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SSC CPO Paper I · 6,600 questions

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

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1,650 questions in English Comprehension.

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Ghana was the first true African state. The reason why we are saying this is that most African states lived in tribal villages but Ghana was the centre of gold trade. This gold trade opened new possibilities for the Ghanaians. The gold trade roots back to the 4th century, when
African Soninke tribes were under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from
Morocco. This clan has mastered trans-Saharan camel travel. They were known for trading salt for gold from the Soninke.
When the Arabs invaded North Africa, there was an upsurge in the trade in gold. Ghana
became rich and soon after, the Soninke ousted the Maga and built their own nation under Kaya Magan Cisse, who became the Soninke king around 790.
Ghana’s ancient capital, Koumbi Salah, was the city where Africans and Berbers met and traded. Arab traders in the 9th century described Ghana as ‘the land of gold.’ The gold came from Asante and Senegal, to the south and west. The trade routes led north and east to
Morocco, Libya and Aksum and so on to Europe and Asia.
Ghana had reached its peak in the 10th century. This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades. Other trading goods included woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves. Traders transported goods hundreds of kilometres across the Sahara
desert with camel caravans.
Q1041.
Maga, a Berber clan originated from:
  1. AMorocco
  2. BSenegal
  3. CAksum
  4. DLibya
Show answer

Concept: Answer directly from the passage; do not use outside knowledge.

  1. Paragraph 1: '…under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from Morocco.'
  2. Senegal is a source of gold; Aksum and Libya are on the trade routes – not the origin of the Maga.

Trick: Search the key word 'Maga' and read that line.

Answer: (A) Morocco

अवधारणा: उत्तर सीधे गद्यांश से दें; बाहरी जानकारी न जोड़ें।

  1. पहला अनुच्छेद: '…the Maga, a Berber clan originating from Morocco.'
  2. Senegal सोने का स्रोत है; Aksum और Libya व्यापार मार्ग पर हैं – Maga का मूल नहीं।

ट्रिक: मुख्य शब्द 'Maga' खोजें और वही पंक्ति पढ़ें।

उत्तर: (A) Morocco

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionReading ComprehensionSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Ghana was the first true African state. The reason why we are saying this is that most African states lived in tribal villages but Ghana was the centre of gold trade. This gold trade opened new possibilities for the Ghanaians. The gold trade roots back to the 4th century, when
African Soninke tribes were under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from
Morocco. This clan has mastered trans-Saharan camel travel. They were known for trading salt for gold from the Soninke.
When the Arabs invaded North Africa, there was an upsurge in the trade in gold. Ghana
became rich and soon after, the Soninke ousted the Maga and built their own nation under Kaya Magan Cisse, who became the Soninke king around 790.
Ghana’s ancient capital, Koumbi Salah, was the city where Africans and Berbers met and traded. Arab traders in the 9th century described Ghana as ‘the land of gold.’ The gold came from Asante and Senegal, to the south and west. The trade routes led north and east to
Morocco, Libya and Aksum and so on to Europe and Asia.
Ghana had reached its peak in the 10th century. This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades. Other trading goods included woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves. Traders transported goods hundreds of kilometres across the Sahara
desert with camel caravans.
Q1042.
Select the most appropriate title for the passage.
  1. AGhana – land of gold
  2. BGhana – land of tribes
  3. CGhana – land of Berbers
  4. DGhana – land of trade
Show answer

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

  1. The passage repeatedly focuses on Ghana's gold trade: centre of gold trade, upsurge in gold trade, 'the land of gold'.
  2. Tribes and Berbers are minor details; 'land of trade' is too general when gold is the key theme.
  3. Arab traders themselves called Ghana 'the land of gold'.

Trick: The phrase the passage itself quotes is often the best title.

