PPSC Past Paper 2024

To solve this problem, we need to perform basic arithmetic operations involving addition and subtraction of decimal numbers. It's crucial to align the decimal points correctly and carry out the operations from left to right, following the standard order of operations.

• First, add the initial two numbers: 3889 + 12.952. Aligning the decimals, this becomes 3889.000 + 12.952 = 3901.952.
• Next, subtract the third number from this sum: 3901.952 − 3854.002.
• Performing the subtraction: 3901.952 - 3854.002 = 47.950. Since trailing zeros after the decimal point do not change the value, the answer is 47.95.

The incorrect options (A, B, D) likely result from errors in decimal alignment during addition or subtraction, or simple calculation mistakes. For instance, misplacing a decimal point or incorrectly borrowing/carrying digits can lead to these incorrect values.

In the sport of cricket, a team consists of eleven players on the ground during play. This is a fundamental rule of the game, defining the active participants for batting, bowling, and fielding. Each team fields eleven players, with one designated as the captain. The objective is for one team to score more runs than the other, or to dismiss all opposing batsmen.

Option B, 11, is the correct answer, representing the standard number of players actively participating for a team on the field. Options A (10), C (13), and D (15) are incorrect. While a squad might comprise more than eleven players (e.g., 15 for a tournament squad), only eleven are permitted on the field at any given time. Ten players would leave a team short, while thirteen or fifteen would exceed the legal limit, disrupting the game's structure.

The Tughlaq Dynasty was a prominent Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin that ruled the Delhi Sultanate in medieval India. The founder of this dynasty was Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, also known as Ghazi Malik. He ascended to the throne in 1320 AD, establishing the Tughlaq dynasty after overthrowing the Khilji dynasty. He is also credited with founding the city of Tughlaqabad.

The other options are incorrect:

• Firuz Shah Tughlaq and Muhammad bin Tughlaq were later rulers of the Tughlaq Dynasty, with Muhammad bin Tughlaq being Ghiyasuddin's son and successor.
• Ghiyasuddin Balban was a powerful ruler of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, which preceded the Khilji Dynasty, thus ruling much earlier than the Tughlaqs.

Microsoft Excel is a widely used spreadsheet application, and like most software, it has a standard graphical user interface with specific elements located in consistent positions.

The correct answer is the Title Bar. When you open a new workbook in MS Excel, the Title Bar is always positioned at the very topmost portion of the application window. It prominently displays the name of the current workbook (e.g., "Book1 - Excel") and the application name, along with standard window controls like minimize, maximize/restore, and close buttons.

The other options are incorrect because of their typical placement: The Status Bar (B) is located at the bottom of the Excel window, providing information about the current state. The Horizontal Scroll Bar (C) is found at the bottom of the worksheet area, above the Status Bar, for left-right navigation. The Vertical Scroll Bar (D) is on the right side of the worksheet area, for up-down navigation.

This question tests your ability to divide decimal numbers. The key to dividing by a decimal is to transform the divisor into a whole number, which simplifies the division process. Whatever change is made to the divisor must also be applied to the dividend.

• The problem is 4.036 divided by 0.04.
• To make the divisor (0.04) a whole number, move the decimal point two places to the right, making it 4.
• You must also move the decimal point in the dividend (4.036) two places to the right, making it 403.6.
• Now, the division becomes 403.6 ÷ 4.
• Performing this division: 403.6 / 4 = 100.9.

Option B (1.009) and C (10.09) are incorrect because they reflect errors in correctly shifting the decimal point or performing the division. For example, dividing 4.036 by 4 directly without adjusting for the 0.04 divisor would yield a different, incorrect result. Option D is incorrect because A is the correct answer.

In Germany, the Head of Government is officially known as the Chancellor. This position holds significant executive power and is responsible for leading the federal government. Germany operates as a federal parliamentary republic, where the Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag (the German parliament) and typically leads the largest party or coalition.

