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Question 131

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

In the given question, a sentence is divided into four parts and given in the alternatives (A), (B), (C), and (D). There is an error in one part. Choose the alternative containing that part of the sentence that has the error. Choosing the alternative with the error will be the answer.

There is an irreparable problem of the ignition system of the car, which has to be addressed immediately.

  1. AOption (a)

    There is an

  2. BOption (b)

    irreparable problem

  3. COption (c)

    of the ignition system of the car,

  4. DOption (d)

    which has to be addressed immediately.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

of the ignition system of the car,

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

  • The error in the sentence is the incorrect use of the preposition of in Part 3.
  • When discussing a specific functional or mechanical fault within a machine, device, or system, the preposition with is idiomatically correct.
  • The phrase problem of is typically reserved for defining the nature of an abstract issue or a general situation (e.g., the problem of poverty).
  • To indicate a malfunction in a component, the sentence should correctly use problem with the ignition system.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: 'There is an irreparable problem with the ignition system of the car, which has to be addressed immediately.'

 

Additional Information

  • Part 1: 'There is an' – This is grammatically sound. The indefinite article an correctly precedes the word irreparable, which begins with a vowel sound.
  • Part 2: 'irreparable problem' – The adjective irreparable is used correctly to describe a problem that cannot be repaired or rectified.
  • Part 4: 'which has to be addressed immediately' – This relative clause is grammatically correct and appropriately conveys the necessity of urgent action.

Question 132

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Select the correct alternative to fill in the blank with the correct preposition in the following sentence.

The farmers did not agree ________ the policy of the government.

  1. AOption (a)

    0n

  2. BOption (b)

    about

  3. COption (c)

    with

  4. DOption (d)

    to

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

with

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'with'.

 

Key Points

  • The verb agree takes the preposition with when it refers to being in accord with an opinion, policy, statement, or person.
  • In this context, the sentence implies that the farmers did not share the same opinion or approve of the government's policy.
  • Therefore, with is the most suitable preposition to fill the blank.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "The farmers did not agree with the policy of the government."

 

Additional Information

  • Agree to: This is generally used for a proposal, suggestion, or an action (e.g., They agreed to the terms of the contract).
  • Agree on: This is used when two or more people reach a mutual decision or consensus about a specific matter (e.g., We agreed on a price).
  • Agree about: This is used to indicate having the same opinion regarding a subject or situation.

Question 133

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Given below are six sentences taken from a paragraph. The first and the last sentences are numbered S1 and S2 and are placed in the first and last positions respectively and are fixed in their positions. The other four sentences between the first and last sentences are jumbled up and are numbered A, B, C, and D. Rearrange the jumbled sentences in a logical sequence keeping the unity and coherence of the paragraph intact. Choose the correct alternative that best describes the sequence.

S1. She was a beautiful baby.

A. You did not know her all those years she was thought homely, or see her poring over her baby pictures, making me tell her over and over how beautiful she had been - and would be, I would tell her - and was now, to the seeing eye.

B. But the seeing eyes were few or non-existent.

C. The first and only one of our five that was beautiful at birth.

D. You do not guess how new and uneasy her tenancy in her now-loveliness.

S2. Including mine.

  1. AOption (a)

    CDAB

  2. BOption (b)

    ABDC

  3. COption (c)

    BACD

  4. DOption (d)

    BADC

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

CDAB

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

  • The paragraph describes the life and changing appearance of a girl, moving from her birth to her present state.
  • Sentence S1 is the starting point, establishing that she was a beautiful baby.
  • Sentence C follows immediately as it adds specific detail to the claim in S1:
  • 'The first and only one of our five that was beautiful at birth.'
  • Sentence D is the second sentence because it shifts the focus from her birth to her present situation, describing her current beauty as a new and uneasy tenancy:
  • 'You do not guess how new and uneasy her tenancy in her now-loveliness.'
  • Sentence A follows by explaining the long interval between her birth and her current beauty, mentioning the years she was thought homely and introducing the term seeing eye:
  • 'You did not know her all those years she was thought homely... and was now, to the seeing eye.'
  • Sentence B is the fourth sentence as it directly responds to the phrase 'seeing eye' from the end of sentence A:
  • 'But the seeing eyes were few or non-existent.'
  • Sentence S2 concludes the paragraph by adding a final qualifying detail to sentence B:
  • 'Including mine.'
  • The logically coherent sequence is CDAB.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'She was a beautiful baby. The first and only one of our five that was beautiful at birth. You do not guess how new and uneasy her tenancy in her now-loveliness. You did not know her all those years she was thought homely, or see her poring over her baby pictures, making me tell her over and over how beautiful she had been - and would be, I would tell her - and was now, to the seeing eye. But the seeing eyes were few or non-existent. Including mine.'

