PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

This question assesses your understanding of correct English prepositions and sentence structure, particularly when referring to being in the shadow of an object.

• B. Let us sit down in the shade of a tree for some time. is the correct sentence. The standard and grammatically correct preposition to use when referring to being within the area of a shadow is “in”.
• A. Let us sit down under the shade of a tree for some time. is incorrect. While one sits under a tree, one sits in its shade.
• C. Let us sitting down in the shade of a tree for some time. is grammatically incorrect due to the use of “sitting” instead of “sit” after “Let us.”
• D. Let us sit down on the shade of a tree for some time. is incorrect. “On” implies being physically atop something, which does not apply to shade.

The question asks for the meaning of the word Vulgar. Understanding vocabulary is crucial here.

• (B) Indecent is the correct answer. "Vulgar" means lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined; crude; or offensive in language or behavior. "Indecent" directly aligns with this, implying something improper, offensive, or morally inappropriate.
• (A) Decent is incorrect because it is an antonym, meaning conforming to standards of propriety, good taste, or morality.
• (C) Elegant is incorrect as it is an antonym, meaning graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.
• (D) Respectful is incorrect as it is an antonym, meaning showing deference or esteem.

Therefore, "Indecent" best captures the essence of "Vulgar."

This question requires identifying the antonym of sartorial. Knowing the definition of the word is key.

• (D) Homespun is the correct antonym. "Sartorial" relates to tailoring, clothes, or style of dress, often implying elegance, refinement, or sophistication in attire. "Homespun" refers to something simple, plain, unsophisticated, or rustic, often made at home, directly contrasting with the refined nature implied by "sartorial."
• (A) Elegant is incorrect because it is a synonym or closely related concept to "sartorial," describing something graceful and stylish.
• (B) Stylish is incorrect as it is also a synonym, meaning fashionable and elegant.
• (C) Refined is incorrect because it is a synonym, meaning elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste.

Thus, "Homespun" is the most fitting opposite.

The question asks for a synonym for Groundbreaking. This tests vocabulary knowledge.

• (B) Innovative is the correct synonym. "Groundbreaking" describes something that is new and very different from what has been done before, often leading to significant progress or change. "Innovative" means introducing new ideas, methods, or products; original and creative. They are direct synonyms, both implying novelty and significant impact.
• (A) Ordinary is incorrect because it is an antonym, meaning common, usual, or not special.
• (C) Common is incorrect as it is an antonym, meaning occurring, found, or done often; prevalent, and lacking distinction.
• (D) Traditional is incorrect because it is an antonym, meaning existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established, and often resistant to change.

Therefore, "Innovative" best captures the meaning of "Groundbreaking."

This question requires identifying the antonym of Concord. A strong vocabulary is essential for this.

• (D) Discord is the correct antonym. "Concord" means agreement or harmony between people or groups, or a state of peace. "Discord" means disagreement between people, or a lack of harmony, often leading to conflict or tension. It is the direct opposite of concord.
• (A) Harmony is incorrect because it is a synonym for "concord," meaning agreement or peaceful coexistence.
• (B) Agreement is incorrect as it is a synonym for "concord," meaning a state of being in accord or having the same opinion.
• (C) Unity is incorrect because it is a synonym for "concord," meaning the state of being united or joined as a whole.

Hence, "Discord" is the most appropriate antonym for "Concord."

This sentence completion question tests subject-verb agreement and contextual meaning. The phrase "one of those people who" refers to the plural "people," so the verb for "who" should be plural. However, the question is about the most appropriate verb based on the context of "finding the positive."

• (A) tries is the correct answer. The sentence describes a characteristic behavior of someone who consistently makes an effort to find the positive. "Tries" implies consistent effort or an attempt to achieve something, which fits the positive connotation of the sentence, suggesting a proactive and optimistic approach.
• (B) manages is incorrect because while grammatically plausible, it implies successful completion, which might be too strong if the focus is on the *effort* or *disposition* rather than guaranteed success.
• (C) struggles is incorrect as it implies difficulty and effort, but often with a negative connotation of not succeeding easily, which contradicts the idea of "finding the positive."
• (D) fails is incorrect because it is an antonym, implying an inability to find the positive, which contradicts the intended meaning of the sentence.

Therefore, "tries" best conveys the consistent effort to maintain a positive outlook.

The question asks for a word describing a person unable to read or write. Understanding prefixes is key here.

