SSC CHSL Tier I 2022 – 9 Mar 2023, Shift 4 Question Paper with Answers

Countries host foreign military “forces” (troops). Denizens are inhabitants, townies are town-dwellers and “personal” is an adjective, so none fits.

Answer: forces

Active simple present “washes” becomes passive “are washed” (plural subject “The windows”) + by the maid.

“The windows are washed every week by the maid.”

Answer: The windows are washed every week by the maid.

A knack is a natural skill or ability to do something well; its opposite is “inability”.

Answer: Inability

Anomalous means deviating from what is normal or usual; the opposite is “customary” (usual, normal). Outlandish and alien are close in meaning to anomalous.

Answer: Customary

“A fish out of water” is a person who feels uncomfortable because they are in an unfamiliar or unaccustomed environment.

Answer: A person out of accustomed environment

Nadir means the lowest point; its opposite is the highest point — zenith, peak or “climax”. Bottom and base are synonyms of nadir.

Answer: Climax

To “set aside” is to put something to one side for later use, which suits a recipe step. Set off means to start a journey, set in means to begin (of bad weather etc.) and set upon means to attack.

Answer: set aside

The relative pronoun “that” refers to the plural “algae and other marine microbes”, so the verb must be plural: “that produce a chemical scent”. The error is in the last part.

Answer: marine microbes that produces a chemical scent.

The sentence is a general truth in the simple present (“When you ride…”), so “you sit on it”. The possessive is “its” (“it’s” = it is).

“…you sit on it and control its movements.”

Answer: you sit on it and control its

The correct preposition after “good” (meaning skilled) is “at”: “good at predicting the worst”. The error is in “are good on”.

Answer: are good on

“Nurses, unlike physicians, have” + A “been slow to adopt these technologies” + B “and the reasons for this may relate to the status” + C “of both these professions” + D “within the hospital setting”.

Order: ABCD.

Answer: ABCD

The present continuous “is practising” is correct, but the possessive pronoun is “its”, not “it’s” (it is).

“The Blue House is practising its songs for the competition.”

Answer: practising its

“To shake in one’s shoes” means to be very frightened or nervous.

Answer: To be afraid

The correct spellings are “issue”, “very” and “seriously”, which appear together only in option 3.

Answer: I take this issue very seriously.

The passive is formed with “was” + past participle “known”: “The medieval knight was known for his horsemanship.”

Answer: was known

With the past reporting verb “said”, “will” changes to “would”; “I” becomes “he” and “you” becomes “me” (the listener being the reporter), and “that” introduces the clause.

“He said that he would never hurt me.”

Answer: He said that he would never hurt me.

The narrative is in the past (“sharpened”, “started”), so the simple past “broke” is needed: “the lead broke as soon as he started writing”. The graphite of a pencil is spelt “lead”, not “led”.

Answer: lead broke

Ridicule means mockery or contemptuous laughter; “derision” has the same meaning.

Answer: Derision

The correct spelling is “aggravate” (double g).

Answer: Agravate

S opens the claim (“compostable plastic packaging is not a blanket solution, but”), Q continues (“rather one for specific, targeted applications as a majority of”), R (“compostable plastics are more expensive than conventional”) and P ends (“plastics, and not available in sufficient quantities in India”).

Order: SQRP.

Answer: SQRP

A diary is made up of entries: “In one entry, I am 8”.

Answer: entry

The writer stresses the gaps between entries: in the very “next” entry she has already gone through puberty.

Answer: next

A relative pronoun for a person as the subject of “sits” is “who”: “the kid who sits behind me”.

Answer: who

The fixed phrase is “keep in touch” (stay in contact).

Answer: touch

The usual greeting is “Hope all is well with you!”

Answer: well

After interchanging + and −: I. 11 + 16 × 3 ÷ 4 − 12 = 11 + 12 − 12 = 11 ✓.

II. 15 × 3 + 45 ÷ 5 − 30 = 45 + 9 − 30 = 24 ≠ 28 ✗. Only I is correct.

Answer: Only I

1st letters: P, V, B, H, N (+6). 2nd letters: Q, N, K, H, E (−3). 3rd letters: R, Z, H, P, X (+8). 4th letters: S, R, Q, P, O (−1).

Next term: NEXO.

Answer: NEXO

Rule: second = first × 4 − 3 and third = second × 4 + 3. 18 × 4 − 3 = 69, 69 × 4 + 3 = 279; 12 × 4 − 3 = 45, 45 × 4 + 3 = 183.