Answer: (A) Ghana – land of gold

अवधारणा: शीर्षक पूरे गद्यांश के मुख्य विचार को दर्शाना चाहिए।

  1. गद्यांश बार-बार Ghana के सोने के व्यापार पर ज़ोर देता है – 'centre of gold trade', 'the land of gold'।
  2. Tribes और Berbers छोटे विवरण हैं; 'land of trade' बहुत सामान्य है।
  3. Arab व्यापारियों ने Ghana को 'the land of gold' कहा।

ट्रिक: गद्यांश में उद्धृत वाक्यांश अक्सर सबसे अच्छा शीर्षक होता है।

उत्तर: (A) Ghana – land of gold

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionReading ComprehensionSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Ghana was the first true African state. The reason why we are saying this is that most African states lived in tribal villages but Ghana was the centre of gold trade. This gold trade opened new possibilities for the Ghanaians. The gold trade roots back to the 4th century, when
African Soninke tribes were under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from
Morocco. This clan has mastered trans-Saharan camel travel. They were known for trading salt for gold from the Soninke.
When the Arabs invaded North Africa, there was an upsurge in the trade in gold. Ghana
became rich and soon after, the Soninke ousted the Maga and built their own nation under Kaya Magan Cisse, who became the Soninke king around 790.
Ghana’s ancient capital, Koumbi Salah, was the city where Africans and Berbers met and traded. Arab traders in the 9th century described Ghana as ‘the land of gold.’ The gold came from Asante and Senegal, to the south and west. The trade routes led north and east to
Morocco, Libya and Aksum and so on to Europe and Asia.
Ghana had reached its peak in the 10th century. This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades. Other trading goods included woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves. Traders transported goods hundreds of kilometres across the Sahara
desert with camel caravans.
Q1043.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
Controlled
  1. AProfuse
  2. BPromise
  3. CPracticality
  4. DAgitated
Show answer

Concept: Controlled means kept in check, calm and restrained. Its opposite is agitated (disturbed, excited, out of control).

  1. Controlled = restrained, calm.
  2. Agitated = troubled, nervous, excited – the opposite state.
  3. Profuse (plentiful), promise and practicality are unrelated.

Trick: Controlled (calm) ↔ Agitated (upset).

Answer: (D) Agitated

अवधारणा: Controlled = नियंत्रित, संयमित, शांत। विलोम agitated = उत्तेजित, बेचैन।

  1. Controlled = संयमित।
  2. Agitated = बेचैन, उत्तेजित – विपरीत अवस्था।
  3. Profuse (प्रचुर), promise, practicality असंबंधित हैं।

ट्रिक: Controlled (शांत) ↔ Agitated (बेचैन)।

उत्तर: (D) Agitated

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionAntonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Ghana was the first true African state. The reason why we are saying this is that most African states lived in tribal villages but Ghana was the centre of gold trade. This gold trade opened new possibilities for the Ghanaians. The gold trade roots back to the 4th century, when
African Soninke tribes were under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from
Morocco. This clan has mastered trans-Saharan camel travel. They were known for trading salt for gold from the Soninke.
When the Arabs invaded North Africa, there was an upsurge in the trade in gold. Ghana
became rich and soon after, the Soninke ousted the Maga and built their own nation under Kaya Magan Cisse, who became the Soninke king around 790.
Ghana’s ancient capital, Koumbi Salah, was the city where Africans and Berbers met and traded. Arab traders in the 9th century described Ghana as ‘the land of gold.’ The gold came from Asante and Senegal, to the south and west. The trade routes led north and east to
Morocco, Libya and Aksum and so on to Europe and Asia.
Ghana had reached its peak in the 10th century. This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades. Other trading goods included woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves. Traders transported goods hundreds of kilometres across the Sahara
desert with camel caravans.
Q1044.
Select the one-word substitute from the passage for the given group of words.
Rapid or sudden rise
  1. ACaravans
  2. BOusted
  3. CUpsurge
  4. DAncient
Show answer

Concept: Upsurge means a sudden or rapid rise in something. The passage says: 'there was an upsurge in the trade in gold'.

  1. Caravans = groups of travellers with camels.
  2. Ousted = drove out from power.
  3. Ancient = very old.

Trick: Up + surge (sudden rush) = sudden rise.

Answer: (C) Upsurge

अवधारणा: Upsurge = अचानक या तेज़ वृद्धि। गद्यांश: 'there was an upsurge in the trade in gold'।

