Previous year questions · SSC Selection Post

SSC Selection Post English Language — Previous Year Questions

530 English Language questions asked in past SSC Selection Post papers, split into 53 timed practice sets — every question with its answer and explanation.

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About SSC Selection Post English Language previous year questions

This page collects every English Language question that has appeared in past SSC Selection Post papers on AajExam — 530 questions in total, organised into 53 short, timed practice sets. Each question is shown with its four options, the correct answer, and an explanation of the reasoning, so you can use the page either as a self-test or as a revision reference. Why previous year questions are the highest-value English Language preparation you can do for SSC Selection Post: recruitment boards reuse a stable pool of concepts across cycles. The wording changes, the underlying idea rarely does. Working through a few hundred genuine past English Language questions teaches you which sub-topics the paper actually rewards, how the examiner likes to frame distractors, and roughly how long each question type should take — none of which a syllabus document can tell you. How to use this page: attempt questions in blocks of ten without looking at the answers, then review every question you got wrong or guessed. Read the explanation for the concept, not just the answer letter. When a concept keeps catching you out, open the related topic page linked below and drill that single area before returning here. Repeat across the full bank, and track how your accuracy on the second pass compares with your first — a 15-20% improvement is normal and is the clearest sign your preparation is working. What is in this bank: the questions are transcribed from actual SSC Selection Post question papers, kept in the original order and wording, with solutions written by subject specialists. Sets are free to attempt, work on mobile, and need no login to read. If you would rather practise a complete paper end to end under exam conditions, the full SSC Selection Post previous-year papers are linked below as well.

English Language PYQs asked in SSC Selection Post

A sample of 30 questions from the full bank of 530. Try each one before opening the solution — the remaining questions are in the timed practice sets below.

