PPSC Past Papers 2025

This question tests knowledge of comparative adjectives. When comparing two things, the comparative form of an adjective is used.

• Cleverer is the correct answer. For most one-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives like 'clever', the comparative form is created by adding '-er'.
• Clever (B) is the positive form of the adjective, used when not making a comparison.
• More clever (C) is an alternative comparative form, sometimes used, but 'cleverer' is generally considered more standard and grammatically preferred for 'clever'.
• Most clever (D) is the superlative form, used when comparing three or more items, not just two.

Therefore, 'cleverer' is the most appropriate comparative form in this context.

In a Cartesian coordinate system, a point is represented by its coordinates (x, y). The x-coordinate indicates the horizontal distance from the y-axis, and the y-coordinate indicates the vertical distance from the x-axis.

For the point (2, 3), the x-coordinate is 2 and the y-coordinate is 3. The distance of this point from the x-axis is precisely its y-coordinate. Therefore, the distance is 3 units, making option 'B' correct.

Distractor 'A' (2) represents the distance from the y-axis. Distractor 'C' (5) is the sum of the coordinates (2+3), which is not a standard distance measure. Distractor 'D' ('o') is not a valid numerical distance.

The correct preposition to use with the adjective 'confident' when expressing certainty about something is 'of'. The phrase 'confident of' means having a strong belief or feeling of certainty about something or someone.

In the sentence, 'She was confident of her success' correctly conveys that she was certain she would succeed. Therefore, option 'C' is the accurate choice.

Distractor 'A' ('with') is incorrect; 'confident with' typically refers to comfort or skill in handling something. Distractor 'B' ('to') is not idiomatic in this context. Distractor 'D' ('for') is also grammatically incorrect here; 'confident for' is not a standard English idiom.

The word 'scathing' means severely critical, harsh, or scornful. It describes remarks or criticism that are extremely severe and damaging.

Among the given options, 'Scornful' (option 'A') is the closest synonym. 'Scornful' means expressing contempt or derision, which aligns perfectly with the meaning of 'scathing'.

Distractor 'B' ('Gentle') is an antonym, meaning mild or kind. Distractor 'C' ('Supportive') is also an antonym, meaning providing encouragement or help. Distractor 'D' ('Respectful') is another antonym, meaning showing deference or admiration. These options convey meanings opposite to 'scathing'.

This question tests your knowledge of specific vocabulary, particularly one-word substitutes for common phrases.

• D. Pillion is the correct one-word substitute. A pillion is specifically a seat for a passenger behind the rider on a motorcycle or bicycle.
• A. Saddle refers to the main seat for the rider on a bike or horse.
• B. Cushion is a general term for a soft pad, not specific to a bike passenger seat.
• C. Bridle is a piece of headgear used to control a horse, completely unrelated to bikes.

In PowerPoint, the various functionalities are organized into tabs on the Ribbon. Understanding which tab houses specific features is fundamental to efficient use.

• The correct answer is Design tab. This tab is specifically dedicated to the visual appearance of your presentation, including themes, slide size, and background formatting options. Themes provide a consistent look and feel across all slides.
• The Home tab primarily deals with basic editing, such as font formatting, paragraph settings, and adding new slides.
• The Insert tab is used for adding various objects like pictures, tables, shapes, charts, and text boxes into your slides.
• The View tab allows you to change how you see your presentation, offering different views like Normal, Slide Sorter, and Reading View, but not for applying themes.

Microsoft Word organizes its features into tabs on the Ribbon, each grouping related commands. Knowing where to find specific tools is crucial for document creation.

• The correct answer is Insert. The Insert tab is designed for adding various elements into your document. This includes not only headers and footers but also page numbers, tables, pictures, shapes, text boxes, and symbols. Headers and footers are essential for consistent information across multiple pages.
• The Home tab focuses on basic text formatting, paragraph settings, and styles.
• The Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions) deals with page setup options like margins, orientation, size, and columns.
• The View tab controls how the document is displayed on your screen, offering different views like Print Layout, Read Mode, and Web Layout.

Understanding the default settings in Microsoft Excel is important for new workbook creation. An Excel workbook is a file containing one or more worksheets.

