SSC GD Constable 19 February 2025 · Shift 3 · English — questions with answers

61

Identify the INCORRECTLY spelt word in the given sentence. Her aesthetic sense and meticulos attention to detail conferred an unparalleled distinction to her work.

A.meticulos
B.aesthetic
C.unparalleled
D.conferred

Solution

Spelling of adjectives The sentence has to be scanned word by word for a mis-spelling. 'meticulos' is the faulty word: the adjective is spelt 'meticulous', with the ending -ous that English gives to such adjectives (famous, ridiculous, ambitious) - never -os. The other three are correct: 'aesthetic' (ae- at the start), 'unparalleled' (one 'r', then double 'l') and 'conferred' (the final 'r' of 'confer' doubles before -ed). Hence the incorrectly spelt word is 'meticulos'.

62

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Hasten

A.Hold
B.Serious
C.Urge
D.Encourage

Solution

Antonym of a verb 'Hasten' means to hurry, to make something happen sooner than it otherwise would. Its antonym must therefore carry the idea of slowing down or holding back - and 'Hold' means to check or restrain the movement of something. 'Urge' and 'Encourage' both push a person into quicker action, so they lie on the same side as 'hasten', not opposite to it. 'Serious' describes a manner or mood and says nothing about speed, so it cannot be an opposite either. Hence 'Hold' is the correct antonym.

63

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the highlighted word segment in the given sentence. If the sentence is grammatically correct, select 'No correction'. Neha is writing a letter when I called her.

A.writes
B.was writing
C.No correction
D.is being written

Solution

Past continuous tense The time clause 'when I called her' is in the simple past, so the whole sentence is fixed in past time. An action that was already going on at that past moment takes the past continuous: was/were + verb-ing. 'Neha' is a singular subject, so the helping verb is 'was' - 'Neha was writing a letter when I called her.' 'writes' is simple present and 'is writing' present continuous, both of which clash with the past 'called', so 'No correction' cannot stand; 'is being written' is a passive form and also stays in the present. Hence 'was writing' is the correct substitute.

64

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined words in the given sentence. She said she would join us later, but I don't knew if she will make it on time.

A.but I didn't known
B.but I won't be knowing
C.but I doesn't know
D.but I don't know

Solution

Auxiliary 'do' + bare verb The speaker is describing her present state of knowledge about a future event, so a present-tense verb is needed: 'I don't know'. After the auxiliary 'do / does / did' the main verb always stays in its bare first form, so 'knew' (the past form) after 'don't' is ungrammatical. The subject 'I' takes 'do', never 'does', which rules out 'but I doesn't know'. 'but I didn't known' puts the third form after 'did' and shifts to the past, and 'but I won't be knowing' moves the clause into the future, contradicting 'She said'. Hence: 'She said she would join us later, but I don't know if she will make it on time.'

65

Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. "Camila helps her mother in cooking dinner, isn't she?" asked Veronica.

A.don't she
B.wasn't she
C.doesn't she
D.hasn't she

Solution

Question tag A question tag repeats the auxiliary of the statement and reverses its polarity: positive statement, negative tag. The statement 'Camila helps her mother in cooking dinner' is positive, in the simple present, with the singular subject 'Camila'. The simple present has no auxiliary of its own, so the tag supplies 'does' - and with a singular subject the negative tag is 'doesn't she?' 'isn't she' and 'wasn't she' borrow a be-verb the statement never used, and 'wasn't she' also shifts to the past; 'hasn't she' would suit a present-perfect statement such as 'Camila has helped...'. Hence 'doesn't she' is the correct tag.

66

Select the word that best completes the given sentence. Determine the collocation through the sentence. Vichu spent

____

time with his wife in Goa for about three days.

A.wise
B.costly
C.quality
D.brave

Solution

Collocation with 'time' The blank must hold a word that habitually goes with the noun 'time'. 'Quality time' is the fixed collocation for time spent with someone while giving them your full attention - exactly what three days in Goa with his wife means. 'wise time', 'costly time' and 'brave time' are not English collocations at all; 'wise' and 'brave' describe people, not stretches of time. Hence 'quality' is the correct word.

67

Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error. The constitutional lawyer argued persuasively and with surgical precision, dismantling the opposition's case piece by logic piece.

A.dismantling the opposition's case
B.The constitutional lawyer argued persuasively
C.piece by logic piece
D.and with surgical precision,

Solution

Idiomatic phrase 'piece by piece' The sentence is sound in sense; the fault has to be a form error inside one of the four parts. The fixed phrase here is 'piece by piece', meaning in gradual stages. When a modifier is slipped into it, that modifier describes the noun 'piece' and must therefore be an adjective. 'logic' is a noun, so 'piece by logic piece' is wrong; the adjective gives the correct 'piece by logical piece'. The other parts stand up: 'argued persuasively' has an adverb correctly modifying the verb, 'and with surgical precision,' is a parallel prepositional phrase, and 'dismantling the opposition's case' is a properly attached participial phrase. Hence the part containing the error is 'piece by logic piece'.

