SSC-CGL 2025 English
Practice subject-wise previous year questions
Question 201
Comprehension
Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence: She do not understand this concept properly.
A
do not understoodB
does not understandC
did not understandsD
is not understandQuestion 202
Comprehension
Choose the correct one-word substitution for: ‘The practice of spying to obtain secret information.’
A
DiplomacyB
EspionageC
ArbitrationD
MediationQuestion 203
Comprehension
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word: CALLOUS
A
RestlessB
UneasyC
AlarmedD
UnconcernedQuestion 204
Comprehension
Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Hold at arm’s length
A
To treat someone warmlyB
To keep someone at a distanceC
To imitate someone closelyD
To support someone openlyQuestion 205
Comprehension
Choose the correct one-word substitute for: ‘Fear of closed spaces.’
A
ClaustrophobiaB
ArachnophobiaC
AcrophobiaD
HydrophobiaQuestion 206
Comprehension
Which of the following best completes the analogy: Joy is to presence as sorrow is to —? Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: To divide life into fixed opposites of happiness and grief is to misunderstand its deepest pattern. Human life does not move in a straight line of delight or misery; instead, it flows through a living exchange where one feeling gives depth and definition to the other . Victory feels most intense when it follows defeat, and the sting of losing something gains shape only because we once held it close. Thus, joy and sorrow are not enemies but partners in the same story. Across ages, thinkers have recognized this emotional duality. The Stoics viewed suffering as unavoidable and even useful in reaching calm, while Eastern paths such as Buddhism emphasize that all experiences pass and nothing remains permanent. In both views, the search for lasting happiness requires accepting change. Without grief, joy would lose its sharpness and become plain—without contrast, it would carry little weight. This mutual dependence appears even in everyday life: spring seems brighter after a bitter winter, and quiet solitude matters only to someone who has felt the noise of crowds. Often, personal maturity is shaped in painful trials —loss and hardship carve depth into us, strengthening empathy, resilience, and thankfulness. Wanting uninterrupted happiness is like demanding a life in a single colour—smooth but lifeless. In this sense, joy and sorrow together create a chiaroscuro of the mind, a striking interplay of light and shadow that makes life more vivid and human.
A
LibertyB
ExpectationC
MissingnessD
StillnessQuestion 207
Comprehension
Based on the passage, which inference best reflects the writer’s view of emotions? Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: To divide life into fixed opposites of happiness and grief is to misunderstand its deepest pattern. Human life does not move in a straight line of delight or misery; instead, it flows through a living exchange where one feeling gives depth and definition to the other . Victory feels most intense when it follows defeat, and the sting of losing something gains shape only because we once held it close. Thus, joy and sorrow are not enemies but partners in the same story. Across ages, thinkers have recognized this emotional duality. The Stoics viewed suffering as unavoidable and even useful in reaching calm, while Eastern paths such as Buddhism emphasize that all experiences pass and nothing remains permanent. In both views, the search for lasting happiness requires accepting change. Without grief, joy would lose its sharpness and become plain—without contrast, it would carry little weight. This mutual dependence appears even in everyday life: spring seems brighter after a bitter winter, and quiet solitude matters only to someone who has felt the noise of crowds. Often, personal maturity is shaped in painful trials —loss and hardship carve depth into us, strengthening empathy, resilience, and thankfulness. Wanting uninterrupted happiness is like demanding a life in a single colour—smooth but lifeless. In this sense, joy and sorrow together create a chiaroscuro of the mind, a striking interplay of light and shadow that makes life more vivid and human.
A
A meaningful life must avoid suffering completelyB
Feelings should be separated into rigid oppositesC
Sadness intensifies how we value happinessD
Happiness is only a social illusionQuestion 208
Comprehension
What is the central aim of the passage? Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: To divide life into fixed opposites of happiness and grief is to misunderstand its deepest pattern. Human life does not move in a straight line of delight or misery; instead, it flows through a living exchange where one feeling gives depth and definition to the other . Victory feels most intense when it follows defeat, and the sting of losing something gains shape only because we once held it close. Thus, joy and sorrow are not enemies but partners in the same story. Across ages, thinkers have recognized this emotional duality. The Stoics viewed suffering as unavoidable and even useful in reaching calm, while Eastern paths such as Buddhism emphasize that all experiences pass and nothing remains permanent. In both views, the search for lasting happiness requires accepting change. Without grief, joy would lose its sharpness and become plain—without contrast, it would carry little weight. This mutual dependence appears even in everyday life: spring seems brighter after a bitter winter, and quiet solitude matters only to someone who has felt the noise of crowds. Often, personal maturity is shaped in painful trials —loss and hardship carve depth into us, strengthening empathy, resilience, and thankfulness. Wanting uninterrupted happi ness is like demanding a life in a single colour—smooth but lifeless. In this sense, joy and sorrow together create a chiaroscuro of the mind, a striking interplay of light and shadow that makes life more vivid and human.
A
To summarise major philosophical schools in historyB
To contend that sorrow is necessary for genuine joy and should be acceptedC
To mourn how easily happiness disappearsD
To criticise modern society for emotional numbnessQuestion 209
Comprehension
Which tone best describes the author’s manner of expression in the passage? Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: To divide life into fixed opposites of happiness and grief is to misunderstand its deepest pattern. Human life does not move in a straight line of delight or misery; instead, it flows through a living exchange where one feeling gives depth and definition to the other . Victory feels most intense when it follows defeat, and the sting of losing something gains shape only because we once held it close. Thus, joy and sorrow are not enemies but partners in the same story. Across ages, thinkers have recognized this emotional duality. The Stoics viewed suffering as unavoidable and even useful in reaching calm, while Eastern paths such as Buddhism emphasize that all experiences pass and nothing remains permanent. In both views, the search for lasting happiness requires accepting change. Without grief, joy would lose its sharpness and become plain—without contrast, it would carry little weight. This mutual dependence appears even in everyday life: spring seems brighter after a bitter winter, and quiet solitude matters only to someone who has felt the noise of crowds. Often, personal maturity is shaped in painful trials —loss and hardship carve depth into us, strengthening empathy, resilience, and thankfulness. Wanting uninterrupted happiness is like demanding a life in a single colour—smooth but lifeless. In this sense, joy and sorrow together create a chiaroscuro of the mind, a striking interplay of light and shadow that makes life more vivid and human.