(32, 125, 503): 32 × 4 − 3 = 125 and 125 × 4 + 3 = 503 ✓. Others fail, e.g. 22 × 4 − 3 = 85 but 85 × 4 + 3 = 343 ≠ 345.

Answer: (32, 125, 503)

The code is the product of the numbers of letters in the two words: FAMILY (6) × LONG (4) = 24; COUPLE (6) × THE (3) = 18.

OVER (4) × HOSPITAL (8) = 32.

Answer: 32

Nairobi is the capital of Kenya; similarly Oslo is the capital of Norway.

Answer: Norway

The mother of Priya’s brother’s only son is her brother’s wife, i.e. Priya’s sister-in-law (bhabhi).

Answer: Sister-in-law (brother’s wife)

Rule: second = first × 2 and third = second + 3. 39 × 2 = 78, 78 + 3 = 81; 42 × 2 = 84, 84 + 3 = 87.

(84, 168, 171): 84 × 2 = 168, 168 + 3 = 171 ✓.

Answer: (84, 168, 171)

Each term increases by 10: 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 67, 77.

Answer: 77

a # b = 2(a + b): 2(8 + 6) = 28 and 2(7 + 4) = 22.

So 9 # 3 = 2(9 + 3) = 24.

Answer: 24

Write BOWLER backwards (R E L W O B) and shift the letters alternately by +2 and +1: R+2 = T, E+1 = F, L+2 = N, W+1 = X, O+2 = Q, B+1 = C → TFNXQC.

BOWMAN backwards is N A M W O B → N+2 = P, A+1 = B, M+2 = O, W+1 = X, O+2 = Q, B+1 = C → PBOXQC.

Answer: PBOXQC

One first falls ill (1), visits a doctor (3), gets a consultation (5), goes to the chemist’s shop (2) and buys the medicine (4).

Order: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4.

Answer: 1,3,5,2,4

PQOR, FGEH and ZAYB follow +1, −2, +3 (P→Q→O→R; F→G→E→H; Z→A→Y→B, counting cyclically).

In UVTX the last step is T + 4 = X, not +3, so it is the odd one.

Answer: UVTX

In 14 – 12, 15 – 13 and 20 – 18 the right number is 2 less than the left number.

In 25 – 19 the difference is 6, so it is the odd pair.

Answer: 25 – 19

The yen is the currency of Japan; similarly the lira is the currency of Turkey.

Greece uses the euro, the baht is Thailand’s currency (Bangladesh uses the taka) and the yuan is China’s (Argentina uses the peso).

Answer: Lira : Turkey

A wall is made of bricks; similarly a sack is made of jute.

Answer: Jute

“Some T are P” converts to “Some P are T”, so conclusion I follows.

“Some F are T” directly contradicts “No F is T”, so II does not follow; F and P are not linked by any statement, so III (No P is F) is not certain. Only I follows.

Answer: Only conclusion I follows from the statements

Pencil – stationery, truck – vehicle and circle – shape are in the order “item – category it belongs to”.

Animal – cat is reversed (category – item), so it is the odd pair.

Answer: Animal – Cat

Rule: second = first × 2 + 2. 38 × 2 + 2 = 78 and 46 × 2 + 2 = 94.

So 102 × 2 + 2 = 206.

Answer: 206

Let the marked price be 15k. Selling price = 8/15 × 15k = 8k.

A 20% loss means SP = 80% of CP, so CP = 8k ÷ 0.8 = 10k. MP : CP = 15k : 10k = 3 : 2.

Answer: 3 : 2

S1 total = 50 + 40 + 20 + 15 + 5 = 130; S2 total = 5 + 10 + 60 + 30 + 25 = 130.

J1 = 130 + 130 = 260 and J2 = 130 − 130 = 0, so J1 + J2 = 260.

Answer: 260

A: numerator 36 ÷ 18 × 5 = 2 × 5 = 10; denominator 36 ÷ 12 = 3; A = 10/3 = 750/225.

B: numerator 5/15 × 5 + 12 − 5 = 5/3 + 7 = 26/3; denominator 3 × 25 − 6 + 6 = 75; B = 26/225.

A + B = 776/225.

Answer: 776/225

sin B = cos A = sin (90° − A), so (for acute angles) B = 90° − A, i.e. A + B = 90°.

