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Question 811

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow by selecting the most appropriate option from the given alternatives.

Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democratic societies, allowing individuals to express ideas, question authority, and promote change. However, in the digital world, this right encounters complex challenges. Social media platforms have become arenas where opinions can be voiced instantly-but also where hate speech, misinformation, and cyberbullying thrive. Balancing the right to speak freely with the responsibility to prevent harm is now a pressing debate. Should platforms censor harmful content, or would that violate freedom? While some argue that regulation is essential to protect vulnerable groups, others fear it might lead to suppression of dissent. The problem deepens when private companies-not elected bodies-decide what speech is allowed or banned. Striking the right balance requires thoughtful policies, digital literacy, and legal frameworks rooted in both human rights and public safety. In a world where words travel faster than thought, protecting free speech without enabling harm may be one of the defining tests of modern democracy.

What tone does the author adopt in the passage? 

  1. AOption (a)

    Dismissive 

  2. BOption (b)

    Alarmist

  3. COption (c)

    Balanced and reflective

  4. DOption (d)

    Aggressive 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Balanced and reflective

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 3.

 

Key Points

  • The passage discusses both the importance of freedom of speech and the challenges posed by digital platforms.
  • The author presents multiple perspectives, including the need to protect free expression and the risks of harm from hate speech or misinformation.
  • The tone is reflective because it carefully weighs pros and cons without exaggeration or dismissal.
  • It is balanced because it neither overstates the dangers nor ignores them, and it suggests thoughtful solutions like policy, literacy, and legal frameworks.

Therefore, the correct answer is Balanced and reflective.

 

Additional Information

  • Dismissive (उपेक्षापूर्ण): Ignores or downplays the importance of free speech; not applicable here.
  • Alarmist (अतिशयोक्तिपूर्ण): Exaggerates dangers to provoke fear; the passage does not exaggerate.
  • Aggressive (आक्रामक): Forceful or confrontational tone; the passage is analytical and measured, not aggressive.

Question 812

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

In the following passage, some words have been omitted. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to fill in each blank. Mark your answer for each question.

In modern societies, the concept of freedom is often celebrated as an essential right. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules but the presence of thoughtful (1) ______ Without it, freedom risks turning into chaos, where individual actions undermine collective welfare. A society that prizes only personal liberty without shared responsibility may soon face moral and civic (2) _____ While people often equate freedom with doing as they please, meaningful liberty requires a commitment to boundaries that preserve dignity and (3) _______for all. This balance is difficult to maintain, especially in democracies where voices are many and interests often (4) _______ Yet, it is precisely through dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect that freedom finds its most enduring expression. In the end, freedom divorced from responsibility is not progress, but a subtle (5) ______ of what it truly means to be free.

What would come in (1)

  1. AOption (a)

    Control

  2. BOption (b)

    governance

  3. COption (c)

    restraint

  4. DOption (d)

    leadership

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

restraint

Why this answer is correct

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

 

Key Points

  • The passage emphasizes that true freedom requires responsible action and self-control.
  • The blank (1) requires a word that conveys the idea of guiding behavior to prevent chaos in society.
  • Restraint fits perfectly as it denotes self-control and moderation in exercising freedom. (संयम)
  • Example: Citizens must exercise restraint in speech to maintain harmony in society.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'restraint'.

 

Additional Information

  • Control (नियंत्रण): Implies authority or regulation, but the passage focuses on personal moderation, not external control.
  • Governance (शासन): Refers to administration or management, which does not fit the context of personal behavior within freedom.
  • Leadership (नेतृत्व): Refers to guiding others, which is broader than the intended meaning of self-moderation in freedom.

Question 813

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

In the following passage, some words have been omitted. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to fill in each blank. Mark your answer for each question.

In modern societies, the concept of freedom is often celebrated as an essential right. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules but the presence of thoughtful (1) ______ Without it, freedom risks turning into chaos, where individual actions undermine collective welfare. A society that prizes only personal liberty without shared responsibility may soon face moral and civic (2) _____ While people often equate freedom with doing as they please, meaningful liberty requires a commitment to boundaries that preserve dignity and (3) _______for all. This balance is difficult to maintain, especially in democracies where voices are many and interests often (4) _______ Yet, it is precisely through dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect that freedom finds its most enduring expression. In the end, freedom divorced from responsibility is not progress, but a subtle (5) ______ of what it truly means to be free.

What would come in (2)

  1. AOption (a)

    revival

  2. BOption (b)

    collapse

  3. COption (c)

    education

  4. DOption (d)

    loyalty

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

collapse

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'Option 2' i.e. collapse.

 

Key Points

  • The passage discusses the importance of balancing freedom with responsibility.
  • The blank (2) refers to a negative consequence that arises if freedom lacks responsibility.
  • The word "collapse" fits contextually as it signifies moral and civic breakdown that may occur when boundaries and shared responsibility are ignored.
  • Other options like "revival," "education," and "loyalty" do not indicate a negative consequence and hence do not fit here.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'collapse'.

