SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 13 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 8 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

Where this paper and its answers come from

SSC does not publish CGL question papers or a public answer key. From 2025 the candidate response sheet prints every question and option as a picture, so the text here is transcribed from those pictures for this shift and checked against them independently; where the layout carries meaning, the picture is shown as well. Each answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. SSC released a tentative key for challenge and later its final one, both only to candidates behind a login, and the sheet does not say which of the two it carries. The solutions are written by UnlockIAS.

Select the correct option: Her argument was compelling; ___, it was based on outdated data.

(a)otherwise
(b)conversely
(c)nevertheless
(d)subsequently

Answer

Why

Correct — C. The two clauses pull in opposite directions: the argument was compelling, yet it was based on outdated data.

A strength followed by a flaw needs a concession connector, one meaning 'in spite of that'. Nevertheless means exactly that: the argument persuaded, and in spite of that it rested on old data.

The punctuation fits too. Semicolon, connector, comma is the standard way a conjunctive adverb joins two clauses → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
otherwise — Otherwise means 'if not' or 'or else': hurry; otherwise, you will be late. The sentence sets up no condition, so 'if it was not compelling' makes nonsense of it.
(b)
conversely — Conversely introduces the reverse of a relationship: heat expands metal; conversely, cold contracts it. The second clause is a flaw in the same argument, not a mirror image.
(d)
subsequently — Subsequently means 'afterwards' and orders events in time. Resting on outdated data did not happen later. It was a fault in the argument all along.

Concept

Connectors fall into families by the logic they signal. Concession and contrast: however, nevertheless, nonetheless. Condition: otherwise. Reversal: conversely. Time: subsequently, then, later.

To choose, name the relation between the two clauses first. Here it is praise, then a flaw, so the concession family.

Nevertheless and nonetheless both mean 'in spite of that', and either would fit this blank.

However would fit this blank just as well. It is not among the options, so nevertheless is the concession word on offer.

Key facts

Nevertheless means in spite of that, and nonetheless means the same.
Between two clauses, nevertheless takes a semicolon before it and a comma after it, or opens a new sentence.
Otherwise means if not, or in other respects.
Conversely introduces a statement that reverses the one before it.

Study next

Conjunctive adverbs by family: however, nevertheless, moreover, therefore and consequentlyPunctuating a conjunctive adverb between two clausesConcession three ways: although, despite and nevertheless

Common traps

Choosing conversely because it sounds like a contrast word, when it signals a reversal, not a concession
Treating subsequently as a way to add a second point, when it only orders events in time

Here the paper gives one sentence split by a semicolon, with the connector blank straight after it.

Nevertheless sits in the error segment at 26 Sep 2024, 16:00, English Q.20, where it stands between two clauses with no semicolon before it. A contrast blank keyed However is blank 1 of the cloze passage at 9 Sep 2024, 09:00, English Q.21.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

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