General English (SSC Practice Test)

What is the height of the volcano summit that is situated on the island?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 2
Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S-trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The 354-m-high island is the summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m.
The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide crater with walls 250-350 m high. The crater, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption thousands of years ago that produced lava-flow and surge deposits. The morphology of a fresh volcanic cone that was constructed in the center of the crater has varied during the course of historical eruptions. Lava flows fill much of the crater floor and have reached the sea.
The island, an uninhabited place, is accessible only to Coast Guard and naval ships maintaining regular patrol in the area, it said. The volcano was dormant since last few years and there was no volcanic activity even after tsunami that struck the Indian coastal areas on December 26, 2004.

Where is Barren Island?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 2
Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S-trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The 354-m-high island is the summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m.
The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide crater with walls 250-350 m high. The crater, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption thousands of years ago that produced lava-flow and surge deposits. The morphology of a fresh volcanic cone that was constructed in the center of the crater has varied during the course of historical eruptions. Lava flows fill much of the crater floor and have reached the sea.
The island, an uninhabited place, is accessible only to Coast Guard and naval ships maintaining regular patrol in the area, it said. The volcano was dormant since last few years and there was no volcanic activity even after tsunami that struck the Indian coastal areas on December 26, 2004.

Which of the following words is the nearest in meaning to the word ‘accessible’ from the passage?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 2
Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S-trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The 354-m-high island is the summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m.
The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide crater with walls 250-350 m high. The crater, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption thousands of years ago that produced lava-flow and surge deposits. The morphology of a fresh volcanic cone that was constructed in the center of the crater has varied during the course of historical eruptions. Lava flows fill much of the crater floor and have reached the sea.
The island, an uninhabited place, is accessible only to Coast Guard and naval ships maintaining regular patrol in the area, it said. The volcano was dormant since last few years and there was no volcanic activity even after tsunami that struck the Indian coastal areas on December 26, 2004.

Why does the author think that coral reefs face an uncertain future?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 1
Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.

What is the passage all about?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 2
Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S-trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The 354-m-high island is the summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m.
The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide crater with walls 250-350 m high. The crater, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption thousands of years ago that produced lava-flow and surge deposits. The morphology of a fresh volcanic cone that was constructed in the center of the crater has varied during the course of historical eruptions. Lava flows fill much of the crater floor and have reached the sea.
The island, an uninhabited place, is accessible only to Coast Guard and naval ships maintaining regular patrol in the area, it said. The volcano was dormant since last few years and there was no volcanic activity even after tsunami that struck the Indian coastal areas on December 26, 2004.

Which of the following words is opposite in meaning to the word ‘significant’?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 1
Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.

Coral reefs are made up of which of the following?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 1
Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.

In the passage, what is the phrase ‘this trend’ referring to?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

Passage 1
Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.