 

Additional Information

  • Revival (पुनरुद्धार): Means improvement or renewal, which contradicts the context of a negative outcome.
  • Education (शिक्षा): Means learning or instruction, unrelated to the moral or civic consequence described.
  • Loyalty (निष्ठा): Refers to faithfulness or allegiance, which does not indicate collapse or breakdown.

Question 814

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

In the following passage, some words have been omitted. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to fill in each blank. Mark your answer for each question.

In modern societies, the concept of freedom is often celebrated as an essential right. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules but the presence of thoughtful (1) ______ Without it, freedom risks turning into chaos, where individual actions undermine collective welfare. A society that prizes only personal liberty without shared responsibility may soon face moral and civic (2) _____ While people often equate freedom with doing as they please, meaningful liberty requires a commitment to boundaries that preserve dignity and (3) _______for all. This balance is difficult to maintain, especially in democracies where voices are many and interests often (4) _______ Yet, it is precisely through dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect that freedom finds its most enduring expression. In the end, freedom divorced from responsibility is not progress, but a subtle (5) ______ of what it truly means to be free.

What would come in (3)

  1. AOption (a)

    justice convenience 

  2. BOption (b)

    convenience

  3. COption (c)

    access

  4. DOption (d)

    equality

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

equality

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4 i.e. equality.

 

Key Points

  • The passage emphasizes that true freedom must coexist with responsibilities and consideration for others.
  • The blank (3) refers to what freedom should preserve for everyone—fairness and equal treatment.
  • Equality (समानता) fits best as it conveys fairness and justice for all members of society.
  • Other options like justice convenience, convenience, or access do not fully capture the moral and civic balance implied in the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4 i.e. equality.

 

Additional Information

  • Justice convenience (न्याय सुविधा): Grammatically incorrect and confusing; does not fit the context.
  • Convenience (सुविधा): Refers to ease or comfort, irrelevant to fairness or moral balance.
  • Access (पहुँच): Refers to availability or opportunity, which does not convey the moral principle implied.

Question 815

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

In the following passage, some words have been omitted. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to fill in each blank. Mark your answer for each question.

In modern societies, the concept of freedom is often celebrated as an essential right. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules but the presence of thoughtful (1) ______ Without it, freedom risks turning into chaos, where individual actions undermine collective welfare. A society that prizes only personal liberty without shared responsibility may soon face moral and civic (2) _____ While people often equate freedom with doing as they please, meaningful liberty requires a commitment to boundaries that preserve dignity and (3) _______for all. This balance is difficult to maintain, especially in democracies where voices are many and interests often (4) _______ Yet, it is precisely through dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect that freedom finds its most enduring expression. In the end, freedom divorced from responsibility is not progress, but a subtle (5) ______ of what it truly means to be free.

What would come in (4)

  1. AOption (a)

    vary

  2. BOption (b)

    divide

  3. COption (c)

    contradict

  4. DOption (d)

    clash

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

clash

Why this answer is correct

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

 

Key Points

  • The blank (4) refers to situations where different voices or interests in a society oppose each other.
  • The word 'clash' means a conflict or confrontation, fitting the context of differing interests in a democracy. (टकराव)
  • Other options like 'vary', 'divide', and 'contradict' do not fully capture the idea of active opposition or conflict between interests.
  • Example: In a multicultural society, the interests of various groups may clash during policy debates.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'clash'.

 

Additional Information

  • Vary (भिन्न होना) – Means to change or differ; does not indicate conflict between interests.
  • Divide (विभाजित करना) – Means to separate into parts; not necessarily about conflict.
  • Contradict (विरोधाभासी होना) – Means to assert the opposite; slightly related but weaker than 'clash' for active opposition.

Question 816

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

In the following passage, some words have been omitted. Read the passage carefully and choose the most appropriate option from the given alternatives to fill in each blank. Mark your answer for each question.

In modern societies, the concept of freedom is often celebrated as an essential right. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules but the presence of thoughtful (1) ______ Without it, freedom risks turning into chaos, where individual actions undermine collective welfare. A society that prizes only personal liberty without shared responsibility may soon face moral and civic (2) _____ While people often equate freedom with doing as they please, meaningful liberty requires a commitment to boundaries that preserve dignity and (3) _______for all. This balance is difficult to maintain, especially in democracies where voices are many and interests often (4) _______ Yet, it is precisely through dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect that freedom finds its most enduring expression. In the end, freedom divorced from responsibility is not progress, but a subtle (5) ______ of what it truly means to be free.

What would come in (5)

  1. AOption (a)

    rejection 

  2. BOption (b)

    misunderstanding

  3. COption (c)

    distortion

  4. DOption (d)

    creation 

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

distortion

Why this answer is correct

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

 

Key Points

  • The passage emphasizes that freedom without responsibility can lead to negative outcomes in society.
  • The blank (5) refers to the consequence or misrepresentation of freedom when it lacks accountability.
  • 'Distortion' fits here as it denotes a twisted or misleading version of what true freedom means. (विकृति)
  • Other options like 'rejection', 'misunderstanding', or 'creation' do not fully capture the nuanced consequence implied by the passage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'distortion'.

