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SSC CPO Paper I · 6,600 questions

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

Real previous year questions, subject-wise. Try the question, then open the answer and the explanation in Hindi & English – free, no login.

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1,650 questions in English Comprehension.

Q1521.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
DEPREDATION
  1. Aplunder
  2. Bdevastation
  3. Cpillage
  4. Dconstruction
Show answer

Concept: Depredation = an act of attacking, plundering or destroying.

  1. Its opposite is building up – construction.
  2. ‘plunder’, ‘devastation’ and ‘pillage’ all mean destruction/looting – synonyms.

Yaad rakhein: Depredation (loot-paat, vinaash) ↔ Construction (nirmaan).

Answer: (D) construction

अवधारणा: Depredation = लूटपाट, विनाश, आक्रमण।

  1. इसका विलोम है निर्माण – construction।
  2. ‘plunder’, ‘devastation’, ‘pillage’ – सभी लूट/विनाश के अर्थ में हैं, पर्यायवाची।

याद रखें: Depredation (विनाश) ↔ Construction (निर्माण)।

उत्तर: (D) construction

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionAntonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1522.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
______ you deserve credit for the success of the show.
  1. ANo less
  2. BSuch that
  3. CNone but
  4. DOnly if
Show answer

Concept: None but = no one except; it singles out the subject as the only one.

  1. “None but you deserve credit for the success of the show” = only you deserve the credit.
  2. ‘No less’ needs ‘than’; ‘Such that’ and ‘Only if’ introduce clauses and cannot stand before a pronoun subject like this.

Yaad rakhein: None but + person = only that person (None but the brave deserve the fair).

Answer: (C) None but

अवधारणा: None but = के अलावा कोई नहीं; केवल।

  1. “None but you deserve credit for the success of the show” = केवल तुम श्रेय के हकदार हो।
  2. ‘No less’ के साथ ‘than’ चाहिए; ‘Such that’, ‘Only if’ उपवाक्य जोड़ते हैं, ऐसे subject से पहले नहीं आते।

याद रखें: None but + व्यक्ति = केवल वही (None but the brave deserve the fair)।

उत्तर: (C) None but

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionFill in the BlanksSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1523.
Select the correctly spelt word.
  1. Acamotion
  2. Bcommotion
  3. Ccammosion
  4. Dcomosion
Show answer

Concept: The correct spelling is commotion (noisy disturbance, confusion).

  1. It begins with com- (double ‘m’): com-mo-tion.
  2. It ends in -tion, not ‘-sion’.
  3. ‘camotion’, ‘cammosion’, ‘comosion’ break one of these rules.

Yaad rakhein: com + motion = commotion (motion with double m).

Answer: (B) commotion

अवधारणा: सही वर्तनी commotion है (अर्थ: हलचल, कोलाहल)।

  1. शुरुआत com- (दो ‘m’) से: com-mo-tion।
  2. अंत -tion से, ‘-sion’ से नहीं।
  3. ‘camotion’, ‘cammosion’, ‘comosion’ इनमें से कोई नियम तोड़ते हैं।

याद रखें: com + motion = commotion।

उत्तर: (B) commotion

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSpellingSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1524.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Strike when the iron is hot
  1. Asort out differences promptly
  2. Btorture someone with a hot iron
  3. Cwait patiently for the results
  4. Dgrab a favourable opportunity promptly
Show answer

Concept: Strike while (when) the iron is hot = act promptly while the circumstances are favourable.

  1. A blacksmith shapes iron only while it is hot; once it cools the chance is lost.
  2. So it means grab a favourable opportunity promptly.
  3. ‘torture someone with a hot iron’ is a literal trap; ‘wait patiently’ is the opposite.

Yaad rakhein: Mauke ka fayda turant uthao – jab tak loha garam hai, hathoda maaro.

Answer: (D) grab a favourable opportunity promptly

अवधारणा: Strike while the iron is hot = अनुकूल अवसर का तुरंत लाभ उठाना।

  1. लोहार लोहे को गरम रहते ही आकार देता है; ठंडा होने पर अवसर चला जाता है।
  2. अतः अर्थ है grab a favourable opportunity promptly।
  3. ‘torture someone with a hot iron’ शाब्दिक जाल है; ‘wait patiently’ उलटा अर्थ है।

याद रखें: बहती गंगा में हाथ धोना / लोहा गरम है, हथौड़ा मार दो।

उत्तर: (D) grab a favourable opportunity promptly

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdioms and PhrasesSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1525.
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
WRENCH
  1. Adeter
  2. Bwrest
  3. Creject
  4. Dsupply
Show answer

Concept: Wrench (verb) = to pull or twist something away suddenly and forcibly.

