SSC CGL English Questions

Synonyms and Antonyms

Direction: In the following question (1-2), find the synonym of the given word?

1. Hound

Migrate
Beagle
Critic
Variable

2. Barrier

Comfort
Justify
Prescribe
Embargo

3. Find out the word opposite in meaning of the given word?

Blindness

Confront
Contour
Vista
Outlook

Cloze Test

Direction (Question 4- 8): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

Job performance is ______ by a number of factors. Motivation alone does not lead to increased performance. Ability and technology moderates the relationship between motivation and performance. The higher the levels of ability and motivation the ______ the level of performance will be. However, increasing motivation beyond an ______ level tends to ______ a dysfunctional result because it is ______ by an increased level of anxiety.

4. Job performance is ______ by a number of factors. Motivation alone.

Affected
Effected
Influenced
Measured

5. The higher the levels of ability and motivation the ______ the level of performance will be.

Higher
Smaller
Larger
Lower

6. However, increasing motivation beyond an ______ level.

Increased
Certain
Desired
Optimal

7. tends to ______ a dysfunctional result.

Introduce
Induce
Deduce
Produce

8. Because it is ______ by an increased level of anxiety.

Accompanied
Affiliated
Amalgamated
Abandoned

Direction (Question 9- 13): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

The _____ of energy in India are met from both commercial and non-commercial sources. The most _____ sources of energy today are coal and natural gas, hydro-electricity and nuclear power. On the other hand, firewood, cow-dung cakes and vegetable waste, etc. _____ non-commercial forms of energy. While non-commercial forms of energy _____ demand, coal is the _____ source of commercial energy in India.

9. The _____ of energy in India are met from both commercial.

Availability
Sources
Lessen
Requirements

10. The most _____ sources of energy today are coal and natural gas.

Important
Extensive
Vital
Insignificant

11. On the other hand, firewood, cow-dung cakes and vegetable waste etc. _____ non-commercial forms of energy.

Combines
Mixes
Collaborates
Constitutes

12. non-commercial forms of energy _____ demand,

Rests
Meet
Need
Shed

13. coal is the _____ source of commercial energy in India.

Hardest
Smallest
Heaviest
Largest

Direction (Question 14- 16): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

Literature is a medium through which a person conveys his ideas towards or protest against different norms of society. The words that deal with a _____ issue are of particular importance in literature. They are _____ with a particular purpose in _____.

14. The words that deal with a _____ issue

Moral
Insensitive
Economical
Broad

15. They are _____ with a particular purpose

Written
Represented
Brought
Founded

16. a particular purpose in _____.

All
Hand
Mind
Total

Spelling Test

Direction (Question 17-19): Four words are given, out of which only one word is spelt correctly. Choose the correctly spelt word.

17.

Ajournment
Ajornment
Adjournment
Adjourmant

18.

Conniosseur
Connoisseur
Connossieur
Connosseiur

19.

Inkulcate
Debilitate
Impecable
Harrass

Idioms and Phrases

Direction (Question 20-24): In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase.

2o. A wild goose chase

Timely search
Wrong decision
Useless search
Fruitful search

21. A moot point

Unclear
Unknown
Agreeable
Disputed

22. Cat-nap

Fitful sleep
Long sleep
Short sleep
Rest

23. To pull a long face

Looked sad
Looked calm
Looked surprised
Looked happily

24. Fit her like a glove.

Too large
Too shabby
Too tight
Perfectly

One-Word Substitution

Direction (Question 25-31): In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence.

25. One who is not easily pleased by anything

gullible
fastidious
innocent
amenable

26. A person unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others.

egoist
unselfish
altruist
welfarist

27. Violation of that which is holy and sacred

malevolent
sacrilege
bizarre
iniquitous

28. Misappropriation of money

Abridgement
Condiment
Embezzlement
Bereavement

29. One who has the art of speaking in such a way that the sound seems to come from another person/place.

Absolutist
Biblicist
Ventriloquist
Clavierist

30. One who damages public property

Cynosure
Demagogue
Epicure
Vandal

31. To free somebody from all blame

Highbrow
Exonerate
Escapism
Henpeck

Sentence Correction / Error Spotting

Direction (Question 32- 41): In the following questions, one part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part of the sentence has an error.