 

Additional Information

  • Rejection (अस्वीकृति): Means refusal; does not convey the nuanced misrepresentation of freedom.
  • Misunderstanding (गलतफहमी): Means incorrect perception; partially fits but is less precise than 'distortion'.
  • Creation (निर्माण): Means bringing something into existence; irrelevant in this context.

Question 817

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

The audience was mesmerized __ the speaker's eloquence.

  1. AOption (a)

    for

  2. BOption (b)

    with

  3. COption (c)

    to

  4. DOption (d)

    by

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

by

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is 'by'.

 

Key Points

  • The preposition "by" is used to indicate the agent or cause of the action that mesmerized the audience.
  • The sentence refers to the speaker's eloquence, which is the reason for the audience's amazement, making "by" the most appropriate choice.
  • Options 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect as they do not fit the context of the sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Complete Sentence: "The audience was mesmerized by the speaker's eloquence."

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: "for" is incorrect as it does not indicate the agent causing the action.
  • Option 2: "with" is incorrect as it does not fit the context of the sentence.
  • Option 3: "to" is incorrect because it does not convey the intended meaning.

Question 818

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

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

No sooner I reached the platform than the train left.

  1. AOption (a)

    I had no sooner reached  

  2. BOption (b)

    No sooner did I reach  

  3. COption (c)

    I no sooner reached  

  4. DOption (d)

    No sooner had I reached

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

No sooner had I reached

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 4.

 

Key Points

  • The expression "No sooner" is used in formal English with the structure "No sooner had + subject + past participle."
  • The sentence has a grammatical error because "No sooner I reached" does not follow the correct structure.
  • The correct structure is "No sooner had I reached," which ensures proper subject-verb inversion and tense usage.
  • Thus, the correct option is Option 4.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 4.

 

Correct Sentence: "No sooner had I reached the platform than the train left."

 

Additional Information

  • Option 1: "I had no sooner reached" – This structure is incorrect because it does not follow the subject-verb inversion required with "No sooner."
  • Option 2: "No sooner did I reach" – While this structure is grammatically correct, it changes the tense from past perfect to simple past, which may not align with the intended meaning of the sentence.
  • Option 3: "I no sooner reached" – This option is incorrect because it does not maintain the required inversion structure with "No sooner."

Question 819

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Which of the given options is the most logical sequencing of the following sentences to form a meaningful paragraph?

  1. They are formed by tiny animals called coral polyps.
  2. Coral reefs are home to many marine species.
  3. This is caused by rising ocean temperatures and pollution.
  4. Corals are losing their wonderful colours due to coral bleaching.
  1. AOption (a)

    1-3-2-4

  2. BOption (b)

    2-1-4-3

  3. COption (c)

    4-3-2-1

  4. DOption (d)

    2-3-1-4

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

2-1-4-3

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is Option 2.

 

Key Points

  • The paragraph is about coral reefs, their significance, and the challenges they face.
  • Sentence 2 is the first sentence as it introduces the topic:
  • "Coral reefs are home to many marine species."
  • Sentence 1 follows as it explains the formation of coral reefs:
  • "They are formed by tiny animals called coral polyps."
  • Sentence 4 comes next as it discusses the issue of coral bleaching:
  • "Corals are losing their wonderful colours due to coral bleaching."
  • Sentence 3 is the final sentence as it explains the causes of coral bleaching:
  • "This is caused by rising ocean temperatures and pollution."
  • The correct sequence is 2-1-4-3.

 

Coherent paragraph after rearrangement:

"Coral reefs are home to many marine species. They are formed by tiny animals called coral polyps. Corals are losing their wonderful colours due to coral bleaching. This is caused by rising ocean temperatures and pollution."

Question 820

SSC Stenographer 2025• English Language and Comprehension

Choose the one which can be substituted for the given sentence.

A word formed from the initial letters of a name

  1. AOption (a)

    Pseudonym

  2. BOption (b)

    Homonym

  3. COption (c)

    Acronym

  4. DOption (d)

    Antonym

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

Acronym

Why this answer is correct

The correct answer is: Acronym.

Key Points

  • The word "Acronym" refers to a word that is formed by taking the initial letters of other words in a phrase and pronouncing them as a single term. (संक्षिप्त रूप)
  • Example: NASA is an acronym for "National Aeronautics and Space Administration."
  • The given sentence describes a word formed from the initial letters of a name, which perfectly matches the definition of an acronym.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Acronym.

Additional Information

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

  • Pseudonym (छद्म नाम): A fictitious name used by an author instead of their real name.
  • Example: Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym "Mark Twain."
  • Homonym (समानार्थक शब्द): A word that is spelled and pronounced the same as another word but has a different meaning.
  • Example: The word "bat" can refer to a flying mammal or a piece of sports equipment.
  • Antonym (विलोम शब्द): A word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
  • Example: "Hot" is an antonym of "cold."