Question 134

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Given below are six sentences taken from a paragraph. The first and the last sentences are numbered S1 and S2 and are placed in the first and last positions respectively and are fixed in their positions. The other four sentences between the first and last sentences are jumbled up and are numbered A, B, C, and D. Rearrange the jumbled sentences in a logical sequence keeping the unity and coherence of the paragraph intact. Choose the correct alternative that best describes the sequence.

S1. This was a crucial piece of information, because I feared she was an unforgettable woman whose real name I never knew, and who wore a similar ring on her right forefinger which, in those days, was even more unusual than it is now.

A. I had come from Rome that morning, and I still remember my immediate response to her splendid soprano's bosom, the languid foxtails on her coat collar, and that Egyptian ring in the shape of a serpent.

B. But no, she had been born in Colombia and had come to Austria between the wars, when she was little more than a child, to study music and voice.

C. She spoke an elementary Spanish in a metallic accent without pausing for breath, and I thought she was the only Austrian at the long wooden table.

D. I had met her thirty-four years earlier in Vienna, eating sausage with boiled potatoes and drinking draft beer in a tavern frequented by Latin American students.

S2. She was about thirty, and did not carry her years well, for she had never been pretty and had begun to age before her time.

  1. AOption (a)

    DACB

  2. BOption (b)

    ACBD

  3. COption (c)

    BDCA

  4. DOption (d)

    DCBA

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

DACB

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 1.

Key Points

  • The paragraph describes a past encounter with a woman whom the narrator remembers through a specific detail: a ring.
  • S1 is the fixed starting sentence, which introduces the mystery of the woman and the significance of a ring on her right forefinger.
  • Sentence D is the second sentence as it initiates the flashback, providing the setting and time of their first meeting: thirty-four years earlier in Vienna at a tavern for Latin American students.
  • Sentence A is the third sentence because it adds specific descriptive details about that day in Vienna. It mentions the narrator's arrival from Rome and specifically identifies the Egyptian ring in the shape of a serpent, which directly connects back to the ring mentioned in S1.
  • Sentence C is the fourth sentence as it moves from her appearance to her speech and the narrator's assumption about her identity. Because she spoke elementary Spanish in a metallic accent, the narrator thought she was the only Austrian at the table.
  • Sentence B is the fifth sentence because it uses the contrastive phrase 'But no' to correct the assumption made in sentence C. It reveals her true origin as being born in Colombia and explains her presence in Austria to study music and voice.
  • S2 is the fixed closing sentence, which concludes the description of her during that period, noting she was about thirty and had begun to age before her time.
  • The correct logical sequence is DACB.

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

'This was a crucial piece of information, because I feared she was an unforgettable woman whose real name I never knew, and who wore a similar ring on her right forefinger which, in those days, was even more unusual than it is now. I had met her thirty-four years earlier in Vienna, eating sausage with boiled potatoes and drinking draft beer in a tavern frequented by Latin American students. I had come from Rome that morning, and I still remember my immediate response to her splendid soprano's bosom, the languid foxtails on her coat collar, and that Egyptian ring in the shape of a serpent. She spoke an elementary Spanish in a metallic accent without pausing for breath, and I thought she was the only Austrian at the long wooden table. But no, she had been born in Colombia and had come to Austria between the wars, when she was little more than a child, to study music and voice. She was about thirty, and did not carry her years well, for she had never been pretty and had begun to age before her time.'

