English Comprehension is a high-scoring and critical section in Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams such as the CGL, CHSL, CPO, and MTS. The syllabus evaluates a candidate’s reading proficiency, vocabulary depth, grammatical accuracy, and logical arrangement of thoughts through passages, cloze tests, and sentence rearrangements (para jumbles). Success in this section requires not only a strong command of vocabulary and grammar rules but also active reading habits to quickly grasp central themes, tone, and author intent under tight examination timeframes.
1. Choose the synonym of the word: ABANDON
Correct Answer: a) Forsake
Explanation:
Abandon means to completely give up or desert someone or something. 'Forsake' is a direct synonym.
2. Choose the antonym of the word: BENEVOLENT
Correct Answer: b) Malevolent
Explanation:
Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly. Its antonym is malevolent, which means having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
3. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom: 'A blessing in disguise'
Correct Answer: b) A good thing that seemed bad at first
Explanation:
A blessing in disguise refers to something that appears bad or unlucky at first, but results in something good happening later.
4. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: c) Accommodation
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'accommodation' with double 'c' and double 'm'.
5. Select the one-word substitution for: 'A person who hates humankind'
Correct Answer: b) Misanthrope
Explanation:
A misanthrope is a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. A philanthropist is someone who loves mankind.
6. Identify the segment in the sentence which contains a grammatical error: 'Neither of the boys were selected for the scholarship.'
Correct Answer: c) were selected
Explanation:
'Neither' is singular and takes a singular verb. Therefore, 'were selected' should be replaced with 'was selected'.
7. Choose the synonym of the word: CANDID
Correct Answer: b) Frank
Explanation:
Candid means truthful and straightforward; frank. Hence, 'frank' is a synonym.
8. Choose the antonym of the word: ABUNDANT
Correct Answer: b) Scanty
Explanation:
Abundant means existing or available in large quantities; plentiful. Its antonym is 'scanty' (small or insufficient in quantity).
9. Select the most appropriate meaning of the idiom: 'Burn the midnight oil'
Correct Answer: b) To work or study late into the night
Explanation:
Burning the midnight oil means working or studying late into the night, historically by the light of an oil lamp.
10. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Millennium
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'millennium' featuring double 'l' and double 'n'.
11. Select the one-word substitution for: 'A government by the rich'
Correct Answer: c) Plutocracy
Explanation:
Plutocracy is a society or a government ruled by the wealthy class.
12. Identify the grammatical error in: 'Each of the suspected men have been arrested.'
Correct Answer: c) have been
Explanation:
When 'each' is followed by 'of the', the verb must be singular ('has been' instead of 'have been').
13. Choose the synonym of: DILIGENT
Correct Answer: b) Industrious
Explanation:
Diligent means having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work. 'Industrious' is a close synonym.
14. Choose the antonym of: FASTIDIOUS
Correct Answer: c) Easy-going
Explanation:
Fastidious means very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail. 'Easy-going' implies relaxed and unconcerned.
15. Select the meaning of the idiom: 'To spill the beans'
Correct Answer: b) To reveal a secret
Explanation:
To spill the beans means to disclose a secret, often unintentionally.
16. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Lieutenant
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'lieutenant'.
17. Select one-word substitution: 'An office with high salary but no work'
Correct Answer: b) Sinecure
Explanation:
A position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit is a 'sinecure'.
18. Find the error: 'He is taller than me.'
Correct Answer: c) me
Explanation:
In comparative degree, subject pronouns are used after 'than'. It should be 'taller than I (am)'.
19. Choose the synonym of: EPHEMERAL
Correct Answer: b) Transient
Explanation:
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time. 'Transient' means the same.
20. Choose the antonym of: FRUGAL
Correct Answer: c) Extravagant
Explanation:
Frugal means sparing or economical with regard to money or food. Its antonym is extravagant.
21. Meaning of the idiom: 'Once in a blue moon'
Correct Answer: b) Rarely
Explanation:
Once in a blue moon means something that happens very rarely.
22. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Receive
Explanation:
The rule 'i before e except after c' makes 'receive' correct.
23. One-word substitution: 'One who can use both hands equally well'
Correct Answer: b) Ambidextrous
Explanation:
An ambidextrous person is able to use the right and left hands equally well.
