SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 19 September 2025, Shift 3 · English Comprehension · Question 4 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.

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.

Choose the correct meaning of idiom: Chapter and verse

(a)With half-formed reasoning
(b)Incomplete explanation
(c)With precise reference and detail
(d)Through analogy or example

Answer

Why

Correct — C. To give chapter and verse is to give the exact source or full details of something, down to the precise reference.

The phrase comes from citing the Bible, where a passage is located by its chapter number and verse number.

So the meaning is With precise reference and detail → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
With half-formed reasoning — With half-formed reasoning is the opposite idea. Chapter and verse means the reasoning is fully sourced, down to the exact reference.
(b)
Incomplete explanation — Incomplete explanation reverses the idiom. Someone who gives chapter and verse leaves nothing out, including where each point comes from.
(d)
Through analogy or example — Through analogy or example describes arguing by comparison. Chapter and verse means citing the exact authority, not illustrating with a parallel case.

Concept

Chapter and verse works as a noun phrase, usually after give, quote or cite: she could quote chapter and verse on the tax rules.

It means the exact reference or authority for a statement, and by extension full, precise detail.

It is a binomial idiom: two nouns joined by and in a fixed order. Verse and chapter is not idiomatic.

The three wrong options all describe reasoning that is partial or indirect. The idiom points the other way, to precision and completeness, so knowing its direction decides the item.

Key facts

Chapter and verse means the exact reference or authority for something.
It is usually used after give, quote or cite.
It comes from locating a Bible passage by its chapter and verse numbers.

Study next

Binomial idioms: tooth and nail, part and parcel, by and largeIdioms of precision: to the letter, dot the i's and cross the t'sIdioms of vagueness to contrast: beat about the bush

Common traps

Reading chapter and verse as a long, bookish explanation and choosing the option about analogy or example
Guessing from the word verse that the idiom is about poetry or style rather than exact citation

The phrase is given bare with four meanings to choose from, so you need the idiom's direction: precise, not partial.

Paired-noun idioms in the same format are also asked at 15 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.4 (Tooth and nail, keyed With full force or vigour) and 18 Sep 2025, 12:30, English Q.4 (Gall and wormwood, keyed Deep frustration or resentment).

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.