Option C, Chancellor, is the correct designation for Germany's head of government. Option A, President, is incorrect because while Germany does have a President, this role is primarily ceremonial, serving as the head of state, not the head of government. Option B, Governor, is generally used for regional leaders or central bank heads, not a national head of government. Option D, Prime Minister, is a common title for heads of government in many other parliamentary democracies, but it is not used in Germany, which uniquely employs the title of Chancellor.

The question asks to identify the FIRST President of Pakistan. Pakistan transitioned from a dominion to a republic with the promulgation of its first constitution in 1956. At this point, the office of Governor-General was abolished and replaced by the President.

• Sikandar Mirza was the last Governor-General of Pakistan and subsequently became the first President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on March 23, 1956, serving until October 1958. This makes option A correct.
• Ayub Khan became the second President of Pakistan after imposing martial law in 1958, overthrowing Sikandar Mirza.
• Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto served as President much later, from 1971 to 1973, before becoming Prime Minister.
• Yahya Khan was President from 1969 to 1971.

Therefore, Sikandar Mirza holds the distinction of being Pakistan's inaugural President.

The internet relies on a system of unique identifiers to locate and access resources, such as web pages. Understanding these fundamental components is crucial for navigating the web.

The correct answer is URL. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the unique address that identifies a specific resource on the internet, such as a webpage, image, or document. It specifies the location of the resource and the protocol (like HTTP or HTTPS) used to retrieve it, making it the complete address for accessing web content.

The other options are incorrect: HTTP (A) stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which is the protocol used for transmitting web pages, not the address itself. HTML (B) stands for Hypertext Markup Language, the language used to create the structure and content of web pages, not their address. DNS (D) stands for Domain Name System, which translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses, but it is not the unique address of a specific webpage.

To find the average price of all articles, we need to calculate the total cost of all items and divide it by the total number of items. This is a weighted average problem, as different quantities of items have different prices.

• Calculate the total cost for each type of article:
• Pants: 5 pants * Rs 25/pant = Rs 125
• Shirts: 10 shirts * Rs 50/shirt = Rs 500
• Ties: 15 ties * Rs 35/tie = Rs 525
• Calculate the total cost of all articles: Rs 125 + Rs 500 + Rs 525 = Rs 1150.
• Calculate the total number of articles: 5 + 10 + 15 = 30 articles.
• Finally, calculate the average price: Total Cost / Total Articles = Rs 1150 / 30 = Rs 38.33 (rounded to two decimal places).

Distractors B, C, and D are incorrect. For example, simply averaging the prices (25+50+35)/3 would be incorrect because it doesn't account for the different quantities of each item, leading to a different result.

After the assassination of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951, Ghulam Muhammad became the third Governor-General of Pakistan. He assumed office on October 17, 1951, succeeding Khawaja Nazimuddin, who became Prime Minister. Ghulam Muhammad served in this crucial role until 1955, during a period of significant political instability in the nascent nation.

Option B, Ghulam Muhammad, is the correct answer. He was a prominent figure who previously served as Finance Minister. Option A, Sikandar Mirza, became the fourth and last Governor-General in 1955, and later Pakistan's first President. Options C, Muhammad Ali Bogra, and D, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, both served as Prime Ministers of Pakistan during different periods, not as Governor-Generals. Understanding the sequence of leadership is vital for comprehending Pakistan's early political history and the transition from dominion status to a republic.

The question asks for the establishment year of Government Islamia College Lahore. This institution is a significant landmark in Pakistan's educational history, known for its role in the Pakistan Movement.

• Government Islamia College Civil Lines, Lahore, was established in 1892 by the Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam. This organization played a crucial role in promoting education among Muslims in British India. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
• The years 1864, 1878, and 1886 are incorrect dates for the establishment of this specific college. While other educational institutions might have been founded around these times, they do not correspond to Government Islamia College Lahore.

The college has since grown into a prominent educational institution, contributing significantly to the academic landscape of Pakistan.

Microsoft Word offers numerous keyboard shortcuts to efficiently manage and modify text formatting. Knowing these shortcuts can significantly enhance productivity.

