PPSC General Knowledge Past Paper 2020 Solved MCQs with Answers
Solved General Knowledge MCQs from the PPSC 2020 past paper, each with the correct answer and a clear explanation. Ideal practice for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS and PMS. All questions are extracted from the actual 2020 paper and verified before publication.
The Watergate Scandal is related to?
The Watergate scandal of 1972 began with a break-in and wiretapping at the Democratic Party headquarters, and forced President Nixon to resign in 1974.
Which area does Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals relate to?
Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals is Good Health and Well-being, covering maternal and child mortality, disease and universal health coverage.
Timbuktu is a famous city of which country?
Timbuktu, the historic centre of Islamic learning on the edge of the Sahara, is in Mali.
Where is the Three Gorges Dam located?
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze in China is the largest power station in the world by installed capacity.
Which is the largest earth-filled dam in the world?
Tarbela Dam on the Indus in Pakistan is the largest earth-filled dam in the world.
The “Great Britain of the Pacific” refers to which country?
Japan is called the Great Britain of the Pacific, both being island nations lying off a large continental landmass.
Which Asian country has Manama as its capital?
Manama is the capital of Bahrain.
When was the Soviet Union replaced by the Russian Federation?
The Soviet Union was formally dissolved in December 1991, with the Russian Federation succeeding it.
Which Indian province has a part claimed by China?
China claims a large part of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls South Tibet.
Who was Ho Chi Minh?
Ho Chi Minh led the Vietnamese independence movement and became the first President of North Vietnam.
Syria has no boundary with which country?
Syria does not border Iran. Its neighbours are Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon.
From which country did the Arab Spring movement in the Middle East start?
The Arab Spring began in Tunisia in December 2010, after the self-immolation of the street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi.
What does the word "Rex" stand for?
Rex is the Latin word for king.
SAPTA is a trade agreement by which organization?
SAPTA, the South Asian Preferential Trade Arrangement, was concluded by the SAARC nations in 1993.
The first Gulf state to recognize Israel was which one?
The United Arab Emirates became the first Gulf state to recognise Israel, through the Abraham Accords of 2020.
When did the Bolshevik Revolution take place?
The Bolshevik Revolution took place in 1917, bringing Lenin and the Communists to power in Russia.
Who wrote 'Wealth of Nations'?
Adam Smith wrote 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations', published in 1776.
What does the political term "Shadow cabinet" stand for?
A shadow cabinet is the frontbench team of the official opposition, each member shadowing a government minister.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was sworn in for which term in 2018?
Angela Merkel was sworn in for her fourth term as German Chancellor in 2018.
The largest number of Nobel Laureates after the United States are from which country?
After the United States, the United Kingdom has produced the largest number of Nobel laureates.
The capital of Fiji is which city?
Suva is the capital of Fiji.
Which is the lengthiest written constitution in the world?
The Constitution of India is the lengthiest written constitution of any sovereign country.
After what event was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) created?
The International Monetary Fund was created following the Bretton Woods Conference of 1944.
When did the Kyoto Protocol come into force?
The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005, having been adopted in 1997.
What percent of South Asia's population does India represent?
India accounts for roughly 70 per cent of South Asia's population.
Vasco da Gama was native to which country?
Vasco da Gama, who found the sea route from Europe to India, was Portuguese.
Hugo Chavez was the leader of which country?
Hugo Chavez was President of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013.
Where is the Dome of the Rock located?
The Dome of the Rock stands on the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, completed in 691 AD.
What is the capital of Panama?
Panama City is the capital of Panama.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is recognised as part of which country?
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, though it was long controlled by ethnic Armenians.
Where is Shukhov Tower located?
The Shukhov Tower, the pioneering hyperboloid steel structure, is in Moscow, Russia.
"Sky News" is a news TV channel of which country?
Sky News is a British television news channel.
Which war was caused immediately by the murder of Archduke Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo in June 1914 was the immediate cause of the First World War.
Which country is not an OPEC member?
Malaysia is not a member of OPEC, which is made up of major oil-exporting states led by Saudi Arabia.
The abbreviation WIPO stands for?
WIPO stands for the World Intellectual Property Organization, a UN agency based in Geneva.
In which place are the Pyramids of Giza situated?
The Pyramids of Giza stand near Cairo in Egypt, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
"The Brandenburg Gate" is located where?
The Brandenburg Gate is in Berlin, Germany, and became a symbol of the country's division and reunification.
Whose official residence is 10 Downing Street?
10 Downing Street in London is the official residence of the British Prime Minister.
The Akosombo Dam is constructed on the Volta River in which country?
The Akosombo Dam is built on the Volta River in Ghana, creating Lake Volta, the world's largest reservoir by surface area.
Population density is measured how?
Population density is measured as the number of people per square kilometre.
Vienna is a city located on the bank of which river?
Vienna, the capital of Austria, stands on the River Danube.
Where is Hoover Dam, one of the most beautiful dams in the world, located?
The Hoover Dam is on the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona in the United States.
Where is the famous Adam's Peak, which is venerated by Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, located?
Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, each identifying the footprint at its summit differently.
What has 18 July officially been declared as by the UN?
The United Nations has declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day, marking his birthday.
The biggest library in the world is which one?
The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. is the largest library in the world by number of items held.
Under what was the Carbon Scheme introduced?
The carbon trading scheme was introduced under the Kyoto Protocol, allowing countries to trade emission allowances.
A famous city of Iran is which one?
Mashhad in north eastern Iran is the country's second largest city and the site of the shrine of Imam Reza.
Where was the 2004 SAARC Summit held?
The 2004 SAARC Summit, the twelfth, was held at Islamabad, Pakistan.
What is the capital of Qatar?
Doha is the capital of Qatar.
Where is Chichen Itza situated?
