SSC CHSL 19 November 2025 · Shift 2 · English Language — questions with answers

1

Find the incorrect part in the given sentence. "If I was the manager, I would change the policy.*

A.If I
B.was the manager
C.I would
D.change the policy

Solution

Conditional sentences The sentence describes an imaginary situation — the speaker is not really the manager — so the if-clause must be in the subjunctive mood.

In the subjunctive, 'were' is used with every subject, so 'If I was the manager' must become 'If I were the manager'. The pattern is: If + subject + were …, subject + would + V1, and 'I would change the policy' already follows it. Hence the incorrect part is option (b).

2

Identify Spot the error in the given sentence. "The cashier denied to accept the damaged note."

A.The cashier
B.denied to
C.accept the
D.damaged note

Solution

Verb usage 'Deny' means to say that something is not true; it is followed by a noun or an -ing form, never by 'to + verb'.

Here the cashier did not take the damaged note, so the idea is refusal, and 'refuse' is the verb that takes the infinitive. So 'denied to' must be replaced by 'refused to', which makes part (b) the error. Correct sentence: The cashier refused to accept the damaged note.

3

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate verb: To clear the confusion, the professor

____

the complex theory with a simple example.

A.clarified
B.complicated
C.concealed
D.ignored

Solution

Appropriate verb The purpose stated in the sentence is 'to clear the confusion', so the verb must mean 'to make something easy to understand'. 'Clarified' means exactly that — to make a statement or an idea free from confusion, which a simple example does. 'Complicated' and 'concealed' would only increase the confusion, and 'ignored' would mean the professor did nothing about it. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

4

Select the most appropriate synonym of the word: Insipid

A.Tasty
B.Bland
C.Interesting
D.Spicy

Solution

Synonyms 'Insipid' means without flavour, and by extension dull, flat and lacking any interest.

'Bland' carries the same sense — mild, tasteless and therefore uninteresting — so it is the closest synonym. 'Tasty' and 'Spicy' mean full of flavour, and 'Interesting' means attention-catching, so all three are opposite in sense. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

5

Select the most appropriate synonym of the word: DESULTORY

A.Methodical
B.Haphazard
C.Intense
D.Integral

Solution

Synonyms 'Desultory' describes something done without a plan, drifting from one thing to another — a desultory talk wanders aimlessly.

'Haphazard' means done at random, with no order or plan, so it matches 'desultory' most closely. 'Methodical' is its exact opposite, 'Intense' speaks of strength and 'Integral' of being essential, so none of them fits. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

6

Choose the correctly spelt word:

A.Renaisance
B.Rennaissance
C.Renaissance
D.Renassance

Solution

Spelling The word comes from French 're-' + 'naissance' (birth), so it is spelt Re + naissance — a single 'n' after 'Re' and 'ss' in the middle.

Option (a) drops one 's', option (b) doubles the 'n', and option (d) drops the 'i' of 'naissance'. Hence, the correctly spelt word is option (c).

7

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: Hoist with his own petard

A.To be rewarded for one's hard work and innovation
B.To be victimized or hurt by one's own scheme
C.To lift a heavy burden without assistance
D.To announce one's presence loudly and aggressively

Solution

Idioms and phrases A 'petard' was a small bomb used to blow open a gate; if it went off too early, the soldier who set it was blown up by it. The idiom, taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet, therefore means to be harmed by the very trick one had planned for somebody else. Option (b) states exactly this; the other options speak of reward, of lifting a weight and of loud self-announcement, none of which the idiom means. E.g. He spread a rumour to disgrace his colleague, but was hoist with his own petard when everyone learnt who had started it. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

8

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom: A pyrrhic victory

A.A victory achieved with very little effort
B.A victory that is won at too great a cost to be worthwhile
C.A sudden and unexpected triumph
D.A moral victory in the face of defeat Cloze test:

Solution

Idioms and phrases Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, defeated the Romans at Asculum but lost so many soldiers that he said one more such victory would ruin him. 'A pyrrhic victory' therefore means a success won at so heavy a cost that it is hardly worth having. Option (b) says this; the other options describe an easy win, a surprise win and a moral win, and none of them carries the idea of a ruinous cost. E.g. The firm won the case, but the legal bills nearly closed it down — a pyrrhic victory. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

9

Directions (Qs. 9-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. I was wandering near the old harbor one evening when I spotted an elderly woman painting the sunset. She wore a paint-stained apron, and her eyes sparkled with (9)

____

. She seemed completely absorbed, mixing colors with a gentle hand to capture the fading light. I hesitated but eventually stood nearby to admire her work. Sensing my presence, she nodded and began to speak about the changing tides and the colors of the water. Her observations were profound, and my view of the ordinary scene suddenly (10)

____

. She packed her brushes as the twilight faded, smiling at the finished canvas. "Beauty hides in the details we often rush past," she whispered. Her sentiment resonated with me, highlighting the (11)

____

of patience in a frantic world. That evening, I returned home feeling grateful and (12)

____

We often forget that a single quiet exchange has the potential to (13)

____

our entire outlook on life.

