SSC CGL 2025 PYQs

Concept: General statements use simple present.

1. The sentence describes how ideas 'frequently emerge' – a general fact in simple present.
2. Plural subject 'individuals' ⇒ base verb: when individuals integrate diverse experiences.

Trick: Match the tense of the main verb ('emerge') – the 'when' clause follows it.

Answer: (C) integrate

Concept: The blank must contrast with 'abandon'.

1. Setbacks are 'feedback', so thinkers improve methods.
2. 'revise' = change to improve ⇒ to revise their methods rather than abandon them.
3. imitate/conceal don't fit feedback; abandon repeats the rejected idea.

Trick: 'rather than X' ⇒ blank is the opposite action of X.

Answer: (D) revise

Concept: Dialogue opens pathways ⇒ it must weaken rigid thinking.

1. 'challenge rigid thinking patterns' = question and break fixed habits.
2. reinforce/harden would strengthen rigidity; restore makes no sense.

Trick: Positive result ('open pathways') + negative object ('rigid thinking') ⇒ verb must act against the object.

Answer: (A) challenge

Concept: Without structure, an idea remains undeveloped.

1. 'rudimentary' = basic, in an early stage.
2. 'refined' is the opposite of what is said; subtle/intricate don't show loss of impact.

Trick: 'Without X' clauses point to a negative adjective – only 'rudimentary' is negative here.

Answer: (B) rudimentary

Concept: Iteration = repeating a process to improve the result.

1. Passage links it with persistence and refinement.
2. So it means a repeated process – not an interruption, end or distraction.

Yaad rakhein: 'Iterate' = do again; in computing a loop's each round is an 'iteration'.

Answer: (B) a repeated process

Concept: A short, pithy saying that states a general truth is an aphorism.

1. Correct form: A-P-H-O-R-I-S-M (ph + o, ending -ism).
2. Apherism / Apharism use the wrong vowel; Aphorasm spoils the -ism ending.

Yaad rakhein: Example aphorism: 'Actions speak louder than words.' Related words: maxim, adage, proverb.

Answer: (A) Aphorism

Concept: Someone who gets pleasure from causing or seeing others' pain is a sadist.

1. Masochist – enjoys one's own pain (opposite direction).
2. Pessimist – always expects the worst; Narcissist – excessively in love with oneself.

Trick: Sadist hurts others; Masochist hurts himself – 'M = Me'.

Answer: (B) Sadist

Concept: Trenchant means sharp, keen and forceful (of wit, criticism or style).

1. Correct spelling: T-R-E-N-C-H-A-N-T – ending -ant, single t.
2. trenchent (-ent), trenchantt (double t), trenchaunt (extra u) are wrong.

Trick: Think of 'trench' (a cut/ditch) + -ant: a trenchant remark 'cuts' deep.

Answer: (C) trenchant

Concept: Obstinacy = stubborn refusal to change one's opinion or behaviour.

1. Stubbornness, tenacity and firmness are close in meaning to it (synonym-type).
2. Flexibility = willingness to adapt and change – the opposite.

Trick: In antonym questions, first strike out options that mean the same as the given word; three here are synonyms.

Answer: (B) Flexibility

Concept: This idiom means harming or being ungrateful to the person who supports or helps you.

1. Example: After all the help his mentor gave, criticising him publicly was biting the hand that fed him.
2. It is not about physical harm (B) or refusing help (C).

Yaad rakhein: Hindi equivalent: 'जिस थाली में खाना, उसी में छेद करना'.

Answer: (A) To show ingratitude towards a benefactor

Concept: To be out of one's depth = in a situation that is beyond one's knowledge or ability.

1. Example: In the advanced physics class, the new student felt out of his depth.
2. Option (A) is the literal sense; the idiom is figurative.

Yaad rakhein: Opposite idea: 'in one's element' – doing something one is very good at.

Answer: (C) To be in a situation too difficult for one's abilities

Concept: Solicitude = anxious care or concern for someone.

1. Correct spelling: S-O-L-I-C-I-T-U-D-E.
2. It comes from the same root as solicit / solicitous, so it keeps 'solicit-' + '-ude'.

Trick: Write 'solicit' first, then add 'ude' – solicit + ude = solicitude.

Answer: (D) Solicitude

Concept: Start with the sentence that introduces the topic; pronoun sentences ('They', 'Their') follow it.

1. 2 introduces smart baby monitors – opener.
2. 3 ('They provide live audio and video') gives the main use; 1 ('Their thermometers…') adds more features.
3. 4 ('Advanced models also…') ends with extra safety alerts ⇒ 2-3-1-4.

Trick: Sentences 1 and 3 begin with pronouns, so neither can open – only (C) starts with 2 and keeps 4's 'also' last.

Answer: (C) 2-3-1-4

Concept: A statement that seems self-contradictory but holds a truth is a paradox.

1. Example: 'The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know.'
2. Conundrum, riddle and puzzle are just difficult questions/problems – no built-in contradiction.

Yaad rakhein: Oxymoron is a two-word paradox inside a phrase, e.g. 'deafening silence'.

Answer: (B) Paradox

Concept: A participle phrase ('while collecting…') must be followed by the subject that does that action.

1. The subject 'The volunteers' is left without a verb, while part (3) switches to passive with a new subject 'the storage facility'.
2. The facility cannot collect supplies. Correct: '…, inspected the storage facility for safety compliance.'

Trick: If a sentence starts with a person and a '-ing' phrase, the main verb should be active with that person as subject.

Answer: (C) (3)

Concept: Present perfect active 'has/have + V3' becomes 'has/have been + V3' in passive.

1. Object 'the final draft of the article' becomes the subject.
2. has approved → has been approved; add 'by the editor'.
3. (A) and (B) change the tense; (D) changes the meaning (rejected).

Trick: Keep the helping verb 'has' and just insert 'been' – the tense marker must not change.

Answer: (C) The final draft of the article has been approved by the editor.

Concept: Homonyms share spelling/sound but have unrelated meanings.

1. In the given sentence, 'watch' = to keep under observation (verb).
2. (C) and (D) use the same 'look at' sense; (A) 'keep watch' is the related noun of guarding.
3. (B) 'a golden watch' = a wristwatch/timepiece – a different meaning.

Trick: Find the option where the word names a different thing altogether (object vs action).

Answer: (B) He received a golden watch for his promotion.

Concept: For an unreal or imaginary situation after 'as if / as though / I wish / if only', use 'were' with all subjects.

1. He is not really the owner – the comparison is imaginary.
2. So replace 'was' with the subjunctive 'were' – 'as if he were …'.
3. (C) 'as though he was' repeats the same error.

Trick: Unreal condition = 'were' for I/he/she/it too (If I were you…).

Answer: (D) as if he were

Concept: To go back to direct speech, undo the tense backshift and change pronouns to the speaker's own.

1. Reported 'had finished' comes from simple past 'finished' in the direct speech.
2. 'she … her work' → 'I … my work'.
3. (B) wrongly makes it 'your work'; (C) uses the present; (D) keeps 'She'.

Trick: Past perfect in reported speech usually comes from simple past (or present perfect) in the direct form.

Answer: (A) She told me, "I finished my work before sunset."

Concept: 'An' before a vowel sound, 'a' before a consonant sound; a non-specific noun mentioned first takes a/an.

1. ancient artefact – vowel sound ⇒ an.
2. invaluable glimpse – vowel sound ⇒ an.
3. prehistoric civilization – consonant sound, not a specific one ⇒ a.

Trick: Look at the sound of the next word, not the noun: 'an ancient', 'an invaluable', 'a prehistoric'.

Answer: (B) an, an, a