PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

The correct answer is 10. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has a total of 15 members, out of which 5 are permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US) with veto power, and the remaining 10 are non‑permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two‑year terms. These non‑permanent members are selected based on geographical representation, with five from Africa and Asia, two from Latin America and the Caribbean, two from Western Europe and Other States, and one from Eastern Europe. The non‑permanent membership was expanded from 6 to 10 in 1965 through an amendment to the UN Charter. The option 5 refers to the permanent members, 15 is the total membership, and 20 is an incorrect number. Therefore, 10 is the correct number of non‑permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The correct answer is Geneva. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1863 by Henry Dunant, the ICRC is a humanitarian organization that operates globally to protect and assist victims of armed conflict and violence. Its headquarters in Geneva serves as the central coordination hub for its worldwide operations, including emergency response, humanitarian law advocacy, and diplomatic engagement with states. Geneva is also the seat of many other international organizations, including the United Nations Office at Geneva, which makes it a natural center for international diplomacy. Davos is known for the World Economic Forum, New York hosts the UN Headquarters, and Vienna hosts several UN agencies, but none are the location of the ICRC's main headquarters. Therefore, Geneva is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Istanbul. Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, Turkey. Originally built as a Christian cathedral in 537 CE under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it served as the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, it was converted into a mosque and later became a museum in 1935. In 2020, it was reconverted into a mosque. The structure is renowned for its massive dome and rich mosaics. Ankara is the capital of Turkey, Antalya is a coastal city, and Izmir is a major port city, but none of these are the location of Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, is the city that holds this iconic monument, making it the correct answer.

The correct answer is Barcelona. La Sagrada Familia is located in Barcelona, Spain. Designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, this iconic basilica has been under construction since 1882 and remains incomplete. It is one of the most visited landmarks in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica's intricate façades and towering spires make it a masterpiece of modernist architecture. Madrid is the capital of Spain, Granada is known for the Alhambra, and Seville is famous for its cathedral and Alcázar, but none of these cities are home to La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is the only correct location for this architectural wonder.

The correct answer is Kyiv. Kyiv (also spelled Kiev) is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located in the north‑central part of the country along the Dnieper River. It is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Ukraine.

Lviv is a major city in western Ukraine, and Dnipro is a city in eastern Ukraine, but neither is the capital.

The correct answer is Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, standing at 828 meters (2,717 feet). It is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as part of the Downtown Dubai development. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, and Sharjah is another emirate, but the Burj Khalifa is specifically in Dubai.

The correct answer is Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the largest Muslim-majority country by land area, covering approximately 2.7 million square kilometers. It is located in Central Asia and has a Muslim population of around 70% of its total population. While Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world (over 230 million), it is smaller in land area compared to Kazakhstan. Pakistan is the 5th most populous country but is significantly smaller in area (about 881,000 sq km). Sudan, which was once the largest country in Africa by area, lost its status after South Sudan's secession in 2011 and is now the 3rd largest Muslim-majority country by area. Kazakhstan's vast steppes and diverse geography make it the undisputed largest Muslim country by land area among the options.

The correct answer is Constitutional Monarchy. Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. This means the country has a monarch (King Harald V) who serves as the ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government, and executive power is exercised by the cabinet.

Norway is not a presidential system, and while it is a democracy, "Democratic system" is too vague compared to the precise term "Constitutional Monarchy."

The correct answer is Missouri. The Missouri River is often called the "Big Muddy" due to the large amount of silt and sediment it carries. It is the longest river in North America and a major tributary of the Mississippi River. Its muddy appearance comes from the erosion of the Great Plains and the Missouri River Valley.

The Mississippi is large but not specifically known as the "muddy river," and the Rio Grande and Yukon are not associated with this nickname.

The correct answer is New Jersey. Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey. It is one of the eight Ivy League universities and one of the oldest universities in the United States, founded in 1746.

New York and Washington are incorrect, as the university is not located in those states.

Explanation: The correct answer is Jamuna.

The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet (as the Yarlung Tsangpo) and flows through India and Bangladesh. After entering Bangladesh, it splits into several distributaries. The main channel is known as the Jamuna River.

Key points about the Jamuna:

• It flows southward through central Bangladesh.
• It merges with the Ganges (Padma) near Goalundo Ghat.
• It is one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh by volume.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• Meghna: This river is formed by the confluence of the Padma and Jamuna, not a distributary of the Brahmaputra alone.
• Kaveri: This is a major river in southern India, completely unrelated to the Brahmaputra system.
• Narmada: This is a river in central India, flowing west into the Arabian Sea, not connected to the Brahmaputra.

Therefore, Jamuna is the correct answer.

The correct answer is Tajikistan. Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, meaning it has no direct access to any ocean or sea. It is bordered by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Nepal is also landlocked, but Tajikistan is the correct answer among the given options.

Sri Lanka is an island nation with many seaports, and Cuba also has extensive coastlines.