SSC CHSL 2023 PYQ — Question 25

SSC CHSL - 02 Aug 2023 - Shift 1 • English • Q25

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

Unemployment arises from a variety of _________(1). One which is always recurring and the effects of which we have had a recent example, is the disorganisation of industry resulting from a long war; this is a serious _________ (2) admitting of no easy_________ (3) at the best of times. Again there is the unemployment which followed a marked diminution in the _________ (4) of any raw product, such as cotton; fewer hands are required in the mills and the factories. We may call this cause of bad harvests. Similar, but more serious is the effect of changes in industry due to the invention of machinery which does more work and require _________ (5) hands. Yet another cause is strike or lockout and this is more to be deplored because such a stoppage is due to a very trivial matter, perhaps the men are working half an hour longer than what their Union permits.

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. fewer.

In the given passage, the causes of unemployment are being talked about.

In the sentence containing blank (5), the example of modern machinery is taken to showcase how machines replaced human labour to a greater extent.

Thus, leading to fewer workers required at farms.

Hence, the correct substitute for the blank (5) would be 'fewer'.