Chichen Itza, the great Mayan city, is in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
Germany invaded which country twice in the 20th century that had itself brutally colonized Congo?
Germany invaded Belgium in both 1914 and 1940. Belgium had itself brutally colonised the Congo under King Leopold II.
The Nobel Prize has been won twice by?
Dr Linus Pauling is the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes, for Chemistry in 1954 and Peace in 1962.
In 1974, which Saudi king came to Pakistan?
King Faisal of Saudi Arabia visited Pakistan in 1974 for the second Islamic Summit at Lahore. Faisalabad was renamed in his honour.
When the stock market is rising, it is called?
A rising stock market is described as bullish. A falling market is bearish.
Which city is the capital of Italy?
Rome is the capital of Italy.
Through CPEC, China gains trade access to South Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and which other region?
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor gives China access to South Asia, the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa through the port of Gwadar.
Buenos Aires is a city of which country?
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina.
Africa has how many independent states?
Africa has 54 independent states, making it the continent with the most countries.
Where is the Acropolis of Athens located?
The Acropolis of Athens, crowned by the Parthenon, is in Greece.
In which city of France is the Eiffel Tower located?
The Eiffel Tower is in Paris, France, built for the 1889 World Fair.
The contributions of Baba Farid that are included in the Holy Book of Sikh Granth Sahib are?
The verses of Baba Farid included in the Guru Granth Sahib are known as his Bani.
When is the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children?
30 April is observed as the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children.
When was SAARC founded?
SAARC was founded on 8 December 1985 at Dhaka.
How many main organs does the UNO have?
The United Nations has six principal organs: the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice and Secretariat.
When did the Durand Line come into existence?
The Durand Line was demarcated in 1893 by Sir Mortimer Durand, forming the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The capital of Egypt is which city?
Cairo is the capital of Egypt.
Which country did Frédéric Passy ("Apostle of Peace"), who won the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, belong to?
Frederic Passy of France, called the Apostle of Peace, shared the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 with Henry Dunant.
The UN Security Council's president changes according to?
The presidency of the UN Security Council rotates monthly among its members in the English alphabetical order of their names.
The brand Nokia, one of the leaders in mobile phones, belongs to which country?
Nokia is a Finnish company, long the world's leading maker of mobile phones.
What is the term for ethics that deals with "Ethical Action"?
Normative ethics is the branch of ethics concerned with what constitutes right action and how people ought to behave.
What is the boundary line between North and South Korea called?
The 38th parallel formed the original dividing line between North and South Korea.
What is the capital of Georgia?
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia.
"Land of Flowers" is the name given to which country?
The Netherlands is called the Land of Flowers, famous for its tulip fields and flower exports.
Which organization of the United Nations works for food security?
The Food and Agriculture Organization is the UN body working for food security and nutrition.
Which UN organization works for tourism promotion?
The United Nations World Tourism Organization promotes responsible and sustainable tourism.
The most languages in the world are spoken in which country?
Papua New Guinea has the most languages of any country, with more than 800 living languages.
What is the name of the tree whose wood is used for making cricket bats?
Cricket bats are made from willow, specifically English or Kashmir willow.
Where is the General Cemetery of Santiago situated?
The General Cemetery of Santiago, one of the largest in Latin America, is in Chile.
Which international convention defines and governs treaties between states in written form, embodying international law in one or more related instruments?
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 defines and governs treaties concluded between states in written form.
What is March 22 observed as internationally?
22 March is observed as World Water Day.
Which author created the fictional character of a great detective called Sherlock Holmes?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the detective Sherlock Holmes.
Where is Sagrada Familia in Barcelona situated?
The Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi's unfinished basilica, is in Barcelona, Spain.
Who wrote the famous novel "Frankenstein"?
Mary Shelley wrote 'Frankenstein', published in 1818.
On which date is Human Rights Day observed?
Human Rights Day is observed on 10 December.
What is the capital city of Malaysia?
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, though the administrative centre is Putrajaya.
Which is the world's biggest island?
Greenland is the world's largest island, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
The number of judges of the International Court of Justice is?
The International Court of Justice has fifteen judges, elected for nine-year terms.
What was Leo Tolstoy?
Leo Tolstoy was a great Russian novelist, author of 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'.
Machu Picchu is located where?
Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in the Andes, is in Peru.
Archery is the national sport of which country?
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.
What is the capital city of Spain?
Madrid is the capital of Spain.
The hands of a clock coincide how many times in a day?
The hands of a clock coincide 22 times in a day, since they overlap 11 times in each twelve-hour period rather than 12.
What is the term for the state of being without any work for an educated person to earn one's livelihood in a modern capitalist society?
Unemployment is the state of an able and educated person being without work despite seeking it.
The United Nations does not recognize which of the following as an official language?
Hindi is not an official language of the United Nations. The six official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
What is the standard weight of the javelin throw for men?
The standard javelin for men weighs 800 grams. The women's javelin weighs 600 grams.
About the PPSC General Knowledge Past Paper 2020
Every MCQ above is taken from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) General Knowledge papers held in 2020, with the correct answer and a written explanation for each. Past-paper practice is the most dependable way to prepare for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS and PMS, because these papers repeat their themes, and often the questions themselves, from one year to the next.
Questions were checked against reliable sources before publication. Where a circulating source sheet carried a factual or wording error, we corrected it rather than reproducing the mistake. For chapter-wise preparation, work through our General Knowledge MCQs hub, which also lists every other year’s paper. Further reading: Pakistan Movement and the PPSC official website.
How to Use This Paper
Attempt the full quiz before looking at any answer, then read the explanation for every question you got wrong, including those you guessed correctly. A past paper is only useful if you close the gaps it exposes. Pro members can download the complete paper as a PDF with all answers and explanations for offline revision.