PPSC English Past Paper 2020 Solved MCQs with Answers
Solved English 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.
Change the narration: The old lady said to her son, "Is it not your duty to help her in her old age?"
A yes or no question in reported speech takes 'if', with statement word order and the tense shifted back.
Fill in the correct preposition: I will be ready ______ the time you get here.
'By the time' means at or before that moment, and the clause after it takes the present simple for future reference.
What does the phrase 'Putting the cart before the horse' mean?
'Putting the cart before the horse' means doing things in the wrong order.
Choose the word that reveals the opposite meaning of SEGREGATION?
Segregation is the act of separating groups, so its opposite is integration.
The correct meaning of the idiom 'To fish in troubled waters' is?
'To fish in troubled waters' means to profit from someone else's difficulty.
The correct meaning of the idiom 'Once in a blue moon' is?
'Once in a blue moon' means very rarely.
The correct synonym of Conspicuous is?
Conspicuous means easily seen, hence discernible.
Complete the Idiom: Too many cooks spoil the ______?
The proverb is 'Too many cooks spoil the broth': too many people working on one task ruin it.
The correct Antonym of Ruthless is?
Ruthless means without pity, so its antonym is compassionate.
Synonym of IMPECCABLE is?
Impeccable means without fault, hence faultless.
Indicate the indirect form Saleem said I do not eat mangoes?
In reported speech the present 'do not eat' shifts to the past 'did not eat', and 'I' becomes 'he'.
Change the narration The officer said to the peon If you do not do your duty well I will dismiss you?
A conditional threat in reported speech uses 'threatened', with the tenses shifted back.
Change the narration The dying soldier said Let me have a look at the battlefield?
An expression of desire in reported speech takes 'wished', with the imperative becoming an infinitive.
Antonym of Gullible is?
Gullible means easily deceived, so its antonym is astute, meaning shrewd.
Drought is one word substitution of?
A prolonged lack of rain is a drought.
Synonym of CORDIAL is?
Cordial means warm and friendly, hence pleasant.
Fill in the blank A book is known by its?
The saying refers to judging by outward appearance, the cover of a book.
Synonym of Odour is?
An odour is a smell.
He gave his wife a large _____ of flowers on her birthday?
A bunch of flowers arranged for presentation is a bouquet.
Complete the sentences in reported speech Meet me at the cinema he said?
An imperative in reported speech takes 'asked' or 'told' with the infinitive: asked me to meet him.
Complete the proverb An early bird catches the?
The proverb is 'An early bird catches the worm'.
Most suitable synonym of Cataclysm is?
A cataclysm is a violent upheaval, that is a catastrophe.
The correct sentence They said We take exercise every day?
In reported speech the present 'take' shifts to the past 'took'.
Antonym of Ambiguous is?
Ambiguous means open to more than one meaning, so its antonym is explicit.
Antonym of OPAQUE is?
Opaque means not letting light through, so its antonym is transparent.
Synonym of Luminary is?
A luminary is a person of eminence, that is a celebrity in their field.
I congratulated him _______ his success?
'Congratulate on' is the fixed preposition.
Antonym of Jocular is?
Jocular means joking and humorous, so its antonym is solemn.
The correct Analogy of Graceful: Movement is?
Movement can be graceful as speech can be articulate: a medium and the quality that distinguishes it.
The related word pair Mirage: Desert is?
A mirage appears in a desert as a rainbow appears in the sky: an optical phenomenon and where it is seen.
Send this parcel _______ my address?
'Send to' names the destination.
Small talk means?
'Small talk' is light, casual conversation on unimportant subjects.
I wear glasses _______ reading?
'For' expresses purpose: glasses for reading.
He said to me, "Will you help me?"
A yes or no question in reported speech takes 'whether' or 'if', with the tense shifted back.
Synonym of Bravery is?
Bravery and boldness both mean courage in the face of danger.
The Antonym of FRUGAL is?
Frugal means sparing, so its antonym is extravagant.
The most appropriate antonym of Vilify?
To vilify is to speak ill of, so its antonym is to praise.
The synonym of Exude is?
To exude is to discharge slowly, that is to ooze.
He asked Who speaks French? The correct indirect speech is:
A wh-question in reported speech keeps its question word, takes statement order, and shifts the tense back.
The antonym of AFFLUENCE is?
Affluence is abundance and wealth, so its antonym is dearth, meaning scarcity.
The analogy of Coffee: Beverages is?
Coffee is a kind of beverage as a burger is a kind of snack: a specific item and its category.
Antonym of Immutable is?
Immutable means unchangeable, so its antonym is flexible.
I am exhausted, let's ____ a day?
'Call it a day' means to stop work for the day.
She was sitting ____ her mother?
'Beside' means next to. 'Besides' means in addition to.