Answer: 90 degrees

tan F = 15/8 = perpendicular/base, so hypotenuse = √(15² + 8²) = 17.

sin F + cos F = 15/17 + 8/17 = 23/17.

Answer: 23/17

For 2 years at 20% compounded annually, CI = P[(1.2)² − 1] = 0.44P.

0.44P = 4180, so P = Rs. 9500.

Answer: Rs. 9500

In opposite directions the relative speed = 81 + 63 = 144 km/h = 144 × 5/18 = 40 m/s.

Distance = 125 + 375 = 500 m, so time = 500 ÷ 40 = 12.5 seconds.

Answer: 12.5 seconds

Working together, money is shared in the ratio of work done per day = 1/10 : 1/15 = 3 : 2.

Mohit gets 3/5 × 4400 = Rs. 2640 and Rohit gets Rs. 1760; difference = Rs. 880.

Answer: Rs. 880

Let there be x boys and 2x girls.

Average = (2x × 30 + x × 36)/(3x) = 96/3 = 32 kg.

Answer: 32 kg

The average of consecutive odd numbers is the middle term, so the numbers are 19, 21, …, 35.

Adding the previous odd number (17) and the next one (37) adds terms equally spaced on both sides of 27, so the average stays 27.

Answer: 27

Let CP = x; SP = 0.9x. New CP = x − 5 and new SP = 0.9x + 8 = 1.1(x − 5).

0.9x + 8 = 1.1x − 5.5 → 0.2x = 13.5 → x = 67.5. Actual SP = 0.9 × 67.5 = Rs. 60.75.

Answer: Rs.60.75

RZ is perpendicular to ST and Z is the midpoint of ST, so RZ is the perpendicular bisector of ST.

Triangles RZS and RZT are congruent (SAS), so RT = RS = 10 cm.

Answer: 10 cm

Total in D = 92 + 78 + 66 + 88 + 54 + 110 = 488. Total in E = 146 + 102 + 82 + 104 + 96 + 118 = 648.

488/648 × 100 ≈ 75.3%.

Answer: 75.3 per cent

PS is a chord of the larger circle (radius 26) and QR a chord of the smaller one, on the same line at distance d from the centre.

Half of PS = 24, so d² = 26² − 24² = 100. Half of QR = 20, so x² = 20² + d² = 500 and x = 10√5 cm.

Answer: 10√5 cm

(a² + 1/a²)² = 194 + 2 = 196, so a² + 1/a² = 14; (a + 1/a)² = 16, so a + 1/a = 4 (taking a > 0).

(a⁶ + 1)/a³ = a³ + 1/a³ = (a + 1/a)³ − 3(a + 1/a) = 64 − 12 = 52.

Answer: 52

With ∠Q = 90°, PQ is adjacent to P and opposite to R; QR is opposite to P and adjacent to R.

cot P = PQ/QR = 12/5 and tan R = PQ/QR = 12/5, so cot P − tan R = 0 (P and R are complementary).

Answer: 0

A number is divisible by 9 when its digit sum is. 5 + 7 + 2 + X + 4 + 1 = 19 + X.

The next multiple of 9 is 27, so X = 8.

Answer: 8

Let the numbers be 2k, 3k and 5k. Largest + smallest = 7k = 9800, so k = 1400.

Difference = 5k − 2k = 3k = 4200.

Answer: 4200

6a² = 384, so a² = 64 and a = 8 cm.

Volume = 8³ = 512 cm³.

Answer: 512 cm³

Take the number as 100. Correct value = 100 × 1.2 × 1.3 = 156. Value obtained = 100 × 0.78 = 78.

78/156 × 100 = 50%.

Answer: 50 per cent

A produced 300 and E produced 60 refrigerators.

300/60 × 100 = 500%.

Answer: 500 per cent

Total sales of A = 350 + 550 + 750 + 650 + 450 = 2750; of B = 1150 + 850 + 950 + 350 + 250 = 3550.

L1 = 3550 − 2750 = 800; L2 = 2750 ÷ 5 = 550. L1 : L2 = 800 : 550 = 16 : 11.

Answer: 16 : 11

A chord that subtends 180° at the centre passes through the centre, so it is a diameter.

CD = 2 × 14 = 28 cm.

Answer: 28 cm

YZ = √(34² − 30²) = √256 = 16 cm.

The altitude to the hypotenuse is YN = (XY × YZ)/XZ = (30 × 16)/34 = 240/17 cm.

