SSC CGL Mock – Tier I Mock Test 15 – Section D · English Comprehension

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SSC CGL Mock – Tier I Mock Test 15 – Section D · English Comprehension – 25 questions, subject: Full Mock Tests. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

Directions (Q 76–78): Each sentence below is divided into three segments. Select the segment that contains a grammatical error. If there is no error, select 'No error'.

Spot the errorEvery man and woman in the village / were given / a new ration card.

Correct Answer: B [were given]

Explanation:

'Every man and woman' is treated as singular and takes a singular verb → 'was given'.

2.  
(Use the directions above – Q 76–78)
Spot the errorHe walked / very carefully / lest he slipped on the ice.

Correct Answer: C [lest he slipped on the ice.]

Explanation:

'lest' is followed by 'should' + base form → 'lest he should slip on the ice'.

3.  
(Use the directions above – Q 76–78)
Spot the errorHe would rather / die than / begged for money.

Correct Answer: C [begged for money.]

Explanation:

'would rather … than' takes the bare infinitive on both sides → 'than beg for money'.

4.  

Directions (Q 79–80): Select the most appropriate option to improve the underlined part of the sentence. If no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement'.

Sentence improvementHe lay the book on the table and left.

Correct Answer: A [laid]

Explanation:

'lay' (put down) – laid – laid; 'lay' is also the past of 'lie', which takes no object.

5.  
(Use the directions above – Q 79–80)
Sentence improvementOn reaching the station, the train had left.

Correct Answer: C [he found that the train had left]

Explanation:

The opening phrase needs a person who reached the station → 'he found that the train had left'.

6.  

Directions (Q 81–83): Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

VocabularyHis speech was full of _______ remarks that offended many in the audience.

Correct Answer: D [derogatory]

Explanation:

Remarks that offend people are insulting → 'derogatory'.

7.  
(Use the directions above – Q 81–83)
TenseWe _______ the work by the time you return tomorrow.

Correct Answer: B [will have finished]

Explanation:

Completed before a future point ('by the time … tomorrow') → future perfect.

8.  
(Use the directions above – Q 81–83)
Word formThe _______ of the drought forced many farmers to sell their cattle.

Correct Answer: C [severity]

Explanation:

After 'The … of' a noun is needed → 'severity'.

9.  

Directions (Q 84): Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice.

VoiceThe news surprised me.

Correct Answer: D [I was surprised at the news.]

Explanation:

Past simple → was + V3; 'surprised' is followed by 'at' here.

10.  

Directions (Q 85): Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech.

NarrationThe teacher said, "Ravi, why are you late again?"

Correct Answer: A [The teacher asked Ravi why he was late again.]

Explanation:

Wh-question → asked + person + wh-word + statement order; are → was; no 'that'.

11.  

Directions (Q 86): The sentences of a paragraph are given below in jumbled order. Select the option that arranges them in a logical sequence.

Para jumbleP. They cleared the silt and built small channels to guide rainwater into it.
Q. The old well at the centre of the village had been dry for years.
R. Instead of digging a new borewell, the villagers decided to revive it.
S. Today, it supplies water to many households even in summer.
T. When the monsoon arrived, the well slowly filled up again.

Correct Answer: B [QRPTS]

Explanation:

Dry well → decision to revive 'it' → the work → monsoon → 'Today'.

12.  

Directions (Q 87–88): Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of the given word.

SynonymPARSIMONIOUS

Correct Answer: C [stingy]

Explanation:

parsimonious = unwilling to spend money, stingy.

13.  
(Use the directions above – Q 87–88)
SynonymRECALCITRANT

Correct Answer: D [disobedient]

Explanation:

recalcitrant = refusing to obey authority, disobedient.

14.  

Directions (Q 89–90): Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.

AntonymZEALOUS

Correct Answer: A [apathetic]

Explanation:

zealous = full of enthusiasm; opposite = apathetic.

15.  
(Use the directions above – Q 89–90)
AntonymNASCENT

Correct Answer: C [moribund]

Explanation:

nascent = just beginning to exist; opposite = moribund (dying out).

16.  

Directions (Q 91–92): Select the most appropriate meaning of the idiom or phrase printed in bold.

Idiom in contextHaving won the title once, the team cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

Correct Answer: D [to be satisfied with past success and stop trying]

Explanation:

'rest on one's laurels' = rely on past achievements and make no further effort.

17.  
(Use the directions above – Q 91–92)
Idiom in contextRohit wanted to start his own business, but his family threw a spanner in the works by refusing to lend him money.

Correct Answer: A [spoilt a plan by causing a problem]

Explanation:

'throw a spanner in the works' = do something that prevents a plan from succeeding.

18.  

Directions (Q 93–94): Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.

One-word substitutionToo strange or unlikely to be believed

Correct Answer: B [incredible]

Explanation:

incredible = impossible to believe; incredulous = unwilling to believe (describes a person).

19.  
(Use the directions above – Q 93–94)
One-word substitutionA word formed from the first letters of other words

Correct Answer: A [acronym]

Explanation:

acronym = a word made from initial letters; anagram = a word made by rearranging letters.

20.  

Directions (Q 95): Select the correctly spelt word to fill in the blank.

SpellingHer book is a _______ of her childhood in the hills.

Correct Answer: C [reminiscence]

Explanation:

re-mi-nis-cence: 'sc' and '-ence'.

21.  

Directions (Q 96–100): In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each numbered blank.

The Apprentice

When Farhan joined the carpentry workshop as an apprentice, he expected to start making furniture at once. (1) _______, the master carpenter asked him to sweep the floor and sharpen tools for weeks. Farhan felt (2) _______ and almost quit. One day, the master explained that a carpenter who could not care for his tools would never care for his work. (3) _______ by this, Farhan began to treat every chisel as if it were precious. Months later, when he finally made his first stool, it was so well (4) _______ that the master kept it in his own house. Farhan realised that patience had been the first (5) _______ he was taught.

ClozeBlank (1): When Farhan joined the carpentry workshop as an apprentice, he expected to start making furniture at once. (1) _______, the master carpenter asked him to sweep the floor and sharpen tools for weeks.

Correct Answer: D [Instead]

Explanation:

What happened was the opposite of what he expected → 'Instead'.

22.  
(Use the directions above – Q 96–100)
ClozeBlank (2): Farhan felt (2) _______ and almost quit.

Correct Answer: B [disheartened]

Explanation:

He 'almost quit' → he felt discouraged: 'disheartened'.

23.  
(Use the directions above – Q 96–100)
ClozeBlank (3): One day, the master explained that a carpenter who could not care for his tools would never care for his work. (3) _______ by this, Farhan began to treat every chisel as if it were precious.

Correct Answer: C [Moved]

Explanation:

A passive participle is needed ('He was moved by this') → 'Moved by this'.

24.  
(Use the directions above – Q 96–100)
ClozeBlank (4): Months later, when he finally made his first stool, it was so well (4) _______ that the master kept it in his own house.

Correct Answer: D [crafted]

Explanation:

Passive 'was well crafted' → past participle 'crafted'.

25.  
(Use the directions above – Q 96–100)
ClozeBlank (5): Farhan realised that patience had been the first (5) _______ he was taught.

Correct Answer: A [lesson]

Explanation:

'the first lesson he was taught' – singular noun; 'lessen' is a verb.

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