  1. Wrest = to pull away forcibly from someone’s grasp – same meaning.
  2. ‘deter’ (discourage), ‘reject’ (refuse) and ‘supply’ (provide) do not match.

Yaad rakhein: Wrench = Wrest = Jerk away (jhatka dekar cheenna).

Answer: (B) wrest

अवधारणा: Wrench (क्रिया) = झटके से खींचना या मरोड़कर छीनना।

  1. Wrest = किसी की पकड़ से ज़बरदस्ती छीन लेना – समान अर्थ।
  2. ‘deter’ (रोकना), ‘reject’ (अस्वीकार करना), ‘supply’ (आपूर्ति करना) मेल नहीं खाते।

याद रखें: Wrench = Wrest (झटके से छीनना)।

उत्तर: (B) wrest

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSynonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1526.
Select the misspelt word.
  1. Abereave
  2. Bbeguile
  3. Cbemoan
  4. Dbeseige
Show answer

Concept: Spelling rule ‘i before e except after c’: besiege has ‘ie’ after ‘s’.

  1. Correct spelling: be-siege (like siege).
  2. ‘beseige’ uses ‘ei’ – so it is misspelt.
  3. ‘bereave’, ‘beguile’, ‘bemoan’ are all correctly spelt.

Yaad rakhein: siege → besiege (i before e).

Answer: (D) beseige

अवधारणा: नियम ‘i before e except after c’: besiege में ‘s’ के बाद ‘ie’ आता है।

  1. सही वर्तनी: be-siege (siege की तरह)।
  2. ‘beseige’ में ‘ei’ है – अतः गलत वर्तनी।
  3. ‘bereave’, ‘beguile’, ‘bemoan’ सही हैं।

याद रखें: siege → besiege (i before e)।

उत्तर: (D) beseige

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSpellingSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1527.
Select the most appropriate one-word substitution for the given group of words.
Harsh or discordant sound
  1. Amonotony
  2. Bcacophony
  3. Charmony
  4. Dsymphony
Show answer

Concept: A harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds is called cacophony.

  1. cacophony: ‘kakos’ (bad) + ‘phone’ (sound).
  2. ‘harmony’ and ‘symphony’ are pleasant, well-combined sounds – opposite.
  3. ‘monotony’ = dull sameness, not harshness.

Yaad rakhein: Cacophony (karkash dhvani) ↔ Euphony (madhur dhvani).

Answer: (B) cacophony

अवधारणा: कर्कश, बेसुरी ध्वनि को cacophony कहते हैं।

  1. cacophony: ‘kakos’ (बुरा) + ‘phone’ (ध्वनि)।
  2. ‘harmony’, ‘symphony’ मधुर, सुसंगत ध्वनियाँ हैं – विपरीत।
  3. ‘monotony’ = एकरसता, कर्कशता नहीं।

याद रखें: Cacophony (कर्कश ध्वनि) ↔ Euphony (मधुर ध्वनि)।

उत्तर: (B) cacophony

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionOne Word SubstitutionSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1528.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
Eggs are sold ______ the dozen.
  1. Aat
  2. Bby
  3. Cin
  4. Dto
Show answer

Concept: For units of sale and measurement we use by: by the dozen, by the kilo, by the metre.

  1. “Eggs are sold by the dozen.”
  2. ‘at’ goes with a price (at ₹60 a dozen); ‘in’ and ‘to’ are not used for units of sale.

Yaad rakhein: Sold by the dozen / by weight; sold at a price.

Answer: (B) by

अवधारणा: बिक्री/माप की इकाई के लिए by लगता है: by the dozen, by the kilo।

  1. “Eggs are sold by the dozen.”
  2. ‘at’ कीमत के साथ आता है (at ₹60 a dozen); ‘in’, ‘to’ इकाई के लिए प्रयोग नहीं होते।

याद रखें: by + इकाई (by the dozen); at + कीमत।

उत्तर: (B) by

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionFill in the BlanksSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1529.
Select the most appropriate one-word substitution for the given group of words.
Arrangement of events according to the dates of occurrence
  1. Aanalogy
  2. Btrilogy
  3. Cchronology
  4. Dtheology
Show answer

Concept: Arranging events in the order of their dates is chronology.

