SSC CHSL Tier I 2022 – 15 Mar 2023, Shift 2 Question Paper with Answers

S introduces sloths and ends with “and they”; P continues “actually move so slowly that algae grows on their fur and”; R says “this can give sloths a green colour that helps them hide in”; Q completes “the forest from predators…”.

Order: SPRQ.

Answer: SPRQ

The subject “This whole plot” is singular, so the verb must be “comes”: “This whole plot comes under my uncle’s jurisdiction.”

Answer: come under my

“The Supreme Court” + P (“must remind the state to act constitutionally,”) + Q (“lawfully and justly in every case across the”) + R (“country, especially in sensitive matters involving”) + S (“those who oppose the party in office…”).

Order: PQRS.

Answer: PQRS

“In black and white” means in writing or in print, so that it is clearly recorded.

Answer: In writing

A monopoly is the exclusive possession or control of something (for example, of the supply of a product).

Sanctum is a sacred place, a parvenu is an upstart, and hypergamy is marrying into a higher class.

Answer: Monopoly

Young means in an early stage of life; mature means fully grown or developed — its opposite.

Answer: Mature

Something that gives off gas bubbles (fizzes) is effervescent, like soda water.

Effuse means to pour out, buoyant means able to float, and flat (of a drink) means having lost its fizz.

Answer: Effervescent

A habitat is the natural home or environment of an organism; “niche” (a suitable place or position in an ecosystem) is the closest in meaning.

Answer: Niche

A heretic is a person who holds beliefs opposed to the accepted doctrine of a religion. A bandit is a robber, a poacher hunts illegally and a lunatic is an insane person.

Answer: Heretic

The correct spellings are “peel”, “pit”, “avocados” and “slice”, which appear only in option 3.

Answer: Peel and pit avocados and cut into slice

To cajole is to persuade someone by coaxing or flattery.

Answer: PERSUADE

A question in direct speech becomes a statement-order clause after “asked”: the question word “when” + subject + verb. “Will” changes to “would” after the past reporting verb, and “you” becomes “he”.

“The coach asked the student when he would come for practice.”

Answer: The coach asked the student when he would come for practice.

The phrasal verb is “dispose of” (to get rid of), not “dispose off”. The error is in “dispose off a cargo of cotton which”.

Answer: dispose off a cargo of cotton which

An animal that feeds only on plants is herbivorous. Carnivorous animals eat flesh, omnivorous animals eat both, and vermivorous animals eat worms.

Answer: Herbivorous

The sense is that the abdomen would keep growing until the person could not breathe, so “continue to grow” fits.

Answer: continue

The main clause “I know” becomes “It is known to me”; the object clause “he will play his guitar” keeps its future tense in the passive: “his guitar will be played by him”.

Answer: It is known to me that his guitar will be played by him.

“Bite the dust” is an informal idiom meaning to die (fall dead); it is also used for something that fails or is defeated.

SSC’s answer is “To die”.

Answer: To die

As an (informal) adjective, “dandy” means excellent or very fine; among the options “beautiful” is the closest. Cartel, disappointment and dud do not match.

Answer: Beautiful

“Neither” is singular and takes a singular verb: “Neither of the two has cleared the aptitude test.”

Answer: Neither of the two has cleared the

The correct spelling is “grudge”.

Answer: Grudje

A study of people’s brains would have “scanned” them (brain imaging) at different points in the work day.

Answer: scanned

The main verb of the sentence “A recent study … ______ high-demand tasks … can lead to…” must be simple past: the study “found”.

Answer: found

Glutamate is useful normally but harmful in large amounts, so it is a “potentially” toxic chemical.

Answer: potentially

Glutamate is a neurotransmitter, normally used to “send” signals from nerve cells.

Answer: send

Large quantities of glutamate alter the “performance” (functioning) of the lateral prefrontal cortex.

Answer: performance

Rule: (first number × second number) + 2 = third number. 8 × 6 + 2 = 50; 24 × 4 + 2 = 98.

Check: 12 × 8 + 2 = 98 ≠ 100; 32 × 3 + 2 = 98 ≠ 144; 2 × 48 + 2 = 98 ≠ 100; 18 × 6 + 2 = 110 ✓.

Answer: (18, 6, 110)

1728 = 12³ = (15 − 3)³ and 512 = 8³ = (11 − 3)³.

