MOD 2008 Assistant Director (BS-17) Paper

1In which country is the committee which selects winners for the Nobel Peace Prize located?

• A)Sweden
• B)Norway
• C)Denmark
• D)Switzerland

Explanation: The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo chooses the Peace Prize; the other Nobel prizes are decided in Sweden.

2Which materials are generally used as solder in soldering operations in electronics?

• A)Lead and tin
• B)Copper and zinc
• C)Iron and nickel
• D)Aluminium and copper

Explanation: Traditional electronic solder is an alloy of tin and lead (lead-free solders now use tin with silver and copper).

3Between which of the following was the ancient town of Taxila located?

• A)Chenab and Ravi
• B)Ravi and Beas
• C)Indus and Jhelum
• D)Jhelum and Chenab

Explanation: Taxila lies in the Pothohar region between the Indus and the Jhelum. The source key's "Chenab and Ravi" is wrong.

4In the year 1613, where was the English East India Company given permission to set up a factory (trading post)?

• A)Madras
• B)Calcutta
• C)Bombay
• D)Surat

Explanation: Emperor Jahangir's farman of 1613 allowed the English to set up their first permanent factory at Surat.

5In which one of the following is the speed of sound maximum?

• A)Air
• B)Water
• C)Wood
• D)Vacuum

Explanation: Sound travels fastest in solids (about 3,300–4,000 m/s in wood) and cannot travel through a vacuum.

6Which is the biggest tank battle in military history, with about 1,200 tanks slugging it out?

• A)Kursk
• B)El Alamein
• C)Stalingrad
• D)Chawinda

Explanation: The Battle of Kursk (July 1943) between Germany and the Soviet Union, centred on Prokhorovka, is called the largest tank battle in history.

7Where did the Japanese launch a successful torpedo attack on the Russian Pacific Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War?

• A)Vladivostok
• B)Port Arthur
• C)Tsushima
• D)Pearl Harbor

Explanation: The war opened in February 1904 with a Japanese torpedo-boat attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur.

8Although a Persian victory, which battle is most celebrated for the heroic defence of a crucial pass by 300 Spartans?

• A)Marathon
• B)Salamis
• C)Plataea
• D)Thermopylae

Explanation: At Thermopylae (480 BC) King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans held the pass against the army of Xerxes.

9Napoleon's last battle ended in his defeat. Wellington called it "a damn close run thing". Named after a small village in Belgium, where was this battle?

• A)Austerlitz
• B)Leipzig
• C)Waterloo
• D)Trafalgar

Explanation: Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo, near Brussels, on 18 June 1815.

10In which year did the Moorish Kingdom of Granada (Spain) surrender to the Christians?

• A)1492
• B)1453
• C)1526
• D)1258

Explanation: Granada fell to Ferdinand and Isabella on 2 January 1492, ending Muslim rule in Spain.

11Which one of the following elements is common to glass, cement, china clay and quartz?

• A)Carbon
• B)Calcium
• C)Sodium
• D)Silicon

Explanation: All four are silicates or silica (quartz is silicon dioxide).

12What are vaccines?

• A)Antibiotics that kill bacteria
• B)Treated bacteria or viruses, or one of their proteins
• C)Antibodies taken from the blood of animals
• D)Chemicals that lower body temperature

Explanation: A vaccine is a killed or weakened germ, or a part of it, that trains the immune system without causing the disease.

13Which of the following is an alloy?

• A)Bronze
• B)Copper
• C)Zinc
• D)Tin

Explanation: Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin; the others are pure metals.

14The unit for measuring the intensity of noise is called:

• A)Hertz
• B)Joule
• C)Decibel
• D)Newton

Explanation: Sound level is measured in decibels (dB); hertz measures frequency.

15Which of the following will you use to remove rust stains from cloth?

• A)Oxalic acid solution
• B)Baking soda solution
• C)Lime water
• D)Common salt solution

Explanation: Oxalic acid dissolves iron oxide, so it is used to remove rust and ink stains.

16The chemical name of laughing gas is:

• A)Nitric oxide
• B)Nitrogen dioxide
• C)Nitrous oxide
• D)Ammonia

Explanation: Laughing gas is nitrous oxide (N₂O).

17Which of the following is the lightest substance known?

• A)Helium
• B)Hydrogen
• C)Lithium
• D)Oxygen

Explanation: Hydrogen is the lightest element and the least dense gas.

18Which of the following scales was devised by Anders Celsius?

