PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

Global warming, the long-term heating of Earth's climate system, is widely believed to have significantly accelerated and become observable during the Post-industrial era. This period, generally considered to begin in the mid-18th century and intensify through the 19th and 20th centuries, saw a dramatic increase in human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for industrialization, deforestation, and agriculture. These activities released vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat and leading to the warming trends we observe today.

• The "Pre-industrial era" is incorrect because significant human-induced warming began after this period.
• "Modern industrial era" is too narrow; the start of the warming trend is rooted in the initial post-industrial expansion.
• "None" is false as there is a well-established historical context for the onset of global warming.

This question tests the correct usage of prepositions to indicate a time range or interval. Choosing the appropriate preposition is essential for clear and grammatically correct communication.

• The preposition "between" is used to specify a range or interval with two distinct endpoints. In the phrase "between eight and seven," it correctly indicates that the departmental stores operate within the period starting at eight (e.g., 8 AM) and ending at seven (e.g., 7 PM).
• Option B, "by," indicates a deadline or a means, not a range (e.g., "by seven o'clock").
• Option C, "during," indicates a period of time but doesn't typically specify a range with two distinct numerical endpoints in this manner (e.g., "during the day").
• Option D, "none," is incorrect because "between" is the grammatically correct and most appropriate choice.

Correct preposition usage is vital for precise language.

The question identifies the ruler of Sindh defeated by Muhammad-bin-Qasim. The correct answer is Raja Dahir. Raja Dahir was the last Hindu king of the Brahmin dynasty ruling Sindh when Muhammad bin Qasim led the Umayyad invasion in 712 CE. His defeat marked the beginning of Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent, a foundational event in South Asian history. Distractor Bijai Raj is not recognized as the primary ruler of Sindh defeated by Muhammad bin Qasim. Jaipal was a Shahi ruler of Punjab who fought against Mahmud of Ghazni much later, in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, not Muhammad bin Qasim. Similarly, Anand Pal was Jaipal's son and also confronted Mahmud of Ghazni, making him an incorrect choice for this earlier historical event. Raja Dahir is historically confirmed as the ruler defeated.

The iconic patriotic song “Mera Imaan Pakistan” was famously sung by the legendary Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Known globally for his powerful Qawwali performances, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan lent his unique and soulful voice to this national song, making it an enduring symbol of patriotism and national pride in Pakistan. His rendition is widely recognized and cherished, solidifying its place in the country's cultural heritage.

• Alamgir Khan is a notable pop singer but is not associated with this particular classic.
• Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat's nephew, is also a renowned vocalist but did not perform the original or most famous version of this specific song.
• Sahir Ali Bagga is a contemporary music director and singer, not linked to this historical rendition.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a landmark document in the history of human rights. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948, it sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.

• The UDHR consists of a Preamble and 30 Articles. These articles outline a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, to which all individuals are entitled, regardless of their background.
• Options B (40), C (50), and D (55) are incorrect numbers of articles. The precise structure of the UDHR is 30 articles.

Understanding the UDHR's structure is crucial for comprehending international human rights law.

The question asks for the name of Ehsan Danish's autobiography. The correct answer is جهان دانش (Jahan-e-Danish). Ehsan Danish was a renowned Urdu poet, writer, and scholar, often referred to as "Shair-e-Mazdoor" (Poet of Laborers). His autobiography, Jahan-e-Danish, is a significant work in Urdu literature, providing insights into his life, struggles, and literary journey. This foundational concept highlights his contribution to Urdu prose. Distractor تعمیر و ترقی (Ta'meer-o-Taraqqi) translates to "Construction and Development" and is not his autobiography. جلاوطن (Jalawatan) means "Exile" and is also not the title of his autobiography. جهان دیگر (Jahan-e-Deegar) translates to "Another World" and is not associated with his autobiographical work. Therefore, Jahan-e-Danish is the uniquely correct title.