Therefore, the correct sequence is Option 1 (DACB).

Question 135

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

A part of the following sentence is underlined. Choose the option that can replace the underlined part to improve the sentence. If you feel Options A, B, or C do not improve the sentence, then choose Option D: "No improvement required." The students worked hard and were thus able to complete the assignment on time.

  1. AOption (a)

    worked hardly

  2. BOption (b)

    worked very harder

  3. COption (c)

    worked hardest

  4. DOption (d)

    No improvement required

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

No improvement required

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

  • The original sentence 'The students worked hard...' is grammatically correct and logically sound.
  • In this context, 'hard' functions as an adverb meaning 'with a great deal of effort' or 'intensely.'
  • The adverb 'hard' correctly modifies the verb 'worked,' explaining how the students performed the action to achieve the result of completing the assignment.
  • Since the sentence is already correct in its structure and meaning, no improvement is required.

Therefore, the correct answer is 4.

 

Correct Sentence: 'The students worked hard and were thus able to complete the assignment on time.'

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: 'worked hardly' – The word 'hardly' is an adverb that means 'scarcely' or 'almost not.' If used, it would mean the students did almost no work, which contradicts their ability to finish the assignment.
  • Option 2: 'worked very harder' – This is grammatically incorrect. The adverb 'very' cannot be used to modify the comparative degree ('harder'). One would instead use 'much harder' or 'even harder.'
  • Option 3: 'worked hardest' – This is the superlative degree. It is generally used when comparing the effort of one group against two or more other groups. In a simple descriptive sentence like this, the positive degree ('hard') is the standard choice.

Question 136

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end. The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of an exemplum according to the passage?

  1. AOption (a)

    To illustrate a broader moral or thematic point in discourse

  2. BOption (b)

    To replace rational argumentation by emotive persuasion.

  3. COption (c)

    To entertain readers with narrations of fiction and humor.

  4. DOption (d)

    To provide supporting historical evidence for various academic research papers.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

To illustrate a broader moral or thematic point in discourse

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 1.

 

Key Points

  • According to the first sentence of the passage, an exemplum is defined as a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point.
  • The passage explains that this literary and rhetorical device was historically popular during the Middle Ages, particularly within religious sermons.
  • It serves as a narrative tool to convey specific messages, such as 'Greed is the root of all evil' in Chaucer's 'The Pardoner's Tale'.
  • Therefore, the primary purpose is to use a story to clarify or reinforce a moral lesson or thematic argument in discourse.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 2 is incorrect because the passage suggests that an exemplum is a means of argumentation and instruction, rather than a device intended to replace rational thought with emotion.
  • Option 3 is incorrect because, while an exemplum is a narrative, its primary goal in the context of the passage is moral instruction rather than mere entertainment or humor.
  • Option 4 is incorrect because the passage associates the exemplum with religious discourse and formal exhortations (like those of Chanticleer), not specifically with academic research papers.

Question 137

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end. The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.

Which of the following historical periods saw the greatest popularity of the exemplum?

  1. AOption (a)

    Renaissance period, with its main emphasis on art and science

  2. BOption (b)

    Middle Ages, when religious sermons dominated culture

  3. COption (c)

    Victorian society has been characterized by industrial progress and morality

  4. DOption (d)

    The Enlightenment era focused on logical thinking

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Middle Ages, when religious sermons dominated culture

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

  • According to the passage, the exemplum was specifically popular during the Middle Ages.
  • The text states that during this period, the device featured prominently in collections of tales compiled for preachers to use in their teachings.
  • It was a staple of religious sermons, which dominated the culture and discourse of the medieval era.
  • Therefore, the period of its greatest popularity is clearly identified as the Middle Ages.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Additional Information

  • Renaissance period: While literature flourished, the passage does not link the peak popularity of the exemplum to this era; it focuses more on art and science.
  • Victorian society: This era was known for industrial progress and a different set of moral literature, but the exemplum originated and peaked much earlier.
  • Enlightenment era: This period focused on logical thinking and rationalism, whereas the exemplum relies on illustrative storytelling often found in religious contexts.
  • The passage notes that while the term now applies to nonreligious exhortations, its historical height remains rooted in the medieval religious tradition.