• A)Fahrenheit
• B)Kelvin
• C)Centigrade
• D)Réaumur

Explanation: The Celsius scale is also called the centigrade scale (100 degrees between freezing and boiling water).

19When water is heated from 0°C to 100°C, its volume:

• A)Increases steadily throughout
• B)Decreases steadily throughout
• C)Remains exactly the same
• D)First decreases, then increases

Explanation: Water contracts from 0°C to 4°C (where it is densest) and then expands.

20What is the freezing point of heavy water?

• A)0°C
• B)3.82°C
• C)−3.82°C
• D)4°C

Explanation: Heavy water (D₂O) freezes at 3.82°C, a little above ordinary water.

21A satellite moving round the earth in a circular orbit with uniform speed has:

• A)Zero acceleration
• B)Constant velocity
• C)Centripetal acceleration
• D)Tangential acceleration

Explanation: Its speed is constant but its direction keeps changing, so it has an acceleration of constant size directed towards the Earth's centre.

22Which of the following is the study of human cultures?

• A)Anthropology
• B)Archaeology
• C)Etymology
• D)Entomology

Explanation: Anthropology studies human societies and cultures; entomology is the study of insects.

23To see three-dimensional pictures we have to use a:

• A)Periscope
• B)Epidiascope
• C)Kaleidoscope
• D)Stereoscope

Explanation: A stereoscope shows each eye a slightly different picture, giving a 3-D effect. An epidiascope (the source key's answer) is a projector.

24In a photographic camera fitted with a convex lens, which type of image is formed on the film?

• A)Erect and virtual
• B)Inverted and real
• C)Erect and real
• D)Inverted and virtual

Explanation: A convex lens forms a real, inverted image of a distant object on the film.

25In modern computers, when operational, the electrical impulses travel at:

• A)The speed of sound
• B)About 1,000 km per hour
• C)Nearly the speed of light
• D)About 100 km per second

Explanation: Electrical signals travel along circuits at a large fraction of the speed of light (often 50–99%). The source key gave "half the speed of light".

26National income is measured by which method?

• A)Expenditure method
• B)Income method
• C)Product method
• D)All of these

Explanation: National income can be measured by the product (output), income and expenditure methods.

27GNP is:

• A)Market value of final goods and services produced by a country's nationals in a year
• B)Market value of final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year
• C)Total value of a country's imports and exports of goods and services in a year
• D)Total revenue collected by the government from taxes and duties in a year

Explanation: GNP = GDP plus net factor income from abroad. The source key's wording ("produced in an economy") describes GDP.

28Which is the world's second most populous city?

• A)Shanghai
• B)Delhi
• C)Karachi
• D)São Paulo

Explanation: By UN estimates of urban agglomerations, Tokyo is first and Delhi second.

29With which activity is Wall Street in New York associated?

• A)Banking and finance
• B)Fashion and design
• C)Film industry
• D)Shipbuilding

Explanation: Wall Street is home to the New York Stock Exchange and is a byword for US finance.

30Pakistan follows a foreign policy that is best described as:

• A)Isolationist
• B)Flexible and pragmatic
• C)Expansionist
• D)Permanently neutral

Explanation: The source key's answer is "Flexible": Pakistan adjusts its alignments to its national interest. The original question is worded vaguely.

31In which year did Pakistan join the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)?

• A)1955
• B)1958
• C)1954
• D)1962

Explanation: Pakistan signed the Manila Pact on 8 September 1954; it joined the Baghdad Pact (CENTO) in 1955.

32When did the US Carter administration cut off military and economic aid to Pakistan?

• A)April 1979
• B)November 1977
• C)July 1980
• D)January 1976

Explanation: On 6 April 1979 the US stopped military and economic aid under the Symington Amendment over Pakistan's enrichment programme. The source key gave November 1977.

33When did the US inform Pakistan that it recognized the Durand Line as the Pak-Afghan international boundary?

• A)1949
• B)1956
• C)1965
• D)1979

Explanation: The US position was stated in 1956 (SEATO Council meeting in Karachi, March 1956, and a State Department statement of April 1956 that the US "has always regarded the Durand Line as the legal boundary"). The source key gave April 1979.

34When was the Simla Agreement signed by the President of Pakistan and the Indian Prime Minister?

• A)1971
• B)1972
• C)1974
• D)1966

Explanation: Z. A. Bhutto and Indira Gandhi signed the Simla Agreement on 2 July 1972.

