SSC CHSL 2023 PYQ — Question 1

SSC CHSL - 09 March 2023 - Shift 1 • English • Q1

In the following passage some of the words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

Many fruits and vegetables change (1)______ as they ripen. For example, tomatoes, strawberries, and red bell peppers all change from green to red. Colour is just one way along with size, texture, and smell that you can tell if a fruit or vegetable is (2) ______ to be harvested or eaten. Imagine a factory that (3) ______ strawberries into plastic containers to be (4) ______ to grocery stores across the country. It might be useful to have a machine that automatically (5) ______ any green strawberries that were picked before they were ripe. Or, you might want a machine on the farm that automatically recognizes strawberries by colour and only picks the red ones to begin with.

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

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 i.e, rejects.

 

Context: “It might be useful to have a machine that automatically (5) ______ any green strawberries that were picked before they were ripe.”
The sentence is about removing unripe (green) strawberries, so the word must mean to discard or not accept them.

Meaning of the options:

Sustains – Means supports or maintains; opposite of what's needed.

Detains – Means to delay or hold back, not suitable here.

Proceeds – Means to go forward; unrelated to the context.

Rejects – Means refuses to accept; fits perfectly with discarding unripe strawberries.

Correct word: Rejects
Reason: The machine is supposed to remove or discard unripe (green) strawberries.

Final sentence: It might be useful to have a machine that automatically rejects any green strawberries that were picked before they were ripe.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.