• The correct answer is 1. In modern versions of Microsoft Excel (Excel 2013 and later), a new workbook defaults to having only one worksheet. This change was implemented to streamline the user experience and reduce clutter for users who often only need a single sheet.
• Options 3, 5, and 10 are incorrect. While older versions of Excel (e.g., Excel 2010 and earlier) typically defaulted to three worksheets, this is no longer the case. The numbers 5 and 10 are arbitrary and have not been standard default settings.

Microsoft Word's Ribbon interface groups functionalities into tabs. For collaborative document work, specific tools are provided to facilitate feedback and revisions.

• The correct answer is Review. The Review tab is specifically designed for collaboration and document finalization. It contains a suite of tools for proofing (spelling and grammar), accessibility, language settings, and crucially, for adding, managing, and responding to comments. It also includes features for tracking changes and comparing documents.
• The Home tab is for basic text and paragraph formatting.
• The Insert tab is for adding objects like tables, pictures, and shapes into the document.
• The View tab controls how the document is displayed on the screen, offering different document views and zoom options.

This question requires basic fraction calculation and subtraction to determine the number of working keyboards. Understanding how to calculate a fraction of a whole and then subtract it is key.

• First, calculate the number of keyboards that are not working: 1/5 of 3,000. (1/5) * 3,000 = 600 keyboards.
• Next, subtract the number of non-working keyboards from the total number of keyboards to find how many are working: 3,000 - 600 = 2,400 keyboards.
• The correct answer is 2400.
• Options 1000, 1500, and 2000 are incorrect. These values might result from miscalculations, such as incorrectly determining the fraction or performing the wrong operation (e.g., calculating 2/5 or 1/3 instead of 4/5 working).

This question asks about common solvents, specifically in the context of soft drinks. Understanding the properties and uses of different solvents is key.

• Water is the correct answer. Water is known as the 'universal solvent' and is the primary component of virtually all soft drinks, dissolving sugars, flavorings, and other ingredients.
• Acetone (B) is a strong organic solvent used in industrial applications and nail polish remover; it is toxic and not safe for consumption.
• Ether (C) is a highly flammable organic solvent, historically used as an anesthetic, and is not used in beverages.
• Alcohol (D) is a solvent, but it is not the primary solvent in *soft drinks*, which are non-alcoholic beverages.

Therefore, water is the most common and essential solvent in soft drinks.

The foundational concept here is calculating simple interest. The formula for simple interest (SI) is P * R * T / 100, where P is the principal amount, R is the annual interest rate, and T is the time period in years.

• Correct Option C ($60): Applying the formula, SI = ($1000 * 2 * 3) / 100 = $6000 / 100 = $60. This is the accurate calculation.
• Distractor A ($20): This would be the interest for only one year ($1000 * 2% * 1).
• Distractor B ($30): This is incorrect, possibly from using a 1% rate or half the time.
• Distractor D ($120): This would imply a 4% rate or double the time period.

In Physics, we study the fundamental laws governing matter, energy, space, and time. Terms like Acceleration, Inertia, and Motion are core concepts in classical mechanics, describing how objects move and interact. Acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity, inertia is an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion, and motion describes a change in position over time. Conversely, Stock value is a financial term used in economics and business to represent the monetary worth of a share in a company, which falls outside the domain of physics.

This question tests your understanding of ratios and unit conversion. To simplify a ratio, both quantities must be in the same units.

• Correct Option B (5:01): First, convert 2 km to meters. Since 1 km = 1000 meters, 2 km = 2000 meters. The ratio becomes 2000 meters : 400 meters. Dividing both sides by their greatest common divisor, 400, yields 2000/400 : 400/400, which simplifies to 5:1.
• Distractor A (10:01): This would be incorrect conversion or simplification.
• Distractor C (2:01): This ratio would result if 2 km was 800 meters, or 400 meters was 1000 meters.
• Distractor D (1:02): This is the inverse of the correct ratio.

In physics, the Displacement is defined as the shortest straight-line distance between an object's initial and final positions, including the direction. It is a vector quantity. Distance (A) refers to the total path length traveled, which can be longer than the displacement if the path is not straight. Speed (B) is a scalar quantity that measures how fast an object is moving, while Velocity (C) is a vector quantity that measures the rate of change of displacement, including direction. Neither speed nor velocity represents the minimum distance between two points.