32. Some of the richest (A) / business magnate (B) / live in Mumbai. (C) / No Error (D)

33. This is an urgent (A) / matter which may admit (B) / of few delays. (C) / No error (D)

34. Outside, the rain beats down (A) / in floods and the sea gives forth (B) / a sound like an alarm bells. (C) / No error (D)

35. I used (A)/ a pair of black trousers (B) / for a week (C)/ No error (D)

36. He has made a mistake (A)/ of which (B) / I am certain (C) / No error (D)

37. He was not allowed (A) / for the teacher (B) / to read in a low voice (C) / no error (D)

38. Each of the girls (A) / have come (B) / with her books. (C) / No Error (D)

39. How Internet can be useful in SSC preparation?

Me and my wife (A) / were at home (B) / last night. (C) / No Error (D)

40. Essay writing is an art (A) / that requires many planning (B) / on the part of the writer. (C) / No Error (D)

41. If you permit me to speak the truth (A) / I shall state without hesitation (B) / that you have done a mistake (C) / No Error (D)

Sentence Improvement

Direction (Question 42- 52): A sentence/a part of the sentence is underlined. Four alternatives are given to the underlined part which will improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative.

42. He began on a new business venture.

Begun
Opened
Embarked
No improvement

43. I have to say them the truth.

State
Tell
Speak
No improvement

44. The SSB will interview the candidate between 11 a.m. and 3.00 p.m.

11.00 am to 3 pm
11.00 from 3 pm
11.am by 3.00 pm
No improvement

45. As soon as I arrived in home, I knew that something was wrong.

Arrived by home
Arrived home
Arrived my home
No improvement

46. His powerful desire brought about his downfall.

His wishful desire
His eager desire
His desire for power
No improvement

47. Ramesh laid in the shade of a tree before he could walk further.

Lain
Lay
Lied
No improvement

48. An education in handling money would imply the ability to oversee the consequences of over-spending or over-borrowing.

Foresee
Overvalue
Overlook
No improvement

49. He started at the bottom rung of the ladder and then gained success.

Lower rung of the ladder
Lower rung of the stair
Bottom rung of the stair
No improvement

50. The judge gave the verdict against the Government.

Declared
Pronounced
Sentenced
No improvement

51. The fire service personnel put off the fire with much difficulty.

Put away
Put on
Put out
No improvement

52. He has the irritating habit of playing his own trumpet all the time.

blowing his own trumpet
pumping his own trumpet
bringing up his own trumpet
No improvement

Fill in the Blanks

Direction (Question 53-54) In the following questions, the sentence given with blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option

53. My sister’s marriage passed _____ peacefully.

away
by
off
out

54. Health is too important to be ___________.

discarded
disposed
neglected
detested

Active and Passive Voice

Direction (Question 55- 64): In the following questions, a sentence has been given in Active voice. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Passive voice.

55. You have to finish painting this fence by Friday.

This fence has to be finished painting by you by Friday.
This fence is to be finishing painted by you by Friday.
Painting of this fence has to be painted by you by Friday.
By Friday you will have finished painting the fence.

56. The dealer will service the scooter for free the first three times.

The scooter will be serviced for free by the dealer for the first three times.
The scooter was serviced for free by the dealer for the first three times.
For the first three times, the dealer will service the scooter for free.
Servicing of the scooter for free will be done by the dealer for the first three times.

57. The General presented us a detailed battle plan.

A detailed battle plan will be presented to us by the General.
The General presents us a detailed battle plan.
A detailed battle plan was presented to us by the General.
Presenting of a detailed battle plan was being done by the General to us.

58. The doctor has given me a very painful injection

A very painful injection has been given to me by the doctor.
The doctor gives myself a very painful injection.
A very painful injection is being given to me by the doctor.
Giving of a painful injection to me has been done by the doctor.

