English & General Awareness - 9 - SSC CGL MCQ

The correct answer is (4) to continue in a determined manner.

Key Points

• In the context of the passage, the phrase "to press on" means to continue moving forward or to persist in a determined manner, despite challenges or obstacles. It implies a strong will and determination to reach the desired goal, which in this case is reaching the summit during a mountaineering expedition.
• Example sentences:
  • "Despite the fatigue and harsh weather conditions, the hikers decided to press on and reach the peak of the mountain."
  • "The marathon runner was exhausted, but she refused to give up and pressed on towards the finish line."
  • "Despite facing setbacks in his career, he remained determined and continued to press on in pursuit of his goals."
• In the given sentence, the safe climber is the one who knows when it is time to turn back, however tempting it may be to press on and try to reach the summit. Here, "to press on" means to continue climbing towards the summit, even though it may be challenging or tempting to do so. The phrase highlights the importance of making the right decision to prioritize safety over the desire to reach the summit at any cost.

The correct answer is 3) 5.86 lakh.

Key Points

• This information can be found in the following sentence from the passage:
  • "There was a significant increase in 2019 as well, with 5.86 lakh students flying out of the country."
• The passage states that there was a significant increase in the number of Indian nationals going abroad in 2019, and the specific number given is 5.86 lakh.
• Thus, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is option 4) Indians going abroad for higher studies.

Key Points

• The passage provides information about the increase in the number of Indian students going abroad for higher education in general, and also mentions specific statistics for some popular study-abroad destinations such as the US, UK, and Australia.
• The passage also talks about the impact of the Covid pandemic on the number of Indian students going abroad.
• This is supported by the opening sentence of the passage which states, "The number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies has increased by 68.79 per cent in the past year".
• Therefore, option 4 is the most appropriate summary of the passage.

Here the correct answer is From the Immigration Statistics Report.

Key Points

• The passage states that the Immigration Statistics Report provides information about the number of visas granted to Indian students in the UK.
• Specifically, it states that "For the UK, the Immigration Statistics Report states that 127,731 visas were granted to Indian students in September 2022, an increase of 93,470 (+273 per cent) against 34,261 in 2019."
• This information indicates that the number of Indian students going to the UK for higher education has increased significantly.
• The other options, such as records of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration, are not mentioned in the passage as sources of information for the number of Indian students getting visas for studies in the UK.
• Therefore, option 2) from the Immigration Statistics Report is the correct answer.

The correct answer is 'Option 4' i.e. 'duel'.

Key Points

• In this context, the appropriate word to fill the blank is 'duel', which refers to a contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people in order to settle a point of honor.
• It is the only option that fits the context of a fatal event.

Therefore, the correct sentence is: His father was killed in a duel, when the boy was nine years old.

Additional Information

• 'Dwell' means to live in a specified place, which doesn't make sense in this context.
• 'Drool' means to salivate excessively, not appropriate here.
• 'Dual' means consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects, which doesn't fit in this context.

The correct answer is 'Option 3' i.e. 'Discribe'.

Key Points

• The incorrectly spelled word in the given options is: 'Discribe'.
• The correct spelling of this word is "describe," .
• It means to give a detailed account in words.(वर्णन करना)

Therefore, the correct answer is: 'Discribe'.

Additional Information

• Advance: This word means to move forward in a purposeful way.(अग्रसर होना)
• Start: This means to begin or to initiate something.(शुरू करना)
• Melting: This refers to becoming liquefied by heat.(पिघलना)

The correct answer is ' It is high time he started earning'.

Key Points

• 'It is high time' is used to indicate something that should have happened a long time ago.
• This phrase is always followed by past tense of the verb as it denotes an action that is long overdue or should have occurred in the past.
  • For example - It is high time you went to bed.

Thus, option 3 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is A farewell appearance or final act.

Key Points

• Swan song is an idiom that means a farewell appearance or final act or pronouncement (एक विदाई उपस्थिति या अंतिम कार्य या घोषणा).
• Let's look at this example to understand this idiom:
  • This was a perfect swan song for the Spider-Man trilogy, but also left the door open for more adventures in the future.
  • Here, this sentence implies that the last movie of the Spider-Man franchise was good and left a scope for the future.

Hence, the correct choice is option 4.