Protons and atomic nuclei moving at high speeds through space are fundamentally known as Cosmic rays. These are high-energy particles originating from outside Earth's atmosphere, primarily from astrophysical phenomena like supernovae and active galactic nuclei. They constantly bombard Earth, playing a crucial role in space weather and atmospheric processes. Their composition is predominantly protons (about 90%), with a smaller fraction of helium nuclei and other heavier atomic nuclei.

• "Alpha rays" are specifically helium nuclei emitted during radioactive decay, not a general term for all high-energy nuclei in space.
• "Manta rays" are large marine fish, completely unrelated to physics or space.
• "Gamma waves" are a form of electromagnetic radiation (photons), not particles like protons or nuclei.

Upon gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan established its first government, with key ministerial positions filled by prominent leaders. The role of Foreign Minister was crucial in shaping the new nation's international relations.

• Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was appointed as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, serving from 1947 to 1954. He played a pivotal role in representing Pakistan on the global stage, including at the United Nations.
• Option A, Liaquat Ali Khan, was Pakistan's first Prime Minister.
• Option C, Ghazanfar Ali Khan, held portfolios such as Food, Agriculture, and Health.
• Option D, Abdur Rab Nishtar, served as Minister for Communications.

Knowing the initial cabinet members is essential for understanding Pakistan's early political history.

The question asks about the profession of Shaista Ikramullah. The correct answer is Politician. Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah was a prominent Pakistani politician, diplomat, and writer. She was a significant figure in the Pakistan Movement and later became a member of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, advocating for women's rights and constitutional reforms. This foundational concept underscores her role in the nation's formative years. Distractor Lawyer is incorrect; while she was highly educated and articulate, her primary public role was not as a practicing lawyer. Debtor is an irrelevant and incorrect descriptor. Athlete is also incorrect, as she was not known for sports. Her extensive public service and legislative contributions firmly establish her as a politician.

The ancient Greek polymath Eratosthenes (c. 276 – c. 195/194 BC) is widely credited as the first person to use the word “Geography.” He coined the term from the Greek words `geo` (earth) and `graphein` (to write or describe), literally meaning "Earth writing" or "description of the Earth." Eratosthenes was also renowned for his remarkably accurate calculation of the Earth's circumference and for creating one of the earliest maps of the world, laying foundational principles for the discipline.

• Ptolemy was a later geographer who advanced cartography but did not coin the term.
• Herodotus is known as the "Father of History" and described many lands, but not the term "geography."
• Hecataeus of Miletus was an early Greek geographer, but the coinage of the term is attributed to Eratosthenes.

Pakistan's sole triumph in the Cricket World Cup occurred in 1992, a historic victory achieved under the captaincy of the legendary Imran Khan. This foundational event in Pakistani cricket history saw them defeat England in the final held in Australia. The tournament format and their performance, particularly in the latter stages, were remarkable.

• 1975: This was the first-ever Cricket World Cup, won by the West Indies, not Pakistan.
• 1983: India famously won this edition, defeating the formidable West Indies in the final. Pakistan did not win.
• 1999: Australia secured their second World Cup title in this year, dominating the tournament. Pakistan reached the final but lost to Australia.

Therefore, 1992 is the only correct answer, marking a golden era for Pakistan cricket.

The significant political proposals known as the 14 Points were presented by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, in 1929. These points were a direct response to the Nehru Report of 1928, which advocated for a unitary form of government in British India without separate electorates for Muslims. Jinnah's 14 Points articulated the demands of the Muslim League for constitutional safeguards, including separate electorates, provincial autonomy, and adequate representation for Muslims in all legislative bodies, aiming to protect their political rights and interests in any future constitutional setup.

• The years 1923, 1928, and 1931 are incorrect. While 1928 saw the Nehru Report, Jinnah's counter-proposals were specifically presented in March 1929.

The Tughlaq Dynasty, a prominent Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin, established its rule over the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century. Its foundation marked a new era in Indian history, following the decline of the Khilji dynasty.