59. The speeding car knocked down the pedestrian.

The car which was speeding has knocked down the pedestrian.
The pedestrian was knocked down by the speeding car.
The pedestrian was being knocked down by the car which was speeding.
Knocking down of the pedestrian has been done by the speeding car.

60. to pass, the candidate has to answer at least 3 questions correctly.

If the candidate answers three questions correctly then he will pass.
At least three questions will be answered correctly by the candidate to pass.
At least three questions have to be answered correctly by the candidate to pass.
Answering of three questions correctly by the candidate has to be done to pass.

61. This is the second time I have caught you cheating.

You have been caught cheating by me for the second time.
You were cheating for a second time and I have caught you.
This is the second time you have cheated and were caught by myself.
Catching you cheating for the second time has been done by me.

62. Have you created this beautiful artwork?

Had you been creating this beautiful artwork?
Had you created this beautiful artwork?
Has this beautiful artwork been created by you?
Has creating this beautiful artwork been done by you?

63. I play football with my friends at that ground.

I have played football with friends of mine at that ground.
By that ground I have played football with my friends.
Football is played by me with my friends at that ground.
Playing of football has been done by me and my friends.

64. He never forgets to get gifts for me.

Forgetting of gifts for me has never been done by him.
He will never ever forget to get gifts for me.
Forget to get gifts for me is never done by him.
Getting gifts for me is never forgotten by him.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Direction (Question 65- 76): In the following question, a sentence has been given in Direct speech. Out of the four alternatives suggested, select the one which best expresses the same sentence in Indirect speech.

65. Rakesh says, “Can you prepare a cup of tea for me, Sunita?”

Rakesh tells Sunita to prepare a cup of tea for him.
Rakesh tells Sunita if she could prepare a cup of tea for him.
Rakesh asked Sunita if she can prepare a cup of tea for him.
Rakesh asks Sunita if she can prepare a cup of tea for him.

66. The Prime Minister said at a meeting, “There is no need of a working President for the party now.”

The Prime Minister told a meeting that there was no need of a working President for the party now.
The Prime Minister said at a meeting that there was no need of a working president for the party then.
The Prime Minister told a meeting that there was no need of a working President then.
The Prime Minister addressed a meeting that there was no need of a working President for the party then.

67. Anil said, “Ali deserved the prize.”

Anil says that Ali deserves the prize.
Anil said that Ali deserves the pirze.
Anil said that Ali has deserved the prize.
Anil said that Ali had deserved the prize.

68. They said, “We play cricket every Sunday here at the club.”

They said that they played cricket every Sunday here at the club.
They said that they played cricket every Sunday there at the club.
They said that they play cricket every Sunday there at the club.
They said that they play cricket every Sunday here at the club.

69. She said, “I love my grandparents thus I take good care of them.”

She says that she loved her grandparents thus she took good care of them.
She said that she loves her grandparents so she took good care of them.
She said that she loves her grandparents thus she took good care of them.
She said that she loved her grandparents so she took good care of them.

70. Juhi said to her friend, “I can choose to live the way I want to.”

Juhi told her friend that she can choose to live the way she want to.
Juhi told her friend that she could be choosing to live the way she wants to.
Juhi told her friend that she chooses to live the way she wanted to.
Juhi told her friend that she could choose to live the way she wanted to.

71. The pilgrim said to me, “When you go down the street you will see the temple to your right.”

The pilgrim tells me that when I go down the street I will see the temple to my right.
The pilgrim told me that when I went down the street I would see the temple to my right.
The pilgrim told me that then I go down the street I would see the temple to my right.
The pilgrim tells me that when I would be going down the street I will be seeing the temple to my right.

72. The boss said to the secretary, “Bring the file that I had given to you yesterday.”

The boss told the secretary to bring the file that I had given to her the day before.
The boss told his secretary to bring the file that he gave her yesterday.
The boss told the secretary to bring the file that he had given to her the day before.
The boss had told the secretary to bring the file that he had given to her yesterday.

