SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 15 September 2025, Shift 1 · English Comprehension · Question 1 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 most appropriate synonym of the given word: NONCHALANT

(a)Anxious
(b)Tense
(c)Worried
(d)Carefree

Answer

Why

Correct — D. Nonchalant means casually calm and relaxed, showing no anxiety or worry.

Carefree, free from worry, names that same untroubled state → option (d).

Anxious, Tense and Worried all describe the opposite state, so they would fit an antonym question instead.

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Anxious — Anxious means uneasy about something uncertain, which is the very state nonchalant denies. It is an antonym, not a synonym.
(b)
Tense — Tense means unable to relax because of nerves or strain. A nonchalant person is the reverse: relaxed and visibly unbothered.
(c)
Worried — Worried means troubled by what might go wrong. Nonchalant describes someone showing no such concern, so worried sits at the opposite pole.

Concept

Nonchalant describes a person or manner that is casually calm, showing no anxiety, interest or excitement: 'She gave a nonchalant shrug.'

It came into English from French, literally 'not being concerned', from the verb nonchaloir.

Sort the options into two camps before choosing. Anxious, Tense and Worried sit together at the nervous pole, and Carefree stands alone on the calm side.

Nonchalant and carefree are close, not identical. Nonchalant is about how calm someone appears and can shade into indifference, while carefree means free from worry or responsibility. Of these four options, carefree is the nearest.

Key facts

Nonchalant means casually calm and relaxed, not showing anxiety, interest or enthusiasm.
The noun is nonchalance: a nonchalant manner.
Carefree means free from anxiety or responsibility.
Nonchalant comes from French, literally 'not being concerned'.

Study next

Words for calm unconcern: insouciant, blasé, unruffled, unperturbedWords for nervous strain: apprehensive, overwrought, jittery

Common traps

Reading the non- in nonchalant as a sign of a negative feeling, when what it negates is concern
Confusing nonchalant with negligent: a nonchalant person seems unconcerned, a negligent one fails to take proper care

The same shape, three options at the opposite pole and one synonym, appears at 14 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.1 (JUVENILE, keyed Childish against Adult, Wise and Mature).

It appears again at 15 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.1 (IMPLACABLE, keyed Unyielding against Soft, Flexible and Gentle).

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Synonyms — all 129 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.