SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 14 September 2025, Shift 2 · English Comprehension · Question 17 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.

How are Test cricket and ODIs contrasted in terms of viewer appeal?

(a)Tests are faster and more entertaining
(b)ODIs are only popular among senior fans
(c)Tests reward showmanship over skills
(d)ODIs cater to shorter attention spans

Answer

Why

Correct — D. Viewer appeal is covered in one sentence: "The adrenaline-infused pace of ODIs appeals to a broader demographic, especially in an era of dwindling attention spans and time constraints."

Test cricket sits on the other side: five days, patience, a slow-burning tempo.

Dwindling attention spans are shorter ones, and ODIs are the format that appeals to them → option (d).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Tests are faster and more entertaining — faster and more entertaining describes ODIs, not Tests. The passage gives Test cricket a slow-burning tempo and pairs ODIs with dynamism and entertainment.
(b)
ODIs are only popular among senior fans — only popular among senior fans contradicts the passage. ODIs appeal to a broader demographic, and nothing is said about the age of any fans.
(c)
Tests reward showmanship over skills — showmanship over skills reverses the passage. Test cricket rewards not merely flamboyance but consistency and grit, and lets players show classical skills.

Concept

A contrast question wants the difference the passage draws between two things, on the axis the question names: here, viewer appeal.

The passage sets dynamism and entertainment (ODIs) against endurance and strategy (Tests).

On appeal, ODIs reach a broader demographic in an era of dwindling attention spans, while defenders of Test cricket lament its declining audience.

The question asks about viewer appeal, so answer from the sentence about audiences rather than the ones about skills or match length.

Key facts

The passage pairs Test cricket with endurance and strategy, and ODIs with dynamism and entertainment.
ODIs appeal to a broader demographic, especially in an era of dwindling attention spans and time constraints.
Defenders of Test cricket lament its declining audience.

Study next

Reversal distractors in passages that compare two thingsAnswering on the axis the question names: appeal, not skill or length

Common traps

Choosing (a) or (c), which hand Test cricket the pace or the showmanship the passage sets against it
Accepting only in an option when no sentence supports the restriction

12 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.18 asks for the central contrast of a two-sided passage, keyed as Formal learning vs. applied wisdom.

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.