SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 4

SSC GD Const 2025 (English) - 12 Feb 2025 - 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

Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child (1)_____ good parents and they are fed, looked after and loved, whatever they may do, it is improbable that they will ever again in life (2)_____ given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child. A child finds pleasure in playing in the rain or in the snow. Their first visit to the seaside is a marvelous adventure. However, a child has their pains; they are not free to do as they wish; they are continually being told not to do things or are being (3)_____. Their life is therefore not perfectly happy. When the young individual starts to earn their own living, they become free from the discipline of school and parents, but at the same time they are forced to accept responsibilities. They can no longer expect others to pay for food, clothes and room, but they have to work if they want to live (4)_____. If they spend most of their time playing about in the way that they used to as a child, they will go hungry. Moreover, if they break the laws of society just as they used to break the laws of their parents, they may go to prison. However, by working, keeping out of (5)_____ and having good health, they can have the great happiness of seeing themselves make steady progress in their job and of building up for themselves their own position in society.

Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank no. 2.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Explanation

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

Context: The sentence uses a subjunctive mood to express a hypothetical situation about childhood. The verb “be” is grammatically correct after “will ever again in life …” to indicate possibility or probability.

Meaning of the words:

Be: Indicates existence or occurrence in a hypothetical or future context, correct here.
Are: Present tense, does not fit the hypothetical/future construction.
Has: Refers to possession, unsuitable in this grammatical structure.
Is: Present tense, does not fit the subjunctive mood here.

Correct word: Be

Reason: The subjunctive mood requires “be” after “they will ever again …” to indicate what might happen under hypothetical circumstances.

Final Sentence: Whatever they may do, it is improbable that they will ever again in life be given so much without having to do anything in return.

Hence, the chosen option is correct.