CGL in 8 days: three agreement traps
Five from the papers
Let the cat out of the bag(Idiom) To reveal a secret by mistakeSSC
Break the ice(Idiom) To make people feel more relaxed in a social situationSSC
A blessing (or boon) in disguise(Idiom) Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be goodSSC
A bolt from the blue(Idiom) A sudden and unexpected eventSSC
Bury the hatchet(Idiom) To stop fighting or arguing and become friendlySSC
Three questions
1. Has the file been uploaded by you? SSC Stenographer 2025
A. Did you upload the file? B. Had you uploaded the file? C. Are you uploading the file? D. Have you uploaded the file?
2. Select the option in which the underlined word is used in a different sense from that in the given sentence.
The monk wore a plain <u>habit</u> made of coarse wool. SSC CGL 2025
A. The tailor stitched a new habit for the ceremonial robe. B. Rising early had become a difficult habit to maintain. C. The abbey’s habit was dyed a darker brown for winter. D. The costume designer studied the habit worn in medieval plays.
3. A custom, belief, or method that is old-fashioned and outdated. Matriculation Level 2025
A. Tradition B. Innovation C. Archaic D. Ritual
Answers
1. D — **Present Perfect Tense: Passive to Active Voice**
When converting an interrogative sentence in the **Present Perfect Tense** from Passive to Active voice, the structure changes as follows:
- **Passive Voice:** Has/Have + grammatical subject (receiver) + been + V3 + by + agent (doer)?
- **Active Voice:** Has/Have + subject (doer) + V3 + object (receiver)?
**Step-by-step conversion:**
1. **Identify roles:** In "Has the file been uploaded by you?", 'you' is the agent (doer) and 'the file' is the receiver.
2. **Swap subject and object:** 'You' becomes the new active subject. Because 'you' takes the auxiliary verb **have**, the question begins with **Have you**.
3. **Verb form:** Remove 'been' and retain the past participle form (**uploaded**).
4. **Place the object:** 'the file' becomes the direct object.
Sentence: **Have you uploaded the file?**
**Option Breakdown:**
- **A (Did you upload...):** Incorrect; changes the tense to Simple Past.
- **B (Had you uploaded...):** Incorrect; changes the tense to Past Perfect.
- **C (Are you uploading...):** Incorrect; changes the tense to Present Continuous.
- **D (Have you uploaded...):** Correct; maintains the Present Perfect tense in proper active interrogative form.
2. B — **Concept: Contextual Vocabulary (Multiple Meanings / Polysemy)**
The word **habit** has two primary meanings:
1. A regular practice, routine, or customary behavior (e.g., *a habit of rising early*).
2. A long, loose garment or robe worn by a member of a religious order, such as a monk or nun (e.g., *a monk's habit*).
**Sentence Meaning:**
In "The monk wore a plain habit made of coarse wool", **habit** refers to a **religious robe/garment**.
**Option Breakdown:**
- **A:** Refers to a stitched garment or ceremonial robe (same general clothing sense).
- **B (Correct):** Refers to a regular routine or personal practice ("Rising early had become a difficult habit..."). This is a completely different sense from the robe/garment meaning in the stem.
- **C:** Refers to the distinctive religious dress of an abbey (same clothing sense).
- **D:** Refers to historical religious dress worn in theatrical plays (same clothing sense).
**Memory Tip:**
- **Monk's habit** = religious robe / clothing
- **Daily habit** = routine / regular practice
3. C — **One-word Substitution: Archaic**
**Archaic** is an adjective that describes something very old, outdated, or no longer in everyday use (such as an ancient word, belief, custom, or practice).
Therefore, **Option C** is the correct one-word substitution for the given description.
**Option Analysis:**
- **Archaic (Adjective):** Belonging to an earlier period; very old-fashioned or outdated. *(Correct)*
- **Tradition (Noun):** A long-established custom or belief passed on from generation to generation (not necessarily outdated).
- **Innovation (Noun):** A new method, idea, or product; the opposite of outdated.
- **Ritual (Noun):** A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
**Memory Tip:**
Think of **archaeology** (the study of ancient cultures). The root **archae-** means ancient or primitive, helping you remember that **archaic** means outdated or ancient.
One rule: Rule 4: Conditional Sentences
Rule 4: Conditional Sentences