Additional Information

• According to folklore, swans sing most beautifully before they die, and hence this phrase Swan song came to be used to describe the final performance.
• This phrase is found in the works of Plato, Aristotle, Euripides, Cicero, and Shakespeare.

The correct answer is habit.

Key Points

• The context of the sentence is that he daily drinks water after waking up.
• Thus, it is his habit.
• Habit means usual behaviour; something that you do often and almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing.

Thus, the most appropriate option to fill in the blank is habit.

Additional Information

Custom: a way of behaving which a particular group or society has had for a long time
Ritual: an action, ceremony or process which is always done the same way
Tendency:​ something that a person or thing usually does; a way of behaving

The correct answer is 'The owner of the house asked the tenant when he would pay the rent for that month.'

Key Points

We need to make some changes in order to convert the direct sentence into indirect form if the second part of the sentence i.e. reported speech is in question form.

• Convert 'said to' into 'asked'
• Remove inverted comma and question mark.
• In the sentence, change the subject of the second part (reported speech) on the basis of the subject & object of the first part(reporting speech).
• In the sentence, change the tense of the second part on the basis of the tense that is used in the first part.

When we consider the above-written changes and try to change the given sentence into indirect form, the sentence would be:

'The owner of the house asked the tenant when he would pay the rent for that month.'

Hence, the correct answer is Option 3.

Additional Information

Let's try to understand the concept with some more examples:

• My friend said to his sister, "When will you get through the exam?"
  • My friend asked his sister when she would get through the exam.
• John said to Sam, "When will you achieve this target?"
  • John asked Sam when he would achieve that target.

​Hinglish

प्रत्यक्ष वाक्य को अप्रत्यक्ष रूप में बदलने के लिए हमें कुछ बदलाव करने की आवश्यकता है यदि वाक्य का दूसरा भाग अर्थात reported speech प्रश्न रूप में है।

• 'said to' को 'asked' में बदले।
• उल्टे अल्पविराम और प्रश्न चिह्न को हटा दें।
• वाक्य में दूसरे भाग के subject (reported speech) को पहले भाग के subject & object (reporting speech) के आधार पर बदलें ।
• वाक्य में दूसरे भाग के tense को पहले भाग के tense के आधार पर बदलें ।

​जब हम उपरोक्त लिखित परिवर्तनों पर विचार करते हैं और दिए गए वाक्य को अप्रत्यक्ष रूप में बदलने का प्रयास करते हैं, तो वाक्य होगा:

'The owner of the house asked the tenant when he would pay the rent for that month.'

अत: सही उत्तर विकल्प 3 है।

The correct answer is- 'Epitome'
Key Points

• 'Epitome' is a noun and it means 'a perfect example of something.'
  • Example: Her clothes are the epitome of good taste.

Hence the option 1 is the most appropriate answer here.

The correct answer is: Hospitality

Key Points

• Hospitality means the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests or strangers. (मेहमानों या अजनबियों का मैत्रीपूर्ण और उदार स्वागत और मनोरंजन)
  • Example: The hotel staff's hospitality made the guests feel welcomed and comfortable throughout their stay.
• ​The sentence discusses the services or treatment provided by someone, specifically focusing on giving a ride and sponsoring food.
• The term "hospitality" is particularly relevant in this context as it encompasses the idea of providing a welcoming and generous reception to guests or strangers.

Thus, option 3 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Brevity: Conciseness and the quality of being brief or short in duration. (संक्षिप्तता और अवधि में संक्षिप्त या कम होने की गुणवत्ता)
• Stringency: Strictness, severity, or the quality of being stringent or demanding. (सख़्ती, गंभीरता, या कठोर होने या मांग करने का गुण)
• Conformity: Compliance with established rules, standards, or conventions; acting in accordance with prevailing norms. (स्थापित नियमों, मानकों, या सम्मेलनों का अनुपालन; प्रचलित मानदंडों के अनुसार कार्य करना)

The correct answer is: Humaneness

Key Points

• Humaneness means compassion, kindness, and the quality of being humane or considerate towards others. (करुणा, दया, और मानवीय होने या दूसरों के प्रति विचारशील होने का गुण)
  • Example: The rescue team demonstrated great humaneness by helping the stranded animals during the flood.
• ​The sentence sets up a parallel structure by first mentioning "faith in humanity" and then presenting "humaneness" as the corresponding quality that prevails.
• This creates a cohesive and balanced expression of the idea.

