SSC CGL 2022 PYQ — Question 1

SSC CGL - 21 April 2022 - Shift 3 • English • Q1

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and
select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

Birbal immediately smiled and went up to Akbar. He announced the (1) ______; he said there
were twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-three crows (2) ______ the city. When
asked how he (3) ______ the answer, Birbal replied, “Ask your men to (4) ______ the number of
crows. If there are more, then the relatives of the crows must be visiting them from (5) ______
cities. If there are fewer, then the crows from our city must be visiting their relatives who live
outside the city.”

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 5.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. nearby.

The meaning of the given words is:

  • Nearby: not far away.
  • Close: very near
  • Near: nearby
  • Vicinity: the area near or surrounding a particular place.
    •  The blank requires an adjective for cities. “Nearby” is used before a noun as an adjective or after a noun as an adverb to say that something is close.
    • Here in the given sentence, it will be used as an adjective

The correct sentence is:

...If there are more, then the relatives of the crows must be visiting them from nearby
cities. If there are fewer, then the crows from our city must be visiting their relatives who live
outside the city.”