Question 138

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end. The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.

What is the main moral lesson Chaucer shares in The Pardoner's Tale?

  1. AOption (a)

    Being honest is always the best choice

  2. BOption (b)

    Having money cannot prevent death

  3. COption (c)

    Greed is the root cause of evil

  4. DOption (d)

    Being loyal is better than being selfish

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Greed is the root cause of evil

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

  • According to the passage, Chaucer uses the literary device of an exemplum in The Pardoner's Tale to convey a specific moral lesson.
  • The text explicitly states that the author uses this story to communicate the message: 'Greed is the root of all evil.'
  • The narrative describes three drunken revelers who discover a treasure and, driven by their greed, kill each other to gain sole possession of the gold.
  • This tragic ending serves as a direct illustration of how the desire for wealth leads to moral corruption and death.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Moral Lesson: 'Greed is the root cause of evil.'

 

Additional Information

  • Exemplum: A story used in discourse to illustrate a moral or thematic point, which was highly popular during the Middle Ages.
  • The characters in the tale originally set out to confront Death, but their own greed becomes the instrument through which they eventually meet him.
  • While other virtues like honesty or loyalty are important in literature, the passage specifically focuses on greed as the central theme of this particular tale.
  • Chaucer is noted for using multiple exempla across his works, such as in The Nun's Priest's Tale, where Chanticleer presents ten examples to argue about the significance of dreams.

Question 139

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end. The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.

Which option best describes how exemplum is used in modern, everyday contexts?

  1. AOption (a)

    It is limited to use only in religious sermons and theological writings.

  2. BOption (b)

    It expresses only fictitious narratives that are reflected in literature

  3. COption (c)

    It is thought to be the same as allegory and symbolic representation

  4. DOption (d)

    It is widely applied to stories used in formal, nonreligious arguments

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

It is widely applied to stories used in formal, nonreligious arguments

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

  • An exemplum is defined as a story or anecdote used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point in discourse.
  • While it was traditionally associated with religious sermons during the Middle Ages, its usage has evolved over time.
  • The passage specifically notes that the term now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations or arguments.
  • This shift means that in modern contexts, it serves as a tool for persuasion and moral instruction in various types of formal communication, not just spiritual ones.
  • Therefore, the most accurate description of its modern use is that it is widely applied to stories used in formal, nonreligious arguments.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: This is incorrect because the passage explicitly states that the term "once" tied to religious discourse "now applies more broadly."
  • Option 2: This is incorrect because the passage mentions that these tales can be historical as well as legendary, and their primary function is argumentation rather than just literary fiction.
  • Option 3: While an exemplum may share similarities with allegory, the passage characterizes it specifically as a tool for illustrating points in formal arguments rather than defining it as a synonym for symbolic representation.

Question 140

SSC GD Constable 2026• English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage: An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end. The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.

What is the main function of an exemplum in discourse?

  1. AOption (a)

    Replace facts with imaginative storytelling

  2. BOption (b)

    Strengthen arguments using illustrative examples

  3. COption (c)

    Entertain audiences without serious meaning

  4. DOption (d)

    Confuse listeners with unrelated stories

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Strengthen arguments using illustrative examples

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

  • According to the passage, an exemplum is defined as a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point.
  • The text explicitly states that the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.
  • By providing concrete stories (historical or legendary), an exemplum helps to clarify complex ideas and strengthen arguments through illustrative examples.
  • For instance, Chanticleer in The Nun's Priest's Tale uses ten exempla specifically to convince his wife of a particular viewpoint, demonstrating its persuasive function.

Therefore, the correct answer is 2.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: The purpose is not to replace facts with fiction, but to use narratives to reinforce a message or truth.
  • Option 3: While an exemplum is a story, its primary goal is instruction and moral weight, not just lighthearted entertainment without meaning.
  • Option 4: An exemplum is intended to provide clarity and thematic focus; if used correctly, it should support the discourse rather than confuse the audience with unrelated tales.