Change the Voice of 'Sweets are not liked by us'?
The passive 'are not liked by us' becomes the active 'we do not like sweets'.
Many people are imbued ____ national pride?
'Imbued with' means filled or inspired with a quality.
The synonym of Inquest is?
An inquest is a formal inquiry, especially into a death.
He was ignorant ____ the whole situation?
'Ignorant of' is the fixed preposition.
Change the narration: 'The general said to the soldiers, "March forward and attack the foe."'
An order in reported speech uses 'commanded' or 'ordered' with the infinitive.
Synonym of Cheeky is?
Cheeky means impertinent, hence impudent.
Pristine Antonym is?
Pristine means unspoiled and pure, so its antonym is impure.
Fill in the blank: 'Lay something ____ for the rainy day'?
'Lay by' means to save something for future use.
He boasts ____ his wealth?
'Boast of' is the fixed preposition.
What is the meaning of the idiom To spill the beans?
'To spill the beans' means to reveal a secret.
The correct meaning of the idiom To plough the sand?
'To plough the sand' means to labour in vain.
The authority failed to carry ____ its statutory duties.
'Carry out' means to perform or execute a duty.
What is the synonym of AMBIGUOUS?
Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation, hence unclear.
What is the synonym of PROFANE?
Profane means showing disrespect for sacred things, hence irreverent.
What is the synonym of HAUGHTY?
Haughty means arrogantly superior, hence conceited.
His idleness accounts ____ his poverty.
'Account for' means to explain or be the cause of.
In a jiffy means?
'In a jiffy' means in a very short time.
Did you hear ____ the accident last night?
'Hear about' means to receive news of something.
The alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom To End in Smoke?
'To end in smoke' means to come to nothing.
Abdul grabbed the boy and rolled him on the ground to ____ the flames.
To smother a fire is to extinguish it by cutting off its air.
The antonym of Blooming is?
Blooming means flourishing, so its antonym is fading.
I don't mind ____ if you are tired.
'Mind' is followed by a gerund, so 'mind driving' is correct.
TURN TO PASSIVE VOICE: The girl is riding the horse.
Present continuous active 'is riding' becomes 'is being ridden' in the passive.
He is knocking ____ the door.
'Knock at' the door is the standard collocation.
To give up smoking means?
'Give up' means to stop doing something, especially a habit.
Nazir said, "I did my duty with full justice."
In reported speech the past simple 'did' shifts to the past perfect 'had done'.
Take a leaf out of someone's book means?
'Take a leaf out of someone's book' means to imitate or follow their example.
Synonym of Blasphemy is?
Blasphemy is irreverence towards what is sacred.
He was admitted ____ the college?
'Admitted to' is the correct form for entry to an institution.
This work is beyond his ____?
'Beyond his capacity' means more than he is able to manage.
Change the Voice: The Box can contain no more.
The active 'the box can contain no more' becomes 'no more can be contained in the box'.
What is the antonym of Benign?
Benign means kindly and gentle, so its antonym is malevolent.
The antonym of Transmit is?
To transmit is to send on, so its antonym is to withhold, that is to keep back.
Identify the closest meaning of sycophancy?
Sycophancy is servile flattery to gain advantage.
The correct antonym of Oblivion?
Oblivion is the state of being forgotten or unaware, so its antonym is awareness.
INTER ALIA means?
Inter alia is Latin for among other things.
We were exhausted ____ the end of the journey?
'By the end of' marks the point at which a state was reached.
Synonym of ACRIMONY?
Acrimony is bitterness of manner or speech.
Idiom On the cards means?
'On the cards' means likely to happen.
Sciolist means?
A sciolist is one who pretends to knowledge they do not have.
Synonym of Successive is?
Successive and consecutive both mean following one after another without interruption.
What is the synonym of Forbid?
To forbid is to prohibit.
Proverb To fight tooth and nail means?
'To fight tooth and nail' means to oppose with all one's strength.
Antonym of Pacific is?
Pacific means peaceable, so its antonym is aggressive.
Swim is to Fish as Walk is to?
A fish moves by swimming as a man moves by walking: a creature and its characteristic mode of movement.
Synonym of Radiant is?
Radiant means shining brightly, hence glowing.
Just good enough means?
'Just good enough' means adequate for the circumstances, no more.
Which is the correct spelling?
The correct spelling is adulterate.
Idiom Burn the midnight oil means?
'Burn the midnight oil' means to work or study late into the night.
Synonym of Delete is?
To delete is to remove.
What is synonym of Obsequious?
Obsequious means excessively obedient and fawning, hence servile.
About the PPSC English Past Paper 2020
Every MCQ above is taken from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) English 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 English MCQs hub, which also lists every other year’s paper. Further reading: Pakistan Movement and the PPSC official website.
How to Use This Paper
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