Thus, option 2 is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Consciousness: Awareness, the state of being conscious or awake, and having an understanding of one's surroundings or thoughts. (जागरूकता, सचेत या जाग्रत होने की अवस्था और अपने परिवेश या विचारों की समझ होना)
• Frailty: Physical or moral weakness; the quality of being fragile or delicate. (शारीरिक या नैतिक कमजोरी; नाज़ुक या नाज़ुक होने का गुण)
• Animosity: Strong hostility, hatred, or antagonism towards someone; bitter feelings. (किसी के प्रति तीव्र शत्रुता, नफरत या विरोध; कड़वी भावनाएँ)

The correct answer is - "Lucky"

Key Points

• Unfortunate means not lucky (दुर्भाग्यशाली, अभागा)
  • Eg. It was a very unfortunate accident/incident.
• Lucky means having good luck (भाग्‍यशाली)
  • Eg. I feel lucky to be alive.
• Option 1 3 and 4 are similar meanings of the word "Unfortunate".
• In this way, Lucky is the correct antonym here of the given word.
• Thus, Option 2 is correct option.

The correct answer is - "Man"

Key Points

• In the whole passage, the author talks about cruelty of Man in the world.
• The lines are Once upon an unfortunate time, there was a hairy thing called 'man'. Along with him was a hairier thing called 'animal'. Man had a larger brain which made him think he was superior to animals.
• By reading these line, we can say Man is the hero of the story.
• Thus, Option 3 is correct answer.

The correct answer is - "there was population explosion"

Key Points

• In the 1st line of the 2nd para, it is mentioned that due overpopulation people had to sleep standing up.
• The line is "Men's numbers increased. The world became crowded with men. They all had to sleep standing up. "
• Thus, Option 3 is correct answer.

The correct answer is 'Fidget'.

Key Points

• Fidget is a verb which means to keep moving your body, hands or feet because you are nervous, bored, excited, etc.(बेचैनी, ऊब, उत्तेजना आदि के कारण हिलते डुलते रहना)
  • ​For example- He fidgeted continuously in the seat before his interview.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Here, the erroneous part is 'in his shoulder.'

Key Points

• The error lies in the part "in his shoulder" of the sentence.
• The meaning of the word "perch" is to sit on or near the edge of something. (किसी चीज के किनारे पर बैठना)
• The word "perch" is followed by the preposition "on."
  • Example: She perched herself on the edge of the bed.
• ​So, we have to replace "in" with "on" to make the sentence grammatically correct.
• Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

Correct sentence: When Gopal opened the cage, the parrot came out and perched on his shoulder.

Denotation: the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests
Connotation: A commonly understood cultural or emotional association that some word or phrase carries / an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning
Aspersion: an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
Levitation: the action of rising or causing something to rise and hover in the air, typically by means of supposed magical powers
Obviously, option B is the correct answer.

The correct answer is option C. The correct word to fill in the blank is ‘truculent.’
Malady- an illness
Incessant- never stopping
Truculent- eager or quick to argue or fight
Felony- a major criminal act
The sentence here would mean that the Indian government adopted a quick fighting stance after the scandal in the Gamibia took place.
Hence, option C is the correct answer.

The correct meaning of the word ‘heretical’ (adjective) is ‘opposite to or against the official or popular opinion.’
All three ‘agnostic’, ‘apostate’ and ‘dissident’ are synonyms of ‘heretical.’
However, ‘orthodox’ (adjective) meaning ‘(of beliefs, ideas, or activities) considered traditional, normal, and acceptable by most people’ is the correct antonym of ‘heretical.’
Hence, the correct answer according to the meaning of the given words is Option A.

