SSC CHSL 29 November 2025 · Shift 2 · English Language — questions with answers

1

Choose the option which is similar in meaning to the underlined word. The progress she made in such a short time is truly incredible.

A.Unacceptable
B.Ordinary
C.Apparent
D.Unimaginable

Solution

Synonym 'Incredible' means so extraordinary that it is hard to believe. 'Unimaginable' means beyond what one can picture or believe, so it carries exactly the same idea. 'Unacceptable' = not satisfactory; 'Ordinary' = usual and commonplace, the opposite sense; 'Apparent' = clearly visible. Hence option (d) is correct.

2

Choose the correct option to give a one-word substitution for the sentence given. A person who completely abstains from alcohol.

A.Alcoholic
B.Bartender
C.Teetotaler
D.Drinker

Solution

One-word substitution A one-word substitute replaces a whole descriptive phrase with a single word. 'Teetotaler' is a person who never takes alcohol at all, which is exactly 'completely abstains from alcohol'. 'Alcoholic' = one addicted to alcohol; 'Bartender' = one who serves drinks; 'Drinker' = one who consumes alcohol — all the opposite of abstaining. Hence option (c) is correct.

3

Choose the one-word substitute for the sentence given below. Neha admired the wide variety of organisms, such as fish and water plants, flourishing in water-based environments.

A.Terrestrial
B.Arboreal
C.Aquatic
D.Aerial

Solution

One-word substitution The sentence describes organisms that live and thrive in water. 'Aquatic' means growing or living in water, so it replaces the whole phrase. 'Terrestrial' = living on land; 'Arboreal' = living in trees; 'Aerial' = living or moving in the air. Hence option (c) is correct.

4

Identify the grammatical error in the sentence below. The annual festival is expected to kick up the celebrations across the city next week.

A.is expected to kick up
B.The annual festival is
C.the celebrations
D.across the city

Solution

Phrasal verb error The sense required here is 'to begin' an event, so the right phrasal verb must mean 'start'. 'Kick off' means to start something, whereas 'kick up' means to create a fuss or a disturbance. The festival is expected to begin the celebrations, so the part 'is expected to kick up' is faulty and should read 'is expected to kick off'. Parts (b), (c) and (d) are grammatically sound. Hence option (a) is correct.

5

Choose the correctly spelt word:

A.Accommplice
B.Acoomplice
C.Accomplice
D.Accomplise

Solution

Correct spelling The word means a partner who helps another commit a crime. Its correct spelling is 'Accomplice' — a double 'c' after 'A', a single 'm', and the ending '-ce'. (a) 'Accommplice' wrongly doubles the 'm', (b) 'Acoomplice' doubles the 'o' instead of the 'c', and (d) 'Accomplise' ends in '-se'. Hence option (c) is correct.

6

Choose the best option to replace the underlined part to improve the given sentence. If no substitution is required, select 'No substitution.' The patients are suffering with severe headaches.

A.suffering by
B.suffering in
C.suffering from
D.No substitution

Solution

Preposition with 'suffer' The verb 'suffer' takes the fixed preposition 'from' when an illness or a painful condition follows it. The patients are experiencing headaches, so the sentence must read 'are suffering from severe headaches'. 'Suffering by' and 'suffering in' are not standard collocations, and leaving 'suffering with' unchanged keeps the error. Hence option (c) is correct.

7

Choose the best option to replace the underlined part to improve the given sentence. If no substitution is required, select 'No substitution.' The team must focus in improving customer satisfaction.

A.focus on
B.focus at
C.focus to
D.No substitution

Solution

Preposition with 'focus' 'Focus' collocates with 'on' when it names the matter to which attention is directed. The team must direct its attention to improving customer satisfaction, so it should read 'focus on improving'. 'Focus at' and 'focus to' are not accepted collocations, and the original 'focus in' is equally wrong. Hence option (a) is correct.

8

From the alternatives given below, select the correct passive voice of the following sentence. The agent must have misled the clients to purchase the defective gadgets.

