Q1. Improve the bracketed part: 'No sooner did he reach the station [when the train left].'
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Answer: B. than the train left
'No sooner' is always followed by 'than': 'No sooner did he reach the station than the train left.'
SSC CGL English Comprehension Intermediate Practice Set 5
25 intermediate questions. Tap an option to check it, or open “Show answer” for the explanation.
Topics: Sentence Improvement, Active and Passive Voice, Direct and Indirect Speech, Synonyms, Antonyms, Fill in the Blanks, Idioms and Phrases, Error Spotting, One-word Substitution
Score: 0 / 0
Q2. Choose the correct passive form of: 'They were watching a film.'
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Answer: D. A film was being watched by them.
Past continuous passive = was/were + being + past participle: 'A film was being watched by them.'
Q3. Choose the correct indirect speech: She said to me, "Do you like coffee?"
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Answer: A. She asked me if I liked coffee.
A yes/no question is reported with 'asked' + 'if/whether', statement word order and backshifted tense: 'She asked me if I liked coffee.'
Q4. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to her, "Please sit down."
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Answer: D. He requested her to sit down.
Imperatives with 'please' use 'requested' + object + to-infinitive, and 'please' is dropped: 'He requested her to sit down.'
Q5. Choose the synonym of 'CAPRICIOUS'.
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Answer: D. Fickle
'Capricious' means given to sudden, unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour, i.e. 'Fickle'.
Q6. Choose the correct indirect speech: Ram said, "Alas! I have lost my purse."
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Answer: B. Ram exclaimed sadly that he had lost his purse.
The interjection 'Alas' is replaced by 'exclaimed sadly' (or 'with sorrow'), 'I' becomes 'he', 'my' becomes 'his', and 'have lost' becomes 'had lost'.
Q7. Choose the antonym of 'RETICENT'.
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Answer: D. Talkative
'Reticent' means not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; 'Talkative' is its opposite. 'Reserved', 'Silent' and 'Shy' are close in meaning to it.
Q8. Choose the synonym of 'ADROIT'.
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Answer: B. Skilful
'Adroit' means clever or skilful in using the hands or mind.
Q9. Choose the antonym of 'AMBIGUOUS'.
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Answer: A. Explicit
'Ambiguous' means open to more than one interpretation; 'Explicit' means stated clearly and in detail, so it is the antonym. The other options are near-synonyms.
Q10. Fill in the blank: The old manuscript was in such a ___ condition that it crumbled at a touch.
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Answer: C. fragile
'Fragile' means easily broken or damaged, matching 'crumbled at a touch'. The other options mean strong.
Q11. Choose the correct indirect speech: He said to me, "Where are you going?"
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Answer: D. He asked me where I was going.
'Said to' becomes 'asked' for questions; the question takes statement order, pronouns change, and the present continuous shifts to past continuous: 'He asked me where I was going.'
Q12. What does the idiom 'a white elephant' mean?
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Answer: C. A costly possession that is of little use
'A white elephant' is a possession whose cost of upkeep is out of proportion to its usefulness.
Q13. Identify the error: 'She is senior than me in the office.'
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Answer: B. 'than' should be 'to'
Comparatives ending in '-ior' (senior, junior, superior, inferior, prior) take 'to', not 'than': 'She is senior to me in the office.'
Q14. What does the idiom 'to hold out an olive branch' mean?
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Answer: B. To make a peace offer
'To hold out an olive branch' means to make an offer of reconciliation or peace.
Q15. Choose the antonym of 'ADVERSITY'.
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Answer: A. Prosperity
'Adversity' means difficulty or misfortune; its opposite is 'Prosperity', a state of success and well-being.
Q16. Choose the correct indirect speech: She said, "I will come tomorrow."
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Answer: C. She said that she would come the next day.
With a past reporting verb, 'will' becomes 'would' and 'tomorrow' becomes 'the next day' (or 'the following day'): 'She said that she would come the next day.'
Q17. Choose the antonym of 'PERENNIAL'.
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Answer: D. Transient
'Perennial' means lasting for a long time or recurring continually; 'Transient' means lasting only a short time, so it is the antonym.
Q18. Improve the bracketed part: 'I [would have helped] you if you had asked me.'
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Answer: D. No improvement
The sentence is a correct third conditional: 'if' + past perfect ('had asked') in one clause and 'would have' + past participle in the other. No improvement is needed.
Q19. Words inscribed on a tomb in memory of the person buried there are called:
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Answer: A. Epitaph
An 'Epitaph' is an inscription on a tomb. An epigram is a short witty saying, an epilogue is a concluding section, and an epithet is a descriptive name or phrase.
Q20. Choose the synonym of 'AMIABLE'.
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Answer: B. Friendly
'Amiable' means having a friendly and pleasant manner, so 'Friendly' is the synonym.
Q21. Identify the error: 'He denied to have taken the money.'
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Answer: B. 'to have taken' should be 'having taken'
'Deny' is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive: 'He denied having taken the money.'
Q22. Fill in the blank: Despite repeated warnings, he ___ in his reckless behaviour.
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Answer: C. persisted
'Persist in' means to continue firmly despite opposition. 'Desist' means to stop, which contradicts 'despite'.
Q23. Identify the error: 'The police has arrested the thief.'
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Answer: B. 'has' should be 'have'
'Police' is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb: 'The police have arrested the thief.'
Q24. What does the idiom 'a wet blanket' mean?
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Answer: A. A person who spoils others' enjoyment
'A wet blanket' is someone who dampens the enthusiasm or fun of others.
Q25. Choose the correct passive form of: 'People say that honesty is the best policy.'
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Answer: A. It is said that honesty is the best policy.
With reporting verbs like 'say' and 'believe', the passive can be formed with 'It is said that...', keeping the present tense: 'It is said that honesty is the best policy.'