SSC Previous Year Paper English
Directions (1-5): In these questions, some of the sentences have errors and some have none. Find out which part of a sentence has an error and indicate corresponding to the appropriate letter (a, b, c). If there is no error, make your choice by marking (d).
1.He (a)/nothing (b) / since yesterday. (c)/ No error (d)
Ans. a
2. He asked (a)/ that how long (b)/ you would be absent. (c)/No error (d)
Ans. b
3. I remember (a) / meet him (b) / five years ago. (c) / No error (d)
Ans. b
4. Madhuri Dixit is having (a) / a large (b) / fan following. (c) / No error (d)
Ans. a
5. She (a)/ is working here (b) / since 1983. (c) / No error (d)
Ans. b
Directions (6-10): In these questions, sentences are given with blanks to be filled in with appropriate word(s). Four alternatives are suggested for each question. Choose the
correct alternative out of the four and indicate it.
6. Today students should be reconciled ………… the way things are changing.
(a) with
(b) to
(c) for
(d) at
Ans. b
7. The country’s economic growth was adversely …………by political instability.
(a) reflected
(b) affected
(c) effected
(d) expected
Ans. b
8. The agenda for the meeting is …………. the notice.
(a) forwarded in
(b) subscribed to
(c) delivered as
(d) enclosed with
Ans. d
9. He was accused of bringing money into the country in ………..of foreign exchange rules.
(a) anticipation
(b) perpetration
(c) compensation
(d) violation
Ans. d
10. One of the players forgot to..
(a) turn up for practice
(b) run away from school
(c) buy shoes for the exam
(d) bring his books for the match
Ans. A
Directions (11-15): In the following questions, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word and mark it in the Answer Sheet.
11. FORTIFY
(a) Create
(b) Prohibit
(c) Generate
(d) Strengthen
Ans. d
12. ATROCITY
(a) Envy
(b) Jealousy
(c) Violence
(d) Absurdity
Ans. c
13. TEDIOUS
(a) Devious
(b) Distinctive
(c) Dull
(d) Derogatory
Ans. c
14. PAUCITY
(a) Surplus
(b) Excess
(c) Shortage
(d) Meanness
Ans. c
15. PACIFY
(a) Calm down
(b) Rouse
(c) Satisfy
(d) Rejoice
Ans. a
Directions (16-20): In the following questions, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word and mark it in the Answer Sheet.
16. HEREDITARY
(a) Carried
(b) Possessed
(c) Acquired
(d) Regained
Ans. C
17. DILIGENT
(a) Intelligent
(b) Boastful
(c) Lazy
(d) Notorious
Ans. c
18. DYNAMIC
(a) Stable
(b) Lazy
(c) Still
(d) Static
Ans. d
19. BARBAROUS
(a) Improved
(b) Civilized
(c) Cordial
(d) Modified
Ans. b
20. MISERY
(a) Glad
(b) Enjoy
(c) Pleasant
(d) Bliss
Ans. D
Directions (21-25): Four alternatives are given for the idiom/phrase bold in the sentence. Choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase and mark it in the Answer Sheet.
21. The reputed company is in the red due to the recession.
(a) making money
(b) losing money
(c) in danger
(d) spending money
Ans. c
22. They were offered six months’ rent in lieu of notice to vacate the building.
(a) in spite of
(b) despite of
(c) in place of
(d) in addition to
Ans. c
23. Having no arguments to defend his point, the speaker began to beat about the bush.
(a) wander across the words
(b) speak in a haphazard manner
(c) speak in a roundabout manner
(d) make use of irrelevant reference
Ans. d
24. The Kenyan team proved to be the dark horse in the ICC World Cup Cricket.
(a) a strange intruder
(b) the most powerful
(c) a skilled team
(d) an unexpected winner
Ans. d
25. When the Principal was entering the class, all my friends quietly disappeared, leaving me alone to face the music.
(a) to listen to him
(b) to enter into the class
(c) to bear the criticism
(d) to listen to a favourable comment
Ans. C
Directions (26-30): In these questions a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the bold part at (a), (b) and (c) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed your answer is (d).
26. The office staff members wished each and other on New Year’s Day.
(a) one other
(b) each another
(c) one another
(d) No improvement
Ans. c
27. Nisha is more funnier than Natasha.
(a) funnier
(b) quite funny
(c) funniest
(d) No improvement
Ans. a
28. Either Vijay or Vimal are going to be selected for the match.
(a) has
(b) is
(c) have been
(d) No improvement
Ans. b
29. My uncle presented me the more expensive watch.
(a) mere
(b) much
(c) most
(d) No improvement
Ans. c
30. The two brothers shared the property beside themselves.
(a) between
(b) among
(c) amidst
(d) No improvement
Ans. b
Directions (31-35): In these questions out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/phrase and indicate it by blackening the appropriate rectangle in the Answer Sheet.
