PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

The term cropping refers to a specific editing technique used to modify visual content. Understanding its application is key to answering this question.

The correct answer is Image. Cropping is the process of removing unwanted outer areas from a photograph or illustrative image. This technique is commonly employed to improve composition, eliminate distracting elements, or adjust the image to fit specific dimensions or aspect ratios. It directly manipulates the visual boundaries of an image.

The other options are incorrect because: Document (B) refers to a broader category of files, and while a document might contain images, cropping applies to the image content itself, not the document's overall structure. File (C) is a generic term for any data stored on a computer; cropping is a specific operation on the *content* of an image file, not a general file manipulation. Therefore, 'None of these' (D) is also incorrect.

This problem involves similar triangles, a fundamental concept in geometry. When objects cast shadows under similar conditions, the ratio of an object's height to its shadow length remains constant because the angle of elevation of the sun is the same for both. We can set up a proportion to find the unknown height.

• First, calculate the ratio for the flagstaff: Height / Shadow = 17.5 m / 40.25 m = 0.43478...
• Next, apply this same ratio to the building: Building Height / 28.75 m = 0.43478...
• Solving for Building Height: 0.43478... * 28.75 m = 12.5 m.

Alternatively, using a direct proportion: 17.5 / 40.25 = H / 28.75. Cross-multiplying gives H = (17.5 * 28.75) / 40.25 = 503.125 / 40.25 = 12.5 m. Distractors A, C, and D represent incorrect calculations or misinterpretations of the problem, such as using the flagstaff's height directly (C) instead of calculating the building's height based on the established ratio.

World Thalassemia Day is annually observed on May 8th. This significant day is dedicated to raising global awareness about thalassemia, a group of inherited blood disorders that reduce the production of hemoglobin. The observance aims to educate the public about the disease, its symptoms, prevention, and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for affected individuals. It also serves to honor the struggles of patients and their families worldwide.

Option C, 8 May, is correct as it is the internationally recognized date for this important health awareness day. Options A (6 May), B (7 May), and D (9 May) are incorrect dates. While these days might hold other significances, they are not associated with the observance of World Thalassemia Day, which consistently falls on the eighth day of May each year to foster support and understanding for those living with thalassemia.

The book Emergence of Pakistan is a significant historical account detailing the events and processes that led to the creation of Pakistan. This seminal work was authored by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali. As a key figure in the Pakistan Movement and later the country's fourth Prime Minister, Ali provided an invaluable insider's perspective on the political negotiations, challenges, and decisions that shaped the new nation.

The other options are incorrect:

• K.K. Aziz was a distinguished historian who wrote other notable works like The Making of Pakistan.
• Ayesha Jalal is known for her influential book The Sole Spokesman.
• Stanley Wolpert is an American historian famous for biographies of Jinnah and Gandhi.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) provides a structured way to define headings on a webpage, indicating their hierarchical importance and typically their visual size. There are six predefined heading levels.

The correct answer is h6. In HTML, heading tags range from <h1> to <h6>. The <h1> tag represents the most important heading, which is typically displayed in the largest font size by default. As the number increases, the heading's importance and its default font size decrease. Therefore, <h6> is designated for the least important heading, and consequently, it is rendered as the smallest size heading by default.

The other options are incorrect: <h1> (A) is for the largest heading, <h2> (B) is for the second largest, and <h4> (C) is for a medium-sized heading, all of which are larger than <h6>.

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

The Lucknow Pact was a historic agreement forged in December 1916 between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League. This significant pact marked a period of Hindu-Muslim unity, where both major political parties of British India agreed to present a joint set of demands to the British government for constitutional reforms. Key aspects included the acceptance of separate electorates for Muslims by the Congress and a common platform for self-government.

Option A, All India Muslim League, is the correct answer. This alliance was crucial for strengthening the nationalist movement. Option B, Awami League, is incorrect as it was founded much later in 1949 in East Pakistan. Option C, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is also incorrect; it was established in 1980, long after the Lucknow Pact. Therefore, the Lucknow Pact stands as a testament to early 20th-century political cooperation between the two dominant Indian political entities against colonial rule.

The question asks about the language of poetry of Ustad Daman. Ustad Daman, whose real name was Chiragh Din, was a highly respected and influential poet from Punjab, Pakistan.

