English Grammar Quiz for SSC Exams

In English grammar, when using negative statements (like "did not"), the question tag that follows should be positive. Therefore, the correct question tag for "She did not know the answer" should be "Did she?" instead of "Didn't she?"

So, the corrected sentence would be: "She did not know the answer, did she?"

Correct answer: c) didn't she

• The word "ephemeral" is an adjective that describes something lasting for a very short duration.
• For example, "The beauty of the ephemeral cherry blossoms captivated everyone in the park."

When determining which article to use before a noun, consider the following:

• A is used before words that begin with a consonant sound.
• An is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.
• The is used when referring to specific or particular nouns.

In the sentence "He is _____ European," the word "European" begins with a consonant sound (/jʊəˈrəʊpɪən/), so the correct article to use is "a."

Therefore, the sentence should be: "He is a European."

If you have more questions or need further explanations, feel free to ask!

Explanation: The idiom "a blessing in disguise" refers to a situation that initially appears to be unfortunate or bad but ultimately results in something good or beneficial. It suggests that what seemed like a setback or problem actually turns out to have positive outcomes in the end. Therefore, option c) accurately reflects the meaning of this idiom.

In passive voice, the object of the active sentence (in this case, "the work") becomes the subject, and the active verb ("complete") is changed to its passive form ("completed"). The subject of the active sentence ("They") is either omitted or mentioned at the end with "by" followed by the doer of the action (optional in this case).

So, the transformation from active voice to passive voice is:

• Active voice: They will complete the work by tomorrow.
• Passive voice: The work will be completed by tomorrow.

This maintains the meaning of the original sentence while changing its grammatical structure to passive voice.

The correct spelling is "February." The word "February" originates from the Latin word "Februarius," which means "to purify" and is related to a purification ritual held during this month in ancient Rome. The other options provided are misspellings of the word.

• "Febuary" omits the "r" after "b".
• "Feburary" incorrectly places the "r" after the "u".
• "Febraury" misplaces the "r" between "a" and "u".

Thus, option b) February is the correctly spelt word.

To find the antonym of "optimistic," we first need to understand its meaning. "Optimistic" refers to having a positive and hopeful outlook on life, expecting good things to happen.

Now, let's evaluate the options:

• a) Hopeful: This is a synonym of "optimistic," as it also means having hope and expecting positive outcomes.
• b) Pessimistic: This is the opposite of "optimistic." A pessimistic person expects negative outcomes and tends to focus on the downside of situations.
• c) Positive: This is another synonym of "optimistic," meaning having a positive outlook.
• d) Cheerful: This means being happy and in good spirits, which aligns with being optimistic but is not its direct antonym.

Therefore, the antonym of "optimistic" is b) Pessimistic.

The idiom "Bite the bullet" means to endure a painful or otherwise unpleasant situation that is seen as unavoidable. It originates from the practice of having a patient bite on a bullet during surgery before the advent of effective painkillers. Therefore, the phrase signifies facing a challenging situation with courage and resilience.

• Fragile means easily broken or damaged.
• Weak has a similar meaning to fragile, implying a lack of strength.
• Delicate also means easily broken or requiring careful handling, so it is similar to fragile.
• Sturdy means strong and not easily broken or damaged, which is the opposite of fragile.
• Brittle means hard but liable to break or shatter easily, similar to fragile.

Therefore, the word "Sturdy" is the most opposite in meaning to "Fragile".

Answer: c) Sturdy

• Looking at: This means to direct your gaze towards something, usually with interest or intent to see details. Example: "He was looking at the beautiful painting."
• Looking for: This means to search for something that is lost or needed. Example: "He is looking for his lost keys."
• Looking after: This means to take care of or be responsible for someone or something. Example: "She is looking after her younger sister."
• Looking on: This means to watch an event without becoming involved in it. Example: "They were just looking on as the argument continued."

In the context of the sentence "He is _______ his lost keys," the correct phrasal verb is "looking for," indicating that he is actively searching for his lost keys.