  1. Caravans = ऊँटों के साथ यात्रियों का दल।
  2. Ousted = सत्ता से निकाल दिया।
  3. Ancient = प्राचीन।

ट्रिक: Up + surge (उछाल) = अचानक वृद्धि।

उत्तर: (C) Upsurge

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionOne-word SubstitutionSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Ghana was the first true African state. The reason why we are saying this is that most African states lived in tribal villages but Ghana was the centre of gold trade. This gold trade opened new possibilities for the Ghanaians. The gold trade roots back to the 4th century, when
African Soninke tribes were under the rule of the Maga, a Berber clan originating from
Morocco. This clan has mastered trans-Saharan camel travel. They were known for trading salt for gold from the Soninke.
When the Arabs invaded North Africa, there was an upsurge in the trade in gold. Ghana
became rich and soon after, the Soninke ousted the Maga and built their own nation under Kaya Magan Cisse, who became the Soninke king around 790.
Ghana’s ancient capital, Koumbi Salah, was the city where Africans and Berbers met and traded. Arab traders in the 9th century described Ghana as ‘the land of gold.’ The gold came from Asante and Senegal, to the south and west. The trade routes led north and east to
Morocco, Libya and Aksum and so on to Europe and Asia.
Ghana had reached its peak in the 10th century. This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades. Other trading goods included woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves. Traders transported goods hundreds of kilometres across the Sahara
desert with camel caravans.
Q1045.
_________ and _________ were the foundation of Ghana’s trade in ancient times.
  1. AWoollen clothes; luxurious items
  2. BLeather goods; slaves
  3. CGold; salt
  4. DCamel; caravans
Show answer

Concept: Answer directly from the passage; do not use outside knowledge.

  1. Last paragraph: 'This was the country which controlled both the gold and salt trades.'
  2. Paragraph 1: the Maga traded salt for gold.
  3. Woollen clothes, luxury items, leather goods and slaves are 'other trading goods' – secondary.

Trick: Main trade = gold and salt; 'other' items are secondary.

Answer: (C) Gold; salt

अवधारणा: उत्तर सीधे गद्यांश से दें; बाहरी जानकारी न जोड़ें।

  1. अंतिम अनुच्छेद: '…controlled both the gold and salt trades.'
  2. पहला अनुच्छेद: Maga नमक के बदले सोना लेते थे।
  3. Woollen clothes, leather goods आदि 'other trading goods' – गौण।

ट्रिक: मुख्य व्यापार = सोना और नमक।

उत्तर: (C) Gold; salt

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionReading ComprehensionSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The rise and (1)_______ of singers, music videos with lavish production budgets that amass hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, new sensations born virtually (2)______, the
overhang of drugs, guns and violence, and the thrill of taste-making can all get (3)______. These are heady days in Punjab’s (4)____ industry and Mohali is where the action is. It is a veritable music factory, some 20 songs are written, composed, recorded, and released
(5)_______ every day, by some reckoning.
Q1046.
Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 1.
  1. Afailure
  2. Buprise
  3. Cdown
  4. Dfall
Show answer

Concept: Rise and fall is a fixed pair (collocation) meaning success followed by decline.

  1. Blank 1: 'The rise and ___ of singers' – the natural pair is fall.
  2. 'Failure' is a noun but not the paired word; 'uprise' repeats rise; 'down' is not a noun here.

Yaad rakhein: Rise ↔ Fall always go together.

Answer: (D) fall

अवधारणा: Rise and fall एक निश्चित जोड़ा है – उत्थान और पतन।

  1. Blank 1: 'The rise and ___ of singers' → fall।
  2. 'Failure' जोड़ा शब्द नहीं; 'uprise' rise का दोहराव; 'down' यहाँ noun नहीं।

याद रखें: Rise ↔ Fall साथ आते हैं।

उत्तर: (D) fall

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionCloze TestSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The rise and (1)_______ of singers, music videos with lavish production budgets that amass hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, new sensations born virtually (2)______, the
overhang of drugs, guns and violence, and the thrill of taste-making can all get (3)______. These are heady days in Punjab’s (4)____ industry and Mohali is where the action is. It is a veritable music factory, some 20 songs are written, composed, recorded, and released
(5)_______ every day, by some reckoning.
Q1047.
Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 2.
  1. Atonight
  2. Bovernight
  3. Cevery night
  4. Dat night
Show answer

Concept: Born overnight means becoming famous suddenly, in a very short time.

  1. 'New sensations born virtually ___' – stars who rise to fame almost instantly.
  2. Overnight = suddenly.
  3. Tonight, every night and at night only refer to time of day, not suddenness.

Trick: Overnight success = sudden success.