  1. chronology: ‘chronos’ (time) + ‘logy’ (study/order).
  2. ‘analogy’ = comparison; ‘trilogy’ = set of three works; ‘theology’ = study of religion.

Yaad rakhein: Chrono = time (chronometer, chronic, chronology).

Answer: (C) chronology

अवधारणा: घटनाओं को तिथि-क्रम में व्यवस्थित करना = chronology (कालक्रम)।

  1. chronology: ‘chronos’ (समय) + ‘logy’ (अध्ययन/क्रम)।
  2. ‘analogy’ = समानता; ‘trilogy’ = तीन रचनाओं का समूह; ‘theology’ = धर्मशास्त्र।

याद रखें: Chrono = समय (chronometer, chronology)।

उत्तर: (C) chronology

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionOne Word SubstitutionSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1530.
Select the most appropriate one-word substitution for the given group of words.
A person who is trained for travelling into space
  1. Aastronaut
  2. Bpilot
  3. Cphysicist
  4. Dscientist
Show answer

Concept: A person trained to travel into space is an astronaut.

  1. astronaut: ‘astron’ (star) + ‘nautes’ (sailor) – a ‘star-sailor’.
  2. ‘pilot’ flies aircraft; ‘physicist’ and ‘scientist’ are researchers, not space travellers.

Yaad rakhein: Astronaut (USA), Cosmonaut (Russia), Vyomanaut (India), Taikonaut (China).

Answer: (A) astronaut

अवधारणा: अंतरिक्ष यात्रा हेतु प्रशिक्षित व्यक्ति = astronaut (अंतरिक्ष यात्री)।

  1. astronaut: ‘astron’ (तारा) + ‘nautes’ (नाविक)।
  2. ‘pilot’ विमान उड़ाता है; ‘physicist’, ‘scientist’ शोधकर्ता हैं।

याद रखें: Astronaut (USA), Cosmonaut (Russia), Vyomanaut (India)।

उत्तर: (A) astronaut

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionOne Word SubstitutionSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1531.
Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
______ of living life on his own terms, he made few compromises.
  1. ADesirous
  2. BDesire
  3. CDesired
  4. DDesiring
Show answer

Concept: An adjective phrase can open a sentence to describe the subject: desirous of + -ing = wishing to.

  1. “Desirous of living life on his own terms, he made few compromises.” – ‘desirous’ describes ‘he’.
  2. The fixed pattern is ‘desirous of’; ‘Desiring’ takes a direct object (desiring to live), not ‘of’.
  3. ‘Desire’ (noun/verb) and ‘Desired’ (past) do not fit the structure.

Yaad rakhein: Desirous of, fond of, capable of – adjective + of.

Answer: (A) Desirous

अवधारणा: वाक्य की शुरुआत में विशेषण-वाक्यांश subject का वर्णन कर सकता है: desirous of + -ing = की इच्छा रखने वाला।

  1. “Desirous of living life on his own terms, he made few compromises.” – ‘desirous’ ‘he’ का वर्णन करता है।
  2. मानक प्रयोग ‘desirous of’ है; ‘Desiring’ के साथ ‘of’ नहीं, सीधा object आता है।
  3. ‘Desire’ और ‘Desired’ इस संरचना में नहीं बैठते।

याद रखें: Desirous of, fond of, capable of – adjective + of।

उत्तर: (A) Desirous

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionFill in the BlanksSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1532.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
DISTRACT
  1. Adivert
  2. Bbeguile
  3. Cperplex
  4. Dclarify
Show answer

Concept: Distract = to divert attention; to confuse or bewilder.

  1. The opposite of confusing someone is making things clear – clarify.
  2. ‘divert’, ‘beguile’ and ‘perplex’ are all similar to distract – synonyms.

Yaad rakhein: Distract (dhyaan bhatkana) ↔ Clarify / Focus.

Answer: (D) clarify

अवधारणा: Distract = ध्यान भटकाना; उलझन में डालना।

  1. उलझाने का विलोम है स्पष्ट करना – clarify।
  2. ‘divert’, ‘beguile’, ‘perplex’ – सभी distract के समान अर्थ वाले हैं।

याद रखें: Distract (ध्यान भटकाना) ↔ Clarify (स्पष्ट करना)।

उत्तर: (D) clarify

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionAntonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1533.
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
GAUDY
  1. Aplain
  2. Bproper
  3. Cflashy
  4. Dsimple
Show answer

Concept: Gaudy = extravagantly bright or showy, often tasteless.

