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Question 671

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Choose the sentence that uses the homonym of the underlined word:

The wind howled through the trees.

  1. AOption (a)

    The wind was cold and sharp at night.

  2. BOption (b)

    The wind knocked over the garbage can.

  3. COption (c)

    A sudden gust of wind blew her hat away.

  4. DOption (d)

    He had to wind the old clock manually.

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

He had to wind the old clock manually.

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is: Option 4.

Key Points

  • The word "wind" in the original sentence refers to the natural movement of air. (हवा)
  • Example: The wind howled through the trees, creating an eerie sound.
  • The correct homonym "wind" refers to the act of twisting or turning something, such as winding a clock. (घुमाना)
  • Example: He had to wind the old clock manually to make it work.
  • Both words are spelled the same, but their meanings and pronunciation differ depending on the context.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 4.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

  • Option 1: The wind was cold and sharp at night. (हवा ठंडी और तेज़ थी) - This sentence uses "wind" in the same context as the original sentence, referring to air in motion.
  • Example: The wind was so strong that it chilled everyone to the bone.
  • Option 2: The wind knocked over the garbage can. (हवा ने कूड़ेदान गिरा दिया) - This also uses "wind" in the same context as moving air.
  • Example: The wind blew fiercely, scattering trash across the yard.
  • Option 3: A sudden gust of wind blew her hat away. (हवा के तेज़ झोंके ने उसकी टोपी उड़ा दी) - This again refers to air movement, similar to the original sentence.
  • Example: The wind gust caught her off guard and she lost her hat.

Question 672

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Choose the antonym of 'benevolent":

  1. AOption (a)

    Humane

  2. BOption (b)

    Generous

  3. COption (c)

    Kind

  4. DOption (d)

    Malevolent

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

Malevolent

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is: Malevolent.

Key Points

  • The word "benevolent" means someone who is kind, generous, and well-meaning; showing goodwill and a desire to help others. (दयालु, शुभचिंतक)
  • Example: The benevolent teacher always supported her students in every possible way.
  • "Malevolent" refers to someone who is spiteful, malicious, or harboring ill intentions towards others; wishing harm or evil. (दुर्भावनापूर्ण, द्वेषपूर्ण)
  • Example: The villain in the story was malevolent and tried to harm the protagonist at every turn.
  • Hence, we can infer that the opposite of 'benevolent' is 'malevolent'.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Malevolent.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

  • Humane (मानवीय): Showing kindness, compassion, or concern for others, especially for those who are suffering.
  • Example: The humane treatment of animals is essential in today’s world.
  • Generous (उदार): Willing to give or share more than is necessary or expected.
  • Example: He is known for being generous with his wealth and time.
  • Kind (दयालु): Being considerate, caring, and helpful towards others.
  • Example: She is always kind to strangers and goes out of her way to help them.

Question 673

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Choose the correct indirect speech form of the following sentence.

He said to Renuka, "We must do it now and go there as soon as possible."

  1. AOption (a)

    He told Renuka that they must do it then and go there as soon as possible. 

  2. BOption (b)

    He told Renuka that they have to do it now and go there as soon as possible.

  3. COption (c)

    He told Renuka that they must do it now and go here as soon as possible.

  4. DOption (d)

    He told Renuka that they had to do it then and go there as soon as possible. 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

He told Renuka that they had to do it then and go there as soon as possible. 

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

  • Indirect Speech: He told Renuka that they had to do it then and go there as soon as possible.
  • Key Conversions:
  • Pronoun Changes:
  • "We" becomes "they": The speaker (He) and Renuka are both included in the subject, so it is changed to "they" in indirect speech.
  • Time Expressions:
  • "now" becomes "then": In indirect speech, present time expressions are replaced by their past equivalents.
  • Modal Verbs:
  • "must" becomes "had to": "Must" is replaced by "had to" when reporting speech in the past.
  • Punctuation and Format:
  • Quotation marks are removed in indirect speech.
  • The reporting verb "said to" is changed to "told" to indicate communication directed at Renuka.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: He told Renuka that they had to do it then and go there as soon as possible.

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: He told Renuka that they must do it then and go there as soon as possible.
  • Incorrect conversion of "must" to "had to," which is required for indirect speech in the past tense.
  • Option 2: He told Renuka that they have to do it now and go there as soon as possible.
  • Incorrect tense ("have to" should be "had to") and time expression ("now" should be "then").
  • Option 3: He told Renuka that they must do it now and go here as soon as possible.
  • Incorrect time expression ("now" should be "then") and place expression ("here" should be "there").

Question 674

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Rearrange the following steps of the national census process in the correct order:

P. Enumerators visit households to collect data

Q. Data is compiled and analyzed at central offices

R. The government announces census dates and guidelines

S. A final census report is published and shared with the public

  1. AOption (a)

    P - Q - R - S

  2. BOption (b)

    S - Q - P - R

  3. COption (c)

    R - P - Q - S

  4. DOption (d)

    P - Q - S - R

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

R - P - Q - S

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

  • The correct order of the national census process is:
  • First, the government announces census dates and guidelines (Step R).
  • Then, enumerators visit households to collect data (Step P).
  • Next, the data is compiled and analyzed at central offices (Step Q).
  • Finally, a final census report is published and shared with the public (Step S).
  • Therefore, the correct sequence is R - P - Q - S.

 

Explanation:

The census process begins with the government setting up the framework and guidelines (Step R). After this, enumerators go door-to-door to collect data (Step P). The collected data is then processed and analyzed centrally (Step Q), and the finalized report is shared publicly (Step S). This logical order ensures the census is executed systematically.