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (also known as Ghazi Malik) is accurately recognized as the founder. He ascended to power in 1320 AD, initiating the Tughlaq rule after a period of political instability. His reign focused on restoring order and consolidating the sultanate.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a later and notable ruler of the dynasty, known for his extensive public works and administrative reforms, but he was not the founder.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq was Ghiyasuddin's son and successor, infamous for his ambitious but often ill-fated administrative experiments. He did not establish the dynasty.

Thus, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq is the correct answer for founding this influential dynasty.

Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan is a fundamental provision that explicitly deals with Equality before law and equal protection. It unequivocally states that "All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law." This article is crucial for upholding the principles of justice and non-discrimination, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their background, is treated equally by the legal system and receives the same legal safeguards. It forms a cornerstone of fundamental rights in Pakistan.

• "Right to property" is addressed in Articles 23 and 24.
• "Freedom of association" is guaranteed under Article 17.
• "Right to fair trial" is enshrined in Article 10A. Each of these rights is covered by distinct articles within the Constitution.

The groundbreaking discovery of the ABO blood group system fundamentally transformed medical practices, particularly in the field of blood transfusions. Understanding blood types is crucial for preventing adverse reactions during transfusions.

• Karl Landsteiner, an Austrian physician, is correctly credited with this monumental discovery in 1901. His identification of A, B, and O blood types, and later AB, earned him the Nobel Prize in 1930, making safe and effective blood transfusions a reality.
• Edward Jenner is celebrated for his pioneering work on the smallpox vaccine, a significant contribution to immunology, but unrelated to blood groups.
• William Harvey is renowned for accurately describing the systemic circulation of blood, explaining how the heart pumps blood throughout the body, a different but equally vital physiological discovery.

Therefore, Karl Landsteiner is the definitive answer for the discovery of the blood group system.

Ahmad Shah Abdali, the founder of the Durrani Empire, launched several invasions into India during the 18th century, significantly altering the political landscape. These invasions were often prompted by internal Indian political dynamics.

• Shah Wali Ullah, a highly influential Islamic scholar and reformer from Delhi, is accurately identified as the individual who invited Abdali. Concerned by the decline of Muslim power and the rise of Maratha and Sikh influence, he sought Abdali's intervention to restore Islamic supremacy and order in India. This invitation culminated in the decisive Third Battle of Panipat.
• Inayatullah Mashriqi was a 20th-century figure, the founder of the Khaksar movement, and thus chronologically irrelevant to Abdali's era.
• Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, was a contemporary but did not invite Abdali; his focus was on resisting British expansion in the south.

Therefore, Shah Wali Ullah's appeal was the catalyst for Abdali's intervention.

In computing, units of digital information are fundamentally based on powers of 2, not powers of 10, due to the binary nature of computer systems.

• The correct option is 1024. A kilobyte (KB) is precisely defined as 1024 bytes. This standard arises from the fact that 210 equals 1024, making it the most efficient and accurate representation for memory and storage capacity in binary systems.
• Distractors: "1000" is the decimal definition of "kilo" but is incorrect in the binary context of computing for KB. "1100" is an arbitrary number. "2048" is equivalent to 2 kilobytes (2 x 1024 bytes), not 1 kilobyte.

The National Flag of Pakistan, a powerful symbol of the nation's identity and aspirations, was designed by Amiruddin Kidwai. His design was officially adopted on August 11, 1947, just three days before Pakistan gained independence. The flag features a dark green field, representing the Muslim majority, with a white vertical stripe on the hoist side, symbolizing the country's religious minorities. A white crescent moon and a five-pointed star in the center signify progress, light, and knowledge, embodying the nation's guiding principles.

• Liaquat Ali Khan was Pakistan's first Prime Minister, not the flag designer.
• Chaudhry Rahmat Ali is credited with coining the name "Pakistan," but not with designing the flag.
• Syed Ameer Ali was a prominent Muslim jurist and political leader, unrelated to the flag's design.