  1. Flashy = showy, ostentatious – same meaning.
  2. ‘plain’ and ‘simple’ are opposites; ‘proper’ is unrelated.

Yaad rakhein: Gaudy = Flashy = Garish = Showy (bhadkila).

Answer: (C) flashy

अवधारणा: Gaudy = भड़कीला, दिखावटी।

  1. Flashy = चमक-दमक वाला, दिखावटी – समान अर्थ।
  2. ‘plain’, ‘simple’ विलोम हैं; ‘proper’ असंबंधित।

याद रखें: Gaudy = Flashy = Garish (भड़कीला)।

उत्तर: (C) flashy

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSynonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1534.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’
Have either of you been to the planetarium before?
  1. AHave everyone
  2. BNo substitution required
  3. CHas both
  4. DHas either
Show answer

Concept: Either (and ‘either of’) is singular and takes a singular verb.

  1. ‘Have either of you…’ uses plural ‘have’ – wrong.
  2. Correct: “Has either of you been to the planetarium before?”
  3. ‘Has both’ (both is plural) and ‘Have everyone’ (everyone is singular) are wrong agreements.

Yaad rakhein: Either, neither, each, everyone + singular verb.

Answer: (D) Has either

अवधारणा: Either (और ‘either of’) एकवचन है, अतः एकवचन verb लेता है।

  1. ‘Have either of you…’ में बहुवचन ‘have’ है – गलत।
  2. सही: “Has either of you been to the planetarium before?”
  3. ‘Has both’ (both बहुवचन) और ‘Have everyone’ (everyone एकवचन) में agreement गलत है।

याद रखें: Either, neither, each, everyone + एकवचन verb।

उत्तर: (D) Has either

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSentence ImprovementSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1535.
Select the most appropriate one-word substitution for the given group of words.
The dates when days and nights are of equal length
  1. Asolstice
  2. Beclipse
  3. Cequinox
  4. Dstellar
Show answer

Concept: The two dates in a year when day and night are nearly equal are the equinoxes (about 21 March and 23 September).

  1. equinox: ‘equi’ (equal) + ‘nox’ (night).
  2. ‘solstice’ = longest or shortest day (21 June, 22 December); ‘eclipse’ = one body hiding another; ‘stellar’ = related to stars.

Yaad rakhein: Equinox = equal night; Solstice = sun ‘stands still’ (longest/shortest day).

Answer: (C) equinox

अवधारणा: वर्ष की वे तिथियाँ जब दिन-रात लगभग बराबर होते हैं = equinox (विषुव) – लगभग 21 मार्च व 23 सितंबर।

  1. equinox: ‘equi’ (बराबर) + ‘nox’ (रात)।
  2. ‘solstice’ = सबसे लंबा/छोटा दिन (21 जून, 22 दिसंबर); ‘eclipse’ = ग्रहण; ‘stellar’ = तारों से संबंधित।

याद रखें: Equinox = बराबर रात (विषुव); Solstice = संक्रांति।

उत्तर: (C) equinox

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionOne Word SubstitutionSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1536.
Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word.
MENACE
  1. Abalance
  2. Bthreat
  3. Ccomfort
  4. Dperil
Show answer

Concept: Menace = a threat or danger.

  1. Its opposite is a state of safety and ease – comfort.
  2. ‘threat’ and ‘peril’ are synonyms; ‘balance’ is unrelated.

Yaad rakhein: Menace (khatra) ↔ Comfort / Safety.

Answer: (C) comfort

अवधारणा: Menace = ख़तरा, धमकी।

  1. इसका विलोम सुरक्षा व आराम की स्थिति – comfort।
  2. ‘threat’, ‘peril’ पर्यायवाची हैं; ‘balance’ असंबंधित।

याद रखें: Menace (ख़तरा) ↔ Comfort (आराम/सुरक्षा)।

उत्तर: (C) comfort

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionAntonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1537.
Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.
FASTEN
  1. Aallow
  2. Bhurry
  3. Caffix
  4. Dhalt
Show answer

Concept: Fasten = to fix or attach firmly.