19-nov-2025-shift-2 Q009

A.Misery
B.Contentment
C.Panic
D.Fatigue

Solution

Cloze test The woman is completely absorbed in her painting and mixes her colours with a gentle hand, so the blank needs the quiet feeling that shows in her sparkling eyes. 'Contentment' means calm satisfaction, which suits both the sparkle in her eyes and her peaceful manner. 'Misery', 'Panic' and 'Fatigue' are all unpleasant states and would contradict the gentle, absorbed picture drawn in the passage. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

10

Directions (Qs. 9-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. I was wandering near the old harbor one evening when I spotted an elderly woman painting the sunset. She wore a paint-stained apron, and her eyes sparkled with (9)

____

. She seemed completely absorbed, mixing colors with a gentle hand to capture the fading light. I hesitated but eventually stood nearby to admire her work. Sensing my presence, she nodded and began to speak about the changing tides and the colors of the water. Her observations were profound, and my view of the ordinary scene suddenly (10)

____

. She packed her brushes as the twilight faded, smiling at the finished canvas. "Beauty hides in the details we often rush past," she whispered. Her sentiment resonated with me, highlighting the (11)

____

of patience in a frantic world. That evening, I returned home feeling grateful and (12)

____

We often forget that a single quiet exchange has the potential to (13)

____

our entire outlook on life.

19-nov-2025-shift-2 Q010

A.Broadened
B.Vanished
C.Darkened
D.Stagnated

Solution

Cloze test The woman's profound remarks act upon the narrator's view of the ordinary scene, so the verb must show that the view grew wider. 'Broadened' means widened or expanded, and that is what a deeper insight does to one's way of seeing. 'Vanished' and 'Darkened' suggest loss, while 'Stagnated' means no change at all, and none of these follows from 'profound' observations. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

11

Directions (Qs. 9-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. I was wandering near the old harbor one evening when I spotted an elderly woman painting the sunset. She wore a paint-stained apron, and her eyes sparkled with (9)

____

. She seemed completely absorbed, mixing colors with a gentle hand to capture the fading light. I hesitated but eventually stood nearby to admire her work. Sensing my presence, she nodded and began to speak about the changing tides and the colors of the water. Her observations were profound, and my view of the ordinary scene suddenly (10)

____

. She packed her brushes as the twilight faded, smiling at the finished canvas. "Beauty hides in the details we often rush past," she whispered. Her sentiment resonated with me, highlighting the (11)

____

of patience in a frantic world. That evening, I returned home feeling grateful and (12)

____

We often forget that a single quiet exchange has the potential to (13)

____

our entire outlook on life.

19-nov-2025-shift-2 Q011

A.Futility
B.Value
C.Risk
D.Burden

Solution

Cloze test Her whispered remark — 'Beauty hides in the details we often rush past' — praises patience, so the blank needs a positive noun. 'Value' means worth or importance, so 'the value of patience in a frantic world' carries exactly that praise. 'Futility' and 'Burden' criticise patience and 'Risk' suggests danger, so all three reverse the point the passage is making. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

12

Directions (Qs. 9-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. I was wandering near the old harbor one evening when I spotted an elderly woman painting the sunset. She wore a paint-stained apron, and her eyes sparkled with (9)

____

. She seemed completely absorbed, mixing colors with a gentle hand to capture the fading light. I hesitated but eventually stood nearby to admire her work. Sensing my presence, she nodded and began to speak about the changing tides and the colors of the water. Her observations were profound, and my view of the ordinary scene suddenly (10)

____

. She packed her brushes as the twilight faded, smiling at the finished canvas. "Beauty hides in the details we often rush past," she whispered. Her sentiment resonated with me, highlighting the (11)

____

of patience in a frantic world. That evening, I returned home feeling grateful and (12)

____

We often forget that a single quiet exchange has the potential to (13)

____

our entire outlook on life.

