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Times of India: Chennai cheer

There was something very, very unusual about the group stage finale of the Asian Champions Trophy.
India was playing Pakistan, in India. This has become a lost sight as official relations between the two
countries have grown hostile. But on Wednesday, the packed crowd in the Chennai stadium was
there to watch the hockey, not practise geopolitics. Sure, it supported the Indian team during the
match itself. But it was welcoming to the visitors too, coming up in a huge round of applause after
their national anthem. Athletes are pawns to various geopolitical faceoffs, but the Chennai crowd
reminded everybody that this is not sporting at all.

Recent months have also seen the Pakistan football team play India in Bengaluru and an Indian
contingent participate in a bridge championship in Lahore. And there is the most-anticipated match
coming up, with the two countries’ cricket teams scheduled to play each other in Ahmedabad for the
World Cup. An intense cricket rivalry is part and parcel of intense fandoms on both sides of the
border. It is full of joy.

When sportspersons are made to pay the price of what some feral military generals or governments
do, fans suffer alongside. Let the games carry on, is a much fairer policy. As the International Olympic
Committee president has said, athletes should not be tarnished for acts of their government. On this
principle, Russian athletes should be allowed to participate in the Paris Games and carry their own
flag. If the US had boycotted the 1936 Berlin Games as some say it should have, history would be
missing an extraordinary Jesse Owens chapter. Sports excellence represents a very inspirational and
unifying kind of human flourishing. Making it less, lessens us all. [Practice Exercise]

 Red/blue coloring of words in the sentence indicates subject verb relationship; where ‘red’
denotes ‘subject’ and ‘blue’ denotes ‘verb’.

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Vocabulary
1. Cheer (noun) –Cheerfulness, optimism, 11. Contingent (noun) – Group, troop, team,
merriment, joyfulness, liveliness , body,
जय-जय
12. Intense (adjective) – Extreme, fierce,
2. Unusual (adjective) – Uncommon, rare, severe, acute, passionate
extraordinary, atypical, unconventional
13. Rivalry (noun) – Competition, contention,
य
conflict, opposition
3. A lost sight (noun) – be no longer able to
14. Part and parcel of (phrase) – An essential
see.
or integral component of something.
4. Hostile (adjective) – Unfriendly,
antagonistic, aggressive, belligerent,
15. Fandom (noun) – Community of fans,
combative
followers, enthusiasts, devotees
5. Packed (adjective) – Crowded, filled, य
jammed, crammed, congested
16. Pay the price of (phrase) – Suffer the
6. Geopolitics (noun) – The study of the consequences of, bear the brunt of, face
effects of geography (human and physical) the consequences of
on international politics and international
relations. - ज 17. Feral (adjective) – (of a young person)
behaving in a wildly undisciplined and
7. Huge round of applause (phrase) – A loud antisocial way.
and enthusiastic clapping or cheering from
a crowd. ज य 18. Alongside (adverb) – Beside, next to, along
with -
8. Pawn (noun) – Tool, puppet, instrument,
dupe / य 19. Tarnish (verb) – Discolor, stain, dull, sully

9. Geopolitical (adjective) – Relating to

politics, especially international relations, 20. Boycott (verb) – Shun, avoid, abstain from,
influenced by geographical factors. - reject
ज
21. Unifying (adjective) – Bringing together,
10. Faceoffs (noun) – Confrontations, uniting, integrating, consolidating ज
showdowns, clashes, conflicts

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22. Flourish (verb) – Thrive, prosper, bloom, 23. Lessen (verb) – Reduce, diminish, decrease,
grow vigorously - shrink