• Illiterate is the correct answer. The prefix 'il-' means 'not', so 'illiterate' means 'not literate', or unable to read and write.
• Illegible (A) refers to writing that cannot be read due to poor handwriting, not the person's ability.
• Legible (B) means clear enough to be read.
• Literate (C) means able to read and write, which is the opposite of what the question describes.

Therefore, 'illiterate' accurately describes a person who cannot read or write.

To solve this age problem, we first calculate the total age of the family three years ago. With 5 members and an average age of 17, their total age was 5 * 17 = 85 years.

Presently, these 5 members would have aged 3 years each, so their current total age is 85 + (5 * 3) = 100 years.

A baby is born, making the family size 6 members. The average age remains 17 years. Thus, the current total age of the 6 members is 6 * 17 = 102 years.

The present age of the baby is the difference between the total age of 6 members and the total age of the original 5 members: 102 - 100 = 2 years. Therefore, option 'A' is correct.

Distractors 'B', 'C', and 'D' result from incorrect calculations of total ages or misinterpreting the average age change.

The question asks for a synonym for the idiom “Scot-free.” Understanding idiomatic expressions is crucial.

• Unpunished is the correct answer. The idiom 'scot-free' means to escape without suffering any punishment or injury.
• Captured (A) means to be caught, which is contrary to escaping freely.
• Punished (B) is the direct opposite of 'scot-free', as it implies receiving a penalty.
• Guilty (D) refers to being responsible for a wrongdoing, not the outcome of whether one is punished or not.

Thus, 'unpunished' perfectly captures the meaning of 'scot-free'.

The foundational concept for finding the area of a square is to multiply the length of one side by itself. This is represented by the formula Area = side * side or Area = side2.

Given that the side of the square is 5 units, we apply the formula: Area = 5 units * 5 units = 25 square units. Therefore, option 'C' is the correct answer.

Distractor 'A' (10 sq. units) might be confused with adding the sides (5+5) or multiplying by 2 (2*5). Distractor 'B' (20 sq. units) represents the perimeter (4*5). Distractor 'D' (30 sq. units) is an arbitrary incorrect calculation.

This question tests knowledge of comparative adjectives. When comparing two things, the comparative form of an adjective is used.

• Cleverer is the correct answer. For most one-syllable and some two-syllable adjectives like 'clever', the comparative form is created by adding '-er'.
• Clever (B) is the positive form of the adjective, used when not making a comparison.
• More clever (C) is an alternative comparative form, sometimes used, but 'cleverer' is generally considered more standard and grammatically preferred for 'clever'.
• Most clever (D) is the superlative form, used when comparing three or more items, not just two.

Therefore, 'cleverer' is the most appropriate comparative form in this context.

In a Cartesian coordinate system, a point is represented by its coordinates (x, y). The x-coordinate indicates the horizontal distance from the y-axis, and the y-coordinate indicates the vertical distance from the x-axis.

For the point (2, 3), the x-coordinate is 2 and the y-coordinate is 3. The distance of this point from the x-axis is precisely its y-coordinate. Therefore, the distance is 3 units, making option 'B' correct.

Distractor 'A' (2) represents the distance from the y-axis. Distractor 'C' (5) is the sum of the coordinates (2+3), which is not a standard distance measure. Distractor 'D' ('o') is not a valid numerical distance.

The correct preposition to use with the adjective 'confident' when expressing certainty about something is 'of'. The phrase 'confident of' means having a strong belief or feeling of certainty about something or someone.

In the sentence, 'She was confident of her success' correctly conveys that she was certain she would succeed. Therefore, option 'C' is the accurate choice.

Distractor 'A' ('with') is incorrect; 'confident with' typically refers to comfort or skill in handling something. Distractor 'B' ('to') is not idiomatic in this context. Distractor 'D' ('for') is also grammatically incorrect here; 'confident for' is not a standard English idiom.

The word 'scathing' means severely critical, harsh, or scornful. It describes remarks or criticism that are extremely severe and damaging.

Among the given options, 'Scornful' (option 'A') is the closest synonym. 'Scornful' means expressing contempt or derision, which aligns perfectly with the meaning of 'scathing'.

Distractor 'B' ('Gentle') is an antonym, meaning mild or kind. Distractor 'C' ('Supportive') is also an antonym, meaning providing encouragement or help. Distractor 'D' ('Respectful') is another antonym, meaning showing deference or admiration. These options convey meanings opposite to 'scathing'.

