SSC CGL 22 September 2025 · Shift 1 · English Comprehension — questions with answers

76

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. His careless remark cooked his goose.

A.Help someone succeed
B.Ruin someone's plans or chances
C.Save someone from difficulty
D.Mock someone

Solution

Idiom — cook one's goose To 'cook someone's goose' means to spoil their plans or destroy their chances. The careless remark undid whatever he was hoping to achieve. The other options reverse or change the sense entirely. Hence option (b).

77

Select the correct spelling to fill in the blank. The music had a strong, regular beat and felt very ____.

A.Rythmic
B.Rhythmic
C.Rhythimic
D.Rhytmic

Solution

Spelling — Rhythmic 'Rhythmic' is the correct spelling — rhythm + ic. It keeps both the h after the r and the h before the m. The other three drop one of those letters or add an extra i. Hence option (b).

78

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 light is then converted into electrical signals by the retina. 2. The brain interprets these signals, creating the images we see. 3. The human eye works by capturing light from the surrounding environment. 4. The lens of the eye focuses this incoming light.

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

Solution

Para jumble — the eye Sentence 3 introduces the subject — how the eye captures light. Sentence 4 has the lens focusing that light, and sentence 1 the retina converting it. Sentence 2 closes with the brain interpreting the signals. Order 3-4-1-2 — option (c).

79

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 process is known as the water cycle. 2. Water from oceans, lakes, and rivers evaporates into the atmosphere. 3. It then cools and condenses to form clouds. 4. Eventually, the water returns to Earth as precipitation.

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

Solution

Para jumble — water cycle Sentence 2 describes the first step — evaporation. Sentence 3 follows with condensation into clouds and sentence 4 with precipitation. Sentence 1 ("This process is known as…") names the whole cycle at the end. Order 2-3-4-1 — option (c).

80

Select the correct spelling.

A.Incontrovertible
B.Incontrovartible
C.Incontrovertibel
D.Incontrovurtibel

Solution

Spelling — Incontrovertible 'Incontrovertible' — not able to be denied — is the correct spelling. It is built from in + controvert + ible. The others change the vowel or reverse the -ible ending. Hence option (a).

81

Choose the one-word substitute for the given group of words: 'Extreme or irrational fear of confined places'.

A.Agoraphobia
B.Thanatophobia
C.Claustrophobia
D.Acrophobia

Solution

One-word — Claustrophobia 'Claustrophobia' is the fear of closed or confined spaces. Agoraphobia is fear of open or public places — its opposite. Thanatophobia is fear of death and acrophobia fear of heights. Hence option (c).

82

Choose the one-word substitute for the given group of words: A place where money is coined, especially under state authority.

A.Forge
B.Foundry
C.Mint
D.Furnace Cloze Test

Solution

One-word — Mint A 'mint' is where coins are struck under government authority. A forge shapes hot metal and a foundry casts it. A furnace is simply where metal is melted. Hence option (c).

83

Directions (Qs. 83-87): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Global sustainability discourse has been less shaped by genuine evolution and more hardened into a lexicon of managerial (83) ____ — terms designed primarily for reputational smoothing rather than ecological repair. What once stood as a moral confrontation with planetary vulnerability now circulates through dashboards and metrics, calibrated not to redistribute power but to sanitize it. Expressions such as "resilience," "stakeholder engagement," and "net-zero" crowd policy documents, their meanings stretched until they assume the flexibility of (84) ____ . Within this semantic marketplace, language stops revealing reality and starts performing it. Reports lean heavily on euphemism; proclamations sparkle with procedural virtue. Crises are not named directly; instead, they are (85) ____ into so-called "developmental challenges." The syntax of suffering is diluted, even while the underlying facts remain severe. What takes shape is not truth, but a carefully staged credibility — an efficient imitation of concern. At the same time, epistemic imbalances endure: indigenous knowledge is (86) ____ as "local insight," granted visibility only to embellish, never to redirect. Environmental justice, once openly confrontational, now adopts a courteous tone, neatly absorbed into intergovernmental statements. For sustainability to move beyond self-praise, it must abandon its fixation on appearance and accept historical unease. Anything short of this is not stewardship — it is semantic (87) ____ disguised as advancement.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (83).