Summary of the Editorial

1. The editorial opens with the unusual sight of India playing Pakistan in the group stage finale of the
Asian Champions Trophy, hosted in India, given the recent strained relations between the two
countries.
2. Despite the hostile political climate, the crowd in Chennai was focused on enjoying the hockey
match, not engaging in political debates.
3. The crowd was supportive of both teams, even applauding the Pakistani national anthem.
4. The editorial emphasizes that athletes should not be treated as pawns in geopolitical disputes.
5. The Chennai crowd's reaction serves as a reminder that sportsmanship should be separate from
political tensions.
6. The editorial also highlights recent sports interactions between the two countries, including
football in Bengaluru and bridge in Lahore.
7. It mentions the anticipation for the upcoming cricket match between India and Pakistan,
emphasizing the joy and excitement of the rivalry.
8. The author argues against penalizing athletes for their government's actions, as it causes fans to
suffer too.
9. The advocated policy is to let the games continue without political interference.
10. The International Olympic Committee president's stance is cited, emphasizing that athletes should
not be tarnished for their government's deeds.
11. Russian athletes are used as an example, arguing they should be allowed to participate in the Paris
Games under their flag.
12. The editorial warns against boycotts like the proposed US boycott of the 1936 Berlin Games, which
would have erased Jesse Owens' achievements.
13. It concludes that sports excellence is a unifying and inspirational aspect of human flourishing.
14. Making sports less than what it can be is seen as a diminishment of us all.
15. Overall, the editorial strongly promotes the independence of sports from political disputes and
advocates for unity and joy in sporting events, transcending geopolitical face-offs

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Practice Exercise: SSC Pattern based

1. What is the main idea conveyed in the passage regarding sporting events between India and
Pakistan? [Editorial page]
A. The sports teams of India and Pakistan are highly non-competitive and always aim to win each
other.
B. The hostility between India and Pakistan's governments has completely eliminated all sporting
events between the two nations.
C. The sporting events between India and Pakistan serve as a uniting factor, transcending
geopolitical hostilities and fostering joy and respect.
D. The Chennai crowd was unhappy about the presence of the Pakistani team in India.
2. According to the passage, all of the following are true about the sports events between India
and Pakistan EXCEPT that:
A. The Chennai crowd welcomed the Pakistani hockey team with applause after their national
anthem.
B. The two countries' cricket teams are scheduled to play each other in Ahmedabad for the
World Cup.
C. The recent months have seen a complete halt in sporting events between India and Pakistan.
D. An Indian contingent participated in a bridge championship in Lahore.
3. Based on the passage, what is the author's attitude towards the participation of athletes in the
Olympics, irrespective of their government's actions?
A. They believe athletes should be punished for their government's actions.
B. They believe athletes should be allowed to participate and represent a sense of human
flourishing.
C. They believe the Olympic Games should be boycotted entirely.
D. They believe athletes should only participate under a neutral flag.
4. What is the synonym of the word "hostile" as used in the passage?
A. Friendly
B. Aggressive
C. Calm
D. Peaceful
5. What is an antonym for the word "intense" as used in the context of cricket rivalry in the passage?
A. Feral
B. Mild
C. Inspirational
D. Flourishing
6. Which word in the passage serves as an antonym for "extraordinary"?
A. Unusual
B. Inspirational
C. Common
D. Joy
7. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

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No pain, no gain
A. To avoid suffering, one must avoid taking risks.
B. Success requires hard work and occasional discomfort.
C. Painful experiences are necessary for personal growth.
D. To make progress, one must focus on the negative aspects of life.
8. Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.
The tempestuous storm caused significant damage to the coastal region
A. Gentle
B. Turbulent
C. Calm
D. Peaceful
9. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom
Before launching his new business, Rajesh decided to put his house in order by settling all his
previous debts.
A. To decorate one's house
B. To put things away
C. To organize one's affairs
D. To build a new house
E. To invite guests over
10. Some sentences are given below. While the first and the last sentences (1 and 2) are in the
correct order, the sentences in between are jumbled up. Arrange the sentences in the correct
order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph
1. To set up a semiconductor fabrication plant in India is not mere hubris.
A. Therefore, the government’s 2022 Semiconductor Mission is laudable.
B. There are also strategic reasons: India’s susceptibility to coercion increases due to its
dependence on the import of semiconductors.
C. But today, there is still uncertainty about whether India will have a fab.
D. There is a growing market.
2. In this context, it is important to understand why earlier attempts failed and examine alternate
approaches.
A. DBAC B. CBDA C. DCBA D. ABCD
11. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. During the times of yore, my siblings and I would always lie in wait for a magazine to read the
comic section.
Q. It was the anticipation of the episode that carried the maximum thrill.
R. No sooner had we finished reading the strip than we would begin to eagerly anticipate the
next week’s comic, wondering what would happen to Phantom in the next issue.
S. These pages took us on an adventure with Phantom and his entourage, his girlfriend Diana and
best friend Guran!
A. PSQR B.PSRQ C.SQPR D.PRQS
12. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. This is the same U.S. that had let India down in the past at crucial moments

