SSC CGL English Language And Comprehension Flashcards

24 sample cards from the English Language And Comprehension deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What changes occur when converting direct speech to indirect (reported) speech with a past reporting verb?

   Tenses shift back (backshift), pronouns change to match perspective, and time/place words change (e.g., 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'here' becomes 'there').

2. Convert to indirect speech: He said, 'I am happy.'

   He said that he was happy.

3. How are imperative sentences (commands/requests) reported in indirect speech?

   Use a reporting verb like 'ordered', 'requested', 'advised', followed by 'to' + base verb (e.g., He said, 'Sit down' becomes 'He ordered me to sit down').

4. In 'Fill in the Blanks' questions, what is the key strategy for choosing the correct word?

   Use context, grammar (part of speech and tense required), and collocation/idiom to select the word that fits both meaning and structure of the sentence.

5. What is a Cloze Test in English comprehension?

   A Cloze Test is a passage with multiple blanks where you choose the best word for each blank based on context, grammar, and coherence of the whole passage.

6. What is a Sentence Rearrangement (para jumble) question, and how do you approach it?

   You reorder jumbled sentences/parts into a coherent paragraph. Identify the opening sentence, then use linking words, pronoun references, and logical/chronological flow to sequence them.

7. In Sentence Completion questions, what should the chosen ending maintain?

   Grammatical correctness, logical meaning, and consistency in tone/idea with the rest of the sentence.

8. What is a phrasal verb? Give an example.

   A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (particle) that creates a new meaning (e.g., 'give up' = quit, 'look after' = take care of).

9. What does the phrasal verb 'put off' mean?

   To postpone or delay something.

10. What is a collocation? Give an example.

    A collocation is a pair or group of words that habitually go together (e.g., 'make a decision', 'heavy rain', 'fast food'), where one word naturally accompanies another.

11. In passage-based factual questions, where must the answer be found?

    Directly stated in the passage—answers must be supported by explicit information in the text, not by outside knowledge or inference.

12. What is an inference question in reading comprehension?

    An inference question asks for a conclusion that is not directly stated but logically implied by the information in the passage.

13. What does 'tone' mean in reading comprehension, and name three examples of tone.

    Tone is the author's attitude or emotion toward the subject. Examples: critical, sarcastic, optimistic, humorous, objective, sympathetic.

14. What does 'vocabulary in context' mean in comprehension questions?

    It means determining the meaning of a word based on how it is used in the surrounding sentence/passage, rather than its most common dictionary meaning.

15. What is the difference between the 'theme' and the 'main idea' of a passage?

    The main idea is the central point the author makes; the theme is the broader underlying message or universal concept the passage conveys.

16. How do you identify the main idea of a passage?

    Look for the point that the whole passage supports—often found in the topic sentence or conclusion—and ensure it covers the passage as a whole, not just one detail.

17. Give the one-word substitution for 'a place where birds are kept.'

    Aviary.

18. What is the one-word substitution for 'a speech made without preparation'?

    Extempore (or impromptu).

19. Distinguish the confusable pair 'principal' vs. 'principle.'

    'Principal' means the head of a school or 'main/chief'; 'principle' means a rule, law, or fundamental truth.

20. What does the idiom 'once in a blue moon' mean?

    Very rarely; almost never.

21. Identify and correct the error: 'One of my friend is a doctor.'

    After 'one of' use a plural noun: 'One of my friends is a doctor.'

22. What is the antonym of 'benevolent'?

    Malevolent (also acceptable: cruel, malicious).

23. Convert to indirect speech: She said, 'I will help you tomorrow.'

    She said that she would help me the next day (the following day).

24. What is parallelism in sentence construction, and why is it tested in error spotting?

    Parallelism requires that items in a list or comparison share the same grammatical form (e.g., 'reading, writing, and singing'). It is tested because mismatched forms (e.g., 'reading, writing, and to sing') are common errors.

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