Q1. Choose the correctly spelt word meaning 'a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risk'.
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Answer: D. Entrepreneur
The correct spelling is 'Entrepreneur': entre-pre-neur.
SSC CGL English Comprehension Intermediate Practice Set 10
25 intermediate questions. Tap an option to check it, or open “Show answer” for the explanation.
Topics: Spelling, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks, Synonyms, Error Spotting, Direct and Indirect Speech, Active and Passive Voice, Antonyms
Score: 0 / 0
Q2. What does the idiom 'to be on cloud nine' mean?
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Answer: D. To be extremely happy
'To be on cloud nine' means to be extremely happy or delighted.
Q3. Improve the bracketed part: 'The teacher [explained me the problem] clearly.'
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Answer: A. explained the problem to me
'Explain' takes the thing explained as its object, and the person is introduced with 'to': 'The teacher explained the problem to me clearly.'
Q4. Fill in the blank: The new traffic rules will come into ___ from next month.
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Answer: D. force
'Come into force' is the fixed expression for a law or rule that begins to apply. The other words do not form this phrase.
Q5. Choose the synonym of 'CONSPICUOUS'.
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Answer: A. Noticeable
'Conspicuous' means easily seen or attracting attention, which is what 'Noticeable' means. 'Hidden' is the opposite.
Q6. Improve the bracketed part: 'Rarely [I have seen] such a beautiful sunset.'
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Answer: B. have I seen
When a negative or restrictive adverb such as 'rarely', 'seldom' or 'never' begins a sentence, the auxiliary comes before the subject: 'Rarely have I seen such a beautiful sunset.'
Q7. What does the idiom 'to cut corners' mean?
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Answer: A. To do something cheaply or carelessly to save time or money
'To cut corners' means to do something in the easiest, cheapest or quickest way, often by ignoring rules or quality.
Q8. Improve the bracketed part: 'We [enjoyed very much] at the party.'
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Answer: A. enjoyed ourselves very much
'Enjoy' is transitive and needs an object; when no other object is given, a reflexive pronoun is used: 'We enjoyed ourselves very much at the party.'
Q9. Identify the error: 'Having finished his homework, the boy went out to play.'
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Answer: A. No error
The sentence is correct. The participle phrase 'Having finished his homework' correctly refers to the subject 'the boy', and the past tense 'went' fits.
Q10. Choose the correct indirect speech: The stranger said to me, "Can you show me the way to the station?"
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Answer: B. The stranger asked me if I could show him the way to the station.
A yes/no question is reported with 'asked' + 'if'. 'Can' becomes 'could', 'you' becomes 'I' and 'me' becomes 'him'.
Q11. Identify the error: 'She gave me many informations about the course.'
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Answer: B. 'many informations' should be 'much information'
'Information' is an uncountable noun. It has no plural form and takes 'much', not 'many': 'She gave me much information about the course.'
Q12. Identify the error: 'Rohan is elder than his cousin.'
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Answer: D. 'elder' should be 'older'
'Elder' is used before a noun or with 'the' (my elder brother) and is never followed by 'than'. With 'than', use 'older': 'Rohan is older than his cousin.'
Q13. Choose the synonym of 'DEBACLE'.
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Answer: C. Fiasco
A 'debacle' is a complete and often ridiculous failure, which is what a 'fiasco' is. 'Triumph' is the opposite; 'Debate' only looks similar.
Q14. Choose the correct passive form of: 'Why did he beat the dog?'
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Answer: B. Why was the dog beaten by him?
For a 'wh-' question in the simple past, the passive is 'Wh-word + was/were + object + past participle + by + agent'. The past participle of 'beat' is 'beaten'.
Q15. Identify the error: 'The scissors is lying on the table.'
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Answer: D. 'is' should be 'are'
'Scissors' is a plural noun, like 'trousers' and 'spectacles', so it takes a plural verb: 'The scissors are lying on the table.'
Q16. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said, "I have been reading since morning."
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Answer: A. He said that he had been reading since morning.
With a past reporting verb, present perfect continuous (have been reading) becomes past perfect continuous (had been reading), and 'I' becomes 'he'.
Q17. Choose the antonym of 'DEARTH'.
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Answer: A. Surplus
'Dearth' means a scarcity or lack; its opposite is 'Surplus' (an amount more than needed). The other options are synonyms.
Q18. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, "I met your brother yesterday."
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Answer: C. He told me that he had met my brother the previous day.
'Said to' becomes 'told'; simple past 'met' becomes past perfect 'had met'; 'your' becomes 'my' (it refers to the listener); 'yesterday' becomes 'the previous day'.
Q19. Choose the antonym of 'CONDEMN'.
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Answer: B. Commend
'Condemn' means to express strong disapproval; its opposite is 'Commend' (to praise). The other options are close to 'condemn' in meaning.
Q20. Choose the antonym of 'HAUGHTY'.
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Answer: D. Modest
'Haughty' means arrogantly superior; its opposite is 'Modest'. 'Proud' and 'Lofty' are similar in meaning to it.
Q21. Choose the synonym of 'VINDICTIVE'.
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Answer: B. Revengeful
'Vindictive' means having a strong desire for revenge, which is what 'Revengeful' means. 'Merciful' is the opposite.
Q22. Choose the antonym of 'AFFLUENT'.
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Answer: A. Impoverished
'Affluent' means wealthy; its opposite is 'Impoverished' (very poor). 'Opulent' is a synonym, and 'Fluent' only sounds similar.
Q23. Improve the bracketed part: 'The committee [has submitted] its report to the minister.'
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Answer: C. No improvement
The committee acts as a single body here, as 'its' shows, so the singular 'has submitted' is correct. The sentence needs no change.
Q24. Improve the bracketed part: 'You [had better to consult] a doctor.'
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Answer: B. had better consult
'Had better' is followed by the bare infinitive (without 'to'): 'You had better consult a doctor.'
Q25. Choose the antonym of 'FEROCIOUS'.
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Answer: D. Gentle
'Ferocious' means savagely fierce; its opposite is 'Gentle'. 'Savage', 'Fierce' and 'Brutal' are synonyms.