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Q. Those with long memories of U.S.-India relations in the past are, hence, left to wonder
whether
R. All of India continues to savour the images that marked this highly publicised visit
S. The euphoria stemming from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States
in June is yet to subside
A. RPQS B.RSPQ C.SRQP D.SPRQ
13. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. In April this year, just as the Saudi-led war in Yemen completed eight years, a diplomatic
delegation from the kingdom reached Sanaa airport for talks with its Houthi enemies.
Q. An immediate exchange of prisoners was also agreed to.
R. The Houthis asked that the blockade of Sanaa airport and Hodeidah port be eased and the
kingdom to pay the salaries from the country’s oil revenues.
S. Some details of the talks soon became public: building on the year-long ceasefire, the two
sides agreed to a six-month truce, to be followed by talks over three months to agree on a
two-year “transition” period when the details of the Yemeni state that would emerge after the
war would be finalised.
A. QSPR B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
14. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. India, being a diverse nation, is home to many religions, each with its distinct personal laws
governing marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and succession.
Q. It would be accurate to say that the absence of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has only served to
perpetuate inequalities and inconsistencies in our land of rich diversity.
R. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week called for the enactment of a UCC, pointing out
the anomaly of having varying laws for different categories of citizens.
S. In fact, this has been a hindrance in the nation’s progress towards social harmony, economic
and gender justice.
A. QSPR B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
15. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. I’ve been approached with questions about technical issues for which my answers have been a
mix of Wikipedia entries, some scientific papers, and vague recollections from a textbook.
Q. I’m a scientist insofar as I don’t panic when I read “2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1,-trifluoroethane” —
but at the same time, no matter what I know, I can’t comment on the technical merits of a
paper.
R. Some of my colleagues call me a “scientist”.
S. They jest, but not entirely.
A. RSPQ B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
Comprehension
With less than three years to go, the decision of the Government of Victoria, Australia, to withdraw
from the hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) has come as a ____1______ to the
sporting movement. After Birmingham replaced Durban for the 2022 edition, this is the second
consecutive occasion when the original host city is unable to host the games due to financial issues.
Victoria, which had uniquely proposed to organise the games over a region, ______2_____initially

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estimated a budget of AUS$2.6 billion, but its Premier, Daniel Andrews, said the costs could go
beyond AUS$6 billion, which to him is too much for a 12-day sporting event. Without federal
funding and with Victoria struggling due to its increasing debts, he said he could not take money out
of hospitals and schools ______3_____ fund the event. Even though the development has come as a
huge ______4______ for Australia, which has hosted five CWG editions (including 2018 Gold Coast),
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looked forward to hosting the women’s football World Cup and
2032 Brisbane Olympics, which would run on a different revenue model over a longer period of
time.
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate combinations of words
16. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 1.
A. In abeyance
B. Whole lot of
C. Mighty blow
D. Middle ground
17. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 2.
A. Had
B. Has
C. Have
D. Is
18. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 3.
A. On edge
B. In essence
C. In order to
D. Of course
19. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 4.
A. Arrangement
B. Embarrassment
C. Accomplishment
D. Diminishment
20. Select the most appropriate homonym to fill in the blank.
The detective was able to ______ the criminal's motives
A. scent
B. cent
C. sent
D. ascent

