SSC GD Constable 11 February 2025 · Shift 3 · English — questions with answers

61

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. My friend has gone to Kerala on vacation, but I have no special plans. I will stay home and

____

A.pitch in
B.iron out
C.slip up
D.goof off

Solution

Phrasal verb The sentence contrasts a friend's holiday with the speaker's own empty programme, so the blank needs a phrasal verb meaning 'to do nothing useful'. 'Goof off' means to idle away time and avoid work - exactly what 'no special plans … stay home' suggests. 'Pitch in' means to join in and help, 'iron out' means to settle a difficulty, and 'slip up' means to make a careless mistake; none of these follows from having no plans. Hence option (d) is correct.

62

Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains a grammatical error. The Chairman instructed the managers that he shall been holding a meeting in Alberto Hall tomorrow evening.

A.managers that he
B.shall been holding a meeting
C.in Alberto Hall tomorrow evening.
D.The Chairman instructed the

Solution

Future continuous tense Test each part for a verb form that cannot stand: 'shall been holding' puts both 'been' and an -ing form after 'shall'. The future continuous is formed as shall/will + be + V-ing, so the part should read 'shall be holding a meeting'. 'Been' is a past participle and can follow only have/has/had, never 'shall' directly. The other three parts are faultless, so the error lies in option (b).

63

The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.

A.C
B.A
C.B
D.D

Solution

Adjective vs adverb Segment (C) reads 'collaborating seamless to ensure'. 'Seamless' is an adjective, but the word here describes how the team was collaborating, and a verb form needs an adverb. The corrected segment is 'collaborating seamlessly to ensure'. Segments A, B and D are grammatically sound, so the faulty segment is C - option (a).

64

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The artist's

____

use of colour made the painting boring and dull.

A.drab
B.vibrant
C.exceptional
D.exciting

Solution

Contextual vocabulary The result clause says the painting turned out 'boring and dull', so the blank must carry a lifeless, colourless sense. 'Drab' means dull and lacking brightness - the cause that matches the stated effect. 'Vibrant', 'exceptional' and 'exciting' are all positive and would contradict 'boring and dull'. Hence option (a) is correct.

65

Select the word from among the given options that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the given sentence. Ajay was cautious when investing in the stock market.

A.Elaborate
B.Careful
C.Heedless
D.Lax

Solution

Synonym 'Cautious' means acting with care so as to avoid risk. 'Careful' carries the same sense of attention and prudence, so it is the closest in meaning. 'Heedless' and 'Lax' mean the opposite - inattentive and slack - while 'Elaborate' means detailed or complicated and is unrelated. Hence option (b) is correct.

66

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. Burn the midnight oil

A.To waste time
B.To extinguish a flame
C.To work late into the night
D.To literally burn oil at midnight

Solution

Idiom 'Burn the midnight oil' goes back to the days of working or studying by lamplight long after dark. It therefore means to work or study late into the night. Option (d) gives the literal reading, which an idiom never takes, and (a) and (b) miss the idea of sustained hard work. Hence option (c) is correct.

67

Select the correct spelling of the underlined incorrectly spelt word in the given sentence. Kashiram was very symphathetic towards his housekeeper.

A.symphathetik
B.simpatetic
C.sympathetic
D.simpathetic

Solution

Spelling The underlined word is printed 'symphathetic', with an extra 'h' inserted after the 'p'. The word is built on 'sympathy' (Greek sym- 'with' + pathos 'feeling'), so it is spelt s-y-m-p-a-t-h-e-t-i-c. 'Symphathetik' keeps the extra h and ends in k, while 'simpatetic' and 'simpathetic' replace the 'y' with 'i'. Hence option (c) is correct.

68

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Accurate

A.Faulty
B.Errorless
C.Correct
D.Careful

Solution

Antonym 'Accurate' means exact and free from error. Its antonym must state the presence of error: 'Faulty' means containing mistakes or defects. 'Errorless' and 'Correct' are synonyms of accurate, and 'Careful' describes the manner of working rather than the correctness of the result. Hence option (a) is correct.

69

Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word

A.Embarrassment
B.Inadvertent
C.Maintenence
D.Necessary

Solution

Spelling The verb is 'maintain', but the noun formed from it loses the 'i' and is spelt m-a-i-n-t-e-n-a-n-c-e. The option prints 'Maintenence', with an 'e' where the second 'a' belongs, so this is the incorrectly spelt word. 'Embarrassment' (double r, double s), 'Inadvertent' and 'Necessary' (one c, double s) are all spelt correctly. Hence option (c) is correct.

