PPSC English Past Paper 2022 Solved MCQs with Answers
Solved English MCQs from the PPSC 2022 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 2022 paper and verified before publication.
The antonym of Detest is?
To detest is to hate, so its antonym is to love.
The synonym of Churlish is?
Churlish means rude and surly, hence uncivilised.
To poke one's nose into means?
'To poke one's nose into' means to interfere in other people's affairs.
The synonym of Prodigal is?
Prodigal and profligate both describe wastefully extravagant spending.
Under a cloud means?
'Under a cloud' means under suspicion or in disgrace.
Botany: Plants :: Geology : ?
Botany is the study of plants as geology is the study of the earth: a science and its subject.
The synonym of upbringing?
Upbringing and breeding both refer to the rearing and training a person receives in childhood.
A conjunction typically joins?
A conjunction joins words, phrases or clauses, most typically two clauses.
The synonym of Heterogeneous is?
Heterogeneous means made of unlike parts, hence different or diverse.
I could not help ______ when you fell down?
'Cannot help' is followed by a gerund, so 'help laughing' is correct.
What is the antonym of abrupt?
Abrupt means sudden, so its antonym is gradual.
I came ______ an old friend of mine in the Liberty Market this morning?
'Come across' means to meet or find by chance.
To spill the beans means?
'To spill the beans' means to reveal a secret.
The synonym of Harmony is?
Harmony and concord both mean agreement and accord.
The antonym of Bane is?
A bane is a cause of ruin, so its antonym is a blessing.
It is useless to cry over?
The proverb is 'It is useless to cry over spilt milk': do not lament what cannot be undone.
To shell out means?
'To shell out' means to pay or spend money, often reluctantly.
Change voice: She writes a letter.
Present simple active 'writes' becomes 'is written' in the passive.
To Cry wolf meaning?
'To cry wolf' means to raise a false alarm, from Aesop's shepherd boy.
Add fuel to the fire meaning?
'Add fuel to the fire' means to aggravate an already difficult situation.
Broken reed means?
A 'broken reed' is a person too weak or unreliable to be depended upon.
The synonym of Impromptu is?
Impromptu means done without preparation.
Amina is afraid ______ spiders.
'Afraid of' is the fixed preposition.
The antonym of Deny is?
To deny is to declare untrue, so its antonym is to acknowledge.
The synonym of Rear is?
The rear is the back part of something.
The synonym of Facsimile is?
A facsimile is an exact copy, that is a duplicate.
What is the meaning of the phrase 'In lieu of'?
'In lieu of' means instead of, or in place of. Note the correct form has no article.
What is the meaning of the idiom A chip off the old block?
'Come across' would be wrong here; 'inquire into' means to investigate a matter.
He inquired ______ my work in office.
'Inquire into' means to investigate. 'Inquire about' means to ask for information.
What is meaning of the idiom To turn over a new leaf?
'To turn over a new leaf' means to reform and begin behaving better.
Nobody was ____ by her excuse?
'Taken in' means deceived or fooled.
We will send documents ____ the boss has signed it?
'Once' introduces a time clause meaning as soon as.
The one word substitution for Barrister?
A barrister is a type of lawyer, one qualified to plead in the higher courts.
He was astonished ____ his misbehavior?
'Astonished at' is the standard collocation for surprise at something.
She said, 'May God bless my son.' Change into indirect speech.
An optative sentence in reported speech takes 'prayed' or 'wished', with 'may' becoming 'might'.
What is the meaning of Capital Punishment?
Capital punishment is the death sentence, from the Latin caput, meaning head.
The correct analogy is Blasphemy : Irreverence?
Blasphemy is an extreme form of irreverence as condemnation is an extreme form of disapproval: a mild and an intense degree of the same thing.
We shall go ____ he goes or not?
'Whether … or not' is the correct pairing for expressing alternatives.
The best antonym of Imprimatur is?
An imprimatur is an official approval to publish, so its antonym is disapproval.
She wants ____ a complaint about the waiter?
'Want' is followed by the infinitive: wants to make.
Watch out means?
'Watch out' means to be careful or alert to danger.
She has written letters. Change into passive voice?
Present perfect active 'has written' becomes 'have been written' in the passive, agreeing with the plural 'letters'.
The antonym of Ebullient is?
Ebullient means cheerful and full of energy, so its antonym is glum.
He ____ his family to live alone?
To desert is to abandon, and takes a direct object.
Change voice: People are spending less money on shopping?
Present continuous active 'are spending' becomes 'is being spent' in the passive, agreeing with 'money'.
What is the meaning of 'A fair weather friend'?
A 'fair weather friend' stands by you only in good times, so a false friend.
He was _________ on success.
Elated means delighted and in high spirits.