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Answers
1. C 2.C 3.B 4. B 5. B 6. C 7. B 8.B 9.C 10.A 11.B
12. C 13.B 14.D 15.A 16.C 17.A 18.C 19.B 20.A [Practice Exercise]
Explanations
1. C) The sporting events between India and Pakistan serve as a uniting factor, transcending
geopolitical hostilities and fostering joy and respect.
The passage emphasizes the unusual nature of the sports events between India and Pakistan,
given the current hostile relations between the two countries. However, the events are
depicted in a positive light, focusing on the joy they bring to fans on both sides of the border
and the respect shown by the Chennai crowd. The other options do not accurately capture the
main idea of the passage. Option A does not encompass the entire theme of the passage.
Option B is contradicted by the events mentioned in the passage, and Option D is entirely
inaccurate according to the passage.
2. C) The recent months have seen a complete halt in sporting events between India and
Pakistan.
Option C is incorrect, as the passage details several sporting events between India and
Pakistan in recent months, including a hockey match in Chennai, a football match in Bengaluru,
and a bridge championship in Lahore. The passage does not support the statement that there
has been a complete halt in sporting events between the two countries, making this the
exception to the otherwise true statements.
3. B. They believe athletes should be allowed to participate and represent a sense of human
flourishing.
The passage emphasizes that sportspeople should not be made to pay for the acts of military
generals or governments, and that their participation in the games represents an inspirational
and unifying aspect of humanity. The author mentions the example of allowing Russian
athletes to participate and carry their own flag, and how history would have missed an
extraordinary chapter if the U.S. had boycotted the 1936 Berlin Games. Thus, option B
captures the essence of the author's viewpoint.
4. B) Aggressive
In the context of the passage, "hostile" refers to unfriendly or antagonistic relations between
India and Pakistan. Therefore, "Aggressive" is the synonym that best fits the context.
5. B) Mild
The passage refers to the intense cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan. The term
"intense" means having or showing strong feelings or opinions. The antonym of "intense" in
this context would be "mild," which means lacking in intensity or severity.
6. C) Common
In the context of the passage, "extraordinary" refers to something remarkable or exceptional,
particularly related to Jesse Owens' chapter in history.

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7. B) No pain, no gain (phrase) – Success requires hard work and occasional discomfort.
य
8. B) Turbulent (adjective) – Stormy, tempestuous, choppy,
Tempestuous (adjective) – Stormy, turbulent, tumultuous, wild, violent
9. C) Put one's house in order (phrase) – to organize one's affairs: make necessary reforms
- ज
10. A) 1DBAC2
1: Sentence 1 introduces the main topic: the idea of setting up a semiconductor fabrication
plant in India.
D: Sentence D provides additional context: "There is a growing market." This offers a general
statement that serves as a reason for considering setting up a plant. So D logically follows 1.
B: B explains why India might be interested in this market: "There are also strategic reasons:
India's susceptibility to coercion increases due to its dependence on the import of
semiconductors." The mention of "also" suggests that this statement builds upon the previous
sentence, providing an additional reason to consider setting up a plant. So B comes after D.
A: The word "Therefore" provides a logical link between the strategic concerns expressed in
sentence B and the government's response.
C: C introduces an element of doubt or uncertainty: "But today, there is still uncertainty about
whether India will have a fab." The word "but" provides a contrast to the preceding positive
sentiments, so C follows A.
2: Sentence 2 offers a closing thought that ties everything together: "In this context, it is
important to understand why earlier attempts failed and examine alternate approaches." It
follows C, summarizing the need to learn from past failures in light of the current situation.
11. B) PSRQ
P: The introduction to the scenario, describing the author's and their siblings' interest in a
magazine's comic section.
S: It expands on the content of the comic section and introduces the characters involved, such
as Phantom, Diana, and Guran. It makes sense for this to come after P because P establishes
the general interest in the comic section, and S delves into the details of the comic characters
and adventure.
R: This sentence describes the reaction after reading the comic strip and the anticipation for
the next week's issue. The mention of "Phantom" connects directly with the content in
Sentence S, creating a noun-pronoun relationship. Therefore, it logically follows Sentence S.
Q. It serves as a conclusion to the previous sentence's theme of eagerly anticipating the next
comic. Since R mentions the specific anticipation for the next week's comic, it follows that Q
would come after to conclude that thought.
12. C) SRQP

