SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 14 September 2025, Shift 3 · English Comprehension · Question 9 of 95

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.

We doubt SSC's key on this question.

Opposite also means 'contrary, extremely different' and diametrically opposite to is attested in print, so option (c) is a defensible second filler; this card follows SSC's key, which marks opposed, the commoner pairing.

The answer below is still the option SSC's key marks, and we solve to that option.

Select the correct option: The scientist’s hypothesis was not only radical but also diametrically ___ to the foundational assumptions of her discipline.

(a)opposed
(b)opposing
(c)opposite
(d)averse

Answer

Why

Correct — A. The trigger is the adverb diametrically. In its sense 'absolutely, in complete opposition' it is used above all in the phrase diametrically opposed.

Opposed to means set against, which is what a radical hypothesis is to the assumptions it challenges. The sentence already supplies the to → option (a).

Why the others are wrong

(b)
opposing — Opposing as a verb takes a direct object: a hypothesis opposes assumptions, with no to. As an adjective it stands before its noun, as in opposing views, so opposing to fails either way.
(c)
opposite — Opposite is the near miss, and the dispute note explains why it is defensible. For a stance set against ideas, the commoner phrase in print is diametrically opposed, and the key marks it.
(d)
averse — Averse means strongly disliking or unwilling, as in averse to risk. It describes a person's feelings, and a hypothesis has none.

Concept

This is a collocation item: the answer is decided by which word habitually follows diametrically.

Wiktionary gives the adverb two senses. The first is geometric, on exactly the opposite side of a diameter. The second is 'absolutely, in opposition', especially in the phrase diametrically opposed.

A hypothesis that clashes with its discipline's assumptions is in opposition to them, the second sense.

An honest caveat. Opposite can also mean contrary or extremely different, and diametrically opposite to does appear in print, though several times less often than diametrically opposed to in Google Books. It is a defensible second filler, which is why this card carries a dispute note.

Key facts

Diametrically opposed means completely opposed, as far apart as possible.
Opposed takes to: opposed to the plan.
Oppose is transitive: you oppose something, with no to.
Averse to means strongly disliking or unwilling, and it describes people.

Study next

Collocations with intensifying adverbs: diametrically opposed, bitterly opposed, utterly differentLook-alike adjectives: averse and adverse, opposed and opposite

Common traps

Adding to after the verb oppose, as in opposing to
Choosing averse because averse to looks like opposed to

The same adverb decides 14 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.8, where the philosopher's stance is diametrically ___ to the prevailing orthodoxy and the key is opposed, with adverse, averse and converse as the wrong options.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

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