A.artifacts
B.lubricants
C.dialogues
D.alignments

Solution

Cloze — lubricants The blank describes managerial terms meant for "reputational smoothing". Something that smooths over friction is a lubricant — used here as a metaphor. Artifacts and dialogues carry no sense of smoothing away resistance. Hence option (b).

84

Directions (Qs. 83-87): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Global sustainability discourse has been less shaped by genuine evolution and more hardened into a lexicon of managerial (83) ____ — terms designed primarily for reputational smoothing rather than ecological repair. What once stood as a moral confrontation with planetary vulnerability now circulates through dashboards and metrics, calibrated not to redistribute power but to sanitize it. Expressions such as "resilience," "stakeholder engagement," and "net-zero" crowd policy documents, their meanings stretched until they assume the flexibility of (84) ____ . Within this semantic marketplace, language stops revealing reality and starts performing it. Reports lean heavily on euphemism; proclamations sparkle with procedural virtue. Crises are not named directly; instead, they are (85) ____ into so-called "developmental challenges." The syntax of suffering is diluted, even while the underlying facts remain severe. What takes shape is not truth, but a carefully staged credibility — an efficient imitation of concern. At the same time, epistemic imbalances endure: indigenous knowledge is (86) ____ as "local insight," granted visibility only to embellish, never to redirect. Environmental justice, once openly confrontational, now adopts a courteous tone, neatly absorbed into intergovernmental statements. For sustainability to move beyond self-praise, it must abandon its fixation on appearance and accept historical unease. Anything short of this is not stewardship — it is semantic (87) ____ disguised as advancement.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (84).

A.rhetoric
B.science
C.elasticity
D.urgency

Solution

Cloze — rhetoric The sentence says the meanings of such words are stretched until they lose precision. "Rhetoric" is language used to impress rather than to state anything exact. Science would imply the opposite — precision and rigour. Hence option (a).

85

Directions (Qs. 83-87): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Global sustainability discourse has been less shaped by genuine evolution and more hardened into a lexicon of managerial (83) ____ — terms designed primarily for reputational smoothing rather than ecological repair. What once stood as a moral confrontation with planetary vulnerability now circulates through dashboards and metrics, calibrated not to redistribute power but to sanitize it. Expressions such as "resilience," "stakeholder engagement," and "net-zero" crowd policy documents, their meanings stretched until they assume the flexibility of (84) ____ . Within this semantic marketplace, language stops revealing reality and starts performing it. Reports lean heavily on euphemism; proclamations sparkle with procedural virtue. Crises are not named directly; instead, they are (85) ____ into so-called "developmental challenges." The syntax of suffering is diluted, even while the underlying facts remain severe. What takes shape is not truth, but a carefully staged credibility — an efficient imitation of concern. At the same time, epistemic imbalances endure: indigenous knowledge is (86) ____ as "local insight," granted visibility only to embellish, never to redirect. Environmental justice, once openly confrontational, now adopts a courteous tone, neatly absorbed into intergovernmental statements. For sustainability to move beyond self-praise, it must abandon its fixation on appearance and accept historical unease. Anything short of this is not stewardship — it is semantic (87) ____ disguised as advancement.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (85).

A.confronted
B.domesticated
C.diluted
D.aggravated

Solution

Cloze — domesticated Crises are turned into mild-sounding "developmental challenges". To "domesticate" is to tame something wild into something safe and manageable. "Confronted" and "aggravated" both point the other way. Hence option (b).