24. Find the error: 'One of my friends are coming today.'
Correct Answer: c) are coming
Explanation:
'One of' takes a plural noun and a singular verb. 'Are' should be replaced with 'is'.
25. Choose the synonym of: GREGARIOUS
Correct Answer: b) Sociable
Explanation:
Gregarious means fond of company; sociable.
26. Choose the antonym of: GARUOLOUS
Correct Answer: b) Taciturn
Explanation:
Garrulous means excessively talkative. Taciturn means reserved or uncommunicative in speech.
27. Meaning of the idiom: 'To cut corners'
Correct Answer: b) To do something poorly to save time or money
Explanation:
Cutting corners means doing something perfunctorily to save time or money.
28. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: b) Necessary
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'necessary' (one 'c', two 's').
29. One-word substitution: 'A list of books available in a library'
Correct Answer: a) Catalog
Explanation:
A catalog is a complete list of items, such as books in a library.
30. Find the error: 'The scenery of Kashmir are charming.'
Correct Answer: c) are charming
Explanation:
'Scenery' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb. Replace 'are' with 'is'.
31. Choose the synonym of: HOSTILE
Correct Answer: b) Unfriendly
Explanation:
Hostile means unfriendly or antagonistic.
32. Choose the antonym of: HUMBLE
Correct Answer: b) Arrogant
Explanation:
Humble means having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance. Its antonym is arrogant.
33. Meaning of the idiom: 'At the eleventh hour'
Correct Answer: b) At the very last minute
Explanation:
At the eleventh hour means at the last possible moment before it is too late.
34. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Occurrence
Explanation:
Occurrence has double 'c' and double 'r'.
35. One-word substitution: 'A remedy for all diseases'
Correct Answer: b) Panacea
Explanation:
A panacea is a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
36. Find the error: 'He has given me a lot of advices.'
Correct Answer: c) of advices
Explanation:
'Advice' is an uncountable noun and has no plural form 'advices'. It should be 'a lot of advice'.
37. Choose the synonym of: INGENIOUS
Correct Answer: b) Clever
Explanation:
Ingenious means clever, original, and inventive.
38. Choose the antonym of: IGNORE
Correct Answer: b) Notice
Explanation:
Ignore means to refuse to take notice of. Its antonym is notice or pay attention to.
39. Meaning of the idiom: 'Hit the nail on the head'
Correct Answer: b) To do or say something exactly right
Explanation:
Hitting the nail on the head means finding exactly the right answer or doing something precisely right.
40. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Bureaucracy
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'bureaucracy'.
41. One-word substitution: 'A person who speaks many languages'
Correct Answer: b) Polyglot
Explanation:
A polyglot is someone who knows or can use several languages.
42. Find the error: 'Bread and butter are my favorite breakfast.'
Correct Answer: b) are
Explanation:
When two singular nouns express a single idea or unit (like bread and butter), they take a singular verb ('is').
43. Choose the synonym of: JEALOUS
Correct Answer: a) Envious
Explanation:
Jealous and envious both describe feelings of resentment or covetousness towards someone else's advantages.
44. Choose the antonym of: JUVENILE
Correct Answer: b) Senile
Explanation:
Juvenile relates to young people. Its antonym is senile or mature/aged.
45. Meaning of the idiom: 'Cry over spilled milk'
Correct Answer: b) To complain about a loss from the past that cannot be changed
Explanation:
Crying over spilled milk means worrying or complaining about things that have already happened and cannot be undone.
46. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Millennium
Explanation:
Millennium is spelled with double 'l' and double 'n'.
47. One-word substitution: 'Murder of a king'
Correct Answer: b) Regicide
Explanation:
Regicide is the action of killing a king.
48. Find the error: 'Mathematics are a difficult subject for many.'
Correct Answer: b) are
Explanation:
Names of subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Economics take singular verbs. Replace 'are' with 'is'.
49. Choose the synonym of: KIND
Correct Answer: b) Benevolent
Explanation:
Benevolent means well-meaning and kind.
50. Choose the antonym of: KNOWING
Correct Answer: b) Ignorant
Explanation:
Knowing means showing awareness or intelligence. Ignorant is its antonym.
51. Meaning of the idiom: 'Break the ice'
Correct Answer: b) To start a conversation in a social situation
Explanation:
Breaking the ice means doing or saying something to relieve tension or start a conversation among strangers.
52. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Privilege
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'privilege'.
53. One-word substitution: 'A person who loves books'
Correct Answer: a) Bibliophile
Explanation:
A bibliophile is a lover of books.
54. Find the error: 'The police has caught the thief.'
Correct Answer: b) has caught
Explanation:
'Police' is treated as a plural noun in English and takes a plural verb ('have caught' instead of 'has caught').
55. Choose the synonym of: LETHARGIC
Correct Answer: b) Sluggish
Explanation:
Lethargic means affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetically tired.
56. Choose the antonym of: LUCID
Correct Answer: b) Obscure
Explanation:
Lucid means expressed clearly; easy to understand. Its antonym is obscure or vague.
57. Meaning of the idiom: 'Under the weather'
Correct Answer: b) Feeling slightly ill or sick
Explanation:
Being under the weather means feeling unwell or sick.
58. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Mischievous
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'mischievous'.
59. One-word substitution: 'Fear of heights'
Correct Answer: b) Acrophobia
Explanation:
Acrophobia is an extreme or irrational fear of heights.
60. Find the error: 'Ten miles are a long distance to walk.'
Correct Answer: b) are
Explanation:
When expressing a single collective quantity, distance, or time, a singular verb is used ('is' instead of 'are').
61. Choose the synonym of: METICULOUS
Correct Answer: b) Thorough
Explanation:
Meticulous means showing great attention to detail; very careful and thorough.
62. Choose the antonym of: MALICE
Correct Answer: c) Goodwill
Explanation:
Malice means the intention or desire to do evil. Its antonym is goodwill or kindness.
63. Meaning of the idiom: 'Add fuel to the fire'
Correct Answer: b) To make a bad situation worse
Explanation:
Adding fuel to the fire means to worsen an already tense or bad situation.
64. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Maintenance
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'maintenance'.
65. One-word substitution: 'A person who walks in sleep'
Correct Answer: b) Somnambulist
Explanation:
A somnambulist is someone who sleepwalks.
66. Find the error: 'Hardly had I arrived than the train left.'
Correct Answer: c) than
Explanation:
'Hardly' and 'scarcely' are always followed by 'when' or 'before', not 'than'. Replace 'than' with 'when'.
67. Choose the synonym of: NOVEL
Correct Answer: b) New
Explanation:
Novel as an adjective means new or unusual in an interesting way.
68. Choose the antonym of: NADIR
Correct Answer: b) Zenith
Explanation:
Nadir means the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization. Zenith is the highest point.
69. Meaning of the idiom: 'Bite the bullet'
Correct Answer: b) To face a difficult situation with courage
Explanation:
Bite the bullet means to endure a painful or difficult situation that is unavoidable.
70. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Possession
Explanation:
Possession is spelled with double 's' in both parts (po-ss-e-ss-ion).
71. One-word substitution: 'Words inscribed on a tomb'
Correct Answer: a) Epitaph
Explanation:
An epitaph is a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.
72. Find the error: 'No sooner did I step out when it started raining.'
Correct Answer: c) when
Explanation:
'No sooner' is always followed by 'than', not 'when'. Replace 'when' with 'than'.
73. Choose the synonym of: OBSTINATE
Correct Answer: b) Stubborn
Explanation:
Obstinate means stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action.
74. Choose the antonym of: OPTIMISTIC
Correct Answer: b) Pessimistic
Explanation:
Optimistic means hopeful and confident about the future. Its antonym is pessimistic.
75. Meaning of the idiom: 'Spill the beans'
Correct Answer: b) To reveal secret information
Explanation:
Spilling the beans means leaking or disclosing confidential information.
76. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Parliament
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'parliament'.
77. One-word substitution: 'An animal that lives on other plants or animals'
Correct Answer: c) Parasite
Explanation:
A parasite is an organism that lives on or in another organism and benefits at the other's expense.
78. Find the error: 'She is more taller than her sister.'
Correct Answer: b) more taller
Explanation:
Double comparatives ('more taller') are incorrect. It should be simply 'taller'.
79. Choose the synonym of: PACIFY
Correct Answer: b) Calm
Explanation:
Pacify means to quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of; to calm.
80. Choose the antonym of: PROFUSE
Correct Answer: b) Meager
Explanation:
Profuse means yielding abundantly; copious. Meager means lacking in quantity or quality.
