PPSC Past Papers 2025

The volume of a cylinder is a fundamental concept in geometry, calculated using its radius and height.

• Correct Answer: 502 cm³. The formula for the volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h. Given the base radius (r) is 4 cm and the height (h) is 10 cm, we substitute these values: V = π * (4 cm)² * 10 cm = π * 16 cm² * 10 cm = 160π cm³. Using the approximation π ≈ 3.14, the volume is approximately 160 * 3.14 = 502.4 cm³. Option C is the closest whole number.
• Distractors A, B, and D represent incorrect calculations, possibly due to using a wrong formula, incorrect values, or different approximations for π.

Accurate application of geometric formulas is key to solving such problems.

Pakistani culture, like many South Asian cultures, is fundamentally collectivist. This means there is a strong emphasis on group harmony, family ties, community welfare, and social interdependence over individual achievements. Loyalty to the group and collective decision-making are highly valued.

• Exclusive and Separatist are not accurate descriptors of the fundamental cultural orientation; while group identity exists, the core social structure is collectivist.
• Goal kick is an irrelevant term and clearly a distractor.

Understanding collectivism versus individualism is a foundational concept in cultural studies, and this question tests that understanding in the context of Pakistan.

The term Babul Islam, meaning "Gateway of Islam," is historically attributed to the province of Sindh in Pakistan. This foundational concept refers to the region's pivotal role as the first area in the Indian subcontinent to be conquered by Muslim forces, specifically by Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 AD. This event marked the initial entry point for Islam into the subcontinent, establishing Sindh's unique historical significance.

• Punjab, KPK (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), and Baluchistan, while having rich Islamic histories and significant Muslim populations, were not the initial entry points for the religion in the same foundational manner as Sindh.

The question defines a fundamental concept in computing: the connection of multiple computers for information sharing. This describes the core purpose and structure of a network.

• A Network is the correct answer. A computer network is a group of interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources with each other. This foundational concept enables communication, resource sharing (like printers or files), and access to the internet.
• A Library (Option B) is a collection of resources, such as books or digital files, but it does not inherently describe interconnected computers.
• A Server (Option C) is a specific type of computer or program that provides services or resources to other computers (clients) on a network, but it is not the network itself.
• None of these (Option D) is incorrect because 'Network' accurately describes the scenario.

Understanding networks is key to comprehending modern computing infrastructure.

This problem involves work and time, where individual work rates combine to determine collective completion time.

• Correct Answer: 24 days. If A and B finish a job in 12 days, their combined daily work rate is 1/12 of the job. If A, B, and C finish the job in 8 days, their combined daily work rate is 1/8 of the job. To find C's individual rate, subtract (A+B)'s rate from (A+B+C)'s rate: C's rate = 1/8 - 1/12. Finding a common denominator (24), this becomes 3/24 - 2/24 = 1/24. Thus, C alone completes 1/24 of the job per day, meaning C will take 24 days to finish the job.
• Distractors A, C, and D result from incorrect calculations or misapplication of the work-rate principle.

Understanding how to combine and subtract work rates is essential for these types of problems.

The Roosevelt Hotel in New York was indeed owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This was a significant international asset for the airline, acquired in 1979. It served as a notable investment and a symbol of PIA's global presence for decades. Options B, C, and D are incorrect; Hilton Manhattan is a different hotel chain, Empire State Inn is not associated with PIA's ownership, and Karachi House is not the name of PIA's hotel in New York.

A Doab is a geographical term for a tract of land lying between two confluent rivers. The Sindh Sagar Doab is the westernmost doab of the Punjab region, and it is correctly identified as lying between the Sindh (Indus) and Jhelum rivers. This foundational geographical concept helps define the distinct regions within the larger Punjab area.

• The option "Chenab and Jhelum" describes the Chaj Doab.
• "Sindh and Chenab" would encompass a broader area, not specifically the Sindh Sagar Doab.
• "Sindh and Ravi" is geographically incorrect for the Sindh Sagar Doab, as the Ravi is much further east.

The Master Document feature in MS Word is an advanced tool designed for managing large and complex documents. It addresses the challenge of collaborating on or organizing extensive content.