68

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Grandeur

A.Dominance
B.Integrity
C.Reality
D.Magnificence

Solution

Synonym of a noun 'Grandeur' means impressive greatness - splendour of appearance, scale or style. 'Magnificence' carries exactly that sense of imposing beauty and splendour, so it is the synonym. 'Dominance' is power or control over others, 'Integrity' is moral uprightness and 'Reality' is the state of actually existing - none of these touches splendour. Hence 'Magnificence' is the correct synonym.

69

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. The organization

____

a major campaign to promote sustainable living last year.

A.launch
B.launching
C.launches
D.launched

Solution

Simple past tense The time marker 'last year' points to a finished action in past time, which the simple past expresses. The simple past uses the second form of the verb, so 'launch' becomes 'launched'. 'launch' and 'launches' are present forms and 'launching' is a bare participle that would need a helping verb such as 'was' before it. Hence: 'The organization launched a major campaign to promote sustainable living last year.'

70

Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an adverb-usage error. Teacher Grace remarked, 'Quickly does he watch television.'

A.remarked,
B.watch television'.
C.Teacher Grace
D.'Quickly does he

Solution

Inversion after a fronted adverb Inside the quotation the adverb has been placed first and the subject and auxiliary have swapped places: 'does he watch' instead of 'he watches'. English allows this inversion only after a negative or restrictive adverb - hardly, scarcely, rarely, seldom, never, little, nowhere. 'Quickly' is an ordinary adverb of manner, so it cannot trigger inversion; the faulty part is ''Quickly does he'. Replacing it with a restrictive adverb repairs the sentence: 'Hardly does he watch television.' The other parts carry no adverb error - 'Teacher Grace' is the subject, 'remarked,' the reporting verb, and 'watch television'.' the bare verb correctly following 'does'. Hence the option containing the error is ''Quickly does he'.

71

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. To burn the midnight oil

A.To sleep early
B.To work late into the night
C.To be energetic during the day
D.To waste time

Solution

Idiom meaning The idiom goes back to the days when work after dark had to be done by the light of an oil lamp. 'To burn the midnight oil' therefore means to work or study late into the night. For example: She burned the midnight oil to finish her research paper before the deadline. 'To sleep early', 'To be energetic during the day' and 'To waste time' all miss the idea of late-night effort.

72

Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.

A.prolific
B.prodigal
C.prolifarate
D.prolong

Solution

Spelling of verbs 'prolifarate' is the mis-spelt word; the verb is spelt 'proliferate'. It is built on the stem 'prolifer-' (seen also in 'proliferation'), so the third syllable carries an 'e', not an 'a'. 'prolific', 'prodigal' and 'prolong' are all spelt correctly. Hence the incorrectly spelt word is 'prolifarate'.

73

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given word. Perplexed

A.Happy and relieved
B.Calm and relaxed
C.Confused or puzzled
D.Confident and sure

Solution

Meaning of an adjective 'Perplexed' describes someone who cannot make sense of a situation - completely puzzled by it. So its meaning is 'Confused or puzzled'. 'Happy and relieved', 'Calm and relaxed' and 'Confident and sure' all describe a settled state of mind, which is the opposite of being perplexed. Hence 'Confused or puzzled' is correct.

74

Select the most appropriate synonym of the word 'engrossing' to fill in the blank. The historical novel was quite

____

transporting readers to a bygone era.

A.involving
B.malodorous
C.rancid
D.musty

Solution

Synonym in context 'Engrossing' means absorbing - holding a person's whole attention. 'Involving' carries the same sense: a book that draws the reader right in. 'The historical novel was quite involving, transporting readers to a bygone era' reads naturally. 'malodorous', 'rancid' and 'musty' all describe unpleasant smells - stale, sour or damp - and have nothing to do with holding interest. Hence 'involving' is the correct synonym.

75

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given word. Frugal

A.Dishonest and deceitful
B.Extravagant and lavish
C.Impulsive and reckless
D.Careful with spending

Solution

Meaning of an adjective 'Frugal' describes a person who is sparing with money and resources and spends only what is really needed. So its meaning is 'Careful with spending'. 'Extravagant and lavish' names the very opposite habit - free, showy spending - so it cannot be the meaning. 'Dishonest and deceitful' and 'Impulsive and reckless' are character faults that say nothing about thrift. Hence 'Careful with spending' is correct.

