PPSC Computer Science Past Paper 2023 Solved MCQs with Answers
Solved Computer Science MCQs from the PPSC 2023 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 2023 paper and verified before publication.
What does URL stand for?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator, the address that identifies a resource on the web.
In a Microsoft Excel worksheet, how many rows are there?
A modern Excel worksheet has 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns. The older .xls format allowed only 65,536 rows.
In a computer, what is used to transfer data between internal components?
A bus is the set of parallel wires that carries data, addresses and control signals between the internal components.
In PowerPoint, slide design is found in?
Slide designs and themes are on the Design tab in PowerPoint.
Word processing programs create which type of file?
A word processor creates document files, such as the .docx files produced by MS Word.
In MS Word, you can use which key to delete a character to the left of the cursor?
The Backspace key deletes the character to the left of the cursor. Delete removes the one to its right.
Which one is considered a valid encoding format?
UTF-8 is a character encoding format. Binary and hexadecimal are number systems, and HTML is a markup language.
Eight bits are equal to what?
Eight bits make one byte. Four bits make a nibble.
In MS Excel, which one is not a function?
There is no AVG function in Excel. The correct name is AVERAGE.
What can a computer virus not affect?
A virus is software and corrupts files, settings and data. It cannot physically damage the monitor.
In MS Word, what is the shortcut used for inserting a page break?
Ctrl + Enter inserts a page break in MS Word.
In the Run dialog box, which command is used to find temporary files?
Typing %temp% in the Run box opens the folder of temporary files for the current user.
What are the files in browsing history commonly known as?
The page files a browser stores from sites you have visited are the cache, which is why clearing the cache frees disk space and forces a fresh download.
Which is the heart of the processor that performs many different operations?
The arithmetic and logic unit performs all arithmetic and logical operations, which is why it is called the heart of the processor.
What are the physical parts of a computer called?
The physical parts of a computer are its hardware. Programs are software.
What is the file extension of an MS Word document?
MS Word documents carry the .docx extension in the Office Open XML format.
In MS Word, which of the following is NOT a standard font formatting option?
Centred is paragraph alignment, not font formatting. Bold, italic and strikethrough are applied to the font itself.
In the context of network protocol, POP stands for ______?
POP stands for Post Office Protocol, used to download mail from a server.
In Windows, which command is used to find and open Command Prompt?
Typing cmd in the Run box opens the Command Prompt.
Which can store more data than a DVD?
A single layer Blu-ray disc holds 25 GB against a DVD's 4.7 GB, because it is read with a shorter wavelength blue laser.
In Microsoft Word, which tool is used to find antonyms and synonyms for a selected word?
The Thesaurus suggests synonyms and antonyms for a selected word in MS Word.
What are the system programs called that control and co-ordinate the overall operations of a computer system?
The operating system controls and coordinates all operations of the computer and manages its resources.
What was the capacity of a 3.5 inch floppy disk?
The 3.5 inch high density floppy disk held 1.44 MB.
Microsoft Word is what type of software?
Microsoft Word is application software, written to do a task for the user rather than to run the machine.
In a computer, which is the smallest unit of data?
The bit, a single binary digit, is the smallest unit of data in a computer.
In Microsoft Word, what is the function of Ctrl + P?
Ctrl + P opens the Print dialog in MS Word.
In an Excel worksheet, what is each small rectangle or box called?
Each small rectangle in an Excel worksheet is a cell, the intersection of a row and a column.
GUI stands for what?
GUI stands for Graphical User Interface, which lets the user work through windows, icons and a pointer.
A CPU consists of?
A CPU consists of a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit, together with its registers.
In Microsoft Word, which shortcut is used to open the “Find and Replace” dialog box?
Ctrl + H opens Find and Replace in MS Word. Ctrl + F opens Find alone.
In MS-Word, the Shapes option is contained in which tab?
Shapes are inserted from the Insert tab in MS Word.
In Microsoft Word, which shortcut key is used for spell check?
F7 runs the spelling and grammar check in MS Word.
In an MS-Word document, single spacing causes line spacing of how many points?
Single line spacing in MS Word is taken as 12 points for a body text font of ordinary size.
Brain virus was created by which brothers?
The Brain virus, the first PC virus, was written in 1986 by Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi, two brothers from Lahore.
Which was the first network that started the Internet?
ARPANET, funded by the United States Department of Defense in 1969, was the network from which the internet grew.
What does MB stand for?
MB stands for megabyte.
1 Gigabyte is equal to what?
One gigabyte is 1024 megabytes, since each step in the binary scale is a factor of 1024.
Who founded Microsoft?
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Which device is not an input device?
A plotter is an output device, drawing large scale line diagrams. Keyboards, scanners and microphones are input devices.
What is the shortcut key used to "Subscript" the selected text?
Ctrl + = applies subscript in MS Word. Ctrl + Shift + = applies superscript.
A cursor is a _____?
The cursor is the thin blinking line that marks where the next character will be typed. The arrow is the mouse pointer.
In MS Excel, which symbol is used for executing formulas?
Every Excel formula begins with an equals sign, which is what tells the program to calculate rather than store text.
In MS Word, what is the term for a character that is smaller and raised above the baseline?
A character set smaller and above the baseline is superscript. Below the baseline it is subscript.
In MS Word, which key is used to delete the character to the right of the cursor?