The Parliament of the United Kingdom operates as a bicameral legislature, comprising two distinct houses, each with specific roles in the nation's governance. Understanding their structure is key to comprehending British democracy.

• The House of Commons is correctly identified as the lower house. It is the principal legislative body, composed of democratically elected Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent constituencies. The Commons holds supreme legislative authority, controls government spending, and is where the Prime Minister and most government ministers sit.
• The House of Lords is the upper house, consisting mainly of appointed life peers and hereditary peers. Its primary role is to scrutinize and revise legislation, but it possesses less power than the Commons.
• The term "Senate" refers to the upper house in many other countries, such as the USA, but not in the UK's parliamentary system.

Thus, the House of Commons is the foundational elected chamber.

Prepositions are words that indicate relationships between other words, often showing direction, location, time, or manner. The choice of preposition is crucial for conveying the intended meaning accurately.

• The correct option is to. The preposition "to" indicates direction or purpose. In this context, "The cat ran to a new toy" implies movement towards the toy with the intention of reaching or interacting with it.
• Distractors: "Over" suggests running on top of or across something. "By" suggests running past or near something, implying proximity rather than direct movement towards. "With" suggests accompanying something or using something, which does not fit the action of running towards an object.

The pivotal historical event known as the Islamic Revolution, also frequently referred to as the Iranian Revolution, took place in Iran. This profound socio-political and religious upheaval occurred in 1979, leading to the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty, which was a pro-Western monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The revolution culminated in the establishment of an Islamic republic under the leadership of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, fundamentally transforming Iran's governance, society, and international relations.

• Iraq, Palestine, and Libya are all Muslim-majority nations, but they did not experience the specific historical event known as "the Islamic Revolution" in 1979. Each has its own distinct political history and revolutionary movements.

This question assesses familiarity with a well-known Urdu proverb, which encapsulates cultural wisdom and advice. Proverbial expressions are integral to language and often convey profound messages concisely.

• The correct completion of the proverb is "اوکھلی میں سر دیا تو موسلوں سے کیا ڈرنا؟" (Okhli mein sar diya toh mooslon se kya darna?). This translates to: "If you have put your head in the mortar, why fear the pestles?"
• The foundational meaning is that once you have committed to a challenging or risky endeavor, you should not be intimidated by the difficulties or consequences that inevitably follow. It advocates for courage and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
• Options "پاؤں" (foot) and "ہاتھ" (hand) are incorrect. Substituting them would create an incoherent and unrecognized proverb, lacking the established metaphorical significance.

Therefore, "سر" (head) is the only word that correctly completes this widely understood idiom.

This question assesses knowledge of prominent Urdu literary figures and their significant works. "Chand Ham Asr" (چند ہم عصر) is a notable collection in Urdu literature, comprising biographical sketches and essays.

• The correct option is مولوی عبد الحق (Maulvi Abdul Haq). He is widely recognized as the author of "Chand Ham Asr" and is famously known as "Baba-e-Urdu" (Father of Urdu) for his immense contributions to the development and promotion of the Urdu language.
• Distractors: رشید احمد صدیقی (Rashid Ahmad Siddiqui) was a renowned Urdu humorist and satirist. مرداد ممت اللہ (Mardad Mumtullah) is not a recognized author of this specific work. مولانا عبد المجید سالک (Maulana Abdul Majeed Salik) was a prominent journalist, poet, and writer, but not the author of "Chand Ham Asr."

The UN Charter is the foundational treaty of the United Nations, establishing its purposes, principles, and organizational structure. It was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on October 24, 1945. The Charter is composed of a Preamble and 111 Articles, divided into 19 Chapters.

• Options A (100), B (110), and D (112) are incorrect numerical values. The precise number of articles in this crucial international document is 111, making it the correct answer.

Understanding the structure of the UN Charter is fundamental to comprehending international law and global governance.