• The correct answer is Manage and edit multiple subdocuments within a single master document. This feature allows users to break a large document into smaller, more manageable subdocuments. These subdocuments can be edited independently or as part of the master document, which acts as a container, linking them together. This is particularly useful for books, theses, or long reports.
• Inserting charts into sections (Option A) is a general Word feature, not specific to Master Documents.
• Protect file with password (Option B) is a security feature, unrelated to document structure.
• Resize all documents (Option D) is not a function of the Master Document feature; resizing typically refers to page layout or window size.

Master Documents streamline the organization and collaborative editing of extensive written works.

The distance between two points in a coordinate plane is found using the distance formula, derived from the Pythagorean theorem.

• Correct Answer: √32. The distance formula is d = √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²]. Given points A(p,0) and B(0,p), and distance d=8: 8 = √[(0-p)² + (p-0)²]. This simplifies to 8 = √[(-p)² + (p)²] = √[p² + p²] = √[2p²]. Squaring both sides gives 64 = 2p², so p² = 32. Therefore, p = √32.
• Distractor B: 4√6 is incorrect; √32 simplifies to 4√2.
• Distractor C: 4 is incorrect; if p=4, the distance is √32, not 8.
• Distractor D: √4 (which is 2) is incorrect; if p=2, the distance is √8, not 8.

Accurate application of the distance formula is crucial for solving coordinate geometry problems.

Textiles and Garments consistently represent Pakistan's largest export commodity. This sector is a cornerstone of the country's economy, contributing significantly to its foreign exchange earnings and employment. Pakistan is a major global producer of cotton and textile products. While rice, sports goods, and leather products are also important exports, their overall value and volume are considerably smaller compared to the dominant textile and garment industry.

Understanding the ethnic composition of a country is crucial for comprehending its social and political dynamics. In Afghanistan, the Pashtun are the largest ethnic group, constituting a significant majority of the population. They have historically played a dominant role in the country's governance and cultural landscape, making them the most numerous and influential group.

• The Tajik are the second-largest ethnic group, primarily residing in the north and northeast.
• The Hazara are a significant minority, predominantly found in the central highlands.
• The Uzbek are another notable minority group, mainly concentrated in the northern regions.

This question tests knowledge of common acronyms in technology, specifically related to wireless communication. Understanding these terms is crucial in today's interconnected world.

• Wireless Fidelity is the correct answer. Wi-Fi is a widely recognized and used abbreviation for Wireless Fidelity, which refers to a family of wireless networking protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. It enables devices to connect to a local area network (LAN) and the internet without physical cables.
• Wide Frequency (Option B), Wireless Functionality (Option C), and Worldwide Fidelity (Option D) are plausible-sounding but incorrect expansions of the acronym. These options do not represent the official or commonly accepted meaning of Wi-Fi.

Knowing the correct meaning of Wi-Fi is fundamental for understanding wireless technology and its applications.

The volume of a sphere is calculated using the formula V = (4/3)πr³, where 'r' is the radius. For a sphere with a radius of 3 cm:

• V = (4/3)π(3)³
• V = (4/3)π(27)
• V = 4 * 9π
• V = 36π cm³

Therefore, option A is correct. Option B, 9π cm³, might result from an incorrect formula or calculation. Option C, 12 cm³, is a significant miscalculation. Option D is incorrect as a valid answer exists.

The Objectives Resolution, passed in 1949, laid the foundational principles for Pakistan's future constitution. It explicitly proposed a state where the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance, and social justice would be fully observed, and where the state would exercise its powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people. This clearly rejected systems like dictatorship, monarchy, or autocracy, which concentrate power in the hands of a single individual or a small group without popular consent.

Cable Beach is a world-renowned tourist destination famous for its stunning sunsets and camel rides. This iconic 22-kilometer-long stretch of white sand beach is located in Broome, Western Australia, making Australia the correct country. Knowing the locations of prominent global landmarks is a key aspect of geographical knowledge.

• The Bahamas, New Zealand, and Mexico are all countries with beautiful coastlines and beaches, but Cable Beach is not situated in any of these nations. Each country has its own unique and famous beaches, but Cable Beach is distinctly Australian.

The default file extension for a Microsoft Excel workbook is .xlsx. This extension was introduced with Excel 2007 and signifies an XML-based file format, offering improved data recovery and smaller file sizes compared to older formats.