So 12 → (12 − 3)³ = 9³ = 729.

Answer: 729

Suman’s brother’s father is Suman’s father, and his daughter (other than Suman, who is not in the photo) is Suman’s sister.

Answer: Sister

“%” means addition: 52 + 38 + 84 = 174 and 16 + 12 + 95 = 123.

So 44 + 28 + 7 = 79.

Answer: 79

Sheep, goat and cow are domestic, plant-eating mammals; the crocodile is a wild reptile.

Answer: Crocodile

In ZWSH, FCYB and PMIR the second letter is 3 places before the first, the third is 4 places before the second, and the fourth letter is the opposite (27 − position) of the third: Z−3=W, W−4=S, S↔H; F−3=C, C−4=Y, Y↔B; P−3=M, M−4=I, I↔R.

In GDAZ, D − 3 = A (not − 4), so it is the odd one.

Answer: GDAZ

1st letters: R, V, Z, D, H (+4). 2nd letters: C, W, Q, K, E (−6). 3rd letters: M, U, C, K, S (+8). 4th letters: G, W, M, C, S (+16, then −10 each time: W−10 = M, M−10 = C, C−10 = S).

Next term: HESS.

Answer: HESS

A hygrometer measures humidity; similarly a seismograph records earthquakes.

An ammeter measures electric current, an odometer measures distance travelled and an anemometer measures wind speed.

Answer: Seismograph : Earthquake

A cow has four legs; similarly a crow has two legs.

Answer: Crow : Two

Codes are jumbled, so compare common letters and digits. MOCK (9326) and MINK (2538) share M, K ↔ 2, 3. MINK and LUNE (5041) share N ↔ 5. MOCK and LOUT (6714) share O ↔ 6.

So O = 6, N = 5 and M is 2 or 3. Among the options only 653 fits (M = 3).

Answer: 653

Rule: right number = left number + 999. 21 + 999 = 1020; 11 + 999 = 1010; 23 + 999 = 1022.

But 17 + 999 = 1016, not 1006, so 17 – 1006 is the odd pair.

Answer: 17 - 1006

Rule: right number = (left number)². 44² = 1936, 38² = 1444, 42² = 1764.

But 36² = 1296, not 1266, so 36 – 1266 is the odd pair.

Answer: 36 - 1266

The terms are squares of consecutive numbers: 13², 14², 15², 16², so the next is 17² = 289.

Answer: 289

All words begin with “Ad”. Third letters: m (Admirable) < o (Adorable) < v (Advantage, Advice, Advise).

Among Adva-, Advi-: Advantage first; then Advice before Advise (c < s). Order: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3.

Answer: 4,5,1,2,3

Some C are D and all D are E, so some C are E — but not necessarily all C (I does not follow).

“All D are C” and “All E are D” cannot be concluded from “some” and from an “all” statement in the other direction. None of the conclusions follows.

Answer: None of the conclusions follows from the statements

Each letter moves forward by 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: H+2 = J, U+4 = Y, M+6 = S, A+8 = I, N+10 = X.

IMAGE: I+2 = K, M+4 = Q, A+6 = G, G+8 = O, E+10 = O → KQGOO.

Answer: KQGOO

G + 1 = H and T + 2 = V.

Similarly H + 1 = I and U + 2 = W → IW.

Answer: IW

After interchanging + and ×: I. 5 + 12 − 15 × 20 ÷ 30 = 5 + 12 − 10 = 7 ✓.

II. 51 ÷ 17 + 9 × 10 − 8 = 3 + 90 − 8 = 85 ✓. Both equations are correct.

Answer: Both I and II

Let the distance be d. Mohan’s speed − Ram’s speed = d/4 − d/8 = d/8 = 10, so d = 80 km.

Mohan’s speed = 80/4 = 20 km/hr and Ram’s = 80/8 = 10 km/hr; their sum is 30 km/hr. Both statements are correct.

Answer: Both I and II

sec θ = cosec (90° − θ), so sec 3A = cosec (A − 72°) gives 3A + (A − 72°) = 90°.

4A = 162°, so A = 40.5°.

Answer: 40.5 degrees

Value = quantity × average cost: 25 × 15000 = 3,75,000; 80 × 16000 = 12,80,000; 54 × 55000 = 29,70,000; 41 × 27000 = 11,07,000; 64 × 24000 = 15,36,000.