Question 675

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

She was annoyed ________ the noise.

  1. AOption (a)

    by

  2. BOption (b)

    to

  3. COption (c)

    at

  4. DOption (d)

    with

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

at

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'at'.

 

Key Points

  • The preposition "at" is commonly used to express annoyance or displeasure in relation to a specific cause, such as noise.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Complete Sentence: "She was annoyed at the noise."

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: "by" is incorrect as it does not express the correct relationship of annoyance with the noise.
  • Option 2: "to" is incorrect because "to" does not fit the construction of the sentence.
  • Option 4: "with" is inappropriate here as it is more commonly used for people or groups.

Question 676

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Identify the error in the sentence.

He made a quick shower before heading to the office.

  1. AOption (a)

    quick

  2. BOption (b)

    shower

  3. COption (c)

    before

  4. DOption (d)

    made

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

made

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

  • The issue in the sentence lies in the verb "made."
  • The verb "made" is incorrect when referring to taking a shower. The correct verb to use is "had" or "took."
  • The correct sentence should be "He had a quick shower before heading to the office."
  • Thus, the error is located in Option 4 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "He had a quick shower before heading to the office."

Question 677

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Choose the antonym of 'inflate":

  1. AOption (a)

    Increase

  2. BOption (b)

    Reduce

  3. COption (c)

    Expand

  4. DOption (d)

    Swell

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Reduce

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is: Reduce.

Key Points

  • The word "inflate" means to fill something with air or gas, causing it to expand or increase in size; metaphorically, it can also mean to increase or magnify something excessively. (फुलाना या बढ़ाना)
  • Example: The balloon inflated quickly as air was pumped into it.
  • "Reduce" refers to the act of making something smaller in size, amount, or degree; it is the opposite of inflate. (कम करना)
  • Example: The government decided to reduce taxes to help small businesses.
  • Hence, we can infer that the antonym of "inflate" is "reduce."

Therefore, the correct answer is: Reduce.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

  • Increase (बढ़ाना): To make something larger or greater in size, amount, or degree.
  • Example: The company plans to increase its production capacity next year.
  • Expand (विस्तार करना): To spread out or grow in size, area, or volume.
  • Example: The business is looking to expand its operations into new markets.
  • Swell (सूजना): To grow larger or rounder, often due to pressure or injury.
  • Example: His ankle began to swell after the fall.

Question 678

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Select the most appropriate option to improve the bold part of the sentence.

Seldom we have seen such a performance.

  1. AOption (a)

    ​had we seen

  2. BOption (b)

    did we saw

  3. COption (c)

    have we seen

  4. DOption (d)

    we had seen

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

have we seen

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

  • The sentence begins with "Seldom," which is an adverb of frequency. When such adverbs are used at the start of a sentence, they typically require an inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb.
  • In this case, "have we seen" maintains proper inversion and grammatical correctness.
  • The incorrect phrase "Seldom we have seen" does not follow the rule of inversion.
  • Thus, the correct usage is "Seldom have we seen."

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

 

Correct Sentence: "Seldom have we seen such a performance."

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: "had we seen" – This phrase is incorrect because it uses the past perfect tense, which is not appropriate for this context.
  • Option 2: "did we saw" – This option is grammatically incorrect because "saw" cannot follow "did" in a sentence.
  • Option 4: "we had seen" – This phrase lacks proper inversion and does not fit the structure required after "seldom."

Question 679

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Identify the error in the sentence.

Mount Everest is more highest peak in the world.

  1. AOption (a)

    world

  2. BOption (b)

    more

  3. COption (c)

    highest

  4. DOption (d)

    everest

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

more

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

  • The primary issue in the sentence is the use of the word "more" before "highest."
  • The word "highest" is a superlative adjective, and it is incorrect to use "more" with superlative forms.
  • The correct phrase should simply be "Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world."
  • Thus, the error is located in Option 2 of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

 

Correct Sentence: "Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world."

Question 680

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

What does the idiom 'Steal someone's thunder' mean?

  1. AOption (a)

    Mock them

  2. BOption (b)

    Take credit for their work

  3. COption (c)

    Help them

  4. DOption (d)

    Ignore them

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Take credit for their work

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is: Option 2 i.e. Take credit for their work.

Key Points

  • The idiom "Steal someone's thunder" means to take the credit for someone else's ideas, achievements, or work, often by using them to one's own advantage. (किसी के काम का श्रेय लेना)
  • Example: She worked hard on the project, but her colleague stole her thunder by presenting it as his own idea during the meeting.
  • "Thunder" in this idiom metaphorically represents someone's effort, idea, or achievement. To "steal" it means to unfairly take it from them. (बिजली या गर्जना का प्रतीकात्मक अर्थ किसी के प्रयास या विचार को दर्शाता है)
  • Example: The junior employee stole the boss's thunder by announcing the new policy before he could.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Option 2.

Additional Information

Here are the other options explained along with their Hindi meanings and example sentences:

  • Mock them (उनका मजाक उड़ाना): To make fun of someone or ridicule them.
  • Example: The students mocked their teacher’s accent, which was disrespectful.
  • Help them (उनकी मदद करना): To provide assistance or support to someone.
  • Example: She helped her friend with his math homework.
  • Ignore them (उनकी उपेक्षा करना): To deliberately pay no attention to someone or something.
  • Example: He ignored his colleague's advice during the project discussion.