PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

The question tests vocabulary, specifically the most appropriate verb to convey causing suffering. The correct answer is Inflict.

• Inflict means to cause something unpleasant or painful to be suffered by someone or something. It perfectly fits the context of causing pain to a weak and poor person, implying a deliberate act of harm.
• Put is too general; one might 'put a burden' but not 'put pain' in this idiomatic sense.
• Direct means to aim or guide, or to give instructions, which does not align with causing pain.
• Force implies making someone do something against their will or applying physical strength. While pain can be forced, 'inflict' is the more precise and idiomatic verb for causing suffering or injury.

General Zia ul Haq imposed martial law in Pakistan in July 1977, following the overthrow of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He ruled as Chief Martial Law Administrator and later as President for over a decade. The correct answer is Zia ul Haq because he himself lifted martial law on December 30, 1985, while retaining his presidential powers and introducing significant constitutional amendments. This move transitioned Pakistan from direct military rule to a civilian government under his continued presidency.

• Yahya Khan imposed martial law in 1969 and lifted it in 1971.
• Sikandar Mirza was Pakistan's first President but was removed in 1958 and had no role in 1985.
• Pervaiz Musharraf imposed martial law in 1999 and lifted it in 2002.

The question asks about a specific Pakistani-American Girl Scout recognized by US President Donald Trump for her efforts against Coronavirus.

• Laila Khan, a Pakistani-American Girl Scout from Virginia, received an award from then-President Donald Trump in 2020. She was honored for her remarkable efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically for donating 100,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to frontline workers and food banks. This makes option B the correct answer.
• Emma C and Bakhtawar Khan are not the individuals who received this specific recognition from President Trump for their COVID-19 related efforts as a Girl Scout.

Laila Khan's initiative highlighted community spirit and generosity during a challenging global health crisis, earning her national recognition.

An application program that allows a user to set page numbers and spell check a document is known as a Word Processor. Word processors, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, are specifically designed for creating, editing, formatting, and printing text-based documents. They offer a comprehensive suite of tools including spell check, grammar check, page numbering, text formatting, and layout options to produce professional documents.

• Outlook Processor (B) is incorrect; Outlook is primarily an email client and personal information manager, not a document creation tool.
• Notepad (C) is a very basic text editor that handles plain text files. It lacks advanced features like spell checking, page numbering, or rich text formatting.
• None of these (D) is incorrect because 'Word Processor' accurately describes the application.

The correct answer is Fatima Jinnah, who is widely revered as the 'Madar-e-Millat' or 'Mother of the Nation' of Pakistan. She was the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and played a crucial role alongside him in the Pakistan Movement. Her unwavering support, political activism, and advocacy for women's rights earned her this esteemed title, symbolizing her profound contribution to the nation's creation and early development.

• Raana Liaquat Ali Khan, wife of Pakistan's first Prime Minister, was a prominent social worker but not known by this specific title.
• Shaista Ikramullah was a notable politician and diplomat, but not the 'Mother of the Nation'.
• Benazir Bhutto was the first female Prime Minister, a significant political figure, but not given this title.

The question describes a specific tidal pattern: two high tides and two low tides each day. Tides are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans.

• This pattern is characteristic of a Semi-diurnal Tide. In a semi-diurnal tidal cycle, there are two high tides and two low tides of approximately equal height within a lunar day (about 24 hours and 50 minutes). This is the most common tidal pattern globally, making option A correct.
• A Spring Tide refers to exceptionally high and low tides that occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned, not the daily frequency of tides.
• A Mixed Tide also has two high and two low tides daily, but they differ significantly in height.
• A Diurnal Tide features only one high tide and one low tide per day.

Understanding these classifications helps in predicting and analyzing tidal behavior in different oceanic regions.

Process synchronization, which ensures that multiple processes or threads access shared resources without conflicts, can be done on Both hardware and software levels. This is crucial in operating systems to prevent race conditions and maintain data consistency. Hardware-level support includes specialized CPU instructions (e.g., TestAndSet, CompareAndSwap) that provide atomic operations, ensuring that a sequence of operations completes without interruption.

• Software-level (B) mechanisms, such as semaphores, mutexes, and monitors, are programming constructs that allow developers to control access to critical sections of code. These software solutions often rely on underlying hardware support for their atomic primitives or are implemented entirely in software.
• Therefore, stating only Hardware level (A) or only Software level (B) is incomplete, as a robust synchronization strategy typically involves a combination of both.
• None of these (D) is incorrect.

The Lahore Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, was a pivotal moment in the struggle for Pakistan, demanding a separate homeland for Muslims in British India. The correct answer is Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. As the President of the All-India Muslim League, he delivered the momentous presidential address at the annual session in Lahore. His speech eloquently articulated the Two-Nation Theory and the necessity for an independent Muslim state, laying the ideological foundation for Pakistan.