Answer: (B) overnight

अवधारणा: Born overnight = रातों-रात मशहूर होना।

  1. 'New sensations born virtually ___' – लगभग तुरंत प्रसिद्ध होने वाले कलाकार।
  2. Overnight = अचानक, रातों-रात।
  3. Tonight, every night, at night केवल समय बताते हैं।

ट्रिक: Overnight success = रातों-रात सफलता।

उत्तर: (B) overnight

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionCloze TestSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The rise and (1)_______ of singers, music videos with lavish production budgets that amass hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, new sensations born virtually (2)______, the
overhang of drugs, guns and violence, and the thrill of taste-making can all get (3)______. These are heady days in Punjab’s (4)____ industry and Mohali is where the action is. It is a veritable music factory, some 20 songs are written, composed, recorded, and released
(5)_______ every day, by some reckoning.
Q1048.
Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 3.
  1. Aoverwhelming
  2. Beasy
  3. Cboring
  4. Dmonotonous
Show answer

Concept: The sentence lists many intense things (fame, drugs, guns, violence, thrills) that together 'can all get ___' – the word must show they become too much.

  1. Overwhelming = too intense to cope with – fits the long list.
  2. Easy, boring and monotonous contradict the exciting, chaotic picture ('heady days').

Trick: Long list of intense things → overwhelming.

Answer: (A) overwhelming

अवधारणा: वाक्य में कई तीव्र चीज़ें गिनाई गई हैं (शोहरत, ड्रग्स, हिंसा, रोमांच) जो मिलकर 'can all get ___' – यानी बहुत ज़्यादा हो जाती हैं।

  1. Overwhelming = संभालना कठिन, अत्यधिक – सही।
  2. Easy, boring, monotonous 'heady days' के रोमांचक माहौल से मेल नहीं खाते।

ट्रिक: तीव्र चीज़ों की लंबी सूची → overwhelming।

उत्तर: (A) overwhelming

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionCloze TestSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The rise and (1)_______ of singers, music videos with lavish production budgets that amass hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, new sensations born virtually (2)______, the
overhang of drugs, guns and violence, and the thrill of taste-making can all get (3)______. These are heady days in Punjab’s (4)____ industry and Mohali is where the action is. It is a veritable music factory, some 20 songs are written, composed, recorded, and released
(5)_______ every day, by some reckoning.
Q1049.
Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 4.
  1. Afashion
  2. Bmusic
  3. Cfilm
  4. Dfood
Show answer

Concept: The context clue comes right after the blank: 'It is a veritable music factory… songs are written, composed, recorded'.

  1. Singers, music videos and songs → Punjab's music industry.
  2. Fashion, film and food are not supported by the context.

Trick: Look for repeated theme words: singers, songs, music videos.

Answer: (B) music

अवधारणा: Blank के बाद संकेत है: 'a veritable music factory… songs are written, composed, recorded'।

  1. Singers, music videos, songs → Punjab का music industry।
  2. Fashion, film, food के लिए संदर्भ नहीं है।

ट्रिक: दोहराए गए विषय-शब्द देखें: singers, songs, music।

उत्तर: (B) music

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionCloze TestSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
The rise and (1)_______ of singers, music videos with lavish production budgets that amass hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, new sensations born virtually (2)______, the
overhang of drugs, guns and violence, and the thrill of taste-making can all get (3)______. These are heady days in Punjab’s (4)____ industry and Mohali is where the action is. It is a veritable music factory, some 20 songs are written, composed, recorded, and released
(5)_______ every day, by some reckoning.
Q1050.
Select the most appropriate word to fill in blank 5.
  1. Aeverywhere
  2. Bthere
  3. Cnowhere
  4. Dhere
Show answer

Concept: 'Here' refers to the place just mentioned – Mohali, 'where the action is'.

  1. Songs are 'released here every day' – in Mohali, the music factory.
  2. 'There' would point to a distant place; 'everywhere' and 'nowhere' contradict the idea of Mohali as the centre.

Trick: The writer is speaking of Mohali as the present scene → here.

Answer: (D) here

अवधारणा: 'Here' अभी बताए गए स्थान Mohali की ओर संकेत करता है – 'where the action is'।

  1. Songs 'released here every day' – Mohali में, जो संगीत की फैक्टरी है।
  2. 'There' दूर के स्थान के लिए; 'everywhere', 'nowhere' Mohali के केंद्र होने के भाव के विपरीत।

ट्रिक: लेखक Mohali को वर्तमान स्थल मानकर बोल रहा है → here।

उत्तर: (D) here

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionCloze TestSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 11 Nov Shift 1
Q1051.
Select the most appropriate idiom to fill in the blank.
The family's meeting on property dispute begins today and I'm just sitting down with a cup of coffee, enjoying ___________.
  1. Athe better of
  2. Bthe corridors of power
  3. Cthe calm before the storm
  4. Dthe bottom line
Show answer

Concept: The blank needs an idiom for a quiet, peaceful moment just before trouble or a tense event begins.