35When did Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and General Pervez Musharraf meet at Agra?

• A)January 2001
• B)July 2001
• C)February 1999
• D)January 2004

Explanation: The Agra Summit was held on 14–16 July 2001. The source key's "Jan 14, 2001" is wrong; Vajpayee's bus trip to Lahore was in February 1999.

36When did Pakistan and India agree to start a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad?

• A)January 2004
• B)February 2005
• C)October 2005
• D)July 2006

Explanation: The foreign ministers agreed on 16 February 2005; the bus started running on 7 April 2005.

37Pakistan bought Mirage fighter aircraft from:

• A)France
• B)USA
• C)China
• D)United Kingdom

Explanation: The Mirage III and Mirage 5 are French jets built by Dassault.

38When did President George Bush (senior) suspend economic and military aid to Pakistan?

• A)1985
• B)1988
• C)1990
• D)1993

Explanation: In October 1990 Bush could not certify under the Pressler Amendment that Pakistan had no nuclear device, so aid was stopped.

39By which agreement did the 1965 hostilities between India and Pakistan come to an end in 1966?

• A)Simla Agreement
• B)Tashkent Declaration
• C)Liaquat-Nehru Pact
• D)Indus Waters Treaty

Explanation: Ayub Khan and Lal Bahadur Shastri signed the Tashkent Declaration on 10 January 1966. The source key's "Cargill" is wrong.

40In which year did the USA declare Pakistan a Major Non-NATO Ally?

• A)2001
• B)2002
• C)2004
• D)2006

Explanation: Colin Powell announced it in March 2004 and it was formally designated in June 2004. The source key gave 2003.

41When did America declare Pakistan a front-line state in the war against terrorism?

• A)1998
• B)2001
• C)2003
• D)2005

Explanation: Pakistan became a front-line ally after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

42The Kargil conflict of 1999 between Pakistan and India was stopped by the intervention of:

• A)China
• B)the United Nations
• C)Saudi Arabia
• D)the USA

Explanation: Nawaz Sharif agreed to withdraw after meeting President Clinton in Washington on 4 July 1999.

43A U-turn came in Pakistan's foreign policy when the world launched the war against terrorism in:

• A)1999
• B)2001
• C)2003
• D)1991

Explanation: After 9/11 Pakistan dropped its support for the Taliban government and joined the US-led coalition.

44Pakistan faced sanctions under the Pressler Amendment, imposed by:

• A)the USA
• B)the United Nations
• C)the European Union
• D)Japan

Explanation: The Pressler Amendment was a US law; sanctions under it began in 1990.

45"Pakistan's Foreign Policy: An Historical Analysis" was written by:

• A)Hasan Askari Rizvi and K. K. Aziz
• B)S. M. Burke and Lawrence Ziring
• C)Agha Shahi and Abdul Sattar
• D)Z. A. Bhutto and Aziz Ahmed

Explanation: S. M. Burke wrote it in 1973; the expanded edition with Lawrence Ziring appeared in 1990.

46Who was the first President of Pakistan to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina?

• A)Farooq Leghari
• B)Rafiq Tarar
• C)Pervez Musharraf
• D)Ghulam Ishaq Khan

Explanation: General Pervez Musharraf visited Bosnia-Herzegovina in April 2007.

47Which President of Pakistan wrote the book "The Foreign Policy of Pakistan"?

• A)Ayub Khan
• B)Z. A. Bhutto
• C)Iskander Mirza
• D)Ziaul Haq

Explanation: Z. A. Bhutto wrote it in 1964 while foreign minister; he later became President (1971–73).

48Which country opened its embassy in Pakistan in 2006, after helping with relief work following the 2005 earthquake?

• A)Cuba
• B)Venezuela
• C)Brazil
• D)Chile

Explanation: The Cuban embassy in Islamabad began work in July 2006, after Cuban doctors served in the 2005 earthquake zone.

49Which country was reported in 2006–07 to be helping Pakistan set up up to eight nuclear power plants?

• A)France
• B)Russia
• C)China
• D)Canada

Explanation: China built the Chashma plants and was reported to be considering eight more reactors for Pakistan.

50When did the USA, through Secretary of State Colin Powell, first openly state that Pakistan and India are nuclear states?

• A)May 1998
• B)May 2004
• C)March 2006
• D)July 2001

Explanation: At a press conference with Khurshid Kasuri on 20 May 2004, Powell said there was no doubt that India and Pakistan are nuclear states.

51Who has hosted the Academy Awards the most times?