A.The clients must be misled by the agent to purchase the defective gadgets.
B.The clients must have been misled by the agent to purchase the defective gadgets.
C.The clients must have been misled by the agent to have purchased the defective gadgets.
D.The clients must have been misled by the agent to be purchasing the defective gadgets.

Solution

Active to passive voice In the active sentence 'the agent' is the subject, 'must have misled' is the modal perfect verb and 'the clients' is the object. In the passive the object becomes the subject and 'must have + V3' becomes 'must have been + V3', with the doer taken by 'by'. So the passive reads: The clients must have been misled by the agent to purchase the defective gadgets. The infinitive of purpose 'to purchase' does not change, which rules out (c) 'to have purchased' and (d) 'to be purchasing'; (a) drops 'have' and loses the perfect sense. Hence option (b) is correct.

9

Choose the correct indirect narration of the following statement from the given alternatives: The gardeners said, "It is time to water our plants as the soil has become moist."

A.The gardeners said that it has been time to water their plants as the soil had become moist.
B.The gardeners said that it was time to water their plants as the soil had become moist.
C.The gardeners said that it had been time to water their plants as the soil had become moist.
D.The gardeners said that it was time to water their plants as the soil has been moist.

Solution

Direct to indirect speech The reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, so every reported tense shifts one step back. 'It is time' (present simple) becomes 'it was time', and 'has become' (present perfect) becomes 'had become'. The possessive 'our' changes to 'their' because the gardeners are now being spoken about. That gives: The gardeners said that it was time to water their plants as the soil had become moist. Hence option (b) is correct.

10

Choose the most suitable preposition from the given options to fill in the blank in the following sentence. Emily, who has been learning piano since childhood, is fond

____

classical music and enjoys attending live orchestra performances.

A.for
B.in
C.with
D.of

Solution

Preposition with 'fond' The adjective 'fond' is always followed by 'of' when it expresses liking for something. The sentence says Emily likes classical music, so it reads 'is fond of classical music'. 'Fond for', 'fond in' and 'fond with' are not used in standard English. Hence option (d) is correct.

11

Select the most appropriate antonym of the word: Loquacious

A.Talkative
B.Reserved
C.Outspoken
D.Expressive

Solution

Antonym 'Loquacious' means very talkative, given to speaking a great deal. Its antonym must mean quiet or slow to reveal one's thoughts, and 'Reserved' means exactly that. 'Talkative', 'Outspoken' and 'Expressive' all describe free or open speech, so they are near-synonyms, not opposites. Hence option (b) is correct.

12

Change the following sentence into the Active form. The office complex was erected in 1995.

A.The office complex had been erected in 1995.
B.Someone erected the office complex in 1995.
C.The office complex erects in 1995.
D.Someone is erecting the office complex in 1995.

Solution

Passive to active voice The given sentence is passive: 'The office complex' (subject) + 'was erected' (past simple passive) + 'in 1995'. No agent is named, so the active voice supplies an indefinite subject such as 'Someone'. 'Was erected' is past simple passive, so the active verb is the past simple 'erected'. This gives 'Someone erected the office complex in 1995'; (a) is still passive, (c) uses the present tense and (d) uses the present continuous with a past year. Hence option (b) is correct.

13

Choose the option that is the most appropriate conversion of the following sentence into Direct Speech. He told me that he had been learning Spanish for six weeks.

A.He said to me, "I am learning Spanish for six weeks."
B.He said to me, "I have been learning Spanish for six weeks."
C.He said to me, "I had learnt Spanish for six weeks."
D.He said to me, "I learnt Spanish for six weeks."

Solution

Indirect to direct speech Turning indirect speech back into direct speech, the back-shift is undone one step forward. 'Had been learning' (past perfect continuous) therefore comes from 'have been learning' (present perfect continuous). The pronoun 'he' returns to 'I' and 'told me' becomes 'said to me' with the exact words in inverted commas. This gives: He said to me, "I have been learning Spanish for six weeks." Options (c) and (d) drop the continuous aspect, and (a) uses the present continuous, which would not back-shift to 'had been learning'. Hence option (b) is correct.