  1. The family meeting on a property dispute is likely to be tense and noisy; the speaker is enjoying coffee before it starts.
  2. The calm before the storm = a quiet period just before a difficult or turbulent event — fits exactly.
  3. The better of is incomplete (get the better of = defeat); the corridors of power = places where important decisions are made; the bottom line = the most important fact/final result.

Trick: Coming trouble + present peace = calm before the storm.

Answer: (C) the calm before the storm

अवधारणा: रिक्त स्थान में ऐसा idiom चाहिए जो किसी परेशानी/तनावपूर्ण घटना से ठीक पहले की शांति बताए।

  1. Property dispute वाली family meeting तनावपूर्ण होगी; वक्ता उससे पहले आराम से coffee पी रहा है।
  2. The calm before the storm = तूफ़ान (मुसीबत) से पहले की शांति — सटीक बैठता है।
  3. The better of अधूरा है; the corridors of power = सत्ता के गलियारे; the bottom line = मुख्य बात/अंतिम परिणाम।

ट्रिक: आने वाली मुसीबत + अभी की शांति = calm before the storm.

उत्तर: (C) the calm before the storm

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdiomsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1052.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
How did you come about his purse?
  1. Acome into
  2. Bcome off
  3. Ccome out
  4. Dcome by
Show answer

Concept: Phrasal verbs have fixed meanings: come by = to obtain/get something (often by chance); come about = to happen.

  1. The sentence asks how the person got his purse, so the meaning needed is 'obtain'.
  2. Come about means 'happen', which does not fit with an object (his purse).
  3. Come into = inherit; come off = become detached/succeed; come out = be revealed. Only come by = obtain.

Trick: How did you come by it? = How did you get it?

Answer: (D) come by

अवधारणा: Phrasal verbs के निश्चित अर्थ होते हैं: come by = कुछ प्राप्त करना (पाना); come about = घटित होना।

  1. वाक्य पूछ रहा है कि उसका पर्स तुम्हें कैसे मिला — अर्थ 'प्राप्त करना' चाहिए।
  2. Come about = घटित होना, जो object (his purse) के साथ नहीं बैठता।
  3. Come into = विरासत में पाना; come off = अलग होना/सफल होना; come out = प्रकट होना। केवल come by = पाना।

ट्रिक: How did you come by it? = यह तुम्हें कैसे मिला?

उत्तर: (D) come by

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionPhrasal VerbsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1053.
Identify the sentence that correctly uses the indefinite article.
  1. A‘Amateur’ is a noun which refers to a person who takes part in an activity as a hobby or for pleasure and not as a job.
  2. B‘Amateur’ is a noun which refers to a person who takes part in an activity as a hobby or for pleasure and not as an job.
  3. C‘Amateur’ is a noun which refers to an person who takes part in an activity as a hobby or for pleasure and not as a job.
  4. D‘Amateur’ is a noun which refers to a person who takes part in a activity as a hobby or for pleasure and not as a job.
Show answer

Concept: A is used before a consonant sound, an before a vowel sound.

  1. person, hobby, job begin with consonant sounds → a person, a hobby, a job.
  2. activity begins with a vowel sound → an activity.
  3. Option B wrongly has 'an job', C has 'an person', D has 'a activity'. Only A uses all articles correctly.

Yaad rakhein: Judge by the first sound, not the spelling: a university, an hour.

Answer: (A) the sentence using 'a person', 'an activity', 'a hobby', 'a job'

अवधारणा: A consonant ध्वनि (sound) से पहले, an vowel ध्वनि से पहले लगता है।

  1. person, hobby, job consonant sound से शुरू → a person, a hobby, a job।
  2. activity vowel sound से शुरू → an activity।
  3. B में 'an job', C में 'an person', D में 'a activity' गलत है। केवल A सही है।

याद रखें: Spelling नहीं, पहली ध्वनि देखें: a university, an hour.

