SSC CHSL 2025 PYQs

Concept: The 'by'-agent becomes the subject; tense stays the same.

1. Agent: a famous author → subject.
2. 'was published' (simple past passive) → 'published'.
3. Result: A famous author published the new novel.

Trick: Tense must match: was + V3 ↔ V2. 'has published' (C) changes tense; D is still passive.

Answer: (A) A famous author published the new novel.

Concept: 'Advised … not to + verb' becomes a negative imperative inside quotes.

1. not to ignore → "Do not ignore …"
2. their homework → your homework (addressing students directly).
3. Reporting verb stays past: The teacher said to the students, "Do not ignore your homework."

Trick: Imperative in quotes = Do / Do not + V1; reporting part = said to + listener.

Answer: (C) The teacher said to the students, "Do not ignore your homework."

Concept: 'Reputation for + noun/gerund' = what someone is known for.

1. She is known for speaking clearly → 'a reputation for speaking…'.
2. 'Reputation of' is used with the owner (the reputation of the firm).
3. 'By' and 'at' don't pair with reputation.

Trick: Known FOR → reputation FOR, famous FOR.

Answer: (D) for

Concept: Present perfect active (has + V3) → passive: has been + V3.

1. Object 'the new policy' moves to the front.
2. has finally approved → has finally been approved.
3. Agent 'by the committee' + phrase 'after thorough discussion' follow.

Trick: Tense must not change: was (B) = past, had been (C) = past perfect, is (D) = present.

Answer: (A) The new policy has finally been approved by the committee after thorough discussion.

Concept: A 'when …' clause that tells when/under what condition the main verb happens is an adverbial clause.

1. Full form: when (they are) carefully selected – subject + 'are' are dropped.
2. It modifies 'can function' – telling when platforms help.
3. It doesn't name a thing (noun clause) or describe a noun (adjective clause).

Trick: when/while/before/after/until opening a modifier of the verb → adverbial clause of time.

Answer: (B) Adverbial clause of time

Concept: 'Can + base verb' is the present form of the modal and expresses a general truth/ability.

1. 'can function' – no -ing, no 'will', no 'has/have + V3'.
2. It states a general, present possibility.
3. Hence simple present.

Trick: Modal present forms: can, may, shall, will (future) – 'can + V1' = simple present sense.

Answer: (A) Simple present

Concept: Contextual meaning of 'fluency'.

1. Fluency = speaking/writing smoothly and correctly.
2. Paired with 'vocabulary' → command over language.
3. Clumsiness is opposite; laziness and curiosity are unrelated.

Trick: Fluent = flowing (Latin 'fluere' – to flow), like 'fluid'.

Answer: (B) ease and accuracy

Concept: Match the definition 'making something less harmful or bad'.

1. Mitigate = reduce the severity of something (e.g. mitigate risk).
2. Worsening = opposite; preventing = stopping beforehand; ignoring = not attending.
3. So 'mitigating' fits.

Trick: Mitigate ≈ minimise – both start with 'mi' and mean 'make smaller'.

Answer: (C) mitigating

Concept: Locate the condition the passage gives for getting the most out of learning games.

1. The passage stresses balance: digital play works best alongside real-world, in-person interaction.
2. Long hours (A) and offline-only use (C) are never suggested.
3. D contradicts the passage, which praises puzzles and strategy games.

Trick: In RC, extreme words like 'only', 'all', 'long hours' usually mark wrong options.

Answer: (B) Combining them with face-to-face activities

Concept: A process paragraph follows the real order of actions.

1. Collect water first → P.
2. Then treat it: heat to boil (Q) and strain (S).
3. Drink last → R. Only option A starts with P and ends with R.

Trick: Fix first and last sentence, then scan options – usually one fits both ends.

Answer: (A) P, Q, S, R

Concept: Use pointer words ('these', 'As a result') to chain sentences.

1. Q introduces the farmers and raised beds → opener.
2. R says 'these raised beds' → must come after Q.
3. P 'As a result … harvest' follows R's fertile land; S sums up prosperity → Q R P S.

Trick: 'These/this/such' refers back; 'As a result' needs a cause just before it.

Answer: (A) Q, R, P, S

Concept: Opposite of 'Permanent' (lasting forever).

1. Permanent = lasting indefinitely.
2. Ephemeral = lasting a very short time.
3. Eternal, Forever, Long-lasting all mean 'lasting' → synonyms.

Trick: Three options carry the same meaning as the word – the odd one is the antonym.

Answer: (D) Ephemeral

Concept: Opposite of 'Murky' (dark, cloudy, unclear).

1. Murky = dark and not clear (murky water).
2. Bright = full of light, clear – opposite.
3. Tenebrous, Sombre, Gloomy = dark/dull → synonyms of murky.

Trick: All three wrong options are 'dark' words – the only light word wins.

Answer: (A) Bright

Concept: Spot the misspelt word.

1. Correct: Apocryphal (with 'y') = of doubtful truth, widely told but unverified.
2. Given 'Apocriphal' uses 'i' instead of 'y'.
3. Historian, Mainstream, Scholar are correct.

Trick: Apo-CRYPH-al – same 'cryph' as in 'cryptic' (hidden).

Answer: (A) Apocriphal

Concept: Word for 'making amends for a wrong or injury'.

1. Atonement = act of repairing/compensating for a wrong.
2. Penitence = feeling of regret only (no action).
3. Acquittal = declared not guilty; Salvation = deliverance from sin.

Trick: At-one-ment: setting things 'at one' again after a wrong.

Answer: (B) Atonement

Concept: A synonym must fit the sentence with the same sense.

1. Obtainable = that can be got or procured.
2. Accessible = easy to get, reach or use – books not easily accessible in small libraries keeps the sense.
3. Reachable is about physical distance; Probable = likely; Interminable = endless.

Trick: Put each option in place of the bold word; only 'accessible' sounds natural with 'books … in libraries'.

Answer: (D) Accessible

Concept: Linking verbs (become, seem, look) take an adjective as complement.

1. 'more ____' is a comparison, so an adjective is needed.
2. responsibility is a noun → change to responsible.
3. So the phrase should read: …become more responsible…

Trick: 'more' + noun of quality is a red flag; check whether the -ity/-ness word should be its adjective form.

Answer: (C) more responsibility

Concept: 'Suggest' is followed by a that-clause (or -ing), never by object + to-infinitive.

1. Wrong: suggest me to…, suggest me that…, suggest for me to…
2. Right: suggest that + subject + base verb → suggested that I take rest.
3. Hence only option B is grammatical.

Yaad rakhein: Suggest, recommend, propose, insist follow the same pattern: 'that + subject + (should) base verb'.

Answer: (B) Sahil suggested that I take rest.

Concept: 'Accuse' always takes 'of' before the crime.

1. Pattern: accuse someone of something/doing something.
2. So: Revant was accused of embezzling public money.
3. 'With' goes with 'charge', 'for' with 'blame' – hence the traps.

Trick: Accuse OF, Charge WITH, Blame FOR – learn the trio together.

Answer: (D) of

Concept: Pick the word whose meaning matches the purpose stated in the sentence.

1. Clue: 'aiming to ease tensions and promote agreement' → a peace-making approach.
2. Conciliatory = intended to pacify and win goodwill.
3. Abrasive (harsh), unpredictable, gloomy (sad) do not ease tension.

Trick: Find the clue phrase after the blank; the answer is its one-word summary.

Answer: (C) conciliatory