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S: Sentence S must come first, as it sets the context by describing Prime Minister Modi's visit
to the United States and the euphoria surrounding it.
R: Sentence R logically follows S, as it further elaborates on the visit mentioned in S. The words
"this highly publicised visit" in R refer to Modi's visit, and the phrase "All of India continues to
savor the images" emphasizes the ongoing euphoria described in S.
Q: Q comes next, introducing a note of skepticism or caution. It refers to the past relationship
between the U.S. and India. The word "hence" is a connector that implies a result from the
previous sentences and introduces doubt following the euphoria described in S and R.
P: P must follow Q, as it explains what the doubt mentioned in Q is about. "This is the same
U.S." directly refers to the U.S.-India relations mentioned in Q, and explains the historical
context in which the U.S. had let India down
13. B) PSRQ
P: This sentence sets the context by providing information about the timing and background of
the diplomatic delegation from the kingdom reaching Sanaa airport for talks with the Houthis
S: Sentence S logically follows P, as it continues the narrative by elaborating on the details of
the talks between the two sides. It builds upon the ceasefire and outlines the plan for the
future, including a six-month truce and further talks to agree on a transition period.
R: Sentence R comes after S because it presents specific demands made by the Houthis during
the talks, which would naturally follow the discussion of the talks' general outline.
Q: Finally, sentence Q comes after R, as it mentions an immediate exchange of prisoners that
was also agreed to. This is a specific agreement made during the talks and fits well as a
concluding point to the paragraph.
14. D) PQSR
P-Q: Sentence P introduces the concept of India's diversity in personal laws governing various
aspects like marriage, divorce, etc. In sentence Q, the pronoun "It" refers back to this concept,
and there is a mention of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) that is defined and explained. This
relationship between the noun in sentence P and the pronoun in sentence Q helps in
identifying that Q follows P.
Q-S: Sentence Q mentions the absence of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) causing inequalities and
inconsistencies. Sentence S continues the thought by pointing out how this absence has been a
hindrance to progress towards social harmony, economic, and gender justice. The use of "In
fact" indicates that it builds upon the statement made in Q, providing more detailed reasoning
about the consequence of not having a UCC.
S-R : Sentence S talks about the general hindrance caused by the absence of UCC, and then
sentence R brings in a specific recent event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the
enactment of a UCC. The mention of "last week" and the specific action that relates to the
topic under discussion provides a clear time sequence and connection
15. A) RSPQ

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R - S: The pronoun "They" in S refers back to "Some of my colleagues" in R, indicating that R

must precede S.
S – P: After mentioning the label "scientist" jestingly (in R and S), the next natural progression
is to talk about why this label might have been given. Sentence P gives an explanation for the
label, creating a logical connection from S to P.
P-Q: Sentence P discusses the speaker's way of approaching technical issues, and sentence Q
continues on the same theme, expanding on the idea of what it means for the speaker to be a
scientist. The introduction of the technical name "2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1,-trifluoroethane" in
Q also builds on the mention of technical questions in P, maintaining the theme of scientific
knowledge.
16. C) 'Mighty blow' य य य ज ज
य य 'In abeyance' , 'Whole lot of'
, औ 'Middle ground' ,ज
'Mighty blow' should be used because it means a significant loss or disappointing event, which
aligns with the context of the decision made by the Victoria government. The other options, 'In
abeyance,' meaning suspended, 'Whole lot of,' meaning a great amount, and 'Middle ground,'
meaning a compromise, do not fit the context.
17. A) 'Had' य य past tense use य ज ,ज य ज
'Has', 'Have', औ 'Is' present tense use ,ज context

 'Had' should be used because it refers to the past tense, discussing the estimated budget
here. 'Has', 'Have', and 'Is' are used with the present tense, which doesn't fit in this
context.
18. C)'in order to' य य य ,
ज य 'On edge', 'in essence', औ 'Of course'
context
 'in order to' should be used because it means to accomplish a specific purpose, discussing
the funding of the events here. 'On edge', 'in essence', and 'Of course' don't fit in this
context.
19. B) 'Embarrassment' use य य ,ज य
'Arrangement', 'Accomplishment', औ 'Diminishment' context

 'Embarrassment' should be used because it means shame or dishonor, reflecting the

outcome of this incident for Australia. 'Arrangement', 'Accomplishment', and
'Diminishment' do not fit the context.
20. A) Scent

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 Scent – To discern or perceive. ,

 Cent – A monetary unit, but does not fit the meaning of the sentence
 Sent – The past tense of "send," which is not relevant to the context
 Ascent – The act of climbing or rising, which is also not relevant to the context.

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