The correct answer is Ctrl+Spacebar. This keyboard shortcut is specifically designed in MS Word to remove manual character formatting from selected text. When applied, it resets attributes like bold, italics, font size, font color, and other direct formatting to the default font and formatting defined by the paragraph style. This allows users to quickly revert text to its original or standard appearance.

The other options are incorrect: Ctrl+Alt (B) is not a standalone shortcut for text formatting; it's typically used in combination with other keys for special functions. Ctrl+F2 (C) is commonly used to open the Print Preview window in MS Word. Ctrl+F6 (D) is used to switch between multiple open documents or windows within the same application.

The first stenographer fills 25 forms in 30 minutes, so her rate is 50 forms per hour.

The second stenographer fills 45 forms per hour.

Their combined rate is:

50 + 45 = 95 forms per hour

Time required to complete 500 forms:

500 ÷ 95 = 5.26 hours ≈ 5 hours 16 minutes.

Correct Answer: 5 hours 16 minutes

This question asks for the specific date of a historical event, the Siege of Damascus, which was a pivotal moment in early Islamic history. The correct answer is 21 August 0634.

• The Siege of Damascus was a significant event during the Muslim conquest of Syria. The city of Damascus, then part of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the Rashidun Caliphate army under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid on August 21, 634 CE. This victory was crucial for the expansion of the early Islamic empire.
• The dates 15 March 0634 and 10 December 0634 are incorrect for the conclusion of the siege. While the siege itself lasted for some time, the fall of the city is historically recorded as August 21st. Therefore, 'None of these' is also incorrect as one option is accurate.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was a significant international cricket tournament. The 'Player of the Tournament' award is given to the individual who demonstrates outstanding performance throughout the competition.

David Warner, an Australian opening batsman, was rightly named the Player of the Tournament. He played a pivotal role in Australia's championship victory, scoring 289 runs across seven matches, including three half-centuries, with crucial contributions in the semi-final and final.

• Kane Williamson, captain of New Zealand, led his team to the final but did not achieve the individual award.
• Mitchell Marsh, another Australian, had a brilliant performance in the final but Warner's overall consistency earned him the top honor.
• Virat Kohli, captain of India, had a decent tournament but his team did not progress to the latter stages, and his individual statistics were not as impactful as Warner's.

The Jalali Calendar is a highly accurate solar calendar, primarily used in Iran and Afghanistan, known for its precision in determining the start of the new year (Nowruz).

The calendar was founded and reformed by a group of astronomers and mathematicians under the patronage of Sultan Malik-Shah I. The principal architect of this reform was the renowned Persian polymath Omar Khayyam. His contributions to mathematics and astronomy were instrumental in developing this sophisticated calendar system in the 11th century.

• Ibn Al-Haitham was a prominent Arab polymath known for his work in optics and scientific methodology, not the Jalali Calendar.
• The name 'Jalali' refers to Sultan Jalal ad-Dawlah Malik-Shah I, who commissioned the calendar, not an individual named Jalal ud Din who founded it.
• Therefore, 'None of these' is incorrect as Omar Khayyam was indeed the founder.

Major cities often develop along rivers due to the historical importance of water for transport, trade, and resources. London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is no exception.

The city of London is famously situated on the banks of the River Thames. This river has been central to London's history, growth, and economy, serving as a vital waterway for centuries. Many iconic landmarks, such as the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament, are located along its banks.

• The Rhine is a major European river flowing through countries like Germany and the Netherlands, not London.
• The Danube is Europe's second-longest river, flowing through Central and Eastern Europe, including cities like Vienna and Budapest, but not London.
• The Seine is the principal river of Paris, France, and does not flow through London.

Official residences are significant symbols of state and government, providing a formal home and workplace for national leaders. Temple Trees is a historic mansion located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

It serves as the official residence of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. This grand colonial-era building has been the residence of Sri Lankan Prime Ministers for many decades, playing a central role in the nation's political life and hosting numerous state functions.

• The President of Nepal resides at Shital Niwas.
• The President of Sri Lanka's official residence is President's House (formerly Queen's House).
• The Prime Minister of Bhutan has a different official residence, not Temple Trees.

FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. Its establishment was crucial for standardizing rules and organizing international competitions.

FIFA was officially established on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France. Representatives from seven European national associations – Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland – came together to form the organization, aiming to oversee international football matches and promote the sport globally.

• The years 1900, 1902, and 1910 are incorrect. While football was developing rapidly around these times, the specific founding year for FIFA was 1904, marking a pivotal moment in the sport's international governance.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization promoting economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN currently comprises ten member states. These are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization began with five founding members in 1967 and expanded over the years to include all ten current members, fostering cooperation and stability in the region.

• The numbers 8, 12, and 14 are incorrect. While ASEAN started with fewer members, it has consistently grown to its current ten. Timor-Leste is an observer state and a prospective member, but not yet a full member, keeping the current count at ten.

China signed a significant 25-year Strategic Cooperation Pact with Iran in March 2021, solidifying a comprehensive partnership across economic, political, and security domains. This landmark agreement involves substantial Chinese investment in Iran's energy, infrastructure, and transportation sectors, estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars. It also includes military cooperation and intelligence sharing, deepening the ties between the two nations and impacting regional geopolitics.

Pakistan is a close ally of China, particularly through the CPEC, but this specific 25-year pact was not with Pakistan. India has a complex and often competitive relationship with China, not one characterized by such a broad strategic pact. Sri Lanka has received significant Chinese investment but is not the signatory to this particular long-term strategic agreement.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is widely considered the “Father of Romanticism” due to his profound influence on the movement’s core tenets. An 18th-century Genevan philosopher, Rousseau championed emotion, individualism, and the inherent goodness of nature over the perceived corrupting influence of society and pure reason. His writings, such as 'Emile' and 'Confessions,' emphasized personal feeling, the sublime in nature, and a return to a more natural state, laying the philosophical groundwork for the Romantic era.

Friedrich Schlegel was a prominent German Romantic theorist and critic, a key figure *within* the movement, but not its originator. Similarly, William Wordsworth was a foundational English Romantic poet, instrumental in shaping English Romantic literature, but he built upon the philosophical foundations laid by predecessors like Rousseau. Therefore, Rousseau's earlier philosophical contributions make him the primary precursor.

According to the United Nations' 'World Urbanization Prospects 2018' report, Tokyo, Japan, was indeed the most populous city in the world. Its vast metropolitan area, encompassing the city and surrounding prefectures, had an estimated population exceeding 37 million people. This immense population is a result of decades of urbanization, economic growth, and a highly developed infrastructure that supports its dense urban sprawl, making it a global megacity.

While Delhi, India, is a rapidly growing megacity and one of the world's largest, its population in 2018 was significantly less than Tokyo's. Shanghai, China, is another massive global city and a major economic hub, but it also did not surpass Tokyo in terms of overall metropolitan population in 2018. Therefore, Tokyo held the top spot for urban population.

The iconic Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of the World, is majestically situated in the city of Agra, which lies within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This exquisite ivory-white marble mausoleum was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It stands as a pinnacle of Mughal architecture, blending Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles, and remains a primary tourist attraction for Uttar Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state known for its Himalayan landscapes and hill stations, not the Taj Mahal. Madhya Pradesh is a central Indian state, rich in historical sites and wildlife, but it is also not home to the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal's location in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is a fundamental piece of Indian geography and history.

The devastating 2019–20 Australian bushfire season is officially and widely known as Black Summer. This term was coined to reflect the unprecedented scale, intensity, and catastrophic impact of the fires, which burned an estimated 18.6 million hectares across Australia. The fires resulted in widespread destruction, claiming over 34 lives, destroying thousands of homes, and causing immense ecological damage, with billions of animals affected. The name evokes the dark, smoke-filled skies and the profound sense of national tragedy.

While 'Dark Summer' might seem descriptively similar, 'Black Summer' is the specific, recognized, and widely adopted term for this particular bushfire season. 'White Summer' is entirely incorrect as it contradicts the visual and environmental reality of the fires. The term 'Black Summer' has become synonymous with this significant natural disaster in Australian history.