73. “I always drink warm water in the morning,” she said to me.

She said to me that she always drinks warm water in the morning.
She said to me she always drank warm water in the morning.
She said to me she always drinks warm water in the morning.
She said to me that she always drank warm water in the morning.

74. She said to me, “I always drink a cup of green tea as soon as I get up.”

She told me that she always drank a cup of green tea as soon as she got up.
She told me that she always drunk a cup of green tea as soon as she got up.
She had told me that she always drinks a cup of green tea as soon as she got up.
She told me that she always drank a cup of green tea as soon as she would be getting up.

75. “Where are you going?” father asked me.

Father asked me where I am going.
Father asked me that where you are going.
Father asked me where I would be going.
Father asked me where I was going.

76. The beggar said to me, “Please give me something to eat.”

The beggar requested me to give him something to eat.
The beggar requests me to give him something to eat.
The beggar requested me to have given him something to eat.
The beggar requests me to give him something to be eaten.

Reading Comprehension

Direction (Question 77- 81): Read the passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the given four alternatives.

The conclusion of World Trade Organization’s 11th biennial ministerial conference at Buenos Aires was worrisome. From an Indian standpoint, there was no loss as status quo continues in the most important issue: the right to continue the food security program by using support prices. But the inability of the negotiators to reach even one substantive outcome suggests that WTO’s efficacy is under question. As a 164-country multilateral organization dedicated to crafting rules of trade through consensus, WTO represents the optimal bet for developing countries such as India. Strengthening WTO is in India’s best interest.

Perhaps the biggest threat to WTO’s efficacy today is the attitude of the US. The world’s largest economy appears to have lost faith in the organization and has begun to undermine one of its most successful segments, the dispute redressal mechanism. This is significant as the US has been directly involved in nearly half of all cases brought to WTO. Separately, large groups of countries decided to pursue negotiations on e-commerce, investment facilitation and removal of trade obstacles for medium and small scale industries. By itself this should not weaken WTO. But it comes at a time when there is growing frustration with gridlock at WTO.

India did well to defend its position on its food security program. The envisaged reform package which will see a greater use of direct cash transfers to beneficiaries will be in sync with what developed countries do. But it’s important for India to enhance its efforts to reinvigorate WTO. In this context, India’s plan to organize a meeting of some countries early next year is a step in the right direction. WTO represents the best available platform to accommodate interests of a diverse set of nations. Therefore, India should be at the forefront of moves to fortify it.

77. Why was the WTO’s 11th binennial ministerial conference worrisome?

Denial of states quo.
Inability of negotiators to reach to substantive outcome for the problems.
Rift in the policies suggested by WTO on IPR.
Non-cooperation from Indian government on various matters.

78. What is the biggest threat to WTO’s efficacy today?

India being not working in its best interest.
Lost of faith in WTO by US.
Negotiators of WTO are not decision takers.
WTO’s lame attitude towards global trade.

79. Which of the following nation is keen to fortify its interest on WTO platform?

USA
Japan
Russia
India

80. Which of the following is the most successful segments of the WTO mentioned in the passage?

Dispute redressal mechanism
Intellectual Property Rights
Reviewer of government’s trade policies.
Agreement on trade in services.

81. According to the passage, which of the following statement is NOT true?

11th WTO conference was held at Nairobi.
India’s take on food security programme in the WTO conference was positive.
US is termed as the world’s largest economy.
US is involved directly in half of the cases brought to WTO

Direction (Question 82- 86): Read the passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the given four alternatives.

Transactional Analysis has the triangle of PAC. P means parent, A means adult, C means child. These are your three layers, as if you are a three-storied building. The first floor is that of the child, the second floor is that of the parent, the third floor is that of the adult. All three exist together. This is your inner triangle and conflict. Your child says one thing, your parent says something else, and your adult, rational mind says something else. The child says ‘enjoy’. For the child, this moment is the only moment; he has no other considerations. The child is spontaneous, but unaware of the consequences — unaware of past, unaware of future. He lives in the moment. He enjoys — but his enjoyment is not creative, cannot be creative. He delights — but life cannot be lived only through delight.