• Ustad Daman was primarily a Punjabi poet. He was renowned for his powerful and often satirical verses that reflected the social and political realities of his time. His work is a significant part of Punjabi literature, making option B the correct answer.
• While Urdu is a national language of Pakistan and widely spoken, it was not Ustad Daman's primary language of poetic expression.
• Persian was historically a court language in the region but not the language Ustad Daman chose for his poetry.
• Pushto is spoken in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and parts of Afghanistan, distinct from the Punjabi-speaking region where Daman lived and composed.

His contributions to Punjabi poetry are widely celebrated.

The default page setup orientation of slides in PowerPoint is Landscape. This orientation means the slide is wider than it is tall. PowerPoint is primarily used for presentations, which are typically displayed on screens or projectors. A landscape layout maximizes the usable screen area, making it ideal for displaying text, images, and charts clearly to an audience, thus enhancing readability and visual impact.

• Portrait (B) and Vertical (C) orientations, which are taller than they are wide, are commonly used for documents like letters or reports. However, they would make presentation slides appear narrow and tall, leading to inefficient use of screen space and potentially making content harder to view during a presentation.
• None of these (D) is incorrect because Landscape is indeed the standard default.

This question tests vocabulary and understanding of common idioms. The phrase "A burnt child ______ the fire" is a well-known proverb, meaning that someone who has had a painful or unpleasant experience will be cautious or fearful of similar situations in the future.

• The correct word to complete this idiom is Dreads. "Dreads" means to anticipate with great apprehension or fear. A child who has been burned by fire will naturally fear it.
• Flame (A) is a noun referring to the visible gaseous part of a fire; it does not fit grammatically or semantically as a verb here.
• Destroy (C) is a verb meaning to ruin or put an end to something. While one might want to destroy a fire, the idiom refers to the child's emotional reaction, not an action against the fire itself.
• Afraid (D) is an adjective, meaning feeling fear or apprehension. The sentence structure requires a verb, not an adjective. To use "afraid," the sentence would need to be "A burnt child is afraid of the fire."

Therefore, "dreads" is the only word that correctly completes the idiom and fits the grammatical structure and meaning of the sentence.

The Tarbela Dam, a monumental engineering feat and one of the world's largest earth-filled dams, was completed in 1976. Located on the Indus River in Pakistan, its construction began in 1968 as part of the Indus Basin Project. The dam is vital for Pakistan's economy, providing extensive irrigation for agricultural lands and generating a significant portion of the country's hydroelectric power.

Option D, 1976, is the correct year for the completion of the Tarbela Dam, marking the culmination of years of intensive construction work. Options A (1972), B (1974), and C (1975) are incorrect. While these years fall within the dam's construction period, they do not represent its final completion date. The dam's full operational status and formal inauguration occurred in 1976, making it a cornerstone of Pakistan's water and energy infrastructure since then.

The question concerns the specific conflict where Pakistan utilized the Stinger missile. The Stinger missile is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) known for its effectiveness against low-flying aircraft.

• Pakistan played a crucial role in the Afghan War (specifically the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979-1989) by supporting the Afghan Mujahideen. The United States supplied Stinger missiles to the Mujahideen through Pakistan, which proved highly effective against Soviet helicopters and aircraft. This significantly impacted the course of the war, making option B the correct answer.
• Pakistan was not directly involved in any Israel War where Stinger missiles would have been deployed.
• While Pakistan has fought several Indian Wars, the prominent and widely documented use of Stinger missiles by Pakistan or its allies was not in these conflicts.

The Stinger's deployment in the Afghan War is a well-known historical fact.

The most fundamental unit of information in a digital system is the Bit. A bit, short for binary digit, represents the smallest piece of data in computing and can only have one of two values: 0 or 1. All digital information, from complex programs to simple text, is ultimately stored and processed as sequences of bits.

• A Byte (B) is a collection of 8 bits. While a very common unit for measuring data, it is composed of multiple bits and therefore not the most fundamental.
• A Kilobyte (C) is approximately 1,024 bytes, representing a much larger quantity of information.
• A Gigabyte (D) is an even larger unit, roughly 1,024 megabytes, or billions of bits. These larger units are used to quantify significant amounts of data storage or memory, but they are all built upon the foundational bit.