14

The following sentence has two blanks. Choose the most suitable set of prepositions from the given options to fill in the blanks and complete the sentence meaningfully: The management insisted

____

a detailed review before moving

____

any action.

A.in, by
B.to, under
C.of, to
D.on, with

Solution

Prepositions in blanks The verb 'insist' takes the fixed preposition 'on' before the thing demanded: insist on something. So the first blank must be 'on' — the management insisted on a detailed review. This single test already rejects (a) 'insisted in', (b) 'insisted to' and (c) 'insisted of'. In the second blank 'moving with any action' conveys proceeding with a step, which fits the sense of acting only after the review. Hence option (d) is correct.

15

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

A.Bureuacracy
B.Millennium
C.Separately
D.Consensus

Solution

Incorrectly spelt word The word means a system of government run by officials through fixed rules and departments. Its correct spelling is 'Bureaucracy', formed from 'bureau' + '-cracy'. Option (a) writes 'Bureuacracy', in which the 'a' and 'u' of 'bureau' have been reversed. 'Millennium', 'Separately' and 'Consensus' are all spelt correctly. Hence option (a) is correct.

16

Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech. She said, "I spoke with my relatives yesterday."

A.She said that she spoke with her relatives the previous day.
B.She said that she should have speak with her relatives the previous day.
C.She said that she had spoken with her relatives the previous day.
D.She said that she would speak with her relatives the day before.

Solution

Direct to indirect speech The reporting verb 'said' is in the past tense, so the reported past simple 'spoke' back-shifts to the past perfect 'had spoken'. The time expression 'yesterday' becomes 'the previous day' and the pronoun 'I' becomes 'she'. That gives: She said that she had spoken with her relatives the previous day. (a) keeps the past simple unchanged, (b) is ungrammatical ('should have speak'), and (d) turns the statement into a future action. Hence option (c) is correct.

17

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

A.Ambiguous
B.Conscientious
C.Irepressible
D.Convivial

Solution

Incorrectly spelt word The word means impossible to hold back or control. It is formed from the prefix 'ir-' added to 'repressible', so the 'r' is doubled: 'Irrepressible'. Option (c) writes 'Irepressible' with a single 'r', which is the misspelt form. 'Ambiguous', 'Conscientious' and 'Convivial' are all spelt correctly. Hence option (c) is correct.

18

Directions (Qs. 18-22): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in housing costs across urban and suburban areas. Multiple elements add to this climb, including urbanization, low interest rates, rising material costs, and limited land availability. However, numerous property analysts claim that the present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic but is partially fueled by the fear of missing out and aggressive marketing. In many societies, homeownership carries social and personal prestige, particularly for growing families. This personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars whenever there is a slight dip in inventory, further driving the prices higher. Furthermore, with news outlets continuously broadcasting stories about soaring rents, the sense of competition or instability tends to trigger hasty purchases. Although real estate is historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth, advisors suggest prudence. Simply chasing the boom can lead to debt burdens that do not fit with future plans. A steady strategy, backed by financial assessment and professional counsel, is more advantageous than responding to fleeting spikes.

Which is the correct verb tense used in the sentence: "There has been a significant increase in housing costs..."

A.Past simple
B.Future perfect
C.Present perfect
D.Past continuous

Solution

Present perfect tense The verb phrase in the given sentence is 'has been'. 'Has/have + past participle' is the structure of the present perfect tense, and 'been' is the past participle of 'be'. It reports a rise that began over the last decade and still holds good now, which is exactly what the present perfect expresses. The past simple would need 'was', the future perfect 'will have been' and the past continuous 'was being'. Hence option (c) is correct.

