MCQ: Sentence Completion - 1 - SSC CGL MCQ

Key Points

• In this sentence, the adverb "melodiously" should come right before the main verb "performed" to modify how the action was done, followed by the place "at the concert" and then the time duration "for two hours."
• The correct word order for adverbs, places, and time duration in a sentence like this is: [Verb] + [Manner] + [Place] + [Time].
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are grammatically incorrect because they either misplace the adverb "melodiously" or disrupt the natural flow of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

Complete Sentence: "The singer performed melodiously at the concert for two hours."

Additional Information

• Option 1: "at the concert for two hours melodiously" is incorrect because it disrupts the natural flow and places the time duration after the manner (melodiously), which is less natural in English syntax.
• Option 2: "melodiously for two hours at the concert" is incorrect because the adverb "melodiously" is placed awkwardly and doesn't flow naturally in the sentence.
• Option 3: "for two hours melodiously at the concert" is incorrect because it places the time duration "for two hours" before the manner "melodiously," which is not the ideal order in English sentences.

Key Points

• The phrase "up to the mark" is commonly used to indicate that something meets the required standard or level of quality.
• Option 4 "upto the mark" is the correct completion of the sentence as it conveys the intended meaning that the efforts have not met the required standard.
• Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect as they do not fit idiomatically or contextually in the sentence.

Correct sentence: The efforts of the security services have not been quite up to the mark.

Key Points

• The sentence requires the use of "I wish" followed by a past simple verb to express a desire or regret about a situation that is different from the current reality.
• Option 1 "I could help you" correctly fits this structure, expressing a wish that is contrary to the current situation (i.e., the speaker is unable to help).
• Options 2, 3, and 4 do not properly follow the correct structure for expressing wishes or do not convey the intended meaning.

Correct sentence: I wish I could help you.
Additional Information

• Expressing Wishes:
  • Form: I wish + past simple (e.g., I wish I were taller).
  • Usage: Used to express a desire for a situation that is different from reality, often to indicate regret or longing.
  • Example: I wish I knew the answer (meaning the speaker does not know the answer in reality).

Key Points

• The sentence requires the use of the second conditional to discuss an unreal or hypothetical situation and its probable result.
• Option 2 "I wouldn’t buy that dress" correctly follows the structure of the second conditional.
• Options 1, 3, and 4 are grammatically incorrect and do not follow the proper structure for second conditional sentences.

Correct sentence: If I were you I wouldn’t buy that dress.
Additional Information

• Second Conditional:
  • Form: If + past simple, ... would + base verb (e.g., If I were you, I would call her).
  • Usage: Used to discuss hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future and their potential results.

Key Points

• The sentence requires the second conditional form, which is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future.
• Option 1 "if you found your lost toy" correctly uses the second conditional form.
• Options 2, 3, and 4 are grammatically incorrect and do not follow the correct structure for second conditional sentences.

Correct sentence: What would you do if you found your lost toy?
Additional Information

• Second Conditional:
  • Form: If + past simple, ... would + base verb (e.g., If I won the lottery, I would travel the world).
  • Usage: Used to discuss hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future and their possible results.

• A pair of scissors is a collective noun which is treated as a singular subject.
• Hence, it must be followed by a singular verb. ie 'is'. Thus correct answer can either be option 1 or 3
• Lay means to place something down flat while lie means to be in a constant position on a surface. This eliminates option 3 and 4
• Thus, the correct answer is 'is lying' ie option 1

Key Points

• To change an affirmative sentence into an negative one, we follow the steps mentioned below:
  • If the given sentence doesn't have an auxiliary verb, while changing it into negative, we use do/does (present tense) or did (past tense) as helping verbs.
  • These verbs are then followed by adverb 'not'.
  • After that we place the root form of the main verb (V1).
  • In order to keep the meaning intact, we replace 'verbs/adjectives' with their respective opposite words as applicable.
    • Ex: These flowers smell bad. (These flowers do not smell good.) [the adjective is replaced with its antonym]
    •  Ex: I love her. (I do not hate her.) [the verb is replaced with its antonym]
• ​​The given sentence is in past tense and doesn't have any auxiliary verb, so 'did + not + find (V1)' should be used while changing it into negative.
• After that the adjective 'interesting' should be replaced with it antonym 'uninteresting'.
• On following above steps and rules, we get the required sentence as mentioned below:
  • I did not find that book very uninteresting.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 3).