• A)Billy Crystal
• B)Johnny Carson
• C)Bob Hope
• D)Whoopi Goldberg

Explanation: Bob Hope hosted (or co-hosted) the Oscars 19 times.

52How many Oscar awards did "Slumdog Millionaire" win?

• A)3
• B)5
• C)8
• D)10

Explanation: At the 2009 ceremony it won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture. The source key's "3" is wrong.

53Who was long listed by Guinness for the highest number of songs sung by a single person?

• A)Noor Jehan
• B)Asha Bhosle
• C)Mohammed Rafi
• D)Lata Mangeshkar

Explanation: Lata Mangeshkar held the record when this paper was set; Guinness gave it to Asha Bhosle in 2011.

54Which city is the seat of the UN International Court of Justice?

• A)Geneva
• B)The Hague
• C)New York
• D)Vienna

Explanation: The ICJ sits in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

55Sharjah is located in:

• A)Saudi Arabia
• B)Oman
• C)UAE
• D)Qatar

Explanation: Sharjah is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.

56A seraglio is:

• A)A courtyard of a royal Persian mosque
• B)The residence of the Sultan of Turkey at Istanbul
• C)A ceremonial guard of the Ottoman army
• D)A silk carpet woven in medieval Bukhara

Explanation: The Seraglio (Topkapı Palace) was the residence of the Ottoman sultans in Istanbul; the word also means the women's quarters.

57Which of the following was known as the "Pearl of the Antilles"?

• A)Jamaica
• B)Cuba
• C)Haiti
• D)Puerto Rico

Explanation: Cuba, the largest island of the Antilles, was called the Pearl of the Antilles.

58The International Rice Research Institute is located in:

• A)Philippines
• B)Thailand
• C)Japan
• D)Indonesia

Explanation: IRRI is at Los Baños in the Philippines.

59Kirkuk, famous for its oil field, is a city of:

• A)Iran
• B)Iraq
• C)Syria
• D)Kuwait

Explanation: Kirkuk is in northern Iraq. The source key's "Iran" is wrong.

60The official residence of the Pope is in:

• A)Rome
• B)Milan
• C)Vatican City
• D)Florence

Explanation: The Pope lives in Vatican City, an independent state within Rome.

61On 23 July 2008, Pakistan signed an agreement for the extradition of criminals with:

• A)Afghanistan
• B)Iran
• C)China
• D)United Kingdom

Explanation: Rehman Malik and Iran's acting interior minister signed the agreement in Islamabad (Dawn, 23 July 2008).

62SAVVY

• A)Shrewd
• B)Dull
• C)Careless
• D)Timid

Explanation: Savvy means shrewd and well-informed (as a verb it means "to understand").

63GOOEY

• A)Hostile
• B)Rigid
• C)Sentimental
• D)Bitter

Explanation: Gooey means sticky; figuratively it means overly sentimental.

64FORAY

• A)Retreat
• B)Raid
• C)Truce
• D)Parade

Explanation: A foray is a sudden attack or raid.

65ABSOLUTE

• A)Partial
• B)Doubtful
• C)Limitless
• D)Relative

Explanation: Absolute means complete, unlimited.

66GLITZY

• A)Plain
• B)Shabby
• C)Gloomy
• D)Glamorous

Explanation: Glitzy means showy and glamorous.

67VENALITY

• A)Honesty
• B)Corruption
• C)Poverty
• D)Courage

Explanation: Venality is readiness to be bribed.

68COMMISERATE

• A)Sympathize
• B)Celebrate
• C)Condemn
• D)Compete

Explanation: To commiserate is to express sympathy.

69REIN

• A)Release
• B)Encourage
• C)Control
• D)Ignore

Explanation: To rein (in) is to check or control.

70WARY

• A)Reckless
• B)Vigilant
• C)Cheerful
• D)Weary

Explanation: Wary means watchful and cautious. "Weary" means tired.

71PIQUE

• A)Please
• B)Calm
• C)Praise
• D)Irritate

Explanation: To pique is to irritate or offend (it can also mean to arouse curiosity).

72No civilized society can allow the SUBVERSION of its institutions by extremists.

• A)Destruction
• B)Promotion
• C)Reform
• D)Protection

Explanation: Subversion is the undermining or overthrow of an established system.

73It is the Prime Minister's PREROGATIVE to appoint or dismiss a minister.

• A)Duty
• B)Burden
• C)Privilege
• D)Promise

Explanation: A prerogative is an exclusive right or privilege.