70

Select the word that best completes the given sentence. Determine the collocation through the sentence. Ms. Suma aims to maintain

____

standards of customer care.

A.confident
B.high
C.loyal
D.expensive

Solution

Collocation A collocation question asks which word habitually keeps company with the given noun - here 'standards'. 'Maintain high standards' is the fixed English collocation for keeping quality at a superior level. 'Confident' and 'loyal' describe people, and 'expensive' describes price; none of them pairs naturally with 'standards of customer care'. Hence option (b) is correct.

71

Which word best replaces the underlined word in the sentence? The chef used a wonderful blend of spices to flavour the dish.

A.an exotic
B.an essential
C.a supernatural
D.a bland

Solution

Word substitution Every option carries its own article, so the phrase to be replaced is 'a wonderful', and the substitute must both praise the blend and take the right article. 'An exotic blend of spices' means an unusual, striking, foreign blend - the natural and more precise upgrade of 'wonderful' in a cooking context. 'An essential blend' merely means a necessary one, 'a supernatural blend' is absurd here, and 'a bland blend' means tasteless - the opposite of what a chef wants. Hence option (a) is correct.

72

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. After years of hard work, he finally

____

his dream of becoming a doctor.

A.accomplished
B.forfeit
C.Solved
D.tried

Solution

Contextual vocabulary 'After years of hard work … finally' signals that the dream was at last achieved. 'Accomplished' means achieved successfully, and it agrees in tense with 'instructed'-type simple past narration of the sentence. 'Forfeit' means to lose a right, 'Solved' goes with a problem and not a dream, and 'tried' would contradict 'finally'. Hence option (a) is correct.

73

Select the word from among the given options that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in the given sentence. For leisure, Arjun prefers to unwind by playing chess with friends.

A.Incarceration
B.Labour
C.Profit
D.Relaxation

Solution

Synonym 'Leisure' is free time spent away from work, used for rest and enjoyment. 'Relaxation' names the same idea of restful, unhurried time, and the rest of the sentence confirms it with 'unwind'. 'Incarceration' is imprisonment, 'Labour' is hard work and 'Profit' is financial gain - all far from the idea of free time. Hence option (d) is correct.

74

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word in the sentence given below. An important meeting ended up in farce because of the miscreants.

A.Mockery
B.Chaos
C.Tragedy
D.Charity

Solution

Antonym In drama a 'farce' is an absurd, laughable affair that nobody can take seriously. Its opposite on the same scale of drama is 'Tragedy' - a serious affair that ends in sorrow or disaster. 'Mockery' is a near synonym of farce, and 'Chaos' names the disorder that produced the farce rather than its opposite. 'Charity' belongs to an entirely different field of meaning. Hence option (c) is correct.

75

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Diligent

A.Persistent
B.Industrious
C.Hardworking
D.Inactive

Solution

Antonym 'Diligent' means hardworking and steady in effort. The antonym must express the absence of effort: 'Inactive' means idle, doing nothing. 'Persistent', 'Industrious' and 'Hardworking' all repeat the meaning of diligent instead of reversing it. Hence option (d) is correct.

76

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. We often encounter people who appear delightful on the surface but are secretly struggling with inner sadness because they don't have money. For many, (76)

____

is often viewed as the key to happiness or sorrow. However, this is a misconception. While (77)

____

can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes, a healthy lifestyle and various conveniences, it cannot purchase true happiness. If wealth were the source of happiness, the rich would undoubtedly be the happiest individuals on earth. However, what we observe is quite the opposite-many wealthy people are plagued by (78)

____

anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems. In conclusion, (79)

____

is unrelated to happiness and true joy often comes from non-material aspects of life, such as relationships and personal fulfillment. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that (80)

____

can be found within oneself rather than in external possessions.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (76).

A.knowledge
B.wealth
C.friendship
D.love

Solution

Cloze test The sentence just before blank (76) says people are sad 'because they don't have money', and the blank is then called 'the key to happiness or sorrow'. 'Wealth' is the abstract noun for that money, and the next paragraph repeats it: 'If wealth were the source of happiness…'. 'Knowledge', 'friendship' and 'love' are nowhere linked to sorrow in the passage. Hence option (b) is correct.