Total = ₹72,68,000 = 72.68 lakh.

Answer: 72.68

(299)² = (300 − 1)² = 300² − 2 × 300 × 1 + 1² = 90000 − 600 + 1 = 89401.

Answer: 89401

Let length = 5x and breadth = 3x. Area = 15x² = 60, so x² = 4 and x = 2.

Length = 10 m, breadth = 6 m; difference = 4 m.

Answer: 4 m

tan Q = 5/12 = opposite/adjacent, so the hypotenuse = √(5² + 12²) = 13.

cos Q = adjacent/hypotenuse = 12/13.

Answer: 12/13

Multiply and divide by (k² − 1/k²). Using (a − b)(a + b) = a² − b² repeatedly: (k² − 1/k²)(k² + 1/k²) = k⁴ − 1/k⁴, then k⁸ − 1/k⁸, k¹⁶ − 1/k¹⁶ and finally k³² − 1/k³².

So the product = (k³² − 1/k³²)/(k² − 1/k²) = (k³² − 1/k³²)/[(k + 1/k)(k − 1/k)]. This does not equal any option exactly; SSC’s key gives (k³² − 1/k³²)/(k + 1/k).

Answer: (k³² − 1/k³²)/(k + 1/k)

E + F + G = 500 + 470 + 460 = 1430.

H + I + J = 440 + 420 + 450 = 1310. Difference = 1430 − 1310 = 120.

Answer: 120

(a − b)³ = a³ − 3a²b + 3ab² − b³, so (a − b)³ − a³ + b³ = −3a²b + 3ab².

= −3ab(a − b).

Answer: −3ab(a − b)

sin θ = cos θ gives tan θ = 1, so θ = 45°.

sin²θ + tan²θ = 1/2 + 1 = 3/2.

Answer: 3/2

CP of A = 5400/1.10 and CP of B = 5400/0.75.

Ratio = (1/1.10) : (1/0.75) = 0.75 : 1.10 = 15 : 22.

Answer: 15 : 22

A chord that subtends 90° at the circumference subtends 180° at the centre, so it is a diameter.

Diameter = 40 cm, radius = 20 cm.

Answer: 20 cm

Principal = 4500 × 100/(6 × 4) = Rs. 18,750.

CI for 2 years at 4% = 18750 × (1.04² − 1) = 18750 × 0.0816 = Rs. 1,530.

Answer: Rs.1,530

Angles subtended by the same arc AB at points on the circumference are equal. If P is on the same side as Q, ∠APB = ∠AQB = 60°; if on the other side, ∠APB = 180° − 60° = 120°.

Of the options, only 60° is possible.

Answer: 60°

Work = 15 taps × 36 minutes = 540 tap-minutes.

Taps needed for 60 minutes = 540/60 = 9.

Answer: 9

840 = 2³ × 3 × 5 × 7, so it has (3 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 32 factors.

Excluding 1 and 840: 32 − 2 = 30.

Answer: 30

Let CP = 100, so MP = 400. For a 64% profit, SP = 164.

Discount = 400 − 164 = 236, i.e. 236/400 × 100 = 59%.

Answer: 59 percent

If adding a new value leaves the average unchanged, the new value equals the average.

So the 15th friend is 14 years old.

Answer: 14 years

The perpendicular bisectors meet at the circumcentre X. The angle subtended by side NO at the circumcentre is twice the angle at the opposite vertex M.

∠NXO = 2 × 55° = 110°.

Answer: 110 degrees

Profit share ∝ capital × time: X = 4000 × 3 = 12000, Y = 6000 × 2 = 12000, Z = 8000 × 4 = 32000, i.e. 3 : 3 : 8.

Y’s share = 56000 × 3/14 = Rs. 12,000.

Answer: Rs.12,000

Divisible by 36 means divisible by 4 and by 9. For 4, “5B” must be divisible by 4, so B = 2 or 6.

For 9, 7 + A + 4 + 2 + 5 + B = 18 + A + B must be a multiple of 9. B = 2 gives A = 7 (A − B = 5); B = 6 gives A = 3 (A − B = −3, not an option). So A − B = 5.

Answer: 5

Total male teachers = 240 + 320 + 280 + 200 + 120 = 1160; total female teachers = 320 + 280 + 80 + 40 + 120 = 840. L1 = 1160 − 840 = 320.

