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

Concept: Authentic = real, genuine, of undisputed origin.

1. genuine = real → synonym.
2. dubious, counterfeit (fake) are opposites; incredible = unbelievable.

Trick: Authentic ≈ genuine ≈ original.

Answer: (B) genuine

Concept: With either … or / neither … nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

1. Nearer subject = Reema (singular).
2. So verb must be singular: has, not have.
3. Correct: Either Ramesh or Reema has the keys…

Trick: Either/or → look at the subject closest to the verb.

Answer: (A) or Reema have

Concept: Make up one's mind = to decide.

1. e.g. She made up her mind to study law.
2. Not to be confused with make up (invent a story = lie) – a trap option.

Trick: Make up your mind = decide.

Answer: (C) to decide

Concept: After a linking verb (is) with an adverb (quite), we need an adjective as complement, not a noun.

1. irrelevance is a noun.
2. The adjective form is irrelevant: …is quite irrelevant.
3. Other segments are correct.

Trick: is + quite + adjective.

Answer: (D) is quite irrelevance

Concept: A condition is introduced by if/unless; though shows contrast.

1. Her coming depends on the weather → a condition.
2. Correct: She will come to work if it doesn't rain (or unless it rains) tomorrow.
3. The error is in 'though it doesn't'.

Trick: Condition → if/unless; contrast → though.

Answer: (A) though it doesn't

Concept: Ferocious = savagely fierce, violent. Opposite: gentle = mild, kind.

1. ruthless, brutal are synonyms.
2. fearless means brave – not an opposite.
3. So gentle.

Trick: Ferocious tiger ↔ gentle lamb.

Answer: (C) gentle

Concept: Kleptomania = an irresistible urge to steal (klepto = steal, mania = madness).

1. plunder = loot by force; sabotage = deliberate damage.
2. megalomania = obsession with power/greatness.

Yaad rakhein: Klepto = thief (Greek).

Answer: (A) kleptomania

Concept: An action that will be completed before a future time ('by tomorrow') takes the future perfect: will have + V3.

1. 'by tomorrow' marks a future deadline.
2. So: Ashok will have finished his work by tomorrow.
3. 'has finished' (present) and 'had finished' (past) clash with tomorrow; 'would have finish' uses a wrong verb form.

Trick: By + future time → will have + V3.

Answer: (C) will have finished

Concept: The correct spelling is explosion (explode → explosion, -sion).

1. 'explotion' wrongly uses -tion.
2. carriage, descent, cautious are correct.

Trick: Verbs ending in -de → -sion: explode → explosion, decide → decision.

Answer: (A) explotion

Concept: The correct spelling is omission – one m, double s (omit → omission).

1. 'ommission' wrongly doubles the m.
2. accommodate (double c, double m), occurred, oppressed are correct.

Trick: omit has one m → omission has one m.

Answer: (D) ommission

Concept: Gradual = happening slowly and steadily, step by step, without sudden breaks.

1. Among options, continuous (steady, unbroken) is closest.
2. abrupt, hasty are opposites; uneven suggests irregularity.

Trick: Gradual change = slow, continuous change.

Answer: (D) continuous

Concept: Because introduces a reason.

1. Why can't the project be delayed? – it is urgent → reason → because.
2. although shows contrast; as if shows manner/comparison; than is for comparison.

Trick: Answer to 'why?' → because.

Answer: (C) because

Concept: Humility = modesty, a low view of one's own importance. Opposite: vanity = excessive pride in oneself.

1. modesty is a synonym.
2. timidity (shyness) and servility (excessive submissiveness) are not opposites of humility.
3. So vanity.

Trick: Humble ↔ vain.

Answer: (C) vanity

Concept: The verb distinguish takes from (distinguish A from B) or between (distinguish between A and B).

1. Here the pattern is 'distinguish a loyal friend ___ a flatterer' → A from B.
2. 'between' would need 'and'; 'and', 'among' do not fit.

Trick: distinguish/differ/separate + from.

Answer: (A) from

Concept: Sitting on a gold mine = owning something very valuable (often without realising its full worth).

1. e.g. With that land near the highway, he is sitting on a gold mine.
2. It does not mean hunting secretly, wasting, or missing an opportunity.

Trick: Gold mine = source of great value you already have.

Answer: (A) to own something potentially valuable

Concept: Answer from the first paragraph about early civilisations.

1. 'Ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, and Chinese civilizations began to adapt such symbols to represent concepts…'
2. Art, facilities, culture are mentioned elsewhere in other contexts.

Trick: Match the key word 'represent' in the passage.

Answer: (C) concepts

Concept: The passage gives the reason for Olympic use directly.

1. '…they are a concise way to communicate a concept to people who speak many different languages, pictograms have also been used extensively at the Olympics…'
2. Thus they transcend languages and convey information effectively.
3. 'Redesigned for each set of games' is a fact, not the reason.

Trick: Look for 'Because …' before 'Olympics'.

Answer: (B) they can transcend languages and convey information effectively

Concept: The main idea must cover the whole passage, not one paragraph.

1. The passage moves from ancient pictographs (Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese) to modern uses (railway map, Olympics, road signs, ISO 7001, computer icons).
2. 'Art form' and 'origin' cover only parts; limitations are not discussed.

Trick: Choose the option that spans beginning to end.

Answer: (A) Use of pictographs in ancient and modern times

Concept: The passage explicitly calls one use an 'early modern example'.

1. 'An early modern example… may be seen in the map in the London suburban timetables of the London and North Eastern Railway, 1936–1947, designed by George Dow.'
2. Logographic writing is ancient; icons and chemical hazard symbols are present-day uses.

Trick: Keyword match: 'early modern example'.

Answer: (C) London railway timetable

Concept: Check each statement against the passage.

1. (A) True – ideograms are 'symbols which represent ideas'. (C) True – George Dow's map. (D) True – road signs use pictographs.
2. (B) False – the Rock art of the Chumash people is part of the Native American history of California, not Mesopotamian history.

Trick: In NOT-true questions, look for a mixed-up pairing of names.

Answer: (B) Rock art of Chumash people is part of Mesopotamian history.