Q1.Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. That night the dinner was special, and the _________ himself came out to read out the menu list.
- A.servant
- B.public
- C.guest
- D.chef
Show answer
Answer: D. chef
The chef would come out to present the menu. Option 4.
Q2.Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. A cock and bull story
- A.A story of animals
- B.A foolish and concocted story
- C.A true story
- D.A children's story
Show answer
Answer: B. A foolish and concocted story
'A cock and bull story' = a far-fetched, foolish, concocted tale. Option 2.
Q3.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. Why was such a letter written by your brother?
- A.Why is your brother writing such a letter?
- B.Why has your brother written such a letter?
- C.Why did your brother write such a letter?
- D.Why your brother wrote such a letter?
Show answer
Answer: C. Why did your brother write such a letter?
Past simple passive → past simple active. Option 3.
Q4.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 1. 'a system of hand (1)_____'
- A.writing
- B.inking
- C.reading
- D.printing
Show answer
Answer: B. inking
Per response sheet, option 2 ('inking' — hand inking process).
Q5.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 2. '(2)______ in China were printed'
- A.page
- B.books
- C.paper
- D.book
Show answer
Answer: B. books
'Books in China were printed' (plural). Option 2.
Q6.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 3. 'printed by (3)______ paper, against the inked surface'
- A.write
- B.rub
- C.rubbing
- D.writing
Show answer
Answer: C. rubbing
'By rubbing paper' (gerund after preposition). Option 3.
Q7.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 4. 'against the inked surface (4)______ woodblocks'
- A.of
- B.in
- C.by
- D.from
Show answer
Answer: A. of
'Inked surface of woodblocks'. Option 1.
Q8.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 5. 'As both sides of (5)______ thin, porous sheet'
- A.from
- B.by
- C.a
- D.the
Show answer
Answer: D. the
'The thin, porous sheet' (definite). Option 4.
Q9.Read the Satyajit Ray passage. Which of the following is NOT a theme of any of Satyajit Ray's movies, according to the passage?
- A.Motivational life stories
- B.Rural life
- C.Faulty social structures
- D.Complexities in relationships
Show answer
Answer: A. Motivational life stories
Motivational life stories is not listed; others all are. Option 1.
Q10.Read the Satyajit Ray passage. Which film by Satyajit Ray deals with the theme of autocracy?
- A.Pather Panchali
- B.Devi
- C.Hirak Rajar Deshe
- D.Mahapurush
Show answer
Answer: C. Hirak Rajar Deshe
Hirak Rajar Deshe is the political satire on autocracy. Option 3.
Q11.Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom. Many unavoidable situations were avoided only because someone had our back.
- A.In consultation
- B.To support
- C.Without help
- D.Within reach
Show answer
Answer: B. To support
Had our back = supported us. Option 2.
Q12.Parts of a sentence are given below in jumbled order. (A) fell dead in an instant (B) stunned the movement (C) of the busy Bazaar and (D) silenced the cacophony (E) suddenly, a ringing blast (F) out of the bodies, which
- A.EDCBFA
- B.BADFEC
- C.CABEDF
- D.FACEDB
Show answer
Answer: A. EDCBFA
Per docx answer key, option 1 (EDCBFA).
Q13.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech. The teacher orders Mohan not to tear off pages from his note-book.
- A.The teacher says to Mohan, "Don't tear off pages from your notebook."
- B.The teacher says to Mohan, "You shouldn't tear off pages from your notebook."
- C.The teacher says to Mohan, "Let the pages not be torn off from your notebook."
- D.The teacher says to Mohan, "Mustn't tear off pages from your notebook."
Show answer
Answer: A. The teacher says to Mohan, "Don't tear off pages from your notebook."
Direct of imperative 'not to' → 'Don't ...'. Option 1.
Q14.Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Melancholy
- A.Sad
- B.Blue
- C.Sorrow
- D.Cheerful
Show answer
Answer: D. Cheerful
Melancholy (sad) ↔ Cheerful. Option 4.
Q15.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech. "Hurrah! I have topped again," he said. "Congratulations," said I.
- A.He exclaimed that he topped, and I congratulated him.
- B.He said that he topped again. I congratulated him.
- C.He said to me he had topped again, and I congratulated him.
- D.He exclaimed with joy that he had topped again. I congratulated him.
Show answer
Answer: D. He exclaimed with joy that he had topped again. I congratulated him.
'Hurrah!' converts to 'exclaimed with joy'; backshift 'have topped' → 'had topped'. Option 4.
Q16.Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error. Due to its fragrance, the petals of an rose are often used in perfumes and cosmetics.
- A.Due to its fragrance,
- B.the petals of an
- C.rose are often used
- D.in perfumes and cosmetics.
Show answer
Answer: B. the petals of an
'an rose' should be 'a rose' (rose starts with consonant sound). Option 2.
Q17.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Who is looking for a smart advisor?
- A.By whom is a smart advisor being looked for?
- B.By whom was a smart advisor looked?
- C.By whom is a smart advisor looked for?
- D.By whom is a smart advisor looked?
Show answer
Answer: A. By whom is a smart advisor being looked for?
Present continuous passive: 'is being looked for'. Option 1.
Q18.Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. The plot of the story effects the character and their growth.
- A.affects the character
- B.affect the character's
- C.effect the character
- D.affect the character
Show answer
Answer: A. affects the character
'Affects' (verb) is correct, not 'effects' (noun). Option 1.
Q19.The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a spelling error. It seemed that his route / to the covted island / was not to be / an easy one.
- A.was not to be
- B.an easy one
- C.It seemed that his route
- D.to the covted island
Show answer
Answer: D. to the covted island
'Covted' should be 'coveted'. Option 4.
Q20.Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. The enigma of quantum mechanics remains inscrutably elusive despite of decades of intensive research by the world's leading physicists.
- A.despite decades with
- B.despite of decades to
- C.despite of decades in
- D.despite decades of
Show answer
Answer: D. despite decades of
'Despite' takes a noun directly, not 'despite of'. Option 4.
Q21.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Mr. Johnson teaches us mathematics.
- A.Mathematics will be taught to us by Mr. Johnson.
- B.Mathematics was taught to us by Mr. Johnson.
- C.Mathematics is taught to us by Mr. Johnson.
- D.Mathematics is being taught to us by Mr. Johnson.
Show answer
Answer: C. Mathematics is taught to us by Mr. Johnson.
Present simple passive: 'is taught to us by'. Option 3.
Q22.Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. A popular theory among critics is that the character Count Dracula is based on the ________ barbaric Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler.
- A.debauched
- B.infamously
- C.miserably
- D.ingloriously
Show answer
Answer: B. infamously
'Infamously barbaric' fits as adverb modifying barbaric. Option 2.
Q23.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1. 'students can (1)____________ their learning through interaction'
- A.reduce
- B.adjust
- C.calculate
- D.improve
Show answer
Answer: D. improve
Students 'improve' learning. Option 4.
Q24.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2. 'Every activity in the club (2)________ students to cultivate'
- A.diminishes
- B.confuses
- C.simplifies
- D.encourages
Show answer
Answer: D. encourages
Activities 'encourage' students. Option 4.
Q25.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3. 'provide a/an (3)_________ to showcase their talents'
- A.occasion
- B.risk
- C.opportunity
- D.excuse
Show answer
Answer: C. opportunity
Provide an 'opportunity' to showcase. Option 3.
Q26.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4. 'students find time to (4)_________ themselves for their future'
- A.interrupt
- B.clean
- C.control
- D.groom
Show answer
Answer: D. groom
'Groom themselves for their future'. Option 4.
Q27.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5. 'develop their leadership ... in a/an (5)___________ way'
- A.optimistic
- B.aggressive
- C.dominant
- D.pessimistic
Show answer
Answer: A. optimistic
Positive context → 'optimistic'. Option 1.
Q28.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word in the context of the passage. Substitute
- A.Perdurable
- B.Equivalent
- C.Rival
- D.Surrogate
Show answer
Answer: B. Equivalent
Per docx answer key, option 2 (Equivalent — though typically Substitute ≈ Equivalent; the antonym would be 'Original'. Trust docx).
Q29.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Identify the tone of the passage.
- A.Sarcastic
- B.Cautionary
- C.Populist
- D.Pedestrian
Show answer
Answer: B. Cautionary
Passage warns/cautions about herbal remedies — cautionary tone. Option 2.
Q30.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Identify the statement that holds true according to the passage.
- A.Herbal remedies can sometimes contain artificial ingredients.
- B.Herbal remedies have no proven health benefits.
- C.Herbal remedies can be trusted blindly.
- D.Herbal concoctions should not be used for curing minor illnesses.
Show answer
Answer: A. Herbal remedies can sometimes contain artificial ingredients.
Passage: 'Some may contain synthetic ingredients'. Option 1.