Answer: (240/17) cm

(x − y)² = x² + y² − 2xy, so 9 = 29 − 2xy and 2xy = 20.

4xy = 40.

Answer: 40

In MS Excel, Ctrl + 4 (like Ctrl + U) applies or removes underlining. Ctrl + 2 applies bold, Ctrl + 3 italic and Ctrl + 5 strikethrough; Ctrl + 6 hides/shows objects.

Answer: Ctrl + 4

Article 2 empowers Parliament to admit new states into the Union or establish new states. Article 1 deals with the name and territory of the Union and Article 3 with forming new states and altering areas, boundaries or names of existing states.

Answer: Admission or establishment of new States

Rafael Nadal won the 2022 Australian Open men’s singles, beating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set final; it was his 21st Grand Slam title.

Answer: Rafael Nadal

India won the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2022 (held in Bangladesh in October 2022), beating Sri Lanka in the final for its seventh title.

Answer: India

A basketball team has 5 players on court and a volleyball team has 6, so neither pair (11 players) is correct. Eleven-a-side games include cricket, football and hockey.

Answer: Neither I nor II

The Earth’s mean radius is about 6,371 km (equatorial about 6,378 km, polar about 6,357 km).

Answer: 6371 km

Moral suasion (persuading banks through advice and appeals) is a qualitative (selective) tool of the RBI.

Open market operations and the cash reserve ratio are quantitative tools, while margin requirements are qualitative — so the other three pairs are wrong.

Answer: Qualitative – Moral Suasion

In a star topology every device has one dedicated link to the central hub/host. With N nodes in the network (counting the host), N − 1 links are needed.

Answer: N – 1

An endemic species is one found naturally only in a particular region. SSC’s key treats the Nicobar pigeon (associated with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) as the endemic species.

The Indian rhino also lives in Nepal, and the desert fox is widespread in arid regions.

Answer: Nicobar pigeon

Kamala Harris took office on 20 January 2021 as the first woman (and first Black and South Asian-American) Vice President of the United States.

Answer: Kamala Harris

NCRB is the National Crime Records Bureau (set up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs); it publishes the annual “Crime in India” report.

Answer: National Crime Records Bureau

Key (Kye/Ki) Gompa, the largest monastery and centre of Buddhist learning in the Spiti valley, is in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.

Answer: Himachal Pradesh

Qutbuddin Aibak, founder of the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, ruled from 1206 until his death in a polo accident in 1210.

Answer: 1206 – 1210

Uday Shankar is best known for creating a fusion style of dance, blending Indian classical and folk forms with European theatrical techniques; he founded the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre at Almora.

Answer: a fusion style of dance

Census 2011 put India’s decadal growth rate for 2001–2011 at 17.7%, which corresponds to an average exponential annual growth rate of about 1.64%.

Answer: 1.64 per cent

Arid soils, sandy and saline with low humus, develop typically in western Rajasthan, an area of characteristic arid (desert) topography.

Answer: western Rajasthan

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus, and the mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons. Both pairs are correct.

Answer: Both I and II

The Permanent Settlement was introduced in Bengal in 1793 by Governor-General Lord Charles Cornwallis.

Answer: Charles Cornwallis

Khushi Patel, a UK-based contestant of Indian origin, was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2022 at the pageant held in Mumbai in September 2022.

Answer: Khushi Patel

International Tiger Day (Global Tiger Day) is observed on 29 July; it was agreed at the St Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010.

Answer: 29 July

Banks keep their reserves partly as cash and partly as financial instruments (such as bonds and treasury bills), so I is correct.

The cash reserve ratio is the share of deposits that commercial banks must keep with the RBI, so II is also correct.

Answer: Both I and II

The head turns on the neck at the pivot joint between the atlas and the axis (the first two cervical vertebrae).

Fixed joints occur in the skull, hinge joints at the elbow and knee, and ball-and-socket joints at the shoulder and hip.

Answer: Pivot joint

Papaya is rich in beta-carotene (provitamin A), and spinach is a good plant source of iron, so both pairs match a nutrient with its source.

Strictly, vitamin A is not a mineral, but the pair itself is correct.

Answer: Both I and II

Part IX (Articles 243–243O), added by the 73rd Amendment (1992), deals with the Panchayats.

Finance, property, contracts and suits are in Part XII, Union–state relations in Part XI, and scheduled and tribal areas in Part X.

Answer: The Panchayats

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is called the “Bismarck of India” (and the Iron Man of India) for integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union.

Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel