SSC CHSL 2025 PYQs

Concept: Annotate (add notes to a text) has a double 'n'.

1. Correct spelling: A-N-N-O-T-A-T-E.
2. Option C writes 'anotate' with one 'n' → misspelled.
3. A, B, D spell it correctly.

Trick: Think 'an + note + ate' – 'add a note' – double n.

Answer: (C) She forgot to anotate the key sections before submitting the paper.

Concept: In active voice, 'make' is followed by a bare infinitive (no 'to').

1. No doer is given, so use the general subject 'They'.
2. 'were made to write' (passive) → 'made … write' (active).
3. So the active form keeps 'make' with a bare 'write' → A.
4. C wrongly keeps 'to'.

Trick: make/let/have + object + V1 (no 'to') in active; 'to' appears only in passive.

Answer: (A) They made the participants write a detailed summary of the complex text.

Concept: Past reporting verb: present perfect → past perfect; pronouns follow the speaker.

1. 'have completed' → 'had completed'.
2. 'I/my' refer to the speaker 'He' → 'he/his'.
3. Correct: 'He said that he had completed his task.'
4. Among the options, B carries the required tense 'had completed'; A, D keep 'has/have' and C keeps 'I'.

Trick: First eliminate by tense (has → had), then by pronoun.

Answer: (B) He said that she had completed her task.

Concept: 'Did + subject + V1?' becomes 'Was/Were + object + V3 + by + subject?'

1. Object 'the highly anticipated sequel…' is singular → 'Was'.
2. release → released (V3); 'finally' stays with the verb.
3. So the passive opens with 'Was the … sequel' and uses 'released by' → A.
4. B changes tense; C, D are ungrammatical ('was … been', 'did … be').

Trick: Did → Was/Were; Do/Does → Is/Am/Are. The tense never changes in voice change.

Answer: (A) Was the highly anticipated sequel to his award-winning novel finally released by the renowned novelist?

Concept: Negative question = auxiliary + n't + subject + rest + '?'

1. First verb 'is essential' → 'Isn't it essential…'.
2. Second verb 'plays' (simple present) → 'doesn't it play…'.
3. Full form: 'Isn't it essential …, and doesn't it play a role …?' → B.
4. A, D are statements; C changes meaning with 'shouldn't'.

Trick: A question must end with '?' – only B and C qualify; C adds a new modal, so B.

Answer: (B) Isn't it essential for strong bones and teeth, and doesn't it play a role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission?

Concept: Simple present + singular subject → 'Does + subject + V1?'

1. 'Copper aids' – singular, simple present.
2. So the question starts 'Does copper aid …?'
3. A uses 'Do' (plural); B, D change the tense.

Trick: 'Does' takes the -s away from the main verb: aids → does … aid.

Answer: (C) Does copper aid in the formation of red blood cells?

Concept: Sufficient = enough for the need.

1. A balanced diet gives 'enough' metals.
2. Opposite of 'enough' = not enough = inadequate.
3. Abundant/Excessive mean more than enough; Absent means none at all – not the direct opposite.

Trick: Antonym of a 'just right' word is its 'not enough' word, not the 'too much' word.

Answer: (A) Inadequate

Concept: The passage says essential metals help in right amounts but harm in excess.

1. 'Too much of a good thing' = something good becomes harmful when overdone → fits.
2. 'A bitter pill to swallow' = an unpleasant truth.
3. 'A stitch in time saves nine' = act early; 'Every cloud has a silver lining' = hope in bad times.

Trick: Look for the idiom that carries 'excess' or 'moderation' – only D does.

Answer: (D) Too much of a good thing

Concept: Direct-fact question: locate 'iron' in the passage.

1. The passage calls iron a basic building block of hemoglobin.
2. Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen.
3. So iron helps form hemoglobin, which transports oxygen → A.
4. Bones/teeth relate to calcium; muscle relaxation relates to magnesium.

Yaad rakhein: Iron deficiency causes anaemia; calcium – bones & teeth; iodine – thyroid.

Answer: (A) It helps in the formation of hemoglobin which transports oxygen

Concept: Arrange the steps in the natural order of building.