This question tests your knowledge of specific vocabulary, particularly one-word substitutes for common phrases.

• D. Pillion is the correct one-word substitute. A pillion is specifically a seat for a passenger behind the rider on a motorcycle or bicycle.
• A. Saddle refers to the main seat for the rider on a bike or horse.
• B. Cushion is a general term for a soft pad, not specific to a bike passenger seat.
• C. Bridle is a piece of headgear used to control a horse, completely unrelated to bikes.

This question asks for the antonym of “Zenith.” Understanding antonyms requires knowing the precise meaning of the given word.

• C. Bottom is the correct antonym. Zenith means the highest point, peak, or culmination. Therefore, its opposite is the lowest point.
• A. Peak, B. Summit, and D. Pinnacle are all synonyms of Zenith, meaning the highest point or top. They are not antonyms.

This question requires identifying the antonym of the verb “Rob.” Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.

• C. Give is the correct antonym. To rob means to take something unlawfully or by force from someone. The direct opposite action is to willingly transfer possession of something to another person.
• A. Steal is a synonym of rob, meaning to take something without permission.
• B. Take is a broader term that can imply acquiring something, but it doesn't necessarily carry the opposite connotation of robbing.
• D. Borrow means to take something with the intention of returning it, which is different from the direct opposite of robbing.

Understanding the default settings in Microsoft Excel is important for new workbook creation. An Excel workbook is a file containing one or more worksheets.

• The correct answer is 1. In modern versions of Microsoft Excel (Excel 2013 and later), a new workbook defaults to having only one worksheet. This change was implemented to streamline the user experience and reduce clutter for users who often only need a single sheet.
• Options 3, 5, and 10 are incorrect. While older versions of Excel (e.g., Excel 2010 and earlier) typically defaulted to three worksheets, this is no longer the case. The numbers 5 and 10 are arbitrary and have not been standard default settings.

Microsoft Word's Ribbon interface groups functionalities into tabs. For collaborative document work, specific tools are provided to facilitate feedback and revisions.

• The correct answer is Review. The Review tab is specifically designed for collaboration and document finalization. It contains a suite of tools for proofing (spelling and grammar), accessibility, language settings, and crucially, for adding, managing, and responding to comments. It also includes features for tracking changes and comparing documents.
• The Home tab is for basic text and paragraph formatting.
• The Insert tab is for adding objects like tables, pictures, and shapes into the document.
• The View tab controls how the document is displayed on the screen, offering different document views and zoom options.

This question requires basic fraction calculation and subtraction to determine the number of working keyboards. Understanding how to calculate a fraction of a whole and then subtract it is key.

• First, calculate the number of keyboards that are not working: 1/5 of 3,000. (1/5) * 3,000 = 600 keyboards.
• Next, subtract the number of non-working keyboards from the total number of keyboards to find how many are working: 3,000 - 600 = 2,400 keyboards.
• The correct answer is 2400.
• Options 1000, 1500, and 2000 are incorrect. These values might result from miscalculations, such as incorrectly determining the fraction or performing the wrong operation (e.g., calculating 2/5 or 1/3 instead of 4/5 working).

This question asks about common solvents, specifically in the context of soft drinks. Understanding the properties and uses of different solvents is key.

• Water is the correct answer. Water is known as the 'universal solvent' and is the primary component of virtually all soft drinks, dissolving sugars, flavorings, and other ingredients.
• Acetone (B) is a strong organic solvent used in industrial applications and nail polish remover; it is toxic and not safe for consumption.
• Ether (C) is a highly flammable organic solvent, historically used as an anesthetic, and is not used in beverages.
• Alcohol (D) is a solvent, but it is not the primary solvent in *soft drinks*, which are non-alcoholic beverages.

Therefore, water is the most common and essential solvent in soft drinks.

The foundational concept here is calculating simple interest. The formula for simple interest (SI) is P * R * T / 100, where P is the principal amount, R is the annual interest rate, and T is the time period in years.

• Correct Option C ($60): Applying the formula, SI = ($1000 * 2 * 3) / 100 = $6000 / 100 = $60. This is the accurate calculation.
• Distractor A ($20): This would be the interest for only one year ($1000 * 2% * 1).
• Distractor B ($30): This is incorrect, possibly from using a 1% rate or half the time.
• Distractor D ($120): This would imply a 4% rate or double the time period.