Question 1

Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to EPHEMERAL.

Accepted Answer

EPHEMERAL (adjective) means lasting for a very short time; transitory. It comes from Greek 'ephemeros' meaning 'lasting only a day.' Synonyms include TRANSIENT (temporary), FLEETING (lasting briefly), and MOMENTARY (lasting a very short time). EPHEMERAL is commonly used in SSC and banking exams to describe things of short duration—e.g., 'The beauty of cherry blossoms is ephemeral.' The word PERMANENT (lasting indefinitely) is an antonym, not a synonym. EVANESCENT (fading away) is also a strong synonym but less common in SSC papers than FLEETING or TRANSIENT.

Question 2

Choose the idiom/phrase that best matches the meaning of the underlined expression: 'After months of hard work, the team finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel when they received funding approval.'

Accepted Answer

The idiom 'light at the end of the tunnel' means a sign of hope or indication that a difficult situation will soon end. It suggests that after a long period of struggle or uncertainty, there is finally a prospect of success or relief. The phrase originates from the literal image of a tunnel—when you see light ahead, it means you're approaching the exit and the ordeal is nearly over. This is a commonly used idiom in SSC and banking exams to test contextual understanding of figurative language.

Question 3

The politician's speech was full of 'bête noire' references to his rival. What does the French phrase 'bête noire' most nearly mean?

Accepted Answer

'Bête noire' is a French phrase literally meaning 'black beast.' In English usage, it refers to a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads. It frequently appears in SSC CGL reading comprehension and vocabulary sections. Option A ('dark horse') is a common distractor as it also involves the colour black but means an unknown candidate. Option C ('alter ego') relates to a second self, not an object of hatred. Option D ('fait accompli') means something already done.

Question 4

Choose the word most OPPOSITE in meaning to: OBFUSCATE

Accepted Answer

OBFUSCATE (verb) means to deliberately make something unclear, confusing, or difficult to understand. It comes from Latin 'obfuscare' (to darken). The opposite would be to make something clear and easy to understand. CLARIFY (option b) is the correct antonym, meaning to make something clear or easier to understand. COMPLICATE is a distractor because it suggests making things difficult, similar to obfuscate but not its opposite. OBSCURE also means to make unclear, so it's a synonym trap. CONFOUND means to confuse or perplex, making it another synonym trap. In SSC/Banking papers, obfuscate frequently appears in comprehension passages where officials 'obfuscate the facts' to hide truth.

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