A
PlayfulB
ReflectiveC
MockingD
UnmovedQuestion 210
Comprehension
. In the passage, the word “chiaroscuro” most nearly means: Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: To divide life into fixed opposites of happiness and grief is to misunderstand its deepest pattern. Human life does not move in a straight line of delight or misery; instead, it flows through a living exchange where one feeling gives depth and definition to the other . Victory feels most intense when it follows defeat, and the sting of losing something gains shape only because we once held it close. Thus, joy and sorrow are not enemies but partners in the same story. Across ages, thinkers have recognized this emotional duality. The Stoics viewed suffering as unavoidable and even useful in reaching calm, while Eastern paths such as Buddhism emphasize that all experiences pass and nothing remains permanent. In both views, the search for lasting happiness requires accepting change. Without grief, joy would lose its sharpness and become plain—without contrast, it would carry little weight. This mutual dependence appears even in everyday life: spring seems brighter after a bitter winter, and quiet solitude matters only to someone who has felt the noise of crowds. Often, personal maturity is shaped in painful trials —loss and hardship carve depth into us, strengthening empathy, resilience, and thankfulness. Wanting uninterrupted happiness is like demanding a life in a single colour—smooth but lifeless. In this sense, joy and sorrow together create a chiaroscuro of the mind, a striking interplay of light and shadow that makes life more vivid and human.
A
Emotional numbnessB
A contrast of light and darkC
A musical fluctuationD
A particular kind of sorrowQuestion 211
Comprehension
Spot the correct spelling of adjective ‘relating to the nervous system’.
A
NeuroligicalB
NeurologicalC
NeuroligecalD
NeurolojjicalQuestion 212
Comprehension
Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word: He slipped a compact umbrella into his backpack.
A
The engineer designed a compact engine for small cars.B
The workers compacted the gravel before laying the tiles.C
The two nations entered a compact to share water resources.D
She wrote her report in a compact format to save space.Question 213
Comprehension
Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph: 1. This helps teams track changes and collaborate without overwriting each other’s work. 2. Version control systems are tools that manage code modifications over time. 3. A widely used example is Git, which stores snapshots of a project in repositories. 4. As a result, software development becomes more organized and reliable.
A
2, 1, 3, 4B
3, 2, 1, 4C
2, 3, 4, 1D
1, 2, 3, 4Question 214
Comprehension
A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. The coach said that they had played well and would win the match.
A
"You played well and you will win the match," said the coach.B
"They has played well and will win the match," the coach said.C
"You had played well and would win the match," said the coach.D
"They played well and they win the match," said the coach.Question 215
Comprehension
Select the correct option: Hardly had the meeting begun ____ the power went out.
A
whenB
thanC
thenD
whileQuestion 216
Comprehension
A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech. Meera said, "I can finish the task today."
A
Meera said that she can finish the task today.B
Meera said that I could finish the task that day.C
Meera said that she could finish the task that day.D
Meera said she will finish the task today.Question 217
Comprehension
Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: The manager insisted (1)/ that every employee must submits the form (2)/ before the deadline (3)/ without any exceptions. (4)/
A
(1)B
(2)C
(3)D
(4)Question 218
Comprehension
Identify the misspelt word
A
IridescentB
MagnanimousC
AcquaintenceD
MeticulousQuestion 219
Comprehension
Find the part of the sentence that contains an error: Were she to have submitted the files on time, (1)/ the delay could have been (2)/ avoided much sooner than it actually was, (3)/ preventing unnecessary confusion. (4)/
A
(1)B
(2)C
(3)D
(4)Question 220
Comprehension
Rearrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph: 1. These solutions reduce waste by keeping materials in use for as long as possible. 2. As resources become scarce, industries are increasingly shifting toward a circular economy model. 3. This approach emphasizes reuse, repair, and recycling instead of disposal. 4. Therefore, circular strategies are viewed as essential for sustainable growth.
A
1, 3, 2, 4B
2, 3, 1, 4C
3, 2, 1, 4D
2, 1, 3, 4Question 221
Comprehension
Select the most appropriate antonym of the given word: Utopian
A
IdealisticB
DreamlikeC
RomanticD
RealisticQuestion 222
Comprehension
Change the following from active to passive: Did the committee sanction the revised environmental policy?
A
Has the revised environmental policy been sanctioned by the committee?B
Is the revised environmental policy being sanctioned by the committee?C
Was the revised environmental policy being sanctioned by the committee?D
Was the revised environmental policy sanctioned by the committee?Question 223
Comprehension
Select the correct option: The consultant delivered a report, __ conclusions were supported by multiple audits, to the committee.
A
whoseB
whomC
whichD
thatQuestion 224
Comprehension
Convert the sentence provided below from its passive voice structure to an active voice structure: The suspect was thought to have been staying in a remote lodge before being arrested.
A
The suspect thought he was staying in a remote lodge.B
People thought the suspect stayed in a remote lodge.C
It was thought that the suspect had been staying in a remote lodge.D
Authorities thought the suspect had been staying in a remote lodge before they arrested him.Question 225
Comprehension
Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence: Ravi is junior than his brother in the office.
A
more junior thanB
junior toC
junior than toD
younger than