19-nov-2025-shift-2 Q012

A.Confused
B.Enriched
C.Exhausted
D.Ignored

Solution

Cloze test The blank is joined by 'and' to 'grateful', so it must be another positive feeling produced by the meeting. 'Enriched' means made fuller or better in experience, which is exactly what the quiet exchange did for the narrator. 'Confused', 'Exhausted' and 'Ignored' are negative and cannot stand beside 'grateful' here. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

13

Directions (Qs. 9-13): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. I was wandering near the old harbor one evening when I spotted an elderly woman painting the sunset. She wore a paint-stained apron, and her eyes sparkled with (9)

____

. She seemed completely absorbed, mixing colors with a gentle hand to capture the fading light. I hesitated but eventually stood nearby to admire her work. Sensing my presence, she nodded and began to speak about the changing tides and the colors of the water. Her observations were profound, and my view of the ordinary scene suddenly (10)

____

. She packed her brushes as the twilight faded, smiling at the finished canvas. "Beauty hides in the details we often rush past," she whispered. Her sentiment resonated with me, highlighting the (11)

____

of patience in a frantic world. That evening, I returned home feeling grateful and (12)

____

We often forget that a single quiet exchange has the potential to (13)

____

our entire outlook on life.

19-nov-2025-shift-2 Q013

A.Alter
B.Destroy
C.Mimic
D.Block

Solution

Cloze test The last sentence sums up the lesson: one short, quiet meeting can work a change on our entire outlook on life. 'Alter' means to change or modify, so it states that change without exaggerating it. 'Destroy' and 'Block' are far too negative for a passage about a happy experience, and 'Mimic', meaning to imitate, makes no sense with 'outlook'. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

14

Select the most appropriate antonym of the word: Explicit

A.Clear
B.Vague
C.Direct
D.Precise

Solution

Antonyms 'Explicit' means stated so clearly and fully that nothing is left to be guessed.

'Vague' means not clearly expressed, so that the meaning stays uncertain, which makes it the exact opposite. 'Clear', 'Direct' and 'Precise' all repeat the sense of 'explicit', so they are synonyms and cannot be the antonym. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

15

Choose the correct one-word substitute for: A person who studies insects

A.Etymologist
B.Entomologist
C.Ecologist
D.Pathologist

Solution

One-word substitution The Greek root 'entomon' means an insect, so entomology is the branch of science that studies insects.

A person who studies insects is therefore an entomologist. 'Etymologist' is the tempting look-alike, but 'etymon' means the original form of a word, so he studies the origin of words. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

16

Choose the correct one-word substitute for: A person who studies or collects coins

A.Philatelist
B.Numismatist
C.Antiquarian
D.Archivist

Solution

One-word substitution 'Numisma' is the old word for a coin, so numismatics is the study or collection of coins and medals.

The person asked about in the question is therefore a numismatist. A philatelist collects stamps, an antiquarian deals with old objects in general, and an archivist looks after records, so none of them is limited to coins. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

17

Select the most appropriate antonym of the word: Perfidy

A.Treachery
B.Loyalty
C.Betrayal
D.Deceit

Solution

Antonyms 'Perfidy' means a deliberate breach of trust — the treachery of a person who betrays those who trusted him.

Its opposite is faithfulness to a person or a cause, which is 'Loyalty'. 'Treachery', 'Betrayal' and 'Deceit' merely repeat the sense of perfidy, so they are synonyms and cannot be the antonym. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

18

One of these words is spelled incorrectly. Which one is it?

A.Accommodation
B.Embarrassment
C.Occurence
D.Millennium

Solution

Spelling 'Occurrence' is formed from 'occur' + '-ence', and a verb stressed on the final 'cur' doubles the 'r' before a suffix, as in occurred and occurring.

So the form given in option (c), with a single 'r', is misspelt. 'Accommodation' (double c, double m), 'Embarrassment' (double r, double s) and 'Millennium' (double l, double n) are all spelt correctly. Hence, the incorrectly spelt word is option (c).

19

One of these words is spelled incorrectly. Which one is it?

A.Maintenance
B.Perseverance
C.Indispensible
D.Surveillance

Solution

Spelling The correct spelling is 'Indispensable' — the word is built on 'dispense', and this family of words keeps the '-able' ending.

So option (c), written with '-ible', is the misspelt word. 'Maintenance', 'Perseverance' and 'Surveillance' are all spelt correctly; note the '-ance' ending in each of them. Hence, the incorrectly spelt word is option (c).

20

Choose the correct passive voice transformation of the sentence: My father gives me pocket money.

A.I was given pocket money by my father.
B.I am given pocket money by my father.
C.I have been given pocket money by my father.
D.Pocket money are given to me by my father.

Solution

Active and passive voice Active: My father (subject) + gives (verb) + me (indirect object) + pocket money (direct object), in the simple present tense.

When a verb has two objects, the passive normally makes the person the new subject: person + am/is/are + V3 + the other object + by + agent. The simple present passive is 'am/is/are + past participle', so 'gives' becomes 'am given' with the subject 'I'. Option (a) shifts the tense to the past, (c) to the present perfect, and (d) uses the plural verb 'are' with the uncountable 'pocket money'. Hence, option (b) is the most appropriate answer.