  1. Affix = to stick or attach – same meaning.
  2. ‘hurry’ is the trap (‘fast’ = quick), but fasten has nothing to do with speed; ‘allow’, ‘halt’ are unrelated.

Yaad rakhein: Fasten your seat belt = attach it firmly → affix.

Answer: (C) affix

अवधारणा: Fasten = कसकर बाँधना, जोड़ना।

  1. Affix = चिपकाना, जोड़ना – समान अर्थ।
  2. ‘hurry’ जाल है (‘fast’ = तेज़), पर fasten का गति से संबंध नहीं; ‘allow’, ‘halt’ असंबंधित।

याद रखें: Fasten your seat belt = बेल्ट बाँधो → affix।

उत्तर: (C) affix

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSynonymsSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1538.
Identify the segment in the sentence which contains a grammatical error.
One of the proposals received by us seem very interesting.
  1. Athe proposals
  2. Breceived by us
  3. COne of
  4. Dseem very interesting
Show answer

Concept: In ‘One of + plural noun’, the subject is ‘One’, so the verb is singular.

  1. Subject = ‘One (of the proposals)’ → singular.
  2. ‘seem’ must be seems: “One of the proposals received by us seems very interesting.”
  3. ‘the proposals’ (plural after ‘one of’) is correct.

Yaad rakhein: One of + plural noun + singular verb.

Answer: (D) seem very interesting

अवधारणा: ‘One of + बहुवचन संज्ञा’ में subject ‘One’ होता है, अतः verb एकवचन।

  1. Subject = ‘One (of the proposals)’ → एकवचन।
  2. ‘seem’ की जगह seems: “One of the proposals received by us seems very interesting.”
  3. ‘one of’ के बाद ‘the proposals’ (बहुवचन) सही है।

याद रखें: One of + बहुवचन संज्ञा + एकवचन verb।

उत्तर: (D) seem very interesting

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionError SpottingSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1539.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Rise to the occasion
  1. Achallenge an opponent who is strong
  2. Bshow you can deal with a situation successfully
  3. Ctake a big risk in order to succeed
  4. Dassess a critical situation carefully
Show answer

Concept: Rise to the occasion = to perform well and handle a difficult or unexpected situation successfully.

  1. E.g. “The young captain rose to the occasion in the final.”
  2. So the meaning is show you can deal with a situation successfully.
  3. The other options (challenge an opponent, take a risk, assess carefully) are not the meaning.

Yaad rakhein: Rise to the occasion = mauke par khara utarna.

Answer: (B) show you can deal with a situation successfully

अवधारणा: Rise to the occasion = कठिन परिस्थिति में सफलतापूर्वक काम करके दिखाना; मौके पर खरा उतरना।

  1. उदाहरण: “The young captain rose to the occasion in the final.”
  2. अतः अर्थ है show you can deal with a situation successfully।
  3. अन्य विकल्प (मज़बूत विरोधी को चुनौती, जोखिम लेना, सावधानी से आकलन) इसका अर्थ नहीं।

याद रखें: Rise to the occasion = मौके पर खरा उतरना।

उत्तर: (B) show you can deal with a situation successfully

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionIdioms and PhrasesSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1
Q1540.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution required’.
A large swarm of dogs was blocking the way.
  1. Aschool of
  2. Bpack of
  3. Cherd of
  4. DNo substitution required
Show answer

Concept: Collective nouns are fixed: a pack of dogs / wolves.

  1. “A large pack of dogs was blocking the way.”
  2. ‘swarm’ is for insects (bees), ‘school’ for fish, ‘herd’ for cattle/elephants.

Yaad rakhein: Pack – dogs, wolves; Swarm – bees; School – fish; Herd – cattle.

Answer: (B) pack of

अवधारणा: समूहवाचक संज्ञाएँ निश्चित होती हैं: a pack of dogs / wolves।

  1. “A large pack of dogs was blocking the way.”
  2. ‘swarm’ कीटों (मधुमक्खी) के लिए, ‘school’ मछलियों के लिए, ‘herd’ मवेशियों/हाथियों के लिए।

याद रखें: Pack – कुत्ते, भेड़िये; Swarm – मधुमक्खी; School – मछली; Herd – मवेशी।

उत्तर: (B) pack of

SSC CPO Paper IEnglish ComprehensionSentence ImprovementSSC CPO Paper I 2020 · 24 Nov Shift 1