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SSC GD Constable 21 February 2025 · Shift 1 · English — questions with answers · ShikshaSphere

Chapter 184 of 210

21 February 2025 · Shift 1

English

20 questions ~20 min readFree

20 questions

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. Fungi are tiny organisms found everywhere-in nature, in our homes and even in and on

____

bodies.

A.your
B.their
C.my
D.our

Solution

Possessive adjectives The blank needs a possessive adjective to go before the noun 'bodies'. The sentence is already speaking about the writer and the reader together - 'in our homes' - so the same first-person plural possessive must continue: 'in and on our bodies'. 'your', 'their' and 'my' each switch the person in the middle of the sentence and break that consistency. Hence option (d) is correct.

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. I always make sure to like and comment by my friends' posts.

A.in my friends' posts
B.on my friends' posts
C.of my friends' posts
D.around my friends' posts

Solution

Preposition with 'comment' The underlined part comes straight after the verb 'comment', which takes the fixed preposition 'on'. 'To comment on something' means to give an opinion about it, so the sentence must read 'like and comment on my friends' posts'. 'Comment by' would name the person who made the comment, not the thing commented upon; 'comment in', 'comment of' and 'comment around' are not collocations of this verb at all. Hence option (b) is correct.

Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. Personal growth involves self-reflection and resilience, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself.

A.compoundable knowledge
B.thorough analysis
C.expanded aware
D.in-depth grasp

Solution

Phrase substitution The underlined words must be replaced by a phrase that keeps the idea of deep self-knowledge and still fits after the article 'a'. 'A thorough analysis of oneself' says exactly that - a close, detailed examination of one's own self - and it is what self-reflection leads to. 'In-depth grasp' is tempting in meaning, but 'a in-depth grasp' is ungrammatical (it would need 'an'); 'expanded aware' puts an adjective where a noun is required, and 'compoundable knowledge' is not an English collocation. Hence option (b) is correct.

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Sagacious

A.Discerning
B.Sensible
C.Obtuse
D.Sage

Solution

Antonyms 'Sagacious' means wise - showing keen judgement and sound practical insight. Its opposite is 'obtuse', used for a person who is slow or dull in understanding. 'Discerning', 'sensible' and 'sage' all describe good judgement, so they are synonyms of sagacious and cannot be its antonym. Hence option (c) is correct.

Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word.

A.Dedication
B.Apreciation
C.Committee
D.Expressed

Solution

Spelling 'Apreciation' is the misspelt word; the correct spelling is 'appreciation'. It is built on the verb 'appreciate', which keeps the double 'p' of the prefix 'ap-' (ad- + preciate), so the noun must also carry 'pp'. 'Dedication', 'Committee' and 'Expressed' are all spelt correctly. Hence option (b) is correct.

Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word. Exquisite

A.Rough
B.Beautiful
C.Ordinary
D.Crude

Solution

Synonyms 'Exquisite' means extremely beautiful, delicate and finely made. 'Beautiful' carries that same sense of pleasing perfection, so it is the closest synonym. 'Rough' and 'crude' mean unfinished or unrefined and 'ordinary' means plain and unremarkable - all three are opposite in sense. Hence option (b) is correct.

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Prudent

A.Probable
B.Sensible
C.Careful
D.Unwise

Solution

Antonyms 'Prudent' means acting with care and foresight, thinking of the consequences before acting. 'Unwise' - showing poor judgement, acting without thought - reverses that meaning exactly. 'Sensible' and 'careful' are synonyms of prudent, and 'probable' speaks of likelihood, which is a different idea altogether. Hence option (d) is correct.

Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. Never judge a book by its cover

A.Appearances can be deceiving.
B.You should always judge people based on their possessions.
C.Beautiful things are always valuable.
D.First impressions are always accurate.

Solution

Idioms and phrases The idiom 'never judge a book by its cover' warns against forming an opinion from outward appearance alone. What a person or a thing looks like on the outside often hides what it really is, so appearances can be deceiving. Options (b), (c) and (d) all say the opposite - that possessions, beauty or first impressions can safely be trusted - which is exactly what the idiom cautions against. Hence option (a) is correct.

