SSC CGL 2026 English Mock Test 01: 25 Most Important Exam-Level Practice Questions with Solutions
SSC CGL 2026 English Practice Set 01: The English Language section plays a decisive role in determining a candidate's success in the SSC CGL, CHSL, CPO, and MTS examinations. To help aspirants build accuracy and manage time effectively under the new exam pattern, here is a comprehensive English Mock Test consisting of 25 highly repeated, exam-level questions compiled with precise solutions. Attempt this real exam-oriented practice set to evaluate your current preparation level.
SSC CGL English Mock Test 01 (Questions 1 to 25)
Directions (Q1-Q5): In the following questions, some parts of the sentences have errors and some are correct. Find out which part of a sentence has an error. If a sentence is free from error, choose "No Error".
Q1. The newly appointed manager (A) / forgot bringing the mandatory files (B) / required for the monthly financial review. (C) / No Error (D)
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: Replace 'bringing' with 'to bring'. The verbs 'remember' and 'forget' take an infinitive (to + V1) when they refer to a future task or an action that one was supposed to perform but omitted.
Q2. Not until the final set of official documents had been scrutinized (A) / did the investigator realized (B) / how extensively the financial records had been manipulated. (C) / No Error (D)
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: Replace 'realized' with 'realize' (V1). When a sentence begins with a negative adverbial phrase like 'Not until', the inversion rule applies where the auxiliary verb 'did' comes before the subject, and 'did' always takes the base form of the verb (V1).
Q3. To ensure fairness during the competition, (A) / the judges carefully examined (B) / every entries before making their final decision. (C) / No Error (D)
Correct Answer: (C)
Explanation: Replace 'every entries' with 'every entry'. The distributive determiner 'every' is strictly followed by a singular countable noun.
Q4. I am observing your mischievous activities (A) / for half an hour, (B) / so you better stop immediately. (C) / No Error (D)
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: Replace 'I am observing' with 'I have been observing'. When a time duration is specified using 'for' or 'since', the Present Perfect Continuous tense must be used instead of the simple Present Continuous tense.
Q5. A ground breaking discovery has been made (A) / in a deserting quarry (B) / located near the outskirts of the historical city. (C) / No Error (D)
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: Replace 'deserting' with 'deserted'. The past participle form 'deserted' should be used as an adjective here because the action of leaving or abandoning the quarry is already finished, indicating a completed state.
Directions (Q6-Q10): In the following questions, a part of the sentence is underlined. Below are given alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no improvement is needed, choose "No Improvement".
Q6. The project director had the senior engineers thoroughly inspect the newly installed security system.
(A) had the senior engineers thoroughly inspected
(B) had been thoroughly inspected by the senior engineers
(C) made the senior engineers thoroughly inspected
(D) No Improvement
Correct Answer: (D) No Improvement
Explanation: This sentence follows the active causative structure of 'have'. When 'have' or 'had' is followed by an active doer (the senior engineers), it correctly takes a bare infinitive (Verb 1 without 'to'), which is 'inspect' in this case.
Q7. The painting that had been stolen long ago was recovered, and were displayed in the national art gallery.
(A) was displayed
(B) had displayed
(C) is displayed
(D) No Improvement
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: Both passive clauses connected by the conjunction 'and' share the same singular grammatical subject, which is 'The painting'. Therefore, the plural verb 'were' must be replaced by the singular past tense verb 'was'.
Q8. During the heated press conference, the mayor steadfastly refused to comment in the unfolding political scandal.
(A) comment over
(B) comment on
(C) comment at
(D) No Improvement
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: The verb 'comment' takes the fixed preposition 'on' when referring to expressing an opinion about a specific topic, event, or matter.
Q9. The samples which were collected from the site and sealed for testing is now ready for analysis.
(A) are now ready
(B) was now ready
(C) were now ready
(D) No Improvement
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: The true subject of the verb is the plural noun 'The samples', which acts as the antecedent for the relative pronoun 'which'. The presence of the time marker 'now' requires a present plural verb, making 'are' the correct choice.
Q10. The committee reviewed the personal proposal carefully but the members could not reach a unanimous decision.
(A) and the members could not reach a
(B) as the members could not reach a
(C) yet the members could not reach a
(D) No Improvement
Correct Answer: (D) No Improvement
Explanation: The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used correctly here to connect two independent clauses that express contrasting or conflicting ideas.
Directions (Q11-Q13): Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word (Synonym).
