PPSC English Past Paper 2023 Solved MCQs with Answers
Solved English 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.
The idiom Kick the bucket means?
'Kick the bucket' is an informal idiom meaning to die.
Near the London eye there is a bridge ___ the Thames River?
A bridge spans a river, so it is built 'over' it.
The meaning of the idiom Prick up your ears is?
'Prick up your ears' means to begin listening closely.
What is the meaning of Apprehension?
Apprehension has two senses: anxiety about the future, and the arrest of a person by the authorities.
What is the synonym of Gigantic?
Gigantic means enormous, that is huge.
I helped him. Here 'I' is?
'I' performs the action of helping, so it is the subject of the sentence.
Don't judge a book by its?
The proverb is 'Don't judge a book by its cover': do not judge by appearances.
The white ball ______ for the first time in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
The passive 'was used' is correct, since the ball received the action rather than performing it.
Complete the sentence with the correct article: I met ___ European.
European begins with a consonant sound, a 'yu' sound, so it takes 'a' rather than 'an'.
The workers called ___ the strike.
'Call off' means to cancel.
Alia parted ___ her parents in tears.
'Part from' is used of separating from a person. 'Part with' is used of giving up a possession.
Blood is thicker than ___.
The proverb is 'Blood is thicker than water': family ties outweigh other bonds.
The antonym of Impertinent is?
Impertinent means rude and disrespectful, so its antonym is polite.
Give the meaning of the idiom 'break out'?
'Break out' means to begin suddenly, as of a war, fire or disease.
Change voice: Our army has defeated the enemy?
Present perfect active 'has defeated' becomes 'has been defeated' in the passive.
Choose the right analogy: Morning : Noon
Morning precedes noon as childhood precedes youth: successive stages in a sequence.
The meaning of 'Put on' is?
'Put on' means to dress oneself in something.
How did this incident come ______?
'Come about' means to happen or occur.
Her parents went to Karachi ______ train?
'By' names the means of transport: by train, by bus, by air.
Choose the right analogy: Lion : Roar
A lion roars as a goat bleats: an animal and its characteristic cry.
Change narration: The worker said, 'I have not done anything wrong.'
In reported speech the present perfect 'have not done' shifts back to the past perfect 'had not done'.
She ______ for the upcoming tennis tournament?
The present continuous 'is training' describes an activity in progress around the present time.
Synonym of VEIL is?
A veil covers, so cover is its synonym.
You can go neither by train ______ by bus?
'Neither' pairs with 'nor'. 'Either' pairs with 'or'.
If you work hard, you ______ good marks?
The first conditional pairs a present simple 'if' clause with 'will' in the main clause.
Change narration: He said to me, 'Why are you late?'
A wh-question in reported speech keeps its question word but takes statement word order, with the tense shifted back.
The wages of sin ______ death?
'The wages of sin is death' takes a singular verb, wages here being treated as a single recompense.
The bridge is constructed ______ the canal?
A bridge is built over the thing it spans.
Correction of adverb: 'Lets play nice.'
'Nice' is an adjective; the verb 'play' needs the adverb 'nicely'.
The meaning of idiom Laugh in one's sleeves is?
'Laugh in one's sleeve' means to laugh secretly or inwardly at someone.
That charming girl was the ____ of all eyes?
The cynosure of all eyes is the centre of attention, from the old name for the Pole Star.
Choose the right analogy Speak : Stammer?
Stammering is impaired speaking as staggering is impaired walking: an action and its faltering form.
The antonym of facilitate is?
To facilitate is to make easier, so its antonym is to impede.
Change voice Please give me your pen and take your seat?
An imperative in the passive becomes a request: you are requested to give.
Change voice Jack may solve this problem?
With a modal, the passive is formed with 'be' plus the past participle: may be solved.
The meaning of Take up is?
'Take up' means to begin an activity or occupation.
Choose the correct analogy Sip : Gulp?
A sip is a gentle version of a gulp as a touch is a gentle version of a push: a mild and a forceful degree of the same action.
Antonym of Dastard is?
A dastard is a contemptible coward, so its antonym is a hero.
The meaning of put out is?
'Put out' means to extinguish a fire or light.
He is good ____ mathematics?
'Good at' is the fixed collocation for skill in a subject.
Synonym of Reverie is?
A reverie is a daydream or state of pleasant absorbed thought.
He is different ____ the people around him?
'Different from' is the standard form in careful usage.
The synonym of Paltry is?
Paltry means trivially small, hence insignificant.
The pair which has the same relationship Wisdom : Sagacity?
Wisdom and sagacity are synonyms, as are search and quest.
Passive Voice of The people elected him Mayor?
'The people elected him Mayor' becomes 'He was elected Mayor by the people', the object complement staying in place.
The antonym of Egregious is?
Egregious means outstandingly bad or conspicuous, so its antonym is ordinary.
The meaning of idiom At stake is?