उत्तर: (A) the sentence using 'a person', 'an activity', 'a hobby', 'a job'

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionArticlesSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1054.
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
Pester
  1. AAbuse
  2. BAdore
  3. CAnnoy
  4. DAmuse
Show answer

Concept: Pester means to trouble or annoy someone with repeated requests or interruptions.

  1. Pester ≈ annoy, bother, harass (e.g. Children pester parents for toys).
  2. Abuse = treat badly/insult (much stronger); Adore = love deeply; Amuse = entertain.
  3. So the closest synonym is Annoy.

Trick: Pest (कीड़ा) keeps bothering you → pester = annoy.

Answer: (C) Annoy

अवधारणा: Pester का अर्थ है बार-बार माँग या टोका-टाकी से किसी को परेशान करना।

  1. Pester ≈ annoy, bother (तंग करना), जैसे बच्चे खिलौनों के लिए माता-पिता को pester करते हैं।
  2. Abuse = दुर्व्यवहार/गाली देना; Adore = बहुत प्यार करना; Amuse = मनोरंजन करना।
  3. अतः निकटतम समानार्थी Annoy (परेशान करना) है।

ट्रिक: Pest (कीड़ा) बार-बार तंग करता है → pester = annoy.

उत्तर: (C) Annoy

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSynonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1055.
Select the most appropriate idiom from the following options that can substitute the underlined part of the given sentence.
Sometimes doing something that makes it impossible to return to the previous
situation later strengthens you.
  1. APainting the town red
  2. BKnocking your socks off
  3. CBurning your bridges
  4. DA red-letter day
Show answer

Concept: Burn one's bridges = to do something that makes it impossible to go back to an earlier situation.

  1. The underlined part describes an irreversible step — exactly the meaning of burning your bridges.
  2. Painting the town red = celebrating wildly; knocking your socks off = greatly impressing; a red-letter day = a memorable, happy day.
  3. Sometimes burning your bridges strengthens you, because there is no way back.

Trick: Burn the bridge behind you → no return path.

Answer: (C) Burning your bridges

अवधारणा: Burn one's bridges = ऐसा काम करना जिससे पुरानी स्थिति में लौटना असंभव हो जाए।

  1. रेखांकित भाग एक ऐसे कदम को बताता है जिससे वापसी नहीं हो सकती — यही burning your bridges है।
  2. Painting the town red = धूमधाम से जश्न; knocking your socks off = बहुत प्रभावित करना; a red-letter day = यादगार/शुभ दिन।
  3. इसलिए उत्तर Burning your bridges है।

ट्रिक: पीछे का पुल जला दिया → लौटने का रास्ता खत्म।

उत्तर: (C) Burning your bridges

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdiomsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1056.
The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a grammatical error.
She is / the very ambitious woman / I have ever / come across.
  1. AI have hard ever
  2. BShe is
  3. Cthe very ambitious woman
  4. Dcome across
Show answer

Concept: A clause like I have ever come across compares one person with all others, so the superlative degree is required (the most …).

  1. 'She is the very ambitious woman I have ever come across' uses the positive degree very ambitious — wrong.
  2. Correct: 'She is the most ambitious woman I have ever come across.'
  3. The other segments are grammatically fine, so the error lies in 'the very ambitious woman'.

Trick: '… ever + present perfect' after a noun → use the superlative.

Answer: (C) the very ambitious woman

अवधारणा: I have ever come across जैसा clause सब से तुलना करता है, अतः superlative degree (the most …) चाहिए।

  1. 'the very ambitious woman' में positive degree है — यह गलत है।
  2. सही वाक्य: 'She is the most ambitious woman I have ever come across.'
  3. बाकी भाग सही हैं, अतः त्रुटि 'the very ambitious woman' में है।

ट्रिक: Noun के बाद '… ever + present perfect' → superlative लगाएँ।

उत्तर: (C) the very ambitious woman

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSpotting ErrorsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1057.
Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
I am not afraid to spoke the truth.
  1. Aam not afraid to speaking
  2. Bam not afraid to speak
  3. Cwas not afraid to spoken
  4. Dwas not afraid to spoke
Show answer

Concept: After to (infinitive marker), the verb must be in its base form (V1): to speak, to go, to write.

  1. 'to spoke' (V2) and 'to spoken' (V3) are wrong; 'to speaking' is also wrong here because afraid to takes the infinitive.
  2. The sentence is in the present (I am …), so no need to change it to was.
  3. Correct: 'I am not afraid to speak the truth.'

