Q1. Choose the correct passive form of: 'She has completed the assignment.'
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Answer: A. The assignment has been completed by her.
Present perfect passive = has/have + been + past participle: 'The assignment has been completed by her.'
SSC CGL English Comprehension Intermediate Practice Set 4
25 intermediate questions. Tap an option to check it, or open “Show answer” for the explanation.
Topics: Active and Passive Voice, Antonyms, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Idioms and Phrases, One-word Substitution, Sentence Improvement, Synonyms, Spelling, Direct and Indirect Speech
Score: 0 / 0
Q2. Choose the antonym of 'CONCEAL'.
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Answer: C. Reveal
'Conceal' means to hide; its antonym is 'Reveal', meaning to make known or show.
Q3. Identify the error: 'The number of students in the class are increasing.'
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Answer: C. 'are' should be 'is'
'The number of' takes a singular verb because the subject is 'number': 'The number of students in the class is increasing.' (Compare: 'A number of students are...')
Q4. Choose the correct passive form of: 'Who wrote this novel?'
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Answer: D. By whom was this novel written?
In the passive, 'Who' becomes 'By whom', followed by the auxiliary before the subject (question order) and the past participle: 'By whom was this novel written?'
Q5. Fill in the blank: The twins are so alike that it is difficult to ___ one from the other.
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Answer: A. distinguish
'Distinguish one from the other' means to recognise the difference between them. 'Extinguish' means put out, 'diminish' means reduce, and 'differ' does not take an object.
Q6. What does the idiom 'to take the bull by the horns' mean?
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Answer: B. To face a difficulty boldly
'To take the bull by the horns' means to deal with a difficult situation directly and confidently.
Q7. The killing of one's own brother is called:
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Answer: B. Fratricide
'Fratricide' is the killing of one's brother. Patricide is killing one's father, regicide is killing a king, and genocide is killing a whole people.
Q8. Identify the error: 'He has been working here since five years.'
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Answer: B. 'since' should be 'for'
'Since' is used with a point of time (since 2019) and 'for' with a period of time (for five years): 'He has been working here for five years.'
Q9. Fill in the blank: The judge was known for being ___; he never favoured either party.
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Answer: A. impartial
'Impartial' means treating all sides equally, which matches 'never favoured either party'. 'Partial' and 'biased' mean the opposite.
Q10. Improve the bracketed part: 'He [is knowing] the answer to this question.'
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Answer: A. knows
Stative verbs such as 'know', 'understand' and 'believe' are not used in the continuous form: 'He knows the answer to this question.'
Q11. Choose the synonym of 'PLACATE'.
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Answer: B. Pacify
'Placate' means to make someone less angry or hostile, which is the same as 'Pacify'.
Q12. Choose the correctly spelt word meaning 'a system of government run by officials'.
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Answer: C. Bureaucracy
The correct spelling is 'Bureaucracy', from 'bureau' + '-cracy' (rule).
Q13. Identify the error: 'I am looking forward to meet you next week.'
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Answer: D. 'meet' should be 'meeting'
In 'look forward to', 'to' is a preposition, so it is followed by a gerund: 'I am looking forward to meeting you next week.'
Q14. Choose the synonym of 'INDOLENT'.
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Answer: A. Lazy
'Indolent' means wanting to avoid activity or exertion, i.e. 'Lazy'.
Q15. What does the idiom 'a red-letter day' mean?
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Answer: B. A memorable or important day
'A red-letter day' is a day that is pleasantly memorable or especially significant.
Q16. What does the idiom 'hand in glove' mean?
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Answer: B. In close, often secret, cooperation
'Hand in glove' means working very closely together, often for a dishonest purpose.
Q17. Choose the synonym of 'EMINENT'.
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Answer: D. Distinguished
'Eminent' means famous and respected in a particular field, i.e. 'Distinguished'. 'Imminent' means about to happen.
Q18. Choose the antonym of 'ZEAL'.
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Answer: C. Apathy
'Zeal' means great energy or enthusiasm for a cause; 'Apathy' means lack of interest or concern, so it is the antonym.
Q19. Fill in the blank: She was ___ to accept the offer, as it meant leaving her hometown.
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Answer: C. reluctant
'Reluctant' means unwilling; the reason given (leaving her hometown) explains her hesitation. The other options express willingness.
Q20. Identify the error: 'The sceneries of Kashmir are breathtaking.'
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Answer: A. 'sceneries' should be 'scenery' and 'are' should be 'is'
'Scenery' is an uncountable noun, so it has no plural and takes a singular verb: 'The scenery of Kashmir is breathtaking.'
Q21. Choose the synonym of 'SPURIOUS'.
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Answer: B. Fake
'Spurious' means not genuine or false, so 'Fake' is the synonym.
Q22. Choose the correct active form of: 'The letter had been posted by Ravi.'
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Answer: C. Ravi had posted the letter.
'Had been posted' is past perfect passive, so the active is past perfect: 'Ravi had posted the letter.'
Q23. One who is present everywhere is called:
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Answer: A. Omnipresent
'Omnipresent' means present everywhere. Omnipotent means all-powerful, omniscient means all-knowing, and omnivorous means eating all kinds of food.
Q24. Improve the bracketed part: 'He [avoided to answer] my question.'
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Answer: A. avoided answering
'Avoid' is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive: 'He avoided answering my question.'
Q25. Choose the correct indirect speech: The teacher said, "The earth revolves around the sun."
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Answer: C. The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.
The tense of a universal truth does not change in indirect speech. Also, 'told' needs an object, so 'said that' is correct: 'The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.'