19

Directions (Qs. 18-22): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in housing costs across urban and suburban areas. Multiple elements add to this climb, including urbanization, low interest rates, rising material costs, and limited land availability. However, numerous property analysts claim that the present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic but is partially fueled by the fear of missing out and aggressive marketing. In many societies, homeownership carries social and personal prestige, particularly for growing families. This personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars whenever there is a slight dip in inventory, further driving the prices higher. Furthermore, with news outlets continuously broadcasting stories about soaring rents, the sense of competition or instability tends to trigger hasty purchases. Although real estate is historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth, advisors suggest prudence. Simply chasing the boom can lead to debt burdens that do not fit with future plans. A steady strategy, backed by financial assessment and professional counsel, is more advantageous than responding to fleeting spikes.

Identify the passive voice sentence from the passage:

A.Multiple elements add to this climb.
B.News outlets continuously broadcast stories.
C.Homeownership carries social and personal prestige.
D.The present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic.

Solution

Identifying passive voice A passive sentence follows the pattern 'be + past participle', and its subject receives the action instead of doing it. In (d) the verb phrase is 'is ... grounded' — the auxiliary 'is' with the past participle 'grounded' — and the frenzy is what is being grounded. In (a) 'add', in (b) 'broadcast' and in (c) 'carries' the subjects themselves perform the action, so all three are active. Hence option (d) is correct.

20

Directions (Qs. 18-22): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in housing costs across urban and suburban areas. Multiple elements add to this climb, including urbanization, low interest rates, rising material costs, and limited land availability. However, numerous property analysts claim that the present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic but is partially fueled by the fear of missing out and aggressive marketing. In many societies, homeownership carries social and personal prestige, particularly for growing families. This personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars whenever there is a slight dip in inventory, further driving the prices higher. Furthermore, with news outlets continuously broadcasting stories about soaring rents, the sense of competition or instability tends to trigger hasty purchases. Although real estate is historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth, advisors suggest prudence. Simply chasing the boom can lead to debt burdens that do not fit with future plans. A steady strategy, backed by financial assessment and professional counsel, is more advantageous than responding to fleeting spikes.

What does the word "hasty" most likely mean in the context of the passage?

A.Well-planned
B.Hurried and rash
C.Inexpensive
D.Slow and calculated

Solution

Word meaning in context In the passage 'hasty' describes purchases triggered by competition, fear of missing out and a sense of instability. Buying under such pressure is done in a rush and without careful thought, so 'hasty' here means hurried and rash. 'Well-planned' and 'Slow and calculated' say the opposite, and 'Inexpensive' has nothing to do with speed of decision. Hence option (b) is correct.

21

Directions (Qs. 18-22): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in housing costs across urban and suburban areas. Multiple elements add to this climb, including urbanization, low interest rates, rising material costs, and limited land availability. However, numerous property analysts claim that the present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic but is partially fueled by the fear of missing out and aggressive marketing. In many societies, homeownership carries social and personal prestige, particularly for growing families. This personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars whenever there is a slight dip in inventory, further driving the prices higher. Furthermore, with news outlets continuously broadcasting stories about soaring rents, the sense of competition or instability tends to trigger hasty purchases. Although real estate is historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth, advisors suggest prudence. Simply chasing the boom can lead to debt burdens that do not fit with future plans. A steady strategy, backed by financial assessment and professional counsel, is more advantageous than responding to fleeting spikes.

What is the meaning of "tangible asset" as used in the passage?

A.A risky gamble
B.A debt that never ends
C.A physical item of value used to build wealth
D.A temporary rental

Solution

Vocabulary in context The question asks for the sense the phrase carries inside the passage, so the surrounding words decide it. The passage says real estate is 'historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth'. 'Tangible' means able to be touched or physically present, and an 'asset' is something of value one owns; together they mean a physical item of value used to build wealth. A risky gamble, a never-ending debt and a temporary rental are all the opposite of a solid, owned, value-holding possession. Hence option (c) is correct.