Yaad rakhein: to + V1 always: to speak, never to spoke.

Answer: (B) am not afraid to speak

अवधारणा: to (infinitive) के बाद verb की मूल अवस्था (V1) आती है: to speak, to go।

  1. 'to spoke' (V2), 'to spoken' (V3) गलत हैं; afraid to के साथ 'to speaking' भी गलत है।
  2. वाक्य present में है (I am), अतः was करने की ज़रूरत नहीं।
  3. सही: 'I am not afraid to speak the truth.'

याद रखें: to + V1 हमेशा: to speak, कभी to spoke नहीं।

उत्तर: (B) am not afraid to speak

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSentence ImprovementSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1058.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Wild goose chase
  1. ADoing something crazy
  2. BWorking very hard for something
  3. CTo betray someone
  4. DFutile search
Show answer

Concept: Wild goose chase = a long, hopeless search for something that cannot be found; a futile pursuit.

  1. A wild goose is almost impossible to catch, so chasing it wastes time and effort.
  2. Example: Looking for the lost ring on the beach was a wild goose chase.
  3. 'Working very hard' misses the idea of uselessness; 'crazy' and 'betray' are unrelated.

Trick: Chasing a wild goose = getting nothing → futile.

Answer: (D) Futile search

अवधारणा: Wild goose chase = ऐसी खोज जो व्यर्थ (futile) हो, जिसका कोई नतीजा न निकले।

  1. जंगली हंस को पकड़ना लगभग असंभव है, इसलिए उसका पीछा करना समय की बर्बादी है।
  2. उदाहरण: Looking for the lost ring on the beach was a wild goose chase.
  3. 'बहुत मेहनत करना' में व्यर्थता का भाव नहीं है; 'crazy' व 'betray' असंबंधित हैं।

ट्रिक: जंगली हंस का पीछा = हाथ कुछ नहीं → व्यर्थ खोज।

उत्तर: (D) Futile search

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdiomsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1059.
Choose the correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
Saira is unable to sustain friendships because she always has too many axes to grind.
  1. ATo work for others
  2. BTo have one’s own interests to serve
  3. CTo use weapons carefully
  4. DTo believe in selflessness
Show answer

Concept: Have an axe to grind = to have a private or selfish motive behind what one does.

  1. Saira cannot keep friends because she always has selfish motives — she wants to serve her own interests.
  2. 'To use weapons carefully' is a literal trap; 'work for others' and 'selflessness' are the opposite meaning.
  3. Hence: to have one's own interests to serve.

Trick: Grinding (sharpening) your own axe = selfish motive.

Answer: (B) To have one’s own interests to serve

अवधारणा: Have an axe to grind = किसी काम के पीछे अपना निजी/स्वार्थी मकसद होना।

  1. Saira दोस्ती नहीं निभा पाती क्योंकि उसके हमेशा अपने स्वार्थ होते हैं।
  2. 'हथियार सावधानी से चलाना' शाब्दिक जाल है; 'दूसरों के लिए काम' और 'निस्वार्थता' उल्टा अर्थ हैं।
  3. अतः अर्थ है: अपना स्वार्थ साधना।

ट्रिक: अपनी कुल्हाड़ी पर धार लगाना = अपना मतलब साधना।

उत्तर: (B) To have one’s own interests to serve

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdiomsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3
Q1060.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word.
He applied for the vacant post.
  1. AIndistinct
  2. BEmpty
  3. COccupied
  4. DLucid
Show answer

Concept: Vacant = empty, not filled (a vacant post is one with nobody in it).

  1. The opposite of a vacant post is a post that is filled, i.e. occupied.
  2. Empty is a synonym, not an antonym.
  3. Indistinct (unclear) and Lucid (clear) are unrelated.

Yaad rakhein: Vacant seat ↔ occupied seat.

Answer: (C) Occupied

अवधारणा: Vacant = खाली, जिस पर कोई न हो (vacant post = रिक्त पद)।

  1. रिक्त पद का उल्टा भरा हुआ पद = occupied।
  2. Empty समानार्थी है, विलोम नहीं।
  3. Indistinct (अस्पष्ट) और Lucid (स्पष्ट) असंबंधित हैं।

याद रखें: Vacant seat ↔ occupied seat.

उत्तर: (C) Occupied

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionAntonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2022 · 10 Nov Shift 3