SSC CHSL 2023 PYQ — Question 4

SSC CHSL - 09 Aug 2023 - Shift 2 • English • Q4

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

Speech is a great (1)______ but it can be a great curse, for, while it helps us to make our desires and intentions known to our fellows, it can also, if we use it carelessly, make our attitude completely misunderstood. A slip of the (2)_______ the use of an unusual or an ambiguous word, and so on, may create an enemy where we had hoped to win a friend. Again, different classes of people use different (3)________ and the ordinary speech of an educated man may strike an uneducated listener as showing pride. Unwittingly, we may use a word which bears a different meaning for our listener from what it does to men of our own class. Thus, speech is not a gift to use lightly without thought, but one which demands (4)________ handling, only a fool will express himself alike to all kinds and conditions of men. Thus, speech is a valuable gift, but if not used in a proper way, it may cause misunderstanding. Since different classes use different words, we must use speech carefully to avoid being (5)________.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

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

Context: The line talks about mistakes while speaking. The blank is a part of a common idiom that refers to verbal mistakes.

Analysis of the given options:

Tongue: "a slip of the tongue" means a speaking error.
Ear: Irrelevant here.
Word: Grammatically awkward.
Pen: Refers to writing, not speaking.

Correct word: Tongue

Reason: It fits the idiomatic usage and context of verbal miscommunication.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.