L2 = 120 + 120 = 240. L1/L2 = 320/240 ≈ 1.33.

Answer: 1.33

2πr = 58π, so r = 29 cm. The perpendicular from the centre bisects the chord: half-chord = 21 cm.

Distance = √(29² − 21²) = √(841 − 441) = √400 = 20 cm.

Answer: 20 cm

Highest marks = 60 (Arpit); lowest = 35 (Herry).

Difference = 60 − 35 = 25.

Answer: 25

Number × 0.75 × 0.60 × 0.80 = 32,904, i.e. 0.36 × number = 32,904.

Number = 32904/0.36 = 91,400.

Answer: 91,400

The Nechiphu Tunnel on the Balipara–Charduar–Tawang road in Arunachal Pradesh was built by the BRO under Project Vartak; it was inaugurated in 2022.

Answer: Vartak

Second-generation computers (about 1956–1963) used transistors in place of the vacuum tubes of the first generation; the third generation used integrated circuits.

Answer: Second

At the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Bajrang Punia won gold in men’s 65 kg freestyle wrestling and Sakshi Malik won gold in women’s 62 kg freestyle wrestling. Both pairs are correct.

Answer: Both I and II

The Swachh Toycathon (2022) was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 to promote toys made from waste and recycled material.

Answer: Housing and Urban Affairs

Tansen, the great Hindustani singer, was one of the Navaratnas of Akbar’s court and was given the title “Mian”. Amir Khusrau belonged to the Delhi Sultanate period and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri was the architect of the Taj Mahal.

Answer: Tansen

Article 74(1) provides for a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister at its head to aid and advise the President.

Article 52 deals with the President of India and Article 60 with the President’s oath.

Answer: Article 74

In September 2022, eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, under Project Cheetah.

Answer: Madhya Pradesh

Shaktikanta Das became the 25th Governor of the RBI in December 2018 and was Governor through 2022.

Answer: Shaktikanta Das

The Manjra is a tributary of the Godavari, not the Tapi, so pair I is wrong. The Ghataprabha is a right-bank tributary of the Krishna, so pair II is correct.

Answer: Only II

Thang-Ta (Huyen Langlon) is the traditional martial art of Manipur, using the sword (thang) and spear (ta).

Kalaripayattu is from Kerala, Gatka from Punjab and Muay Thai from Thailand.

Answer: Thang-Ta

The northern (summer) solstice occurs on about 21 June, when the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer and the Northern Hemisphere has its longest day.

Answer: 21 June

Boiling and chlorination kill germs, and filtration removes suspended impurities — all are standard ways of making water fit to drink. Bromination is not a standard method of purifying drinking water.

Answer: Bromination

Kalpana Chawla flew on Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87) in 1997, becoming the first woman of Indian origin to go to space.

Answer: Kalpana Chawla

The Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) is the minimum share of net demand and time liabilities that banks must keep in liquid assets such as cash, gold and approved securities. CRR, in contrast, is kept only as cash with the RBI.

Answer: Statutory Liquidity Ratio

Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Amylase digests starch, trypsin digests proteins and ribonuclease breaks down RNA.

Answer: Lipase

Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001; he was the third classical musician to receive it.

Answer: Bharat Ratna

Under Article 302, Parliament may by law impose restrictions on the freedom of trade, commerce and intercourse in the public interest. Article 304 deals with such restrictions by states.

Answer: 302

In a fully connected (mesh) network every node is linked to every other node, so the number of links is n(n − 1)/2 = 6 × 5/2 = 15.

Answer: 15

Goa hosted the 37th National Games from 25 October to 9 November 2023.

Answer: Goa

Rajaraja I came to the Chola throne in 985 CE; he built the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur.

Answer: 985

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire (c. 322 BCE) after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty with Chanakya’s help.

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

Madhubani (Mithila) painting comes from the Mithila region of Bihar and has a GI tag.

Answer: Bihar

Duns are longitudinal valleys between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalaya. Dehra Dun is the largest of them (about 35–45 km long and 22–25 km wide).

Answer: Dehradun

India’s border with Bangladesh (about 4,096 km) is its longest international land border, followed by China (about 3,488 km) and Pakistan (about 3,323 km).

Answer: India–Bangladesh

The earthworm is a segmented worm of phylum Annelida. Filarial worm, roundworm and hookworm belong to phylum Nematoda (Aschelminthes).

Answer: Earthworm