Key Points

•  The sentence formed is a conditional sentence.
• The conditional clause is given in simple past tense.
• The main clause to follow must be having would + infinitive.
• Here, option 2 and 3 follow 'would' after the pronoun 'I', but  option 3 is in present perfect tense.
• Option 2 is in would + verb format.

The correct answer: If I were in your position, I would not accept this compensation.
Additional Information

•  The given sentence is a conditional sentence.
  • It expresses that one thing is contingent on something else.
  • It is based on the word 'if'.
    • ​Example: If I pass the exam, I'll give you a treat.

Key Points

• The given sentence is a compound sentence.
• The given clause has the perfect participle, 'having written' (having + V3).
• Option 4 is in present tense.

The correct answer is: Having written many novels and short stories, she feels life is too vast to understand
Additional Information

•  A compound sentence is ne made of two or more independent clauses.
  • ​Example: Our car broke down, we came last.

Key Points

• The given sentence is in the past tense. Hence, options 1 and 2 get eliminated.
• In the given sentence, the son is asking permission to go out. 
• 'May/ might' is used to take permission.
  • E.g. May I use your laptop?
• According to the explanation given above, 'might go out' is the correct choice.
  ​Complete Sentence- The son asked his mother if he might go out.

Key Points

• The inversion condition is applied in this sentence.
• Also, it is a conditional and hypothetical sentence.  
  • Example: Were she more talented, she would be admitted to that college.
• Correct sentence: Were he more honest, he would be happier.

Additional Information   

• The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible.
• The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths.
• The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present.
• In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.

Key Points

•  Here, the sentence is a conditional sentence.
• The given question consists of the conditional clause or if clause in simple present tense.
• The main clause to follow must be in simple present tense.
  • Example: If you work out daily, you become healthy.
• Here, only option 2 is in simple present tense. Thus, it becomes the correct answer.

The correct sentence is: If your life is circumscribed by habits alone, you are merely an imitative machine.
Additional Information

•  A conditional sentence is one which gives a condition and an outcome.
• It consists of a conditional clause or if clause and a main clause.
  • Example: If you work hard, you will succeed.

Key Points

•  The given sentence is a conditional sentence.
• The given clause is in the past perfect tense.
• The clause to follow must be in would have + past participle format.
  • Example: If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.​
• Here, option 4 is in that format.

​Thus, the correct answer: If you had prepared well, you would have fared well.
Additional Information

•  A conditional sentence describes a conditional situation.
• It is based on the word 'if'.
  • ​Example: If I were you, I wouldn't have done that.

Key Points

•  Here, it is important to form a meaningful sentence.
• The first part of the sentence must satisfy the second part.
• The speaker is stating that he/she does take a decision which is not to take a decision.
• Only option 1 forms the correct alternative here. 
• Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect.

Thus, the correct answer is: It is not that I do not take a decision, I decide not to take a decision.
Additional Information

•  The given sentence is a complex sentence.
  • It has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
    • Example: I like this dress, but I like the other one better.

Key Points

• The sentence implies that it is becoming dark, and the speaker needs to decide whether they should turn on the lights or not.
• The word "must" in the first alternative indicates that the speaker believes it is necessary to turn on the lights.
• This implies that the situation has become too dark to see properly and turning on the lights would be essential.

The correct answer is: It is getting dark, must I turn on the lights?
Additional Information

• The other alternatives are less appropriate in this context. 
  • "Should I be turning the lights?" is grammatically correct but it sounds awkward and unnatural. 
  • "May I be turning on the lights?" is grammatically correct but it does not convey the urgency of the situation. 
  • "Can I turn on the lights?" is grammatically correct, but it does not express the necessity of turning on the lights, which is the most suitable option in this context.
•  A modal auxiliary represents ability, permission, necessity, and degree of certainty. 
• These are always followed by the simple form of verb.
  • ​Example: can, may, might etc.