The Delete key removes the character to the right of the cursor.
Which view is commonly used to create and edit slides in PowerPoint?
Normal view is the working view in PowerPoint, used to create and edit the content of slides.
Which is not a nomenclature used in MS Excel?
Document is a Word term. Excel names its files Book1 and its sheets Sheet1, and calls the file a workbook.
Web pages are created by using which?
Web pages are built with HTML, the markup language that defines their structure. CSS styles them and PHP runs on the server.
Computer Hard Disk was first introduced by?
IBM introduced the first hard disk drive, the RAMAC 350, in 1956.
Ctrl, Shift, and Alt are called which keys?
Ctrl, Shift and Alt are modifier keys, because they change the meaning of another key pressed with them.
In MS Word, which shortcut is used for Undo?
Ctrl + Z undoes the last action. Ctrl + Y redoes it.
A program used to prepare a _____ is Excel?
Excel is a spreadsheet program, used to hold data in a grid and calculate on it.
By selecting which option, can we remove / hide the border of a shape?
Setting the shape outline to No Outline removes its border. No Fill removes the interior colour instead.
In MS Word, what is the shortcut key for "Decrease Font Size"?
Ctrl + Shift + < decreases the font size in MS Word.
In Excel, which command is used to add cells?
The SUM function adds the values in a range of cells.
What is the shortcut-key in MS Word for a manual line break?
Shift + Enter inserts a manual line break, starting a new line within the same paragraph. Enter alone starts a new paragraph.
In the drop down menu of MS Word, what is the largest font size available?
The font size list in MS Word runs up to 72 points, though a larger size can be typed into the box by hand.
Ctrl+5 is used to add how many points of line spacing?
Ctrl + 5 applies 1.5 line spacing. Ctrl + 1 gives single and Ctrl + 2 double spacing.
In one byte, how many bits are there?
There are 8 bits in one byte.
What is the AutoSum feature?
AutoSum inserts a SUM formula that automatically adds the range of cells above or to the left of the active cell.
Where is RAM located?
RAM sits in slots on the motherboard, close to the processor so that data can reach it quickly.
The slide that introduces a topic and sets the tone for the presentation is called?
The title slide opens a presentation, naming the topic and setting the tone.
Which pane is not available in the Task Pane?
Word Art is inserted from the ribbon and is not one of the task panes. Clip Art, Research and Styles and Formatting are.
Which one is not a paper size?
Landscape is a page orientation, not a paper size. A4, Letter and Legal are paper sizes.
When will a smart tag be removed from a cell?
A smart tag disappears once the data in the cell is changed or deleted, since the suggestion it offered no longer applies.
In a Spreadsheet, what is the function of the F4 key?
F4 repeats the last action in a spreadsheet. When editing a formula it cycles a reference through its absolute and relative forms.
Which type of computer memory can retain stored information even after the power is removed?
Non-volatile memory keeps its contents when the power is removed, which is why ROM, flash and hard disks are used for permanent storage.
Which one is not part of the computer spreadsheet interface?
Pencil work is not part of a spreadsheet interface. The formula bar, name box and ribbon tabs all are.
An Excel workbook is a collection of?
An Excel workbook is a collection of worksheets, held together in one file.
Which one is an output device?
A printer is an output device. Scanners, keyboards and mice are input devices.
Which one is not a characteristic of a computer?
Intelligence is not a characteristic of a computer. It works only from the instructions given to it, however fast and accurately it does so.
Who is known as the father of the Internet?
Vint Cerf, who with Bob Kahn designed the TCP/IP protocols, is called the father of the internet. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
Which shortcut is used to select the whole document?
Ctrl + A selects the whole document.
In a compact disk, which technology is used to store data?
A compact disc stores data optically, as pits and lands read by a laser.
What does HTTP stand for?
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol.
What does MICR stand for?
MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition, the system that reads the coded numbers printed along the bottom of a cheque.
What is MS Excel used for?
Excel is used to organise data in rows and columns and to calculate and analyse it.
What is a set of instructions called that directs a computer’s hardware to perform a task?
A program is the set of instructions that directs the hardware to carry out a task.
Which refers to pre-made images that are ready for use in MS-Word documents?
Clip art is the collection of ready made images supplied for use in documents.
What is meant by a light pen?
A light pen is an optical input device, used to point directly at a display screen.
In MS Excel, which is a valid data type or value type?
Boolean, that is TRUE or FALSE, is a valid value type in Excel. Pointers and objects belong to programming languages.
What does BIOS stand for?
BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System, the firmware that starts the machine and hands control to the operating system.
What is the printed output from a computer called?
Printed output is a hard copy. What is shown on screen is a soft copy.
Which shortcut is used to copy the text?
Ctrl + C copies, Ctrl + X cuts and Ctrl + V pastes.
Who is known as the father of Computer?
Charles Babbage, who designed the Analytical Engine, is called the father of the computer.
What is the alternative computer jargon for bug?
A glitch is the everyday jargon for a bug, a fault that makes a program misbehave.
Which device is not primarily designed to be portable?
A desktop computer is not designed to be portable. Laptops, tablets and smartphones are.
In MS Word, which view is the default one?
Print Layout is the default view in MS Word, showing the page as it will print.
About the PPSC Computer Science Past Paper 2023
Every MCQ above is taken from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Computer Science papers held in 2023, 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 Computer Science 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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