The correct analogy is Mother : Daughter :: ?
A daughter succeeds a mother as a princess succeeds a queen: a female and her female descendant or successor.
Appropriate phrasal verb: Whether I pay or my wife pays, it _________ the same thing.
'Amount to' means to come to the same thing in effect.
The synonym of 'Dampen' is?
To dampen spirits is to depress them.
The pair of words 'Diffident : Arrogant' represents a relationship similar to?
Diffident and arrogant are opposites, as day and night are opposites.
The best meaning of Idiomatic phrase 'A lion's share' is?
'A lion's share' is the largest part of something.
Majid had a heart attack _________ he was driving.
'While' introduces an action in progress during which something else occurred.
The antonym of 'Barbarous' is?
Barbarous means savage and uncivilised, so its antonym is civilised.
Find the appropriate analogy: Shepherd : Sheep :: ?
A shepherd tends sheep as a gardener tends plants: a keeper and what is kept.
The antonym of 'BARREN' is?
Barren land produces nothing, so its antonym is fertile.
The best antonym of 'VALIANT' is?
Valiant means brave, so its antonym is cowardly.
The best meaning of Idiomatic phrase 'A burning question' is?
'A burning question' is a pressing and important issue of the moment.
The eagle swooped and _________ a sleeping lizard.
'Carried off' means to seize and take away.
The best meaning of Idiomatic phrase Cross swords?
'To cross swords' means to quarrel or fight with someone.
The best meaning of Idiomatic phrase A square meal?
'A square meal' is a full and satisfying meal.
To wash ones dirty linen in public?
'To wash one's dirty linen in public' means to discuss private or scandalous matters before outsiders.
To Jump on the bandwagon means to?
'To jump on the bandwagon' means to join an activity because it has become popular.
I am sure you will ____ your fears gradually?
'Get over' means to recover from or overcome something.
He didn't bat an eye means?
'Didn't bat an eye' means showed no surprise or emotion.
The best antonym PEJORATIVE?
Pejorative means expressing disapproval, so its antonym is adulatory, meaning excessively praising.
He jumped ____ my offer?
'Jump at' an offer means to accept it eagerly.
The best meaning of Idiomatic phrase Hallmark?
A hallmark is a mark of genuine excellence, from the official stamp on precious metals.
ONE WORD SUBSTITUTION An excessively greedy eater?
An excessively greedy eater is a glutton.
Correct antonym for Pulchritudinous?
Pulchritudinous means beautiful, so its antonym is unsightly.
The antonym of Abolish is?
To abolish is to do away with, so its antonym is to conserve or preserve.
He is ashamed ____ his misconduct?
'Ashamed of' is the fixed preposition.
To throw down the glove?
'To throw down the glove' means to issue a challenge, from the medieval gauntlet.
He jumped ____ the river?
'Jump into' shows movement to the inside of something.
Not willing to tell people about things?
One unwilling to speak about things is reticent.
The Antonym of Dank is?
Dank means unpleasantly damp, so its antonym is dry.
The synonym of Accede?
To accede is to agree or consent to a proposal.
The Synonym of PESSIMIST is?
A pessimist expects the worst, and cynic is the closest of the options, one who takes a dim view of human motives.
The Antonym Fickle?
Fickle means changeable in affection, so its antonym is loyal.
The best antonym of WRATH is?
Wrath is intense anger, so its antonym is delight.
The Antonym of Indolent is?
Indolent means lazy, so its antonym is diligent.
The antonym of turmoil is?
Turmoil is agitation and disorder, so its antonym is serenity.
Synonym of Iterate is?
To iterate is to repeat.
The best synonym INSOLENT is?
Insolent means rude and disrespectful.
Change of voice She is singing the song?
Present continuous active 'is singing' becomes 'is being sung' in the passive.
The antonym of ambiguity is?
Ambiguity is uncertainty of meaning, so its antonym is transparency or clarity.
The synonym of Aficionado is?
An aficionado is an enthusiastic follower, that is a devotee.
Keep a straight face?
'Keep a straight face' means to remain serious and not laugh.
The best synonym of TRIFLE?
A trifle is something of little value, hence trivial.
A stitch in time saves?
The proverb is 'A stitch in time saves nine'.
The antonym of Haggard is?
Haggard means gaunt and worn from fatigue, so its antonym is healthy.
The Synonym of Abbreviation is?
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase.
The best antonym of DEMUR is?
To demur is to object or hesitate, so its antonym is to accept.
Correct antonym Earnest is?
Earnest means serious and sincere, so its antonym is frivolous.
A speech delivered without preparation?
A speech delivered without preparation is extempore.
About the PPSC English Past Paper 2022
Every MCQ above is taken from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) English papers held in 2022, 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
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.