SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 14 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 15 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 11 September 2026.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
Cricket, as a sport, has continually evolved in response to changing audience preferences and technological advancements. Among its many formats, Test cricket and One Day Internationals (ODIs) represent two contrasting philosophies—one rooted in endurance and strategy, the other in dynamism and entertainment. Test cricket, often regarded as the pinnacle of the sport, is a format that unfolds over five days, demanding exceptional levels of patience, technique, and mental resilience. It offers players the opportunity to exhibit classical skills and tactical acumen, where the fluctuating tempo mirrors the rhythm of real life—unpredictable, slow-burning, and layered. For purists, Test cricket is an art form, rewarding not merely flamboyance but consistency and grit. In contrast, ODIs compress the drama into a single day. With limited overs, this format prioritizes aggressive batting, innovative bowling variations, and strategic field placements. The adrenaline-infused pace of ODIs appeals to a broader demographic, especially in an era of dwindling attention spans and time constraints. For broadcasters and advertisers, the shorter format offers commercial viability, making it a lucrative spectacle. However, critics argue that the commercialization of ODIs has come at the expense of depth and nuance. In pursuit of viewership, substance often gives way to spectacle. Conversely, defenders of Test cricket lament its declining audience, attributing it to an increasingly entertainment-driven sports culture. Yet, occasional high-stakes encounters—like the Ashes or India-Australia series—still manage to ignite global interest. The ongoing debate between formats is not merely about preference, but about the identity of the sport itself. While both formats have their merits, the challenge lies in preserving the sanctity of Test cricket without undermining the accessibility of ODIs—a delicate balance that cricketing authorities must negotiate in the years ahead.

Which of the following best captures the essence of Test cricket, as described in the passage?

(a)It is long and often boring
(b)It reflects complexity and unpredictability
(c)It includes domestic and emotional elements
(d)It is nostalgic and traditional

Answer

Why

Correct — B. The passage describes Test cricket's tempo in one line: it "mirrors the rhythm of real life—unpredictable, slow-burning, and layered."

Layered points to complexity. Unpredictable is unpredictability.

The keyed option joins those two ideas, complexity and unpredictability → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
It is long and often boring — often boring is never said. Long is true, since a Test unfolds over five days, but the passage notes it is often regarded as the pinnacle of the sport, and an art form for purists.
(c)
It includes domestic and emotional elements — domestic and emotional appear nowhere in the passage. It describes patience, technique and mental resilience, and never mentions domestic cricket or emotion.
(d)
It is nostalgic and traditional — nostalgic has no support. Classical skills and purists hint at tradition, but the passage describes Test cricket by its tempo and demands, not by longing for the past.

Concept

An essence question asks for the option that sums up how the passage describes something, in terms the passage supports.

Match option words to passage words: layered → complexity, unpredictable → unpredictability.

An option fails if even one of its words lacks support: boring, domestic, nostalgic.

The question says as described in the passage, so the answer must come from the passage's own description, not from what you know of Test cricket.

Key facts

The passage says Test cricket unfolds over five days and demands patience, technique and mental resilience.
It describes the format's tempo as unpredictable, slow-burning, and layered.
For purists, it calls Test cricket an art form rewarding consistency and grit, not merely flamboyance.

Study next

Matching paraphrase to passage wording in main-idea and essence questionsHalf-true options: one supported word joined to one unsupported word

Common traps

Choosing (a) because five days is long, without noticing that boring contradicts the passage
Choosing (d) on the strength of classical and purists, though nostalgic is never supported

12 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.16 tests the same paraphrase skill: "wisdom enriches the soul" is keyed as It fosters deeper moral insight.

The same passage carries English Q.15 to Q.19.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage:
Cricket, as a sport, has continually evolved in response to changing audience preferences and technological advancements. Among its many formats, Test cricket and One Day Internationals (ODIs) represent two contrasting philosophies—one rooted in endurance and strategy, the other in dynamism and entertainment. Test cricket, often regarded as the pinnacle of the sport, is a format that unfolds over five days, demanding exceptional levels of patience, technique, and mental resilience. It offers players the opportunity to exhibit classical skills and tactical acumen, where the fluctuating tempo mirrors the rhythm of real life—unpredictable, slow-burning, and layered. For purists, Test cricket is an art form, rewarding not merely flamboyance but consistency and grit. In contrast, ODIs compress the drama into a single day. With limited overs, this format prioritizes aggressive batting, innovative bowling variations, and strategic field placements. The adrenaline-infused pace of ODIs appeals to a broader demographic, especially in an era of dwindling attention spans and time constraints. For broadcasters and advertisers, the shorter format offers commercial viability, making it a lucrative spectacle. However, critics argue that the commercialization of ODIs has come at the expense of depth and nuance. In pursuit of viewership, substance often gives way to spectacle. Conversely, defenders of Test cricket lament its declining audience, attributing it to an increasingly entertainment-driven sports culture. Yet, occasional high-stakes encounters—like the Ashes or India-Australia series—still manage to ignite global interest. The ongoing debate between formats is not merely about preference, but about the identity of the sport itself. While both formats have their merits, the challenge lies in preserving the sanctity of Test cricket without undermining the accessibility of ODIs—a delicate balance that cricketing authorities must negotiate in the years ahead.