• Liaqat Ali Khan was a key leader but did not give the presidential address.
• A.K. Fazal-ul-Haq moved the resolution itself, but did not deliver the presidential address.
• Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement who passed away in 1931, long before the Lahore Resolution.

Zhob and Kolachi are rivers located in Balochistan. The Zhob River originates in northern Balochistan and flows toward the Gomal River, while the Kolachi River is also situated within the province.

These rivers are frequently asked about in Pakistan Studies and General Knowledge examinations.

Correct Answer: Baluchistan

PowerPoint is a tool used to make Presentation. Microsoft PowerPoint is a widely recognized application within the Microsoft Office suite, specifically designed for creating and delivering dynamic slideshows. Its core functionality revolves around enabling users to combine text, images, audio, video, and charts into a cohesive sequence of slides to effectively convey information to an audience.

• While PowerPoint is a Software (B), its specific purpose is not to create other software.
• PowerPoint can incorporate and offer basic editing for Graphics (C), but it is not a dedicated graphics design program like Adobe Photoshop.
• Similarly, PowerPoint can create and display Charts (D), but charts are merely one component that can be included within a larger presentation, not the sole output or primary function of the tool.

The Basic Democracies System was a four-tiered system of local self-government introduced in Pakistan, designed to decentralize administration and serve as an electoral college. The correct answer is Ayub Khan. Field Marshal Ayub Khan, during his military rule, introduced this system in 1959. It aimed to involve local populations in governance and was also used to elect the President and members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, consolidating his power.

• Liaqat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister and was assassinated in 1951, predating this system.
• Yahya Khan succeeded Ayub Khan but did not introduce Basic Democracies.
• Pervaiz Musharraf introduced a different local government system in 2000, not the Basic Democracies.

Miami Beach is a world-renowned coastal city and resort destination located in the southeastern part of the US state of Florida. It is situated on a barrier island, connected to mainland Miami by several bridges, and is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and distinctive Art Deco architecture. Its warm climate and ocean access make it a popular tourist spot.

• Texas is incorrect; it is a large southern state with its own coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, but Miami Beach is not there.
• California is incorrect; it is a western state known for its Pacific coastline, but Miami Beach is on the Atlantic side.
• Washington is incorrect; it is a northwestern state, far from the subtropical climate and location of Miami Beach.

The AutoContent Wizard feature in PowerPoint (found in older versions, with similar functionalities in newer templates) allowed the user to Spend less time creating a simple presentation. This wizard guided users through a series of questions about the presentation's purpose and audience, then automatically generated a basic presentation structure with suggested content outlines and slide layouts. Its primary goal was to provide a quick starting point, streamlining the initial creation process.

• While PowerPoint supports Animation (B) and offers various Color Schemes (C), these were separate features. The AutoContent Wizard focused on content structure, not applying animations or solely defining color palettes.
• The Chart Wizard (D) is a distinct tool used specifically for creating and customizing charts, not for generating an entire presentation outline.
• Therefore, the wizard's main benefit was efficiency in content generation.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional intergovernmental organization promoting economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural integration among its members in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN currently comprises ten member states. These are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The organization began with five founding members in 1967 and expanded over the years to include all ten current members, fostering cooperation and stability in the region.

• The numbers 8, 12, and 14 are incorrect. While ASEAN started with fewer members, it has consistently grown to its current ten. Timor-Leste is an observer state and a prospective member, but not yet a full member, keeping the current count at ten.

China signed a significant 25-year Strategic Cooperation Pact with Iran in March 2021, solidifying a comprehensive partnership across economic, political, and security domains. This landmark agreement involves substantial Chinese investment in Iran's energy, infrastructure, and transportation sectors, estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars. It also includes military cooperation and intelligence sharing, deepening the ties between the two nations and impacting regional geopolitics.

Pakistan is a close ally of China, particularly through the CPEC, but this specific 25-year pact was not with Pakistan. India has a complex and often competitive relationship with China, not one characterized by such a broad strategic pact. Sri Lanka has received significant Chinese investment but is not the signatory to this particular long-term strategic agreement.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is widely considered the “Father of Romanticism” due to his profound influence on the movement’s core tenets. An 18th-century Genevan philosopher, Rousseau championed emotion, individualism, and the inherent goodness of nature over the perceived corrupting influence of society and pure reason. His writings, such as 'Emile' and 'Confessions,' emphasized personal feeling, the sublime in nature, and a return to a more natural state, laying the philosophical groundwork for the Romantic era.

Friedrich Schlegel was a prominent German Romantic theorist and critic, a key figure *within* the movement, but not its originator. Similarly, William Wordsworth was a foundational English Romantic poet, instrumental in shaping English Romantic literature, but he built upon the philosophical foundations laid by predecessors like Rousseau. Therefore, Rousseau's earlier philosophical contributions make him the primary precursor.

According to the United Nations' 'World Urbanization Prospects 2018' report, Tokyo, Japan, was indeed the most populous city in the world. Its vast metropolitan area, encompassing the city and surrounding prefectures, had an estimated population exceeding 37 million people. This immense population is a result of decades of urbanization, economic growth, and a highly developed infrastructure that supports its dense urban sprawl, making it a global megacity.