The correct meaning of ‘deceitful’ (adjective) is ‘deceiving or misleading others.’
All three ‘dishonest’, ‘misleading’ and ‘spurious’ are synonyms of ‘deceitful.’
However, ‘upfront’ (adjective) meaning ‘bold, honest, and frank’ is the most appropriate antonym of ‘deceitful.’
Hence, the correct answer according to the meaning of the given words is Option A.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• As per the RBI, the total micro-finance loans stand at Rs. 2.7 lakh crores.
• The highest share is accounted for by the Scheduled Commercial Banks (40%). The NBFC-MFIs account for 30% of the loans.
• Micro Credit has been defined as the provision of thrift, credit and other financial services and products of a very small amount to the poor in rural, semi-urban and urban areas for enabling them to raise their income levels and improve their living standards.
• Micro Credit Institutions are those, which provide these facilities.
• The new definition of Microfinance as per RBI circular (March 2022): A microfinance loan is defined as a collateral-free loan given to a household having an annual household income of up to ₹3,00,000.
• All collateral-free loans, irrespective of end-use and mode of application/ processing/ disbursal (either through physical or digital channels), provided to low-income households, i.e., households having annual income up to ₹3,00,000, shall be considered as microfinance loans.

The correct answer is appointments of High Court Judges.

• The judges of a high court are appointed by the President.
  • The chief justice is appointed by the President after consultation with the chief justice of India and the governor of the state concerned.

Key Points

Executive Powers of the Governor: The following comes under his executive powers:

• Every executive action that the state government takes, is to be taken in his name.
• He may/may not make rules to simplify the transaction of the business of the state government.
• Chief Ministers and other ministers of the states are appointed by him.
• He appoints the advocate general of states and determines their remuneration.
• He appoints the following people:
  • State Election Commissioner
  • Chairman and Members of the State Public Service Commission
  • Vice-Chancellors of the universities in the state
• He seeks information from the state government
• A constitutional emergency in the state is recommended to the President by him.
• The governor enjoys extensive executive powers as an agent of the President during the President’s rule in the state.
• Under Indian law, the President of India and the governors of the states have been given the power to pardon, remit, relieve or remit or suspend, remove or reduce the punishment.
  • The law governing clemency is enshrined in Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution.

Additional Information

Qualification to be Governor

• Unlike the members of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha or even in the case of the Prime Minister or the President, who have a set of qualifications to hold office; The governor has to fulfill only two qualifications:
• He must be an Indian citizen
• He/she must be 35 years of age or above

The correct answer is Mangalayan.

Key Points

• India witnessed the second major monetary reform in November 2016 when it withdrew the legal tender status of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1,000 denominations of banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series.
• It was issued by the Reserve Bank of India on November 8, 2016.
• The new banknotes were introduced in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, highlighting the cultural heritage and scientific achievements of the country.
• Distinct colours were used for the different denominations and size was reduced.
• Two new denominations viz. ₹ 2000 on November 08, 2016, and ₹ 200 on August 23, 2017, were introduced in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series.
• Rupees Two Thousand Size: 66 x 166 mm
• Motifs: Mangalayam

Additional Information

The correct answer is Treaty of Lahore.

• The Treaty of Lahore of 9 March 1846, was a peace treaty marking the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War.

Key Points

• After the British reached the city of Lahore the treaty was signed.
• The Sikhs (who had been defeated) were forced to sign the treaty with the British.
• As part of the treaty, the Sikhs agreed to handover Kashmir and Hazara and Jalandhar Doab to the British.
• The Treaty was concluded, for the British, by the Governor-General Sir Henry Hardinge and two officers of the East India Company and, for the Sikhs, by the seven-year-old Maharaja Duleep Singh Bahadur and seven members of the Lahore Durbar acting on his behalf.
• The terms of the Treaty were punitive.

On October 19, International Solar Alliance (ISA), in its General Assembly meeting, approved the ‘Solar Facility’, a payment guarantee mechanism expected to stimulate investments into solar projects through two financial components, a Solar Payment Guarantee Fund and Solar Insurance Fund. The thrust of the facility is to attract private capital to flow into underserved markets” in Africa.
Key Points:
ISA – approved the ‘Solar Facility’ in its General Assembly meeting
The facility will attract private capital to flow into underserved markets in Africa
HQs of ISA – Gurugram, Haryana  |  DG – Ajay Mathur  |  Signatory Countries – 110  |  Member countries – 90
Hence, Option B is correct.

World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Hence, the correct answer is option A. 

Central Excise Day is celebrated every year on February 24 across India. The day is being celebrated to honour the service of the Central Board of Excise and Custom (CBEC) to the country
Hence, option C is correct.

Gianni Infantino is the President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Hence option B is correct.