PPSC Past Papers & Solved MCQs

Understanding parts of speech is fundamental to English grammar. An adjective is a word that modifies a noun or pronoun, describing a quality or state. In the phrase “ill-taught,” the word “taught” functions as a past participle acting as an adjective, describing a person or thing. “Ill” modifies “taught,” forming a compound adjective that describes the manner or quality of being taught. Therefore, “ill-taught” collectively acts as an adjective.

• A. Anger is incorrect; it is a noun.
• B. Verb is incorrect; while “taught” is derived from a verb, the compound “ill-taught” functions descriptively.
• D. Adverb is incorrect; an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, but here the entire phrase describes a noun.

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Wrath signifies extreme anger or fury. To find its antonym, we need a word that expresses the opposite emotion.

• D. Delight is the correct antonym because it means great pleasure or joy, which is the direct opposite of intense anger.
• A. Anger is incorrect; it is a synonym or a closely related emotion to wrath.
• B. Fury is incorrect; it is a synonym of wrath, meaning intense, uncontrolled anger.
• C. Rage is incorrect; it is also a synonym of wrath, referring to violent, uncontrollable anger.

Correct preposition usage is crucial for grammatical accuracy. The verb “overwhelm” typically pairs with specific prepositions to convey different meanings. When expressing being overcome by a strong emotion or feeling, the standard and most idiomatic preposition is “with.”

• B. with is the correct choice. The phrase “overwhelmed with grief” correctly conveys that grief is the emotion that has completely overcome her.
• A. of is incorrect; “overwhelmed of” is not a standard English construction.
• C. on is incorrect; “overwhelmed on” is grammatically incorrect in this context.
• D. by is incorrect; while “overwhelmed by” can be used (e.g., “overwhelmed by the waves”), “overwhelmed with” is more commonly used for emotions or abstract concepts like grief.

Understanding antonyms requires knowing the precise meaning of a word. Fickle describes someone or something that changes frequently, especially in loyalties, interests, or affection, implying instability and unpredictability. We need a word that means the opposite of this changeable nature.

• C. Steadfast is the correct antonym. It means resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering, directly contrasting with the changeable nature of being fickle.
• A. Unpredictable is incorrect; it is a characteristic of being fickle, not its opposite.
• B. Changeable is incorrect; it is a synonym of fickle.
• D. Variable is incorrect; it is also a synonym of fickle, meaning liable to change.

Correct spelling is essential for clear written communication. Many English words, especially those derived from other languages, can be tricky to spell. The word in question refers to a set of questions used for surveys or studies.

• D. Questionnaire is the correct spelling. This word is derived from French and retains its original spelling with a double 'n' and 'aire' ending.
• A. Quest is incorrect; it is a different word meaning a search or pursuit.
• B. Questionaire is incorrect; this is a common misspelling, missing the second 'n'.
• C. Questionnar is incorrect; this is also a misspelling, missing the 'i' and having an incorrect ending.

The correct sentence is “Don’t be late.” This option correctly applies standard English punctuation rules for direct speech and contractions.

• The entire spoken phrase is enclosed in double quotation marks.
• The apostrophe in 'Don’t' correctly indicates the contraction of 'Do not'.
• The period, which is the end punctuation for the sentence, is placed inside the closing quotation mark, as is standard practice in American English.

The distractor 'Don’t to be late' is grammatically incorrect. 'Dont be late.' lacks both the necessary apostrophe for the contraction and the quotation marks for direct speech. Therefore, 'None of these' is also incorrect.

The correct answer is Hanging about. This phrasal verb means to spend time idly in a place, often waiting or doing nothing in particular. This perfectly fits the context of young men waiting for a coffee bar to open.

• Hanging back means to hesitate or to remain behind.
• Hanging on can mean to hold tightly, to persist, or to wait for a short period, but it doesn't convey the idleness implied here.
• Hanging in means to persevere or to continue to try hard.

None of the other options accurately describe the act of loitering or waiting aimlessly in a public place.