86

Directions (Qs. 83-87): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Global sustainability discourse has been less shaped by genuine evolution and more hardened into a lexicon of managerial (83) ____ — terms designed primarily for reputational smoothing rather than ecological repair. What once stood as a moral confrontation with planetary vulnerability now circulates through dashboards and metrics, calibrated not to redistribute power but to sanitize it. Expressions such as "resilience," "stakeholder engagement," and "net-zero" crowd policy documents, their meanings stretched until they assume the flexibility of (84) ____ . Within this semantic marketplace, language stops revealing reality and starts performing it. Reports lean heavily on euphemism; proclamations sparkle with procedural virtue. Crises are not named directly; instead, they are (85) ____ into so-called "developmental challenges." The syntax of suffering is diluted, even while the underlying facts remain severe. What takes shape is not truth, but a carefully staged credibility — an efficient imitation of concern. At the same time, epistemic imbalances endure: indigenous knowledge is (86) ____ as "local insight," granted visibility only to embellish, never to redirect. Environmental justice, once openly confrontational, now adopts a courteous tone, neatly absorbed into intergovernmental statements. For sustainability to move beyond self-praise, it must abandon its fixation on appearance and accept historical unease. Anything short of this is not stewardship — it is semantic (87) ____ disguised as advancement.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (86).

A.silenced
B.extracted
C.tokenized
D.sidelined

Solution

Cloze — tokenized Indigenous knowledge is given visibility "only to embellish, never to redirect". That is exactly what "tokenized" means — included in a symbolic way without real influence. "Silenced" would mean no visibility at all, which contradicts the sentence. Hence option (c).

87

Directions (Qs. 83-87): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Global sustainability discourse has been less shaped by genuine evolution and more hardened into a lexicon of managerial (83) ____ — terms designed primarily for reputational smoothing rather than ecological repair. What once stood as a moral confrontation with planetary vulnerability now circulates through dashboards and metrics, calibrated not to redistribute power but to sanitize it. Expressions such as "resilience," "stakeholder engagement," and "net-zero" crowd policy documents, their meanings stretched until they assume the flexibility of (84) ____ . Within this semantic marketplace, language stops revealing reality and starts performing it. Reports lean heavily on euphemism; proclamations sparkle with procedural virtue. Crises are not named directly; instead, they are (85) ____ into so-called "developmental challenges." The syntax of suffering is diluted, even while the underlying facts remain severe. What takes shape is not truth, but a carefully staged credibility — an efficient imitation of concern. At the same time, epistemic imbalances endure: indigenous knowledge is (86) ____ as "local insight," granted visibility only to embellish, never to redirect. Environmental justice, once openly confrontational, now adopts a courteous tone, neatly absorbed into intergovernmental statements. For sustainability to move beyond self-praise, it must abandon its fixation on appearance and accept historical unease. Anything short of this is not stewardship — it is semantic (87) ____ disguised as advancement.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (87).

A.inflation
B.camouflage
C.stagnation
D.betrayal

Solution

Cloze — camouflage The closing line says this is not stewardship but something "disguised as advancement". "Camouflage" is concealment made to look like something else. Inflation and stagnation do not carry that idea of disguise. Hence option (b).

88

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The actor opposed the scene, considering it ____ gratuitous for family viewers.

A.more
B.much
C.too
D.very

Solution

too + adjective The sense is that the scene went BEYOND an acceptable limit. "Too" carries exactly that idea of excess — more than is proper. "Very" only intensifies, "more" needs "than" and "much" does not fit before an adjective here. Hence option (c).

89

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The generous severance package was commensurate ____ his long and dedicated service to the company.

A.for
B.with
C.to
D.on

Solution

commensurate with The adjective 'commensurate' is followed by the preposition WITH. It means proportionate to or matching in measure. Correct: 'commensurate with his long and dedicated service'. Hence option (b).

90

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 CEO, along with his senior advisors, (1)/ are traveling to the international conference (2)/ to announce the company's (3)/ latest technological breakthrough. (4)

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

Solution

Along with — singular verb Phrases like "along with", "as well as" and "together with" do not change the number of the subject. The subject is "The CEO" — singular. So "are traveling" must become "is traveling". Hence option (b).

91

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in the Active/Passive voice. Scholars regarded the discovery as a turning point in medical science.

A.The discovery was regarded as a turning point in medical science by scholars.
B.Scholars were regarded as turning points in medical science.
C.The discovery has regarded scholars as a turning point in medical science.
D.The discovery is regarded as a turning point by scholars in medical science.