'At stake' means at risk of being lost.
The antonym of Diligent is?
Diligent means hardworking and careful, so its antonym is lazy.
During the lecture the teacher stood ____ dais?
One stands on a dais, a raised platform.
One who travels from place to place is called?
One who travels from place to place is itinerant.
None of the boys ____ present?
'None of' takes a singular verb in formal usage, so 'was' is correct.
Cat is to Kitten then?
A kitten is the young of a cat as a calf is the young of a cow.
Synonym of Hallowed?
Hallowed means made holy, that is sacred.
To put up with means?
'Put up with' means to tolerate or endure.
The pair which has the same relationship After : Before?
After and before are opposites, as successor and predecessor are opposites.
I am sick ____ this idle life?
'Sick of' means weary of or disgusted with.
Who is trying to defend you? Here 'who' is a(n):
'Who' begins a question here, so it is an interrogative pronoun rather than a relative one.
The pair which has the same relationship Umbrella : Rain?
An umbrella protects against rain as a vaccine protects against disease: a safeguard and the threat it guards against.
Change narration: Salma said to me, "Can you give me your pen?"
A yes or no question in reported speech takes 'if', with statement order and the tense shifted back.
The antonym of Transparent is?
Transparent means see-through, so its antonym is opaque.
The synonym of Entice is?
To entice is to tempt or lure.
The antonym of Climax is?
A climax is the highest point, so its opposite is the nadir, the lowest.
The antonym of ambiguous is?
Ambiguous means open to more than one meaning, so its antonym is explicit.
He ____ his work before my father arrived?
The past perfect 'had finished' marks the earlier of two past actions.
Identify the figure of speech He is as fast as a lion?
A comparison using 'as' or 'like' is a simile.
The Captain said to his men "Stand at ease."
An order in reported speech uses 'commanded' or 'ordered' with the infinitive.
Slow and steady ____ the race?
The proverb is 'Slow and steady wins the race': persistence beats haste.
The antonym of Meagre is?
Meagre means scanty and insufficient, so its antonym is abundant.
Identify the Adverb of the word Happy?
The adverb of 'happy' is 'happily'.
Fill in the blank with suitable word Barking dogs seldom ____?
The proverb is 'Barking dogs seldom bite': those who threaten loudest rarely act.
Change narration He said, "I have a new car."
In reported speech the present 'have' shifts back to the past 'had'.
Which of the following is an Adverb of Time?
'Today' tells when an action happens, so it is an adverb of time.
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "Knock down" is?
'Knock down' means to strike something so that it falls.
Which word is formed by rearranging the letters of the word "Shout"?
South is an anagram of shout, using the same five letters.
I worked from 9am till 8pm. 'Till' is which part of speech?
In 'till 8pm', 'till' governs the noun that follows, so it acts as a preposition.
What is meant by Forefathers?
Forefathers are ancestors, the members of earlier generations of a family.
Identify the underlined verb: This cat's fur feels silky.
'Feels' here links the subject to a description rather than showing action, so it is a linking verb.
Identify the type of sentence: It was a productive day to do drawing activity.
The sentence has one independent clause and no subordinate clause, so it is simple.
What is the meaning of the idiom 'a turncoat'?
A turncoat is one who changes allegiance, that is a traitor.
The correct meaning of the idiom 'To add fuel to the fire'?
'To add fuel to the fire' means to make a bad situation worse.
Which of the following is an antonym analogy?
Courage and timorous stand as opposites, so this is an antonym analogy.
The antonym of Pulchritude is?
Pulchritude means physical beauty, so its antonym is ugliness.
Fill in the blank with the adjective of Courage: Pakistan is known for its ______ army.
The adjective form of courage is courageous.
The Correct Spelling is?
The correct spelling is characteristics.
Change Voice: He is writing a book.
Present continuous active 'is writing' becomes 'is being written' in the passive.
The synonym of Haughty is?
Haughty means arrogantly superior, hence proud.
When you say 'May I use your pen?', the word 'may' implies?
'May' here asks for permission rather than expressing possibility.
The appropriate meaning of the given idiom 'To take French leave'?
'To take French leave' means to depart without permission or notice.
Change narration: The mother said to her son, 'May you be successful!'
An optative sentence in reported speech uses 'prayed' or 'wished', with 'may' becoming 'might'.
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom Red-letter day?
A 'red-letter day' is a memorable or important day, from the practice of marking feast days in red.
Come up with means?
'Come up with' means to produce or think of something, that is to invent.
The most appropriate meaning of the given idiom To be all ears?
'To be all ears' means to be eager and ready to listen.
Side with means?
'Side with' means to support one party in a dispute.
What is the antonym of detest?
To detest is to hate, so its antonym is to admire.
The antonym of Quell is?
To quell is to suppress, so its antonym is to agitate.
About the PPSC English Past Paper 2023
Every MCQ above is taken from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) English 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 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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