systems. However, the true inflection point arrived with advancements in machine learning, particularly deep learning, which leverages neural networks inspired by the human brain. This paradigm shift has led to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and autonomous systems. The integration of AI into various sectors — healthcare, finance, transportation, and education — promises unprecedented efficiencies and innovation. In medicine, AI assists in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans, while in finance, it optimizes trading strategies and fraud detection. Yet, this rapid proliferation of AI is not without its challenges. Concerns about job displacement, algorithmic bias, privacy invasion, and the potential for autonomous weapons systems loom large. Ethical frameworks are struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, leading to calls for robust regulation and responsible AI development. The 'black box' problem, where the decision-making processes of complex AI models are opaque, further complicates accountability. Moreover, the concentration of AI power in a few tech giants raises questions about market dominance and democratic control. Ultimately, the future of AI hinges on a delicate balance: harnessing its transformative potential while meticulously addressing its societal and ethical implications. A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and the public will be crucial in steering AI towards a benevolent future.

What is presented as crucial for ensuring a benevolent future for AI?

A.Limiting AI development to government agencies
B.Allowing market forces to self-regulate AI
C.A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to development and policy
D.Focusing solely on military applications of AI

Solution

RC — benevolent future The closing lines call for a delicate balance between potential and ethics. They say a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach — policymakers, technologists, ethicists and the public — will be crucial. The other options contradict that call. Hence option (c).

98

Select the correct indirect/direct form of the given sentence. The professor said that never before had he witnessed such intellectual curiosity in his students.

A."I have never witnessed such intellectual curiosity in my students before," said the professor.
B."I never witness such intellectual curiosity in my students before," said the professor.
C."Never before I have witnessed such curiosity in students," said the professor.
D."Never I witnessed such curiosity in my students before," said the professor.

Solution

Indirect → direct (inversion) Reverse the backshift: reported past perfect comes from the present perfect. 'Had witnessed' → 'have witnessed'; 'his' → 'my'. (b) uses the simple present, (c) and (d) are ungrammatical without proper inversion. Hence option (a).

99

Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the correct order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph. 1. The seeds are sown in fertile soil. 2. The crops are harvested once they mature. 3. The plants are watered regularly for growth. 4. After germination, small seedlings start appearing.

A.1-4-3-2
B.1-3-4-2
C.4-1-3-2
D.1-2-3-4

Solution

Para jumble — farming Sentence 1 begins the cycle — sowing the seeds. Sentence 4 follows: germination and seedlings. Sentence 3 covers regular watering, and sentence 2 ends with harvesting. Order 1-4-3-2 — option (a).

100

Sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Arrange the sentences in the correct order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph. 1. This adaptability enables ecosystems to recover from disturbances and maintain long-term stability. 2. Ecosystem resilience refers to the capacity of an ecosystem to absorb change while retaining its essential functions. 3. Conserving biodiversity therefore strengthens the resilience of natural systems. 4. It involves complex interactions among biotic and abiotic components that allow systems to withstand external pressures.

A.2, 4, 1, 3
B.4, 2, 1, 3
C.2, 1, 3, 4
D.3, 2, 4, 1

Solution

Para jumble — ecosystem resilience Sentence 2 defines ecosystem resilience — the opener. Sentence 4 explains what it involves, and sentence 1 (‘This adaptability…’) states the result. Sentence 3 (‘therefore’) draws the conclusion about conserving biodiversity. Order 2-4-1-3 — option (a).