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word in the given sentence. I found my neighbour frequently upbraiding his 5-year-old son for being playful all the time.

A.beating
B.criticising
C.extolling
D.blaming

Solution

Antonyms in context 'Upbraiding' means scolding or reproaching someone severely for what they have done. Its opposite is 'extolling', which means praising someone highly and with admiration. 'Beating', 'criticising' and 'blaming' all keep the fault-finding sense of the original word, so none of them reverses it. Hence option (c) is correct.

The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains an error. A) The beauty pageant has/B) been postponed farther due to/C) limited representation coming/D) from other states.

Solution

Farther vs further Segment B reads 'been postponed farther due to', and the error lies in 'farther'. 'Farther' is used only for physical distance, while 'further' is used for time, degree or extent. An event is postponed to a later time, not to a greater distance, so the segment must read 'been postponed further due to'. Segments A, C and D are grammatically sound, so the faulty segment is B. Hence option (c) is correct.

The following sentence has been divided into parts. One of them may contain an error. Select the part that contains the error from the given options. If you don't find any error, mark 'No error' as your answer. I am happy/ to know that/ her brother speaks German good.

A.her brother speaks German good.
B.I am happy
C.No error.
D.to know that

Solution

Adjective vs adverb The faulty part is 'her brother speaks German good.' 'Speaks' is a verb, and a verb is modified by an adverb, never by an adjective. 'Good' is an adjective; its adverb form is 'well', so the part must read 'her brother speaks German well'. 'I am happy' and 'to know that' are both correct, so 'No error' cannot be chosen. Hence option (a) is correct.

Select the INCORRECTLY spelt word

A.Harmony
B.Leisure
C.Precise
D.Conveinient

Solution

Spelling 'Conveinient' is the misspelt word; the correct spelling is 'convenient'. The word is syllabified con-ve-ni-ent, so the 'e' comes before the 'n' of the second syllable - the given spelling reverses that pair. 'Harmony', 'Leisure' and 'Precise' are all spelt correctly. Hence option (d) is correct.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. Most of the students in the first year were unable to score good marks due to their

____

nature.

A.deliberate
B.enthusiastic
C.concerned
D.nonchalant

Solution

Vocabulary in context The blank must name the attitude that kept the students from scoring good marks. 'Nonchalant' means casually unconcerned - showing no interest or worry about something - which is exactly the attitude that produces poor results. 'Enthusiastic' and 'concerned' describe students who would have scored better, and 'deliberate' means intentional or unhurried, which does not explain low marks. Hence option (d) is correct.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. They

____

a problem with the internet connection, but it's fixed now.

A.have
B.had
C.do
D.make

Solution

Simple past tense The clause 'but it's fixed now' shows that the trouble belongs to a time before the present. So the verb in the blank must be in the simple past: 'They had a problem with the internet connection'. 'Have' and 'do' are present forms and clash with the contrast drawn with 'now', and 'make' is not used with 'a problem' in this sense - one has a problem, one does not make it. Hence option (b) is correct.

Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Brazen

A.Distinct
B.Timid
C.Anxious
D.Concerned

Solution

Antonyms 'Brazen' describes someone bold and shameless, who acts openly without any embarrassment. 'Timid' - shy, easily frightened, lacking courage and confidence - is its exact opposite. 'Anxious' and 'concerned' both mean worried, which is about uneasiness rather than the absence of boldness, and 'distinct' means clearly different, an unrelated idea. Hence option (b) is correct.

Directions (Qs. 76-80): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. The widespread use of plastic has become a significant environmental concern due to its impact on ecosystems and human health. Plastic products, (76)

____

are often designed for single use, contribute to massive amounts of waste that persist in landfills and oceans (77)

____

hundreds of years. This persistent waste not only clogs waterways and harms marine life but also breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to (78)

____

wildlife and humans. The (79)

____

of plastic is overshadowed by its long-term environmental costs, making it imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce plastic consumption. Addressing plastic usage requires (80)

____

collective effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices, support recycling initiatives and invest in innovative materials that minimize environmental impact.

