PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

Vatican City is recognized as the world's smallest independent state, both in terms of area and population, located within Rome, Italy.

The correct answer is Tarbela Dam. Located on the Indus River in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Tarbela Dam is Pakistan's largest and most significant dam in terms of both size and power generation[reference:0][reference:1].

Why Tarbela Dam Is the Largest

Tarbela Dam is the world's largest earth-and-rock-fill dam by structural volume and the biggest electricity generation facility in Pakistan[reference:2][reference:3][reference:4]. Its key features are:

• Size: The dam is 143 meters (470 feet) high and 2,743 meters (9,000 feet) long[reference:5].
• Storage: It has a total storage capacity of 13.7 billion cubic meters, making it the largest reservoir in the country[reference:6].
• Power: It has an installed power generation capacity of 4,888 MW, providing over half (51.6%) of WAPDA's total hydropower capacity[reference:7][reference:8].

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

• Mangla Dam (Option 2): While Mangla is the "biggest reservoir in terms of water storage" (with 7.277 MAF), it is smaller than Tarbela in structural volume, power generation capacity, and overall size[reference:9][reference:10][reference:11].
• Warsak Dam (Option 3): Warsak Dam is a much smaller concrete gravity dam on the Kabul River with a height of 76.2 meters and an installed capacity of only 243 MW[reference:12][reference:13][reference:14].
• None of these (Option 4): As Tarbela Dam is unequivocally the largest, this option is incorrect.

Therefore, Tarbela Dam is the only correct answer, as it is Pakistan's largest dam by every significant measure.

Dr. Shamshad Akhter made history as the first woman to serve as the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, appointed in 2006.

The correct answer is Angel Falls. Located in the Guayana Highlands of Venezuela, Angel Falls is the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall, with a total height of 979 meters (3,212 feet) and a continuous free‑fall drop of 807 meters (2,648 feet). Its sheer vertical descent makes it more than twice the height of the Eiffel Tower.

Why Angel Falls Is the Highest

The height of a waterfall is measured from its highest point of plunge to the lowest point where the water hits the ground or a pool. Angel Falls descends from the flat‑topped mountain known as Auyán‑tepui, one of the massive table‑top mountains (tepuis) that dominate the region. The water flows over the edge of the cliff and drops almost entirely in free fall, creating a mist that can be seen from miles away. Its name honors Jimmy Angel, an American aviator who was the first to fly over the falls in 1933 while searching for a legendary gold‑bearing river.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

• Great Falls: There are several waterfalls named "Great Falls" around the world, including ones in the United States and New Zealand. However, none of these are even close to the height of Angel Falls; the largest Great Falls (in Paterson, New Jersey) is only about 23 meters high.
• Victoria Falls: Located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world due to its width and volume of water, but it stands at just 108 meters (355 feet) – far shorter than Angel Falls.
• Boyoma Falls: Situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Boyoma Falls is actually a series of seven rapids along the Lualaba River. It is not a vertical waterfall and does not rank among the world's tallest by height.

Therefore, Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, and it is the only correct answer among the given choices.

In the context of urban planning and development, LDA commonly stands for Lahore Development Authority, a prominent organization in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka was historically known as Ceylon until 1972, a name widely used during its colonial period and for its famous tea.

The correct answer is Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia. These three countries are among the nine nations that are covered by the vast Amazon rainforest. The Amazon basin spans approximately 6.7 million square kilometers, with the majority of the rainforest located within Brazil's borders.

Understanding the Geographic Spread of the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, covering a significant portion of the South American continent. The nine countries that share the Amazon basin are:

• Brazil – hosts the largest portion, approximately 60% of the entire rainforest.
• Peru – holds the second-largest share of the Amazon.
• Colombia – contains a substantial portion of the northwestern Amazon.
• Bolivia – covers the southwestern part of the basin.
• Ecuador – includes a small but ecologically significant area.
• Guyana – lies on the northern edge of the rainforest.
• Suriname – also located in the northeastern Amazon.
• French Guiana – an overseas department of France, located on the northeastern coast.
• Venezuela – includes the Amazonas state in its southern region.

The Amazon rainforest is often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" because of its immense capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. It is home to an unparalleled diversity of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. The river system, particularly the Amazon River itself, is the largest by volume of water in the world and plays a crucial role in the region's climate and ecology.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

• Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia: These countries are located in Southeast Asia. While they do contain tropical rainforests (such as the Borneo rainforest), these are not part of the Amazon basin, which is exclusively in South America.
• South Africa, Zambia, South Sudan: These countries are in Africa. The African continent has its own rainforests (such as the Congo Basin), but they are entirely separate from the Amazon. None of these countries are covered by the Amazon rainforest.
• Canada, Mexico, USA: These countries are in North America. While they have forests, including temperate rainforests like the Pacific Northwest, they are not part of the Amazon biome.

Therefore, the only correct answer is Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia, as these are the three valid South American countries covered by the Amazon rainforest.

Seychelles is an archipelago nation located in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km east of mainland Africa. This makes option (B) the correct answer. The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean, known for its unique biodiversity and strategic importance. The Pacific Ocean (A) is the largest and lies to the east of Asia and Australia, far from Seychelles. The Antarctic Ocean (C) surrounds Antarctica, and the Arctic Ocean (D) surrounds the North Pole; both are geographically distant and incorrect. Understanding the geographical location of island nations helps in comprehending global geography.

The central section of the SindhSāgar Doāb is indeed located in the Thal Desert, making option (B) the correct answer. The SindhSāgar Doāb is a region in Punjab, Pakistan, situated between the Indus and Jhelum rivers. The Thal Desert is a large, arid region within this doāb, characterized by sand dunes and sparse vegetation. In contrast, the Thar Desert (A) is primarily located in India and Pakistan, but further east, not central to the SindhSāgar Doāb. Cholistan Desert (C) is also in Punjab, Pakistan, but southeast of the Thal. Katpana Desert (D) is a high-altitude cold desert in Gilgit-Baltistan, completely different geographically.