You cannot remain a child forever. You will have to learn many things because you are not alone here….The child has to be disciplined — and that’s where the parent comes in. The parental voice in you is the voice of the society, culture, civilization; the voice that makes you capable of living in a world where you are not alone —where there are many individuals with conflicting ambitions, where there is much struggle for survival, where there is much conflict. The parental voice is that of caution. It makes you civilized. The word ‘civil’ is good. It means one who has become capable of living in a city, who has become capable of being a member of a group, of a society. It is needed. And then there is the third voice within you, the third layer, when you have become adult and you are no longer controlled by your parents; your own reason has come of age, you can think on your own. And these three layers are continuously fighting. The child says one thing, the parent says just the opposite, and the reason may say something totally different. There is no necessity that your adult mind agrees with your parents.

Many times you find them very dogmatic, superstitious, and believing in foolish things, irrational ideologies. Your parent says do it, your adult says it is not worth doing, and your child goes on pulling you somewhere else. This is the triangle within you.

82. Whom do we find dogmatic many times?

Parent
Child
Adult
All of these

83. What is the triangle within us?

We are like a three storied building where in the first floor is of the child, the second floor is that of the parent and the third floor is that of the adult.
The child is spontaneous, the parental voice is that of a caution and the adult has himself come of an age.
Whenever you want to do something-your parent says do it, your adult says it is not worth doing and your child goes on pulling somewhere else.
Our parent makes us sensible, our adult makes as rational and disciplined and one child makes us carefree.

84. Why you cannot remain a child forever?

Because you are not alone here.
Because you have to become a parent
Because you have to be disciplined.
Because you have to become capable of living in the city

85. What happens when you become an adult?

Being an adult gives us a vision and a mission.
Being an adult we are no longer controlled by our parents.
Being an adult the child inside you gets lost somewhere
Being an adult gives you strength to fight against all odds.

86. According to the passage, you are not capable of being a member of a group, of a society until you become ______.

Parent
Civil
Dogmatic
Auditious

Direction (Question 87- 90): Read the passage carefully and select the best answer to each question out of the given four alternatives.

True, it is the function of the army to maintain law and order in abnormal times. But in normal times there is another force that compels citizens to obey the laws and to act with due regard to the rights of others. The force also protects the lives and the properties of law abiding men. Laws are made to secure the personal safety of its subjects and to prevent murder and crimes of violence. They are made to secure the property of the citizens against theft and damage to protect the rights of communities and castes to carry out their customs and ceremonies, so long as they do not conflict with the rights of others. Now the good citizen, of his own free will

obey these laws and he takes care that everything he does is done with due regard to the rights and well-being of others. But the bad citizen is only restrained from breaking these laws by fear of the consequence of his actions. And the necessary steps to compel the bad citizen to act as a good citizen are taken by this force. The supreme control of law and order in a State is in the hands of a Minister who is responsible to the State Assembly and acts through the Inspector General of Police.

87. The expression ‘customs and ceremonies’ means:

Fairs and festivals
Habits and traditions
Usual practices and religious rites
Superstitions and formalities

88. According to the writer, which one of the following is not the responsibility of the police?

To protect the privilege of all the citizens.
To check violent activities of citizens.
To ensure peace among citizens by safeguarding individual rights.
To maintain peace during extraordinary circumstances.

89. “They are made to secure the property of citizens against theft and damage” means that the law:

Helps in recovering the stolen property of the citizens.
Assists citizens whose property has been stolen or destroyed.
Initiate process against offenders of law.
Safeguards people possessions against being stolen or lost.

90. The last sentence of the passage implies that:-

The Inspector General of Police is the sole authority in matters of Law and order.
In every state, maintenance of public peace is under the overall control of the responsible minister.
The State Assembly exercises direct authority in matters pertaining to law and order.
The Inspector General of Police is responsible to the State Assembly for maintaining Law and order.