81. Meaning of the idiom: 'A piece of cake'
Correct Answer: b) Something very easy to do
Explanation:
A piece of cake refers to a task that is simple and easy to accomplish.
82. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Pronunciation
Explanation:
Note that while the verb is 'pronounce', the noun is 'pronunciation' (without the 'o' after the 'n').
83. One-word substitution: 'Government by a small group of people'
Correct Answer: b) Oligarchy
Explanation:
Oligarchy is a small group of people having control of a country or organization.
84. Find the error: 'Unless you do not work hard, you will fail.'
Correct Answer: b) do not work hard
Explanation:
'Unless' is already negative and should not be followed by another negative word like 'not'. It should be 'Unless you work hard'.
85. Choose the synonym of: QUENCH
Correct Answer: b) Extinguish
Explanation:
Quench means to satisfy (thirst) or to put out (a fire); extinguish.
86. Choose the antonym of: QUELL
Correct Answer: b) Incited
Explanation:
Quell means to put an end to a rebellion or disorder. Its antonym is incite or stir up.
87. Meaning of the idiom: 'Under the thumb'
Correct Answer: b) Under someone's complete control or influence
Explanation:
Being under someone's thumb means being completely controlled or dominated by them.
88. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Questionnaire
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'questionnaire' with double 'n'.
89. One-word substitution: 'A person who breaks into a house to steal'
Correct Answer: b) Burglar
Explanation:
A burglar is a person who illegally enters buildings with intent to steal.
90. Find the error: 'He asked me that where I was going.'
Correct Answer: b) that where
Explanation:
In indirect questions introduced by wh-words, 'that' should not be used. It should be 'He asked me where I was going'.
91. Choose the synonym of: RESILIENT
Correct Answer: b) Flexible
Explanation:
Resilient means able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions; flexible.
92. Choose the antonym of: RELINQUISH
Correct Answer: c) Retain
Explanation:
Relinquish means to voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up. Its antonym is retain.
93. Meaning of the idiom: 'To spill the beans'
Correct Answer: b) To give away a secret
Explanation:
Spilling the beans means revealing a confidential secret.
94. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Recommendation
Explanation:
Recommendation has one 'c' and double 'm'.
95. One-word substitution: 'A speech made without preparation'
Correct Answer: a) Extempore
Explanation:
An extempore speech is spoken or done without preparation.
96. Find the error: 'Sun rises in the east.'
Correct Answer: a) Sun
Explanation:
Unique heavenly bodies require the definite article 'the' before them. It should be 'The sun rises in the east'.
97. Choose the synonym of: SCRUPULOUS
Correct Answer: b) Honest and thorough
Explanation:
Scrupulous means diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details or moral standards.
98. Choose the antonym of: SPORADIC
Correct Answer: b) Continuous
Explanation:
Sporadic means occurring at irregular intervals or only in few places; scattered or occasional. Its antonym is continuous.
99. Meaning of the idiom: 'Take with a grain of salt'
Correct Answer: b) To view something with skepticism or doubt
Explanation:
Taking something with a grain of salt means not taking it too seriously or believing it completely.
100. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Superintendent
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'superintendent'.
101. One-word substitution: 'A person who knows everything'
Correct Answer: b) Omniscient
Explanation:
An omniscient person knows everything.
102. Find the error: 'He is one of those who always helps others.'
Correct Answer: c) who always helps
Explanation:
In 'one of those who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers to 'those' (plural), so the verb must be plural ('help' instead of 'helps').
103. Choose the synonym of: TENTATIVE
Correct Answer: b) Provisional
Explanation:
Tentative means subject to change; not certain or fixed; provisional.
104. Choose the antonym of: TRANQUIL
Correct Answer: b) Agitated
Explanation:
Tranquil means free from disturbance; calm. Its antonym is agitated or restless.
105. Meaning of the idiom: 'Throw in the towel'
Correct Answer: b) To surrender or give up
Explanation:
Throwing in the towel means admitting defeat or giving up on a contest.
106. Find the correctly spelt word:
Correct Answer: a) Twelfth
Explanation:
The correct spelling is 'twelfth' containing the 'f'.
107. One-word substitution: 'A place where clothes are kept'
Correct Answer: a) Wardrobe
Explanation:
A wardrobe is a large, tall cabinet in which clothes may be hung or stored.