77

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. We often encounter people who appear delightful on the surface but are secretly struggling with inner sadness because they don't have money. For many, (76)

____

is often viewed as the key to happiness or sorrow. However, this is a misconception. While (77)

____

can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes, a healthy lifestyle and various conveniences, it cannot purchase true happiness. If wealth were the source of happiness, the rich would undoubtedly be the happiest individuals on earth. However, what we observe is quite the opposite-many wealthy people are plagued by (78)

____

anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems. In conclusion, (79)

____

is unrelated to happiness and true joy often comes from non-material aspects of life, such as relationships and personal fulfillment. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that (80)

____

can be found within oneself rather than in external possessions.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (77).

A.love
B.money
C.success
D.knowledge

Solution

Cloze test The blank is the subject of 'can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes … it cannot purchase true happiness'. Only 'money' buys material comforts, and the verb 'purchase' in the same sentence confirms the choice. 'Love', 'success' and 'knowledge' do not supply food and houses in the sense the passage intends. Hence option (b) is correct.

78

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. We often encounter people who appear delightful on the surface but are secretly struggling with inner sadness because they don't have money. For many, (76)

____

is often viewed as the key to happiness or sorrow. However, this is a misconception. While (77)

____

can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes, a healthy lifestyle and various conveniences, it cannot purchase true happiness. If wealth were the source of happiness, the rich would undoubtedly be the happiest individuals on earth. However, what we observe is quite the opposite-many wealthy people are plagued by (78)

____

anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems. In conclusion, (79)

____

is unrelated to happiness and true joy often comes from non-material aspects of life, such as relationships and personal fulfillment. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that (80)

____

can be found within oneself rather than in external possessions.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (78).

A.success
B.happiness
C.sadness
D.contentment

Solution

Cloze test The blank heads a list of afflictions - 'anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems'. So the word itself must be a negative state, and the opening sentence has already named it: the hidden 'inner sadness'. 'Success', 'happiness' and 'contentment' are positive and cannot be things people are 'plagued by'. Hence option (c) is correct.

79

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. We often encounter people who appear delightful on the surface but are secretly struggling with inner sadness because they don't have money. For many, (76)

____

is often viewed as the key to happiness or sorrow. However, this is a misconception. While (77)

____

can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes, a healthy lifestyle and various conveniences, it cannot purchase true happiness. If wealth were the source of happiness, the rich would undoubtedly be the happiest individuals on earth. However, what we observe is quite the opposite-many wealthy people are plagued by (78)

____

anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems. In conclusion, (79)

____

is unrelated to happiness and true joy often comes from non-material aspects of life, such as relationships and personal fulfillment. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that (80)

____

can be found within oneself rather than in external possessions.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (79).

A.excitement
B.satisfaction
C.wealth
D.joy

Solution

Cloze test The sentence beginning 'In conclusion' sums up the whole passage: the thing wrongly treated as the key to happiness is in fact unrelated to it. That thing is 'wealth' - the very word the passage used in 'If wealth were the source of happiness'. 'Excitement', 'satisfaction' and 'joy' are themselves forms of happiness, so calling them unrelated to happiness would contradict the passage. Hence option (c) is correct.

80

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. We often encounter people who appear delightful on the surface but are secretly struggling with inner sadness because they don't have money. For many, (76)

____

is often viewed as the key to happiness or sorrow. However, this is a misconception. While (77)

____

can provide material comforts such as food, luxurious homes, a healthy lifestyle and various conveniences, it cannot purchase true happiness. If wealth were the source of happiness, the rich would undoubtedly be the happiest individuals on earth. However, what we observe is quite the opposite-many wealthy people are plagued by (78)

____

anxiety, fear, stress and a variety of other problems. In conclusion, (79)

____

is unrelated to happiness and true joy often comes from non-material aspects of life, such as relationships and personal fulfillment. Therefore, it is essential to recognise that (80)

____

can be found within oneself rather than in external possessions.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number (80).

A.happiness
B.social status
C.financial help
D.success

Solution

Cloze test The last sentence contrasts what is found 'within oneself' with 'external possessions'. The passage has argued throughout that true joy is non-material, so the thing found within oneself is 'happiness'. 'Financial help', 'social status' and 'success' are precisely the external possessions the sentence rejects. Hence option (a) is correct.