Para-Jumbles

Direction (Question 91-100): In the following question the first and the last part of the sentence/passage are given. The rest of the sentence/ passage is split into four parts and named P, Q, R and S. These four parts are not given in their proper order. Read the sentence/passage and find out which of the four combinations is correct.

91. Some animals like fishes lay eggs and leave them.

P: The mother does not care for the eggs at all.

Q: They lay thousands of eggs at a time but do not look after them.

R:Most of the eggs die and only a few of them develop into fishes.

S: She simply leaves the eggs and never comes back to them.

Is this not something terrible? Yet, it is a fact.

QPSR
PSQR
RQPS
QSPR

92. Why should I tell you again and again?

P: They know what they have to do.

Q: Don’t you know your duties?

R: Only you require to be told.

S: Other students need not be told.

I will not tolerate this anymore.

QSPR
QRPS
SPRQ
QPSR

93. Marine biology is the study of organisms in the ocean.

P: At a fundamental level, marine life helps determine the very nature of our planet.

Q: Marine life is a vast resource.

R: Shorelines are also shaped and protected by marine life.

S: Marine organisms contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle.

Marine biology covers a great deal, from the microscopic to the huge whales.

PSRQ
QPSR
RPSQ
SPQR

94. Prices of food products are going up.

P: Seven straight weeks of rising prices have burnt holes in common man’s pockets.

Q: But it ruled out any “blind control” to rein in the increasing rates.

R: Wholesale price-based inflation has already touched over a three-year high.

S: The government has admitted that containing inflation would be a more difficult task.

This may hurt economic growth and reforms.

SQRP
PQRS
PRSQ
RSQP

95. By 1 pm, the producers were ready and the show time sirens wailed.

P: He was wearing a skullcap and sported his now signature long beard.

Q: Jamshed was to pre-record episodes of ALIF LAAM MEEM, a 2011 Islamicised version of WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE for Geo TV.

R: Junaid Jamshed made his entrance, standing tall in a kurta.

S: We were at International Studios in Karachi.

Geo TV is one of Pakistan’s biggest TV networks.

PRQS
RPSQ
QSPR
PQRS

96. Little indeed is known of the origin of English literature.

P: This has not prevented some scholars from writing their “lives” from hints in the texts themselves.

Q: So far as poets are concerned, again, little or nothing is known beyond the names of two of them.

R: We can be certain that poetry made its appearance long before the first prose was written down.

S: Critics have also relied on scanty contemporary references, and also a mass of conjecture that cannot be described as intelligent.

Not with-standing the mists, old English literature have an amazing richness.

PQRS
SRQP
PRQS
RQPS

97. Rohit went to the airport to see off his friend.

P: He explained that he had lost his bag in the crowd.

Q: Rohit asked him why he was worried and anxious.

R: Just then, a policeman was seen with a teenager who had a bag in his hands.

S: The friend appeared worried and anxious about something.

They told the policeman about their lost bag & claimed it.

QSPR
RPSQ
PQRS
SQPR

98. The king was distressed because his people were lazy.

P: All cursed the stone and blamed the Government.

Q: Then the king had the stone removed.

R: Next day people passed by and went round it.

S: He had a big stone put in the middle of the road one night.

Under the stone the king had placed a purse full of money.

PSRQ
SRPQ
QPRS
PQRS

99. The recipe of making white sauce is very simple.

P: Stir the mixture of maida and butter constantly.

Q: Put one table spoon of fine flour (maida) when the butter gets heated.

R: Heat one table spoon of butter in a pan.

S: Add one cup of milk to the mixture and cook for one minute.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

QRSP
PRQS
SRQP
RQPS

100. “As a matter of fact”, said the boy modestly, “I’m a spaceman.”

P: “You can’t see it from here.”

Q: ‘From another planet.’

R: ‘I’m a spaceman’, he said again.

S: John and George stared at the boy.

John gasped, George gave a shout of laughter.

PSRQ
QPSR
RQPS
SRQP

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