FPSC SST Past paper 2024

Correct answer: With. The adjective “contented” takes the preposition “with”.

• At: “Contented at” is not a correct combination.
• Of: “Contented of” is not a correct combination.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “with” is correct.

Correct answer: Looking, was amused. The participle “Looking” opens the sentence, and Alia is the one who received the feeling, so the passive “was amused” is correct.

• Looking, has amused: “Has amused” is active, which would mean Alia amused the photographs.
• Looks, amused: “Looks” does not work as an opening participial phrase, and “amused” is active.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because the second option is correct.

Correct answer: None of these. None of the given pairs is grammatically correct. A plural subject takes “enjoy”, and both verbs must share the same tense: either “enjoyed … made” or “enjoy … make”.

• Enjoy, made: “Enjoy, made” mixes present and past tense.
• Enjoys, make: “Enjoys” does not agree with the plural subject “travelers”.
• Enjoys, making: “Enjoys” does not agree with the plural subject, and “making” leaves the second clause without a finite verb.

Correct answer: Digging, found. “While digging” introduces a past event, and “found” is the matching simple past verb.

• Digging, finding: “Finding” is not a finite verb, so the sentence has no main verb.
• Digging, is finding: “Is finding” is present continuous and does not match the past event.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because the first option is correct.

Correct answer: Collect data. Sampling is the process of selecting a part of the population from which data will be collected.

• Analyze data: Analysing data happens after data have been collected.
• Interpret data: Interpreting data happens after analysis.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because sampling relates to collecting data.

Correct answer: Phenomenology Research. Phenomenological research studies people’s lived experiences and how they make sense of them.

• Experimental Research: Experimental research tests cause and effect under controlled conditions.
• Quantitative Research: Quantitative research deals with numerical data.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because phenomenology is correct.

Correct answer: Numbers. Quantitative research collects and analyses numerical data.

• Words: Words are the main data in qualitative research.
• Opinions: Opinions are usually collected in qualitative research or surveys and are not the defining form of quantitative data.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because numbers are the correct answer.

Correct answer: Sympathy. A good counselor shows sympathy and caring understanding so that clients feel accepted and supported.

• Indifference: Indifference makes clients feel ignored and damages trust.
• Judgmental attitude: A judgmental attitude makes clients unwilling to open up.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because sympathy is a good quality.

Correct answer: Experimental. In experimental research, the researcher manipulates the independent variable to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

• Basic: Basic research aims at theory and knowledge and does not require manipulating variables.
• Applied: Applied research aims at practical solutions and does not require manipulation.
• Action: Action research aims at solving classroom problems and does not primarily manipulate variables under control.

Correct answer: Flexible. A good curriculum is flexible so it can adapt to learners’ needs, local conditions, and social change.

• Rigid: A rigid curriculum cannot adapt to change.
• Fixed: A fixed curriculum cannot adapt to learners’ differing needs.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because flexibility is a characteristic of a good curriculum.

Correct answer: Competent. Creating interest in a subject shows professional skill and effectiveness, which is competence.

• Authoritative: Authoritative suggests control or expert command, not creating interest.
• Commanding: Commanding suggests giving orders, which does not create interest.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “competent” fits.

Correct answer: Ignore. To stipulate is to specify or demand something as a condition, so “ignore” is its opposite.

• Decrease: Decrease means to reduce and is not the opposite of specifying a condition.
• Contact: Contact means to get in touch, which is unrelated.
• None of the above: “None of the above” is incorrect because “ignore” is an antonym.

Correct answer: Discipline. This is the definition of discipline: training people to follow rules and correcting unwanted behaviour.

• Learning: Learning is a change in behaviour or knowledge through experience.
• Procedure: A procedure is a fixed way of doing something.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because discipline is correct.

Correct answer: Identification of a broad area of research. Research begins by identifying a broad area of interest, which is then narrowed to a specific problem.

• Collection of data: Data collection comes after the problem and design are defined.
• Analysis of results: Analysis of results comes after data are collected.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because identifying a broad area is the first step.

Correct answer: April 8, 2010. The National Assembly passed the 18th Amendment Bill on April 8, 2010.

• April 15, 2010: April 15, 2010 is when the Senate passed the bill.
• April 19, 2010: April 19, 2010 is when the President signed the bill into law.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because April 8, 2010 is correct.

Correct answer: Applied Research. Applied research investigates specific, practical problems to find solutions.

• Basic Research: Basic research aims to expand general knowledge and theory.
• Experimental Research: Experimental research is a design for testing cause and effect, not a type defined by investigating a specific problem.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because applied research is correct.

Correct answer: Pointless. Frivolous means lacking seriousness or purpose, so “pointless” is closest.

• Wise: Wise means showing good judgment, the opposite of frivolous.
• Serious: Serious is the opposite of frivolous.
• Sensible: Sensible means practical and reasonable, the opposite of frivolous.

Correct answer: Simple. Perplexing means puzzling or confusing, so “simple” is its opposite.

• Confusing: Confusing is a synonym of perplexing.
• Complicated: Complicated is a synonym of perplexing.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “simple” is an antonym.

Correct answer: Laugh openly. To snigger is to laugh in a stifled, often mocking way, so “laugh openly” is its opposite.

• Giggle: Giggle is a similar, light and suppressed laugh.
• Smile: Smile is a quiet expression and not the opposite of a stifled laugh.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “laugh openly” is an antonym.

Correct answer: Honorable. Sleazy describes something morally low or disreputable, so “honorable” is its opposite.

• Dishonest: Dishonest is similar in meaning to sleazy.
• Corrupt: Corrupt is similar in meaning to sleazy.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “honorable” is an antonym.

Correct answer: 33%. Pakistan’s boards of intermediate and secondary education traditionally set the passing mark at 33%.

• 50%: 50% is higher than the standard passing mark.
• 40%: 40% is used by some schools and institutions, but the standard board passing mark is 33%.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because 33% is the standard board passing mark.

Correct answer: Tertiary. After the higher secondary level (grades 11–12), learners move to tertiary (higher) education.

• Higher Secondary: Higher secondary is the level that has just been completed.
• Undergraduate: Undergraduate is a stage within tertiary education rather than the name of the next level.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because tertiary education follows.

Correct answer: Specific Objectives. Behavioural objectives state precisely what learners will be able to do, so they are also called specific objectives.

• General Objectives: General objectives are broad statements of intent, not specific, observable behaviours.
• Unit Objectives: Unit objectives cover a unit of study and are not the standard synonym.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because specific objectives is a synonym.

Correct answer: Democratic. Democratic leadership involves staff in decisions, builds cooperation, and suits the shared goals of schools.

• Autocratic: Autocratic leadership concentrates decisions in one person and discourages participation.
• Laissez-Faire: Laissez-faire leadership gives little direction and can leave a school without clear guidance.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because democratic leadership is best.

Correct answer: Ministry of Education. The federal Ministry of Education (through its curriculum wing and national curriculum bodies) is responsible for curriculum development and standards at the national level, with provinces handling their own curricula after the 18th Amendment.

• National Assembly of Pakistan: The National Assembly makes laws and does not develop curricula.
• Pakistan Educational Research Council (PERC): PERC is not the body responsible for national curriculum development and standards.
• Higher Education Commission (HEC): HEC is responsible for higher education, not school curriculum.