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SSC Selection Post syllabus & pattern Full SSC Selection Post question papers All English Language practice

Frequently Asked Questions

How many SSC Selection Post English Language previous year questions are available?

530 English Language questions from past SSC Selection Post papers are available on AajExam, split into 53 practice sets. New questions are added as fresh papers are released.

Are the answers and explanations free?

Yes. Every question on this page shows its correct answer and explanation free of charge, and you do not need an account to read them. A free account only adds attempt tracking and performance analytics.

Do SSC Selection Post repeat questions from previous years?

Exact repeats do occur, but the more reliable pattern is conceptual: the same English Language sub-topics reappear cycle after cycle with reworded questions. That is why working through past questions raises your score more reliably than reading theory alone.

How should I use these questions in my SSC Selection Post preparation?

Attempt a set of ten cold, review every wrong and guessed question with its explanation, then drill the weak sub-topic on its topic page before moving on. Revisit the same set after a few days — your second-attempt accuracy is the honest measure of whether the concept stuck.

SSC Selection Post English Language practice sets

Each set is a timed 10-question drill drawn from the same question bank.

About SSC Selection Post English Language previous year questions

English Language PYQs asked in SSC Selection Post

Q1.Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. That night the dinner was special, and the _________ himself came out to read out the menu list.

Q2.Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom. A cock and bull story

Q3.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in active voice. Why was such a letter written by your brother?

Q4.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 1. 'a system of hand (1)_____'

Q5.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 2. '(2)______ in China were printed'

Q6.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 3. 'printed by (3)______ paper, against the inked surface'

Q7.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 4. 'against the inked surface (4)______ woodblocks'

Q8.Read the Chinese Printing passage. Select the most appropriate option for blank number 5. 'As both sides of (5)______ thin, porous sheet'

Q9.Read the Satyajit Ray passage. Which of the following is NOT a theme of any of Satyajit Ray's movies, according to the passage?

Q10.Read the Satyajit Ray passage. Which film by Satyajit Ray deals with the theme of autocracy?

Q11.Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom. Many unavoidable situations were avoided only because someone had our back.

Q12.Parts of a sentence are given below in jumbled order. (A) fell dead in an instant (B) stunned the movement (C) of the busy Bazaar and (D) silenced the cacophony (E) suddenly, a ringing blast (F) out of the bodies, which

Q13.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech. The teacher orders Mohan not to tear off pages from his note-book.

Q14.Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word. Melancholy

Q15.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in indirect speech. "Hurrah! I have topped again," he said. "Congratulations," said I.

Q16.Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that contains an error. Due to its fragrance, the petals of an rose are often used in perfumes and cosmetics.

Q17.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Who is looking for a smart advisor?

Q18.Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. The plot of the story effects the character and their growth.

Q19.The following sentence has been split into four segments. Identify the segment that contains a spelling error. It seemed that his route / to the covted island / was not to be / an easy one.

Q20.Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. The enigma of quantum mechanics remains inscrutably elusive despite of decades of intensive research by the world's leading physicists.

Q21.Select the option that expresses the given sentence in passive voice. Mr. Johnson teaches us mathematics.

Q22.Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank. A popular theory among critics is that the character Count Dracula is based on the ________ barbaric Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler.

Q23.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 1. 'students can (1)____________ their learning through interaction'

Q24.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2. 'Every activity in the club (2)________ students to cultivate'

Q25.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 3. 'provide a/an (3)_________ to showcase their talents'

Q26.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 4. 'students find time to (4)_________ themselves for their future'

Q27.Read the Student Clubs passage. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5. 'develop their leadership ... in a/an (5)___________ way'

Q28.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the given word in the context of the passage. Substitute

Q29.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Identify the tone of the passage.

Q30.Read the Herbal Remedies passage. Identify the statement that holds true according to the passage.

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