SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 21 September 2025, Shift 1 · English Comprehension · Question 4 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.

According to the passage, what crucial biological activity occurs within the chrysalis?

(a)Strengthening of the caterpillar’s exoskeleton
(b)Rebuilding of the caterpillar into a butterfly through histogenesis
(c)Increase in leaf consumption
(d)Inflammation of butterfly wings

Answer

Why

Correct — B. The third paragraph describes what happens in the chrysalis: "Inside, the caterpillar’s structures are enzymatically dismantled and reconstructed into entirely new forms".

It then names the process: wings, antennae and compound eyes "emerge through a sophisticated process known as histogenesis".

Taking the caterpillar apart and rebuilding it as a butterfly is rebuilding through histogenesis → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Strengthening of the caterpillar’s exoskeleton — Exoskeleton appears in the larval stage, and there the caterpillar sheds it: "shedding its rigid exoskeleton". The passage says nothing of strengthening it, inside the chrysalis or anywhere else.
(c)
Increase in leaf consumption — Leaf consumption is the larva's work, "devouring foliage to fuel its rapid growth", before the pupal stage. Inside the chrysalis the passage describes rebuilding, not feeding.
(d)
Inflammation of butterfly wings — Inflammation is a red, painful swelling from injury or infection. The passage says the wings are "inflated with hemolymph", and that happens after the adult struggles free.

Concept

A detail question asks what the passage says, so the answer has to be found in the text.

This passage runs in order: eggs on leaves, the larva feeding and molting, the pupa inside the chrysalis, then the adult inflating its wings and reproducing. Each wrong option borrows a detail from another stage, and option (d) swaps in a look-alike word as well.

Match the stem's anchor, within the chrysalis, to the paragraph that mentions the chrysalis before you judge the options.

Option (d) turns on two look-alike words. Inflate means to fill with air or fluid. Inflame means to make red and swollen, and its noun is inflammation. The passage uses inflated.

Key facts

The passage places histogenesis inside the chrysalis, during the pupal stage.
In the passage, heavy feeding and molting belong to the larval (caterpillar) stage.
The wings are inflated with hemolymph after the adult struggles free.
Inflation is filling with air or fluid. Inflammation is a red, painful swelling.

Study next

Sequence questions on process passages: which stage comes before whichLook-alike word pairs: inflate and inflame, eminent and imminent, affect and effectDetail questions versus inference questions in reading comprehension

Common traps

Picking Increase in leaf consumption because feeding fuels the change, when the passage places feeding before the chrysalis
Reading Inflammation as inflation and matching it to the wing sentence

This passage carries English Q.1 to Q.5, mixing grammar (Q.1, Q.2), word parts (Q.3) and vocabulary (Q.5) with this detail question.

21 Sep 2025, 16:00, English Q.1 to Q.5 are also set on one passage, about mountaineering, with a clause question at Q.1 and the main argument at Q.4.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Reading comprehension — all 128 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.

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.