31. One who has narrow and prejudiced religious views
(a) Religious
(b) Fanatic
(c) God-fearing
(d) Bigot
Ans. d
32. Capable of being interpreted in two ways
(a) Confusing
(b) Unclear
(c) Ambivert
(d) Ambiguous
Ans. d
33. A person who loves mankind
(a) Misanthrop
(b) Philanthropist
(c) Anthropologist
(d) Mercenary
Ans. b
34. To confirm with the help of evidence
(a) Corroborate
(b) Designate
(c) Implicate
(d) Extricate
Ans. a
35. The action of looking within or into one’s own mind
(a) Observation
(b) Examination
(c) Introspection
(d) Introvert
Ans. C
Directions (36-45): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks with the
help of the alternatives given. Mark your answer in the Answer Sheet.
Indu ‘didda’ loved to wear saris. Her…(36)….collections, which Sonia inherited, were remarkable for not only….(37)….taste, but also the….(38)….of weaves and traditional representations. I do not think any other public figure….(39)….the first five decades after independence was so ….(40)….to acquire saris of a distinct….(41)….as ‘didda’ did. ….(42)….you noticed this fact when meeting her, you not only joined her circle of …(43)….persons on traditional textiles….(44)….also got a chance to bring her….(45)….to the cause you were espousing. Now this was very rare.
36.
(a) private
(b) peculiar
(c) personnel
(d) particular
Ans. a
37.
(a) extravagant
(b) worthy
(c) good
(d) suitable
Ans. c
38.
(a) uniformity
(b) mixture
(c) extent
(d) variety
Ans. d
39.
(a) with
(b) in
(c) for
(d) since
Ans. b
40.
(a) keen
(b) attracted
(c) earnest
(d) enthusiastic
Ans. d
41.
(a) base
(b) wave
(c) weave
(d) length
Ans. c
42.
(a) when
(b) also
(c) If
(d) but
Ans. c
43.
(a) snobbish
(b) knowledgeable
(c) smart
(d) wonderful
Ans. b
44.
(a) hence
(b) so
(c) thus
(d) but
Ans. d
45.
(a) notice
(b) attention
(c) observation
(d) concern
Ans. B
Directions (46-50): In these questions, you have a brief passage with five questions following. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives and indicate your correct answer in the Answer Sheet.
This is the thorny side of the prevailing examination system. Most examiners have perfected their skill in making it a veritable nightmare for the majority of the students. Quite unwittingly we have increased the enrolment in schools alarmingly. Most of the students have neither the requisite aptitude to learn nor any clear cut goal in life. The destiny of students would be decided in the final examination of written nature to test bookish, rote memory. All laudable objectives of kindling originality and problem solving ability are trumpeted only in educational seminars and workshops. Ultimately all these are gone with the wind. No wonder examination hangs like a Damocles’ sword. Compare this with a related discipline such as music and dance. None would venture to seek entry into such centers of excellence unless one has proven aptitude to profit from training. Here the students have excellent rapport with their teachers who evaluate their performance on a day-to-day basis and provide constant feedback. Students enjoy practicing at home what they are taught in class. As they realize their progress by constant reinforcement, they welcome and enjoy examination in class. Under the watchful guidance of committed teachers, students grow and blossom out as well-trained artists. This is possible and feasible because the teacher-pupil ratio is ideal and the attitude of the learner is based on devotion and dedication.
46. The writer is dissatisfied with the examiners because they test students
(a) originality
(b) creativity
(c) memory
(d) aptitude
Ans. c
47. The writer’s intention to compare the topic of discussion with that of dance and music is to
(a) show how students of dance and music enjoy not only learning but also examinations
(b) popularize dance and music among all children
(c) congratulate teachers who take good care of their students
(d) prove that dance and music alone can bring peace to us
Ans. a
48. According to the passage, the objectives of education should be
(a) to teach dance, music and drama to students in schools and college
(b) to reduce teacher-pupil ratio
(c) not to test bookish, rote memory
(d) to encourage originality and problem solving ability
Ans. d
49. “Ultimately all these are gone with the wind.” The above sentence shows that the writer
(a) enjoys the prevailing situation
(b) regrets our ignoring the aims of true education
(c) is quite satisfied with the syllabus
(d) makes fun of teachers and their students
Ans. b
50. The passage emphasizes the need for
(a) making dance and music compulsory in schools
(b) making examinations an enjoyable experience
(c) seeking easy questions in the examinations
(d) warning examiners who harass students in the examinations
Ans. b