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

A.whose
B.which
C.where
D.when

Solution

Relative pronoun Blank (76) opens a clause that adds information about 'Plastic products', a non-living plural noun. 'Which' is the relative pronoun used for things, and the pair of commas marks it as a non-defining clause: 'Plastic products, which are often designed for single use, contribute to ...'. 'Whose' would show possession and needs a noun after it, while 'where' and 'when' introduce place and time, neither of which the clause is about. Hence option (b) is correct.

____

are often designed for single use, contribute to massive amounts of waste that persist in landfills and oceans (77)

____

hundreds of years. This persistent waste not only clogs waterways and harms marine life but also breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to (78)

____

wildlife and humans. The (79)

____

of plastic is overshadowed by its long-term environmental costs, making it imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce plastic consumption. Addressing plastic usage requires (80)

____

collective effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices, support recycling initiatives and invest in innovative materials that minimize environmental impact.

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

A.across
B.since
C.among
D.for

Solution

Preposition of time The blank is followed by 'hundreds of years', which states a length of time, not a starting point. 'For' is the preposition used before a duration, giving 'waste that persists in landfills and oceans for hundreds of years'. 'Since' needs a point at which the action began (since 2010), while 'across' and 'among' are prepositions of place and cannot measure duration. Hence option (d) is correct.

____

are often designed for single use, contribute to massive amounts of waste that persist in landfills and oceans (77)

____

hundreds of years. This persistent waste not only clogs waterways and harms marine life but also breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to (78)

____

wildlife and humans. The (79)

____

of plastic is overshadowed by its long-term environmental costs, making it imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce plastic consumption. Addressing plastic usage requires (80)

____

collective effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices, support recycling initiatives and invest in innovative materials that minimize environmental impact.

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

A.because
B.yet
C.both
D.but

Solution

Correlative conjunction The blank stands before two nouns joined by 'and' - 'wildlife and humans'. 'Both ... and ...' is the fixed correlative pair used to cover two items together, so the sentence reads 'posing risks to both wildlife and humans'. 'Because' introduces a reason and 'yet' and 'but' show contrast; all three join ideas rather than pairing two nouns, and none of them can stand before the first of the two. Hence option (c) is correct.

____

are often designed for single use, contribute to massive amounts of waste that persist in landfills and oceans (77)

____

hundreds of years. This persistent waste not only clogs waterways and harms marine life but also breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to (78)

____

wildlife and humans. The (79)

____

of plastic is overshadowed by its long-term environmental costs, making it imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce plastic consumption. Addressing plastic usage requires (80)

____

collective effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices, support recycling initiatives and invest in innovative materials that minimize environmental impact.

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

A.conveniency
B.conveniences
C.conveniently
D.convenience

Solution

Noun form of a word The phrase runs 'The (79) of plastic is overshadowed', and the article 'the' before the blank shows that a noun is needed there. 'Convenience' is that noun - the quality of being easy and useful - and being singular it agrees with the singular verb 'is overshadowed'. 'Conveniently' is an adverb and cannot follow 'the'; 'conveniences' is plural and would force 'are overshadowed'; 'conveniency' is an obsolete form no longer used in modern English. Hence option (d) is correct.

____

are often designed for single use, contribute to massive amounts of waste that persist in landfills and oceans (77)

____

hundreds of years. This persistent waste not only clogs waterways and harms marine life but also breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to (78)

____

wildlife and humans. The (79)

____

of plastic is overshadowed by its long-term environmental costs, making it imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce plastic consumption. Addressing plastic usage requires (80)

____

collective effort to adopt more eco-friendly practices, support recycling initiatives and invest in innovative materials that minimize environmental impact.

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

A.the
B.an
C.a
D.No article required

Solution

Articles 'Collective effort' is a singular countable noun phrase mentioned here for the first time, so it needs the indefinite article. 'Collective' begins with the consonant sound /k/, so the form of the article is 'a', not 'an': 'requires a collective effort'. 'The' would point to some particular effort already known to the reader, which the passage has not mentioned, and leaving the article out makes the singular countable noun ungrammatical. Hence option (c) is correct.

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