SSC CPO Paper I 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 PYQs

Concept: Know the figurative meaning.

1. At the drop of a dime (also 'at the drop of a hat') = immediately, very quickly and without hesitation.
2. Example: He will help you at the drop of a dime.

Trick: As fast as a coin drops → instantly.

Answer: (C) Something that can happen very fast without hesitation

Concept: Find the opposite of Opulent.

1. Opulent = very rich, wealthy, luxurious.
2. Destitute = extremely poor, lacking basic necessities – the exact opposite.
3. Flourishing is close in meaning; Insolvent = unable to pay debts (a financial state, not total poverty); Depressed = sad.

Trick: Opulent ↔ Destitute (riches ↔ rags).

Answer: (D) Destitute

Concept: Know the figurative meaning.

1. All ears = listening very attentively and eagerly.
2. Example: Tell me your plan – I'm all ears.
3. 'To listen to everyone' and 'to not be vocal' miss the idea of eager attention.

Trick: Whole body becomes ears → full attention.

Answer: (B) To listening attentively

Concept: Know the figurative meaning.

1. To pull someone's leg = to tease or joke with someone, often by telling them something untrue.
2. Example: Don't worry, I was only pulling your leg.

Trick: Pull leg = playful teasing, not physical pulling.

Answer: (C) To joke with someone

Concept: Find the word with the same meaning.

1. Restrain = to hold back, control or limit.
2. Constrain = to restrict or limit – same meaning.
3. Allow and Free are opposites; Assist = help.

Trick: Restrain ≈ constrain ≈ curb.

Answer: (D) Constrain

Concept: Choose the phrasal verb that fits the sense.

1. give up (a case/patient) = stop trying, lose hope of curing.
2. give off = emit (smell, heat); give out = distribute/stop working; give over = hand over.
3. Correct: The doctors have given up the case.

Trick: Doctors give up = no hope left.

Answer: (C) given up

Concept: Know the figurative meaning.

1. Snowed under = having so much work that one can hardly cope; very busy.
2. Example: I am snowed under with assignments this week.

Trick: Buried under work like under snow.

Answer: (D) Busy

Concept: A plural subject needs a plural complement noun.

1. Subject 'Psychology and Sociology' = two subjects, verb 'are' is plural.
2. So the noun must be plural: sciences; 'to study' (infinitive) is correct.
3. Correct: Psychology and Sociology are very interesting sciences to study.

Trick: Two things → 'are … sciences'.

Answer: (D) sciences to study

Concept: Choose the phrasal verb meaning 'reduce'.

1. cut down on = reduce the amount of something (expenses, sugar, etc.).
2. cut off = disconnect/separate; cut out = remove completely; cut up = cut into pieces.
3. Correct: You must cut down on your expenses if you want to save money.

Trick: Reduce = cut down on.

Answer: (B) cut down on

Concept: The key word in the sentence is guilt.

1. Guilt = a feeling of having done wrong.
2. Remorse = deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed – same meaning.
3. Remorselessness and impenitence mean having no regret; innocence means not having done wrong.

Trick: Remorse ↔ remorseless (prefix-free word is the synonym here).

Answer: (C) remorse

Concept: Find the opposite of Discontent as used in the passage.

1. Discontent = lack of satisfaction with one's situation.
2. Removing 'dis-' gives the exact opposite: Satisfaction.
3. Serenity = calmness, Relaxation = rest, Approval = consent – related but not exact opposites.

Trick: dis-content ↔ content = satisfied.

Answer: (B) Satisfaction

Concept: A title must cover the central idea of the whole passage.

1. Para 1: social bonds affect mental health; Para 2: social media cannot replace real interaction and overuse causes loneliness, anxiety; Para 3: social media addiction and dopamine.
2. The constant link is social media and its effect on mental health.
3. (A) ignores the harms; (B) is too general; (D) is off-topic.

Trick: Pick the title that joins the two recurring ideas.

Answer: (C) Social Media and Mental Health

Concept: Locate the line about the purpose of social media sites.

1. The passage says: 'The purpose of social media sites is to capture your interest, keep you online, and keep you checking your screen for updates.'
2. This matches option (C). The passage actually says social media cannot replace physical interaction and may increase loneliness.

Trick: Look for the keyword 'purpose' in the passage.

Answer: (C) To keep people online by capturing their interests

Concept: Find the chemical named in the passage.

1. 'When you get a like, a share, or a positive reaction to a post, your brain releases dopamine, the same reward chemical …'
2. Adrenaline, Calcitonin and Melatonin are not mentioned.

Trick: Dopamine = the brain's 'reward' chemical.

Answer: (B) Dopamine

Concept: Find the statement that contradicts the passage.

1. The passage says 'social media will never be a substitute for genuine human interaction' – so (A) is NOT true.
2. (B), (C) and (D) are all stated: lack of bonds harms mental health, bonds influence happiness, and one should re-evaluate online habits.

Trick: In 'NOT true' questions, look for a statement the passage directly denies.

Answer: (A) Social media can offer a substitute for real-life social interaction.

Concept: 'many' is used with plural countable nouns.

1. 'ways' is a plural countable noun, so 'in many ways' fits.
2. 'much' is for uncountable nouns; 'such ways' needs a reference; 'few ways' clashes with 'in reality hardly anything is the same' – the writer means it looks unchanged in many ways.

Trick: many + countable plural; much + uncountable.

Answer: (C) many

Concept: A contrast connector is needed.

1. Previous sentence: the cottages and farm houses are still there (looks unchanged).
2. Next: none of the inhabitants are country people – a contrast, so But.
3. When, As, Because would make an incomplete or illogical sentence.

Trick: Same appearance → different reality = contrast = But/However.

Answer: (B) But

Concept: Land cannot sell itself → passive; effect continues now → present perfect.

1. The land is the receiver of the action → passive voice.
2. It is linked with 'and is managed' (present) and 'these days' → present perfect passive has been sold.
3. 'had been sold' (past perfect) does not match the present; 'sells/sold' are active.

Trick: Present result of a past action + passive = has/have been + V3.

Answer: (D) has been sold

Concept: An emphatic reflexive pronoun agrees with its noun.

1. The noun is 'the village' – singular, non-living → itself.
2. 'little interest in the village itself' = in the village as such.
3. themselves (plural), herself/himself (persons) do not agree.

Trick: it → itself; they → themselves.

Answer: (B) itself

Concept: Choose the connector that adds emphasis to the final point.

1. The sentence intensifies the writer's complaint: the whole village has been tidied up so much that it looks no more picturesque than a suburban street.
2. in fact is used to emphasise/strengthen a statement.
3. 'despite' needs an object; 'as a result' implies a cause not given; 'of course' suggests something expected and agreeable.

Trick: Adding a stronger, summing-up point → in fact.

Answer: (C) in fact