1. P: finds a hollow and places big branches – the start.
2. Q: weaves smaller branches to make walls on those supports.
3. R: covers the structure with grass and leaves for insulation.
4. S: the shelter is complete and protects her → P, Q, R, S.

Trick: Process passages: start → frame → covering → result. 'major supports' in Q points back to P's branches.

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

Concept: Opening sentence introduces the topic; pronouns follow their nouns.

1. P names the topic – the new transport system – so it opens.
2. Q starts with 'It', referring to the system → P, Q.
3. R gives cost and time; S says 'Despite its high cost' – it needs R before it.
4. Order: P, Q, R, S.

Trick: 'Despite its high cost' (S) must follow the sentence mentioning cost (R) – this alone fixes R → S.

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

Concept: Sanguine = cheerfully optimistic.

1. Optimistic, Buoyant, Hopeful are synonyms of sanguine.
2. Opposite = Melancholic (sad, gloomy).

Trick: Three options mean 'hopeful' → odd one out is the antonym.

Answer: (D) Melancholic

Concept: Shamefacedly = in an awkward, slightly ashamed way.

1. The mother laughed but felt awkward about laughing at the outburst.
2. Nearest meaning: embarrassedly.
3. Boldly and Arrogantly are opposite in tone; Cheerfully misses the shame idea.

Trick: Break the word: shame + faced → 'face showing shame' = embarrassed.

Answer: (B) Embarrassedly

Concept: Pick words by meaning: a wailing creature, then something pale that rises.

1. Loon = a diving water bird known for its wailing call → first blank.
2. Lune = a crescent-shaped figure (moon shape) → second blank.
3. Order: loon, lune → D.

Trick: Only a living thing can 'wail' – so the first word must be 'loon', removing A and C.

Answer: (D) loon, lune

Concept: A person who loves food and eats a lot = gourmand.

1. Gourmand = one fond of good food who eats heartily.
2. Guzzler = one who gulps food/drink greedily (no 'enjoys' sense); Nutritionist = diet expert; Grotesque = ugly, odd.

Yaad rakhein: Gourmet = expert judge of fine food; gourmand = big eater. Don't confuse the two.

Answer: (D) Gourmand

Concept: Pick the single word that means 'famous for something bad'.

1. Key clue: everyone knows the student, but for breaking rules and trouble – a negative fame.
2. Notorious = widely known for a bad trait or act. Fits exactly.
3. Insolent = rude (not about fame); Truant = one who skips school; Wanderer = one who roams.

Trick: Famous for good → renowned; famous for bad → notorious.

Answer: (A) Notorious

Concept: Check each bold part for voice, parallelism and the right fixed expression.

1. (A) 'who are offered' is passive, but these people give their skills → active 'who have offered', matching 'continue to offer'.
2. (B) 'and continue to offer' and (C) 'resources' are fine.
3. (D) 'in the support against discrimination' is not idiomatic → 'in the fight/struggle against discrimination' (or 'in support of the fight').

Trick: If the subject is doing the action (offering skills), a passive verb is a red flag.

Answer: (D) AD

Concept: 'Do/did nothing but' is followed by the bare infinitive (V1 without 'to').

1. Tense is already shown by 'did', so the verb after 'but' stays V1.
2. 'but to argue' – extra 'to' ✗; 'but argued' – past form ✗; 'nothing than' – wrong word ✗.
3. Correct: They did nothing but argue.

Trick: nothing but / cannot but / had better / would rather → all take plain V1.

Answer: (A) They did nothing but argue.

Concept: Choose the idiom that means 'to agree' since the deal was cancelled.

1. Result clause: the agreement got cancelled → the sides did not agree.
2. See eye to eye = to fully agree with someone. 'Unable to see eye to eye' = disagreed.
3. Come around = change one's view; break down = collapse/stop working; carry out = perform a task.

Trick: Read the result part first ('cancellation') – it tells you the blank must mean agreement.

Answer: (B) see eye to eye

Concept: The phrase after the blank defines the missing adjective.

1. Clue: 'imperfect … capable of making mistakes'.
2. Fallible = able to make errors. Exact match.
3. Invincible = unbeatable; malevolent = wishing harm; indifferent = uncaring – none says 'makes mistakes'.

Trick: fall-ible → one who can 'fall' into error. Opposite: infallible.

Answer: (B) fallible