Q11. CACHEXIA
(A) Peak physical fitness
(B) Severe physical wasting
(C) Prolonged medical treatment
(D) High processing speed
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: 'Cachexia' is a medical noun that refers to a state of ill health, malnutrition, and severe loss of weight and muscle mass caused by a chronic illness.
Q12. FULSOME
(A) Honest praise
(B) Excessive flattery
(C) Truthful remark
(D) Complete detail
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: 'Fulsome' means offensive to good taste due to being overdone or excessively complimentary, which equates to insincere or excessive flattery.
Q13. BESEECH
(A) Implore / Request
(B) Avoid
(C) Ameliorate
(D) Beguile
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: 'Beseech' means to ask someone urgently and fervently to do something; to implore, beg, or entreat earnestly.
Directions (Q14-Q16): Out of the four alternatives, choose the word opposite in meaning to the given word (Antonym).
Q14. RETRACT
(A) Recant
(B) Affirm
(C) Fabricate
(D) Jettison
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: 'Retract' means to withdraw a statement, accusation, or promise. Its opposite is 'Affirm', which means to state as a fact strongly, publicly, and formally.
Q15. CHAGRIN
(A) Remorse
(B) Disappointment
(C) Pleasure
(D) Disquiet
Correct Answer: (C)
Explanation: 'Chagrin' refers to a feeling of vexation, annoyance, or distress caused by humiliation or failure. Its antonym is 'Pleasure', which signifies satisfaction or joy.
Q16. MENDACIOUS
(A) Veracious / Truthful
(B) Insincere
(C) Sophisticated
(D) Erroneous
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: 'Mendacious' means given to lying or telling lies. Its exact opposite is 'Veracious', which comes from the root word 'vera' meaning true or truthful.
Directions (Q17-Q20): Out of the four alternatives, choose the one which can be substituted for the given words/sentence (One Word Substitution) or select the correct contextual meaning.
Q17. An instrument used for measuring altitudes or height above sea level:
(A) Barometer (B) Altimeter (C) Thermometer (D) Chronometer
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: The root word 'Alti' denotes height. Hence, an instrument used for measuring altitudes is called an 'Altimeter'.
Q18. The biological process or system of cell division:
(A) Cytokinesis (B) Cytokanisis (C) Citokinesis (D) Cytokinises
Correct Answer: (A)
Explanation: The root word 'Cyto' refers to a cell. The correct scientific spelling for the cell division process is 'Cytokinesis'.
Q19. Select the option that best explains the meaning of the given Idiom: "Alarms and excursions"
(A) A quiet journey taken purely for educational pleasure
(B) Confused activity or noisy disturbance / Frantic activity
(C) A strict warning issued before a dangerous situation
(D) A peaceful state of mind after a heavy work
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: This idiom is used to describe a state of frantic, confused, or noisy activity, often accompanied by unexpected disruptions.
Q20. Identify the meaning of the word based on context: "The travelers camped in a quiet del surrounded by hills."
(A) A hardware computer brand (B) A small valley (C) A steep mountain peak (D) An arid desert
Correct Answer: (B)
Explanation: Geographically, 'del' (or dale) refers to a small, quiet, and secluded valley located between hills.
Directions (Q21-Q25): In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.
A responsible citizen is not defined merely by legal obligations, but also by their contribution to the community. Civic sense includes obeying rules, respecting public spaces, and participating in social causes. When citizens (21)__________ basic responsibilities, society begins to suffer. It is important to understand that progress depends on (22)__________ efforts. Educated individuals must not remain passive, but take the lead in creating awareness. Acts of voluntary service and speaking against wrongs can lead to meaningful changes. Social responsibility is not just a duty; it is a (23)__________. The strength of a democracy lies in an informed and (24)__________ citizenry. When people unite with a shared vision, communities grow stronger. True citizenship holds justice, equality, and the (25)__________ good.
Q21. (A) abandon (B) overlook / ignore (C) demand (D) delay
Correct Answer: (B) overlook / ignore
Q22. (A) physical (B) collective (C) solo (D) creative
Correct Answer: (B) collective
Q23. (A) burden (B) privilege (C) reaction (D) complaint
Correct Answer: (B) privilege
Q24. (A) passive (B) indifferent (C) responsible (D) careless
Correct Answer: (C) responsible
Q25. (A) total (B) private (C) common (D) higher
Correct Answer: (C) common
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