While Delhi, India, is a rapidly growing megacity and one of the world's largest, its population in 2018 was significantly less than Tokyo's. Shanghai, China, is another massive global city and a major economic hub, but it also did not surpass Tokyo in terms of overall metropolitan population in 2018. Therefore, Tokyo held the top spot for urban population.

The iconic Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of the World, is majestically situated in the city of Agra, which lies within the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This exquisite ivory-white marble mausoleum was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to enshrine the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It stands as a pinnacle of Mughal architecture, blending Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles, and remains a primary tourist attraction for Uttar Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state known for its Himalayan landscapes and hill stations, not the Taj Mahal. Madhya Pradesh is a central Indian state, rich in historical sites and wildlife, but it is also not home to the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal's location in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, is a fundamental piece of Indian geography and history.

The devastating 2019–20 Australian bushfire season is officially and widely known as Black Summer. This term was coined to reflect the unprecedented scale, intensity, and catastrophic impact of the fires, which burned an estimated 18.6 million hectares across Australia. The fires resulted in widespread destruction, claiming over 34 lives, destroying thousands of homes, and causing immense ecological damage, with billions of animals affected. The name evokes the dark, smoke-filled skies and the profound sense of national tragedy.

While 'Dark Summer' might seem descriptively similar, 'Black Summer' is the specific, recognized, and widely adopted term for this particular bushfire season. 'White Summer' is entirely incorrect as it contradicts the visual and environmental reality of the fires. The term 'Black Summer' has become synonymous with this significant natural disaster in Australian history.

This question asks for the full form of the acronym UPS, which is commonly used in technology and electronics. The correct answer is Uninterruptible Power Supply.

• An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source or mains power fails. It differs from an auxiliary power system or standby generator in that it provides near-instantaneous protection from input power interruptions.
• Under Panel Storage, Universal Product Support, and Uniform Power Storage are all plausible-sounding but incorrect expansions of the acronym UPS. They do not represent any standard or widely recognized terms in the relevant fields.

The question asks to identify the country associated with Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, often referred to as a significant figure in its history. The correct answer is Bhutan.

• Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was the third Druk Gyalpo (King) of Bhutan, reigning from 1952 to 1972. He is widely regarded as the 'Father of Modern Bhutan' for his extensive reforms, including establishing a written constitution, creating the National Assembly, and initiating the country's modernization and opening to the outside world.
• Maldives, Indonesia, and Singapore are independent nations with their own distinct histories and founding figures. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck had no historical or political connection to the establishment or leadership of these countries.

This question tests basic knowledge about the calendar system and the occurrence of leap years. The correct answer is 4.

• A leap year occurs every four years. This additional day, February 29th, is added to the calendar to synchronize it with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the Sun, so adding an extra day every four years (0.25 days * 4 years = 1 extra day) helps to correct this accumulated quarter-day discrepancy.
• Options 3, 5, and 6 years are incorrect intervals. While there are specific exceptions to the four-year rule (e.g., years divisible by 100 but not by 400 are not leap years), the general and most common interval for a leap year is four years.

This question pertains to a significant period in United States history, specifically the Great Depression. The correct answer is Franklin Roosevelt.

• The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted in the United States during the 1930s. It was a response to the Great Depression and was spearheaded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served from 1933 to 1945.
• Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), Harry Truman (1945-1953), and Richard Nixon (1969-1974) were all presidents much later than the Great Depression era. Their presidencies dealt with different national and international challenges, not the initial implementation of the New Deal.

This question asks for the specific date of a historical event, the Siege of Damascus, which was a pivotal moment in early Islamic history. The correct answer is 21 August 0634.

• The Siege of Damascus was a significant event during the Muslim conquest of Syria. The city of Damascus, then part of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the Rashidun Caliphate army under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid on August 21, 634 CE. This victory was crucial for the expansion of the early Islamic empire.
• The dates 15 March 0634 and 10 December 0634 are incorrect for the conclusion of the siege. While the siege itself lasted for some time, the fall of the city is historically recorded as August 21st. Therefore, 'None of these' is also incorrect as one option is accurate.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2021 was a significant international cricket tournament. The 'Player of the Tournament' award is given to the individual who demonstrates outstanding performance throughout the competition.

David Warner, an Australian opening batsman, was rightly named the Player of the Tournament. He played a pivotal role in Australia's championship victory, scoring 289 runs across seven matches, including three half-centuries, with crucial contributions in the semi-final and final.

• Kane Williamson, captain of New Zealand, led his team to the final but did not achieve the individual award.
• Mitchell Marsh, another Australian, had a brilliant performance in the final but Warner's overall consistency earned him the top honor.
• Virat Kohli, captain of India, had a decent tournament but his team did not progress to the latter stages, and his individual statistics were not as impactful as Warner's.