Solution

Active → passive "Regarded" is simple past active, so the passive is "was regarded". The object "the discovery" becomes the subject and the doer follows with "by". (b) and (c) reverse the roles; (d) shifts to the present. Hence option (a).

92

Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word. The monk carefully annotated the breviarium during his study.

A.The breviarium was read aloud during the evening prayers.
B.The historian examined a medieval breviarium preserved in the archive.
C.The engineer adjusted the breviarium with the help of electrical instruments.
D.The priest referred to the breviarium while leading the service.

Solution

Homonym — breviarium In the given sentence "breviarium" is a religious book of prayers used by monks and priests. Options (a), (b) and (d) all use it in that same sense. In (c) it names a piece of equipment an engineer adjusts — a different meaning. Hence option (c).

93

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in the Active/Passive voice. The final report will be submitted by the committee tomorrow.

A.The committee submits the final report tomorrow.
B.The committee had submitted the final report tomorrow.
C.The committee will submit the final report tomorrow.
D.The final report is submitted by the committee tomorrow.

Solution

Passive → active (future) "Will be submitted" is simple future passive. Its active form keeps the future: will submit. (a) is present, (b) past perfect and (d) remains passive. Hence option (c).

94

Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underline/Bold segment in the given sentence. The minister was accused for taking bribes from a foreign company.

A.accused with
B.accused on
C.accused of
D.accused from

Solution

accused of The verb 'accuse' always takes the preposition OF. One is accused OF a wrongdoing but charged WITH it. Correct: 'The minister was accused of taking bribes.' Hence option (c).

95

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word: Conscious

A.Lifeless
B.Dead
C.Oblivious
D.Sentient

Solution

Synonym — Conscious 'Conscious' means aware and able to perceive. 'Sentient' means able to feel and perceive — the closest synonym. Lifeless, dead and oblivious all mean the opposite. Hence option (d).

96

Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word: Reveal

A.Expose
B.Disclose
C.Dissemble
D.Uncover

Solution

Antonym — Reveal 'Reveal' means to make something known. 'Dissemble' means to conceal one's true motives — the true opposite. Expose, disclose and uncover are all synonyms of reveal. Hence option (c).

97

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. To gain quick success, he decided to sup with the devil.

A.To confess in secret
B.To act with false modesty
C.To collaborate with someone morally compromised
D.To punish without justice

Solution

Idiom — sup with the devil 'To sup with the devil' means to deal with someone dangerous or morally compromised. The full proverb warns that one must use a long spoon while doing so. He chose such a partnership for quick success. Hence option (c).

98

Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underline/Bold segment in the given sentence. The news have shocked everyone in the office.

A.has shocked everyone in the office
B.have been shocking everyone in the office
C.is shocking everyone in the office
D.shocked everyone in the office

Solution

News — singular "News" looks plural but is an uncountable SINGULAR noun. It therefore takes a singular verb. Correct: 'The news has shocked everyone in the office.' Hence option (a).

99

Select the correct indirect/direct form of the given sentence. The teacher advised the students to work hard for their exams.

A.The teacher said, "You should work hard for your exams."
B.The teacher said to the students, "Work hard for your exams."
C.The teacher said, "The students must work hard for their exams."
D.The teacher told the students, "You will work hard for your exams."

Solution

Indirect → direct (advice) Reported advice with "advised … to" turns back into a sentence of counsel using "should". "Their exams" becomes "your exams" as the teacher addresses the students. (c) keeps the third person and (d) turns advice into a prediction. Hence option (a).

100

Select the correct indirect/direct form of the given sentence. My friend said, "Hooray! We have won the match."

A.My friend exclaimed with joy that they had won the match.
B.My friend said that they won the match.
C.My friend exclaimed joyfully that we have won the match.
D.My friend told me that they had won the match happily.

Solution

Exclamatory reported speech "Hooray!" shows joy, so the reporting verb becomes "exclaimed with joy". The present perfect "have won" backshifts to "had won" and "we" becomes "they". (b) drops the exclamation, (c) keeps "we have" and (d) misplaces the emotion. Hence option (a).