This problem involves trigonometry, specifically the tangent function in a right-angled triangle. The angle of elevation, the height of the tower (opposite side), and the distance from the base (adjacent side) form a right triangle.

• Correct Option B (20 m): We use the formula tan(angle) = Opposite / Adjacent. Given the angle of elevation is 45° and the adjacent side is 20 m, we have tan(45°) = height / 20. Since tan(45°) = 1, it follows that 1 = height / 20, so the height = 20 m.
• Distractor A (10 m): This would be incorrect, perhaps if the angle was different or a division error occurred.
• Distractor C (30 m): This is an arbitrary incorrect value.
• Distractor D (40 m): This would result from multiplying by 2 instead of using the tan(45°) property.

Global warming and climate change refer to the long-term heating of Earth's climate system due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning. All the listed options are direct and well-documented consequences. Rising sea levels (A) occur due to the thermal expansion of ocean water and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Extreme weather events (B), such as more intense heatwaves, droughts, floods, and storms, are becoming more frequent and severe. Melting polar ice caps (C) is a visible and significant indicator of rising global temperatures. Therefore, All of these (D) is the correct and most comprehensive answer.

The core concept here is direct proportionality. If y is directly proportional to x, their relationship can be expressed as y = kx, where 'k' is the constant of proportionality.

• Correct Option D (90): First, find 'k' using the given values: when x = 2, y = 20. So, 20 = k * 2, which means k = 10. The relationship is y = 10x. Now, substitute x = 9 into this equation: y = 10 * 9 = 90.
• Distractor A (20): This is the value of y when x was 2, not when x is 9.
• Distractor B (35): This is an incorrect calculation, not following the direct proportionality rule.
• Distractor C (45): This might result from an incorrect constant of proportionality or calculation error.

Deforestation is the clearing of forests for other land uses. The primary cause of deforestation globally is Urbanization and agriculture. Forests are cleared to make way for expanding cities, infrastructure development, and, most significantly, for agricultural purposes such as crop cultivation (e.g., palm oil, soy) and livestock grazing. While Climate change (A) can exacerbate forest degradation and increase the risk of wildfires, it is not the direct primary cause of forest clearing. Natural disasters (C) like wildfires or volcanic eruptions can destroy forests but account for a smaller percentage of overall deforestation compared to human activities. Wildlife activities (D) do not cause deforestation.

The groundbreaking discovery that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes was made by Sir Ronald Ross. In 1897, this British medical doctor, working in India, demonstrated that the malaria parasite was transmitted from infected birds to mosquitoes and then back to birds, establishing the mosquito as the vector for the disease. This crucial finding earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1902. Louis Pasteur (A) is renowned for pasteurization and developing vaccines for rabies and anthrax. Robert Koch (B) identified the specific causative agents of diseases like tuberculosis and cholera. Edward Jenner (D) is famous for pioneering the smallpox vaccine.

The ribosome is the cellular organelle primarily responsible for protein synthesis, a process known as translation, where genetic information from mRNA is used to build polypeptide chains.

• Mitochondria are known as the 'powerhouses' of the cell, generating most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.
• The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
• Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes and are involved in waste breakdown and cellular recycling.

Therefore, ribosomes are uniquely specialized for protein production.

The approximate blood circulation rate in human capillaries is around 1 mm/sec. This slow velocity is crucial for efficient exchange.

• Blood flow significantly slows down in the capillaries to allow sufficient time for the diffusion of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues.
• If the rate were much faster (e.g., 10 mm/sec or 100 mm/sec), there wouldn't be enough time for adequate exchange, compromising cellular function.
• A rate of 0.1 mm/sec would be excessively slow, potentially leading to insufficient delivery of vital substances and accumulation of waste.

The optimal speed ensures vital physiological exchange.

Malaria is spread through Plasmodium, which is the genus of parasitic protozoa that causes the disease.

• While the Anopheles mosquito is the vector that transmits the Plasmodium parasite to humans, Plasmodium itself is the causative agent of malaria. The disease is a result of the parasite's life cycle within the human body.
• Bacteria and viruses are different types of microorganisms and are not responsible for causing malaria.

Understanding the distinction between the pathogen and its vector is key to comprehending disease transmission.