21

Choose the correct passive voice transformation of the sentence: The archaeologists claimed to have discovered an ancient city beneath the desert sands.

A.An ancient city was claimed to have been discovered by the archaeologists beneath the desert sands.
B.It was claimed by the archaeologists that an ancient city was discovered beneath the desert sands.
C.The archaeologists claimed that an ancient city had been discovered beneath the desert by them.
D.An ancient city claimed to be discovered by the archaeologists beneath the desert sands.

Solution

Passive of perfect infinitive The active sentence is: subject (The archaeologists) + claimed + perfect infinitive (to have discovered) + object (an ancient city). In such 'claim / say / believe + to have + V3' sentences the object of the infinitive becomes the new subject, and BOTH verbs are made passive: 'was claimed' + 'to have been discovered'.

This gives: An ancient city was claimed to have been discovered by the archaeologists beneath the desert sands. Option (b) replaces the infinitive with a that-clause and loses the perfect sense; (c) is still active; (d) leaves 'claimed' active, so the city itself appears to be doing the claiming. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

22

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct voice. He asked her if she had visited the museum that had opened the previous month, and whether she felt it was larger than the gallery they had been visiting for years.

A."Have you visited the museum that opened last month, and whether you felt it is larger than the gallery they had been visiting for years?" he asked her.
B."Had you visited the museum that opened the previous month, and did you feel it was larger than the gallery we had been visiting for years?" he asked her.
C."Did you visit the museum that had opened last month, and do you feel it was larger than the gallery we have been visiting for years?' he asked her.
D."Have you visited the museum that opened last month, and do you feel it is larger than the gallery we have been visiting for years?' he asked her.

Solution

Indirect to direct speech 'He asked her if / whether …' shows a yes-no question, so in direct speech the words go inside quotation marks with question word order and a question mark, and the reporting verb moves to the end. The back-shift of tenses is undone: 'had visited' becomes 'have you visited', 'had opened' becomes 'opened', 'felt' becomes 'do you feel', 'was' becomes 'is', and 'had been visiting' becomes 'have been visiting'. Time is shifted back too: 'the previous month' becomes 'last month'.

The gallery is one the speaker and the listener both visit, so the reported 'they' returns as 'we'. Option (a) keeps 'whether' and the pronoun 'they'; (b) and (c) keep the back-shifted past forms 'had you visited / did you feel'. Hence, option (d) is the most appropriate answer.

23

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct voice. The professor told the researchers that they must publish the findings that week, because it contained the evidence that had been missing from the archives for decades.

A."You must publish the findings this week, because it contains the evidence that has been missing from the archives for decades," the professor said to the researchers.
B."You must publish the findings that week, because it contained the evidence that had been missing from the archives for decades," the professor said to the researchers.
C.'We must publish the findings this week, because it contained the evidence that has been missing from the archives for decades," the professor said to the researchers.
D."You had to publish the findings this week, because it contains the evidence that was missing from the archives for decades," the professor said to the researchers.

Solution

Indirect to direct speech 'The professor told the researchers that …' is an assertive report, so in direct speech the that-clause goes inside quotation marks and 'told' becomes 'said to'. The back-shift is removed: 'contained' returns to 'contains' and 'had been missing' returns to 'has been missing'.

'That week' was the reporter's word for the professor's 'this week', so it must go back to 'this week'. 'They' stands for the listeners, and the professor addressing them would say 'you'. Option (b) keeps 'that week' with the past forms; (c) wrongly uses 'we'; (d) turns the modal 'must' into 'had to'. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

24

Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably?She received a lovely

____

on her new dress, which was chosen specifically to

____

the color of her eyes.

A.compliment, complement
B.complement, compliment
C.compliment, compliment
D.complement, complement

Solution

Homophones: compliment/complement 'Compliment' (with an i) is a remark of praise or admiration; 'complement' (with an e) is something that completes or sets off another thing. The first blank is about something lovely she 'received' on her new dress, that is, praise — so it takes 'compliment'.

The second blank says the dress was chosen to go well with the colour of her eyes, which is the sense of 'complement'. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.

25

Which of the following pairs of homonyms can be used to fill in the blanks most suitably? The new legislation aims to

____

the use of hazardous materials in toys, while simultaneously helping to

____

safer manufacturing standards.

A.proscribe, prescribe
B.prescribe, proscribe
C.proscribe, proscribe
D.prescribe, prescribe

Solution

Homophones: proscribe/prescribe 'Proscribe' means to forbid or outlaw something; 'prescribe' means to lay down or officially recommend a rule or a course of action. The legislation acts against hazardous materials in toys, so the first blank needs the sense 'forbid' — 'proscribe'.

Safer manufacturing standards are being laid down, not banned, so the second blank needs 'prescribe'. Hence, option (a) is the most appropriate answer.