SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 21 September 2025, Shift 1 · English Comprehension · Question 1 of 99

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.

Read the passage and answer the questions:
The metamorphosis of a butterfly epitomizes one of nature’s most intricate and captivating transformations. The life cycle initiates with the deposition of fragile eggs, often hidden on the underside of leaves, ensuring immediate access to nourishment upon hatching.
Once emerged, the larva — or caterpillar — enters a phase of relentless consumption, devouring foliage to fuel its rapid growth. During this stage, it undergoes multiple molts, shedding its rigid exoskeleton to accommodate its expanding form. This insatiable feeding period is essential for amassing the energy required for the subsequent, dramatic metamorphosis.
The transition into the pupal stage, encapsulated within a chrysalis, marks an extraordinary biological phenomenon. Inside, the caterpillar’s structures are enzymatically dismantled and reconstructed into entirely new forms — wings, antennae, and compound eyes emerge through a sophisticated process known as histogenesis.
Upon completing this hidden transformation, the adult butterfly struggles free, its crumpled wings needing to be inflated with hemolymph and dried before flight is possible. Once airborne, the butterfly’s existence centres on reproduction, perpetuating the species before its ephemeral life concludes.
Though often romanticized, the butterfly’s life cycle underscores a rigorous narrative of survival, adaptation, and evolutionary precision, offering profound insights into the fragile balance of ecosystems.

Identify the sentence from the passage which is in the passive voice:

(a)"The caterpillar sheds its rigid exoskeleton."
(b)"The metamorphosis of a butterfly epitomizes transformation."
(c)"The caterpillar’s structures are enzymatically dismantled."
(d)"The butterfly inflates its wings with hemolymph."

Answer

Why

Correct — C. A passive verb is a form of be plus a past participle, and its subject receives the action instead of doing it.

In are enzymatically dismantled, are is the be-form and dismantled the participle. The adverb between them leaves the voice unchanged: the structures do nothing, something dismantles them.

The passage has these words: "the caterpillar’s structures are enzymatically dismantled and reconstructed into entirely new forms" → option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
"The caterpillar sheds its rigid exoskeleton." — sheds is an active verb in the simple present. The caterpillar is the doer, and its exoskeleton is the object it acts on.
(b)
"The metamorphosis of a butterfly epitomizes transformation." — epitomizes is active: the metamorphosis does the epitomizing, and transformation is its object. There is no form of be and no past participle.
(d)
"The butterfly inflates its wings with hemolymph." — inflates is active, with the butterfly as the doer. The passage's own wording, "needing to be inflated with hemolymph", is passive, but this option rewrites it in the active voice.

Concept

In the active voice the subject does the action: The caterpillar sheds its exoskeleton. In the passive voice the subject receives it, and the verb is be plus a past participle: The exoskeleton is shed.

The doer can be named with by, or left out, as here. The sentence says the structures are dismantled, and the adverb enzymatically says how.

To check any option, find its main verb and ask whether the subject performs it or undergoes it.

The stem says "from the passage", but options (a), (b) and (d) reword the passage rather than quote it. Option (d) even turns a passive, "its crumpled wings needing to be inflated with hemolymph", into an active sentence.

Option (c) keeps the passage's own words, cut off before "and reconstructed into entirely new forms".

Key facts

Passive voice = a form of be + a past participle: are dismantled, was delivered, has been made.
In a passive sentence the subject receives the action, and the doer can be added with by or left out.
An adverb between be and the participle, as in are enzymatically dismantled, leaves the verb passive.

Study next

Passive forms across tenses: is being made, has been made, will be madeConverting a passive sentence into active voice, including sentences with no by-phrasePast participle phrases such as encapsulated within a chrysalis, and how they differ from full passive clauses

Common traps

Choosing option (d) from memory of the passage, where the wings are "to be inflated", when the option itself is active
Thinking the adverb enzymatically breaks up the passive, when are ... dismantled is still be + past participle

Here the voice question is set on sentences drawn from the reading passage. The bare format is asked at 23 Sep 2024, 16:00, English Q.8, where "Select the sentence that is expressed in passive voice" is keyed The consignment was delivered yesterday.

21 Sep 2025, 09:00, English Q.20 runs the other way, turning a passive sentence into an active one.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Read the passage and answer the questions:
The metamorphosis of a butterfly epitomizes one of nature’s most intricate and captivating transformations. The life cycle initiates with the deposition of fragile eggs, often hidden on the underside of leaves, ensuring immediate access to nourishment upon hatching.
Once emerged, the larva — or caterpillar — enters a phase of relentless consumption, devouring foliage to fuel its rapid growth. During this stage, it undergoes multiple molts, shedding its rigid exoskeleton to accommodate its expanding form. This insatiable feeding period is essential for amassing the energy required for the subsequent, dramatic metamorphosis.
The transition into the pupal stage, encapsulated within a chrysalis, marks an extraordinary biological phenomenon. Inside, the caterpillar’s structures are enzymatically dismantled and reconstructed into entirely new forms — wings, antennae, and compound eyes emerge through a sophisticated process known as histogenesis.
Upon completing this hidden transformation, the adult butterfly struggles free, its crumpled wings needing to be inflated with hemolymph and dried before flight is possible. Once airborne, the butterfly’s existence centres on reproduction, perpetuating the species before its ephemeral life concludes.
Though often romanticized, the butterfly’s life cycle underscores a rigorous narrative of survival, adaptation, and evolutionary precision, offering profound insights into the fragile balance of ecosystems.