• .xls was the default extension for older Excel versions (Excel 97-2003).
• .csv stands for Comma Separated Values, a plain text file format for tabular data, not a native Excel workbook.
• .docx is the default file extension for Microsoft Word documents.

In a Cartesian coordinate system, a point is represented by (x, y). The x-axis is the horizontal line where y=0, and the y-axis is the vertical line where x=0. Quadrants are defined by positive or negative x and y values.

• For the point (0, -7), the x-coordinate is 0.
• Any point with an x-coordinate of 0 lies directly on the y-axis.
• Since the y-coordinate is -7, it lies on the negative portion of the y-axis.

Therefore, option D is correct. Options A and B are incorrect as quadrants require non-zero x and y values. Option C is incorrect because the y-coordinate is not 0.

The Indian National Congress did not take part in the First Round Table Conference, which was held in London from November 1930 to January 1931. At this time, the Congress was engaged in the Civil Disobedience Movement under Mahatma Gandhi and demanded 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence), leading to their boycott. Mahatma Gandhi, representing the Congress, famously attended only the Second Round Table Conference. Therefore, options B, C, and D are incorrect as they either state participation or incorrectly combine conferences.

False coiling, also known as supercoiling, is a fundamental concept in molecular biology related to DNA structure. It refers to the coiling of the DNA double helix upon itself, which is essential for compacting the long DNA molecule to fit within the confines of a cell nucleus or prokaryotic cell. Therefore, Overlapping of DNA best describes this phenomenon.

• Increasing ventilation and Cooling of the room are unrelated to biological coiling.
• Looping of intestinal coils refers to anatomical structures, not the molecular structure of DNA.

The Excel function that returns the current date and time is NOW(). This function is volatile, meaning it updates automatically whenever the worksheet is recalculated, providing real-time information.

• DATE() is used to construct a date from individual year, month, and day components, not to return the current time.
• TODAY() returns only the current date, without the time component.
• CURRENTDATE() is not a valid Excel function.

Upon the partition of British India in 1947, the assets of the British Indian Army were divided between the newly independent states of India and Pakistan. Pakistan's share of these assets was determined to be 36%, while India received the remaining 64%. This division was a complex process, often contentious, and based on various factors including population and strategic considerations. Options A, C, and D represent incorrect percentages for Pakistan's allocated share of the military assets.

The invention of the lightning rod is a significant milestone in the history of electricity and practical science. Benjamin Franklin is widely credited with inventing the lightning rod in the mid-18th century, following his extensive experiments with electricity, including his famous kite experiment. His invention provided a crucial means of protecting buildings from the destructive power of lightning strikes.

• Thomas Edison is known for the practical incandescent light bulb.
• Nikola Tesla made significant contributions to alternating current (AC) electrical systems.
• Michael Faraday is renowned for his work on electromagnetism and electrochemistry.

F5, F6, F7 are examples of function keys. Function keys (F1 through F12) are dedicated keys on a keyboard that perform specific tasks depending on the active program or operating system context.

• Ctrl+Alt+Del is a key combination used for system-level commands, such as opening Task Manager, not a single function key.
• Shift+F10 is also a key combination, often used to open the context menu (similar to a right-click).
• Tab+1 is not a standard or recognized function key or key combination.

Transnational advocacy networks (TANs) and epistemic communities are both forms of non-state actors that influence global politics. They are fundamentally linked by their shared characteristics:

• Expertise: Both rely on specialized knowledge and information to frame issues and propose solutions.
• Activism: TANs are explicitly activist groups, while epistemic communities often engage in advocacy to promote their policy-relevant knowledge.

They collaborate on social issues, leveraging their knowledge and collective action. Options like nationalism, geography, educational background, or former government service are not the primary linking factors, as these groups often transcend national borders and draw members from diverse professional backgrounds united by their shared cause and knowledge.

The Asian Games are a pan-continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. Understanding the historical context of such major international events is key.

• The first Asian Games were inaugurated in New Delhi, India, in 1951.
• This event marked a significant moment for Asian sports and regional cooperation.

Therefore, India is the correct answer. While China, Japan, and South Korea have all hosted subsequent Asian Games, they were not the host of the inaugural event.