76

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) mentioned in its report how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential (76)

____

its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the 1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, (77)

____

that no child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation as constituting a national crisis, even at the height of a prosperous phase of economic growth when a decade ago

39 %

of children under the age of five remained underweight. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition has left 34% of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the (78)

____

sections of India's children have low weight even at birth due to the general (79)

____

of women's nutrition and well-being. It is imperative that the coming data lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes (80)

____

to nutrition and health a right for all.

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

A.from
B.by
C.among
D.to

Solution

Preposition in a cloze The blank has to link the 'dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential' to the people who suffer it. 'Among' is the preposition used with a plural noun to place something inside a larger group, and 'its citizens' is plural - the deprivation exists among them. 'from' and 'to' would give a direction of movement, which the sentence is not describing. 'by' would make the citizens the agents who caused the deprivation, reversing the sense of the passage. Hence 'among' is the correct option.

77

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) mentioned in its report how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential (76)

____

its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the 1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, (77)

____

that no child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation as constituting a national crisis, even at the height of a prosperous phase of economic growth when a decade ago

39 %

of children under the age of five remained underweight. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition has left 34% of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the (78)

____

sections of India's children have low weight even at birth due to the general (79)

____

of women's nutrition and well-being. It is imperative that the coming data lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes (80)

____

to nutrition and health a right for all.

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

A.avoiding
B.searching
C.ensuring
D.suggesting

Solution

Participle in a cloze The blank follows a comma and is itself followed by a 'that' clause, so it needs a participle stating the result the 'giant leap' would have produced. 'Ensuring' means making certain that something happens; 'ensuring that no child or woman was left behind' is exactly what enlightened nutrition policy would have achieved. 'avoiding' and 'searching' do not take a 'that' clause in this way, and their meanings - keeping away from, looking for - do not fit a policy outcome. 'suggesting that no child was left behind' would merely report a claim instead of guaranteeing the outcome, which contradicts the writer's point that the outcome was never secured. Hence 'ensuring' is the correct option.

78

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) mentioned in its report how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential (76)

____

its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the 1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, (77)

____

that no child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation as constituting a national crisis, even at the height of a prosperous phase of economic growth when a decade ago

39 %

of children under the age of five remained underweight. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition has left 34% of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the (78)

____

sections of India's children have low weight even at birth due to the general (79)

____

of women's nutrition and well-being. It is imperative that the coming data lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes (80)

____

to nutrition and health a right for all.

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

A.gifted
B.conjured
C.deprived
D.benefitted

Solution

Adjective in a cloze The clause explains why some Indian children have low weight even at birth, so the blank must name the worst-off sections of children. 'Deprived' means lacking the basic necessities - food, care, income - and echoes the passage's own phrase 'nutritional deprivation'. 'gifted' and 'benefitted' describe the advantaged, which cannot explain low birth weight. 'conjured' means produced as if by magic and cannot describe a section of people at all. Hence 'deprived' is the correct option.

79

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) mentioned in its report how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential (76)

____

its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the 1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, (77)

____

that no child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation as constituting a national crisis, even at the height of a prosperous phase of economic growth when a decade ago

39 %

of children under the age of five remained underweight. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition has left 34% of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the (78)

____

sections of India's children have low weight even at birth due to the general (79)

____

of women's nutrition and well-being. It is imperative that the coming data lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes (80)

____

to nutrition and health a right for all.

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

A.accept
B.approve
C.manage
D.neglect

Solution

Noun in a cloze The blank names the cause of low birth weight: 'due to the general ___ of women's nutrition and well-being'. 'Neglect' - a failure to give something the care it needs - is the only option that names a failure, and it matches the passage's charge that the state never took responsibility. 'accept', 'approve' and 'manage' all describe positive or deliberate handling, which would improve women's nutrition, not damage it. Hence 'neglect' is the correct option.

80

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) mentioned in its report how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health and lost potential (76)

____

its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the 1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, (77)

____

that no child or woman was left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation as constituting a national crisis, even at the height of a prosperous phase of economic growth when a decade ago

39 %

of children under the age of five remained underweight. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition has left 34% of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the (78)

____

sections of India's children have low weight even at birth due to the general (79)

____

of women's nutrition and well-being. It is imperative that the coming data lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes (80)

____

to nutrition and health a right for all.

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

A.access
B.primary
C.terminate
D.required

Solution

Noun after 'makes ... a right' The frame is 'makes ___ to nutrition and health a right for all', so the blank must be a noun that acts as the object of 'makes' and takes the preposition 'to'. 'Access to something' means the right or opportunity to use it - 'makes access to nutrition and health a right for all' is exactly the policy demand the passage builds up to. 'primary' and 'required' are adjectives and 'terminate' is a verb, so none of them can be the object of 'makes'. Nor does any of the three combine with 'to' in this way, and 'terminate' would even reverse the sense. Hence 'access' is the correct option.