22

Directions (Qs. 18-22): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in housing costs across urban and suburban areas. Multiple elements add to this climb, including urbanization, low interest rates, rising material costs, and limited land availability. However, numerous property analysts claim that the present frenzy regarding property values is not solely grounded in economic logic but is partially fueled by the fear of missing out and aggressive marketing. In many societies, homeownership carries social and personal prestige, particularly for growing families. This personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars whenever there is a slight dip in inventory, further driving the prices higher. Furthermore, with news outlets continuously broadcasting stories about soaring rents, the sense of competition or instability tends to trigger hasty purchases. Although real estate is historically viewed as a "tangible asset" for building wealth, advisors suggest prudence. Simply chasing the boom can lead to debt burdens that do not fit with future plans. A steady strategy, backed by financial assessment and professional counsel, is more advantageous than responding to fleeting spikes.

According to the passage, what is one reason behind the rise in housing prices besides economic factors?

A.A decrease in population growth
B.Personal desire for social prestige
C.Excessive government regulations
D.A lack of interest in buying homes

Solution

Reading comprehension detail The passage keeps the economic causes and the human causes apart. The economic ones named in the first paragraph are urbanisation, low interest rates, rising material costs and limited land availability. The non-economic reason comes in the second paragraph: homeownership 'carries social and personal prestige', and 'this personal desire frequently results in rushed bidding wars'. So the extra reason behind the price rise is the personal desire for social prestige. A fall in population growth, government regulations and a lack of interest in buying homes are never mentioned, and the last two would in fact push prices down. Hence option (b) is correct.

23

Rearrange the following sentence parts to form a meaningful and grammatically correct paragraph: P. He plugged the router into the power source and connected it to the broadband line. Q. He completed the on-screen instructions to set up the internet connection securely. R. He linked all his digital devices to the newly established network. S. He checked the internet speed to ensure the connection was stable and efficient.

A.S, Q, P, R
B.P, Q, R, S
C.Q, P, S, R
D.Q, R, P, S

Solution

Sentence rearrangement The paragraph narrates the setting up of an internet connection, so arrange the parts in the natural order of the work. P must open: the router has to be powered and joined to the broadband line before anything else can happen. Q follows P, because the on-screen instructions can be completed only after the router is connected. R comes next, since devices can be linked only to a network that has already been 'newly established' in Q. S closes the paragraph, as a speed test checks a connection that is already working. The order is P, Q, R, S, so option (b) is correct.

24

Rearrange the following sentences to form a meaningful and grammatically correct paragraph: P. In 1896, the discovery of gold in the Yukon sparked a massive wave of migration. Q. Adventurers from many countries rushed in hopes of gaining quick wealth. R. Only a small number of these fortune-seekers actually became rich. S. As a result of this movement, several towns and settlements developed rapidly.

A.S, Q, R, P
B.P, Q, S, R
C.Q, P, R, S
D.R, Q, P, S

Solution

Sentence rearrangement P is the opening sentence: it fixes the year and the event, the 1896 gold discovery, on which every other sentence depends. Q follows P as the immediate reaction — adventurers rushed in hoping for quick wealth. S then states the consequence of that rush; 'As a result of this movement' points straight back to the migration in Q. R is the closing comment, the ironic outcome that only a few got rich; 'these fortune-seekers' refers to the adventurers of Q, so R cannot precede Q. The order is P, Q, S, R, so option (b) is correct.

25

What is the antonym of "Preventable" ?

A.Avoidable
B.Ineluctable
C.Improbable
D.Escapable

Solution

Antonym 'Preventable' means capable of being stopped or avoided before it happens. Its antonym must therefore mean 'impossible to avoid'. 'Ineluctable' means unable to be resisted or escaped, i.e. inevitable — the exact opposite of preventable. 'Avoidable' and 'Escapable' are synonyms of preventable, not antonyms; 'Improbable' means unlikely, which speaks of chance and not of avoidance. Hence option (b) is correct.