74He cast a CURSORY glance over the papers before signing them.

• A)Careful
• B)Hurried
• C)Angry
• D)Second

Explanation: Cursory means hasty and superficial.

75He had to CURTAIL his leave as a lot of work was pending in his office.

• A)Extend
• B)Cancel
• C)Shorten
• D)Apply for

Explanation: To curtail is to cut short.

76The TRADITIONAL methods of doing things have now become obsolescent.

• A)Conventional
• B)Modern
• C)Scientific
• D)Complicated

Explanation: Traditional means customary or conventional. The source key's "out of date" describes "obsolescent", not "traditional".

77This was his MAIDEN performance on the stage and he did very well.

• A)Last
• B)Best
• C)First
• D)Only

Explanation: A maiden performance is a first one.

78In the absence of the Chief Guest, the host himself acted as his SURROGATE and presided over the function.

• A)Rival
• B)Substitute
• C)Assistant
• D)Critic

Explanation: A surrogate is a substitute or deputy.

79The incident AFFECTED him so much that he could not forget it for several days.

• A)Influenced
• B)Amused
• C)Injured
• D)Bored

Explanation: To affect is to influence or move emotionally.

80It is the INHERENT quality of matter to expand on being heated.

• A)Acquired
• B)Controlled
• C)Intrinsic
• D)Occasional

Explanation: Inherent means existing naturally as a basic part. The source key's "Controlled" is wrong.

81The isolated and dilapidated palace has become a RENDEZVOUS for unsocial elements.

• A)Hiding place
• B)Meeting place
• C)Dumping ground
• D)Market place

Explanation: A rendezvous is an agreed meeting place.

82DEFIANCE

• A)Rebellion
• B)Obedience
• C)Courage
• D)Contempt

Explanation: Defiance is open resistance; its opposite is obedience.

83EVOLVING

• A)Growing
• B)Developing
• C)Stagnating
• D)Unfolding

Explanation: Evolving means developing gradually; stagnating means not changing or growing.

84OVERWEENING

• A)Arrogant
• B)Humble
• C)Proud
• D)Excessive

Explanation: Overweening means arrogant and presumptuous.

85PRESUMPTION

• A)Arrogance
• B)Audacity
• C)Humility
• D)Boldness

Explanation: Presumption means arrogant or impudent behaviour; its opposite is humility. (The source key's "Resumption" is not an antonym.)

86REDOLENT

• A)Fragrant
• B)Stinking
• C)Aromatic
• D)Perfumed

Explanation: Redolent means sweet-smelling.

87KOOK (an eccentric or crazy person)

• A)Sane
• B)Odd
• C)Weird
• D)Mad

Explanation: A kook is a crazy person; its opposite is a sane person.

88DEBONAIR

• A)Suave
• B)Elegant
• C)Charming
• D)Serious

Explanation: Debonair means confident, stylish and carefree; of the options, serious is the opposite.

89CONCEALMENT

• A)Hiding
• B)Secrecy
• C)Disclosure
• D)Cover-up

Explanation: Concealment is hiding something; disclosure is revealing it.

90That was a DAUNTLESS action.

• A)Brave
• B)Bold
• C)Heroic
• D)Cowardly

Explanation: Dauntless means fearless.

91The duty of a true citizen is to THWART social evils such as untouchability and the dowry system.

• A)Promote
• B)Prevent
• C)Oppose
• D)Expose

Explanation: To thwart is to prevent or block; the opposite is to promote.

92CALLOUS

• A)Cruel
• B)Sensitive
• C)Hard
• D)Indifferent

Explanation: Callous means insensitive and cruel.

93SUBJUGATE

• A)Conquer
• B)Suppress
• C)Enslave
• D)Liberate

Explanation: To subjugate is to bring under control; to liberate is to set free.

94Sunil spent most of his time in RECREATION.

• A)Work
• B)Amusement
• C)Leisure
• D)Play

Explanation: Recreation is relaxation and amusement; its opposite is work. (The source key gave "Boredom".)

95The guard was given EXPLICIT orders about whom to admit.

• A)Clear
• B)Ambiguous
• C)Written
• D)Strict

Explanation: Explicit means clearly stated; ambiguous means unclear.

96ADVERSITY teaches man to be humble and self-reliant.

• A)Hardship
• B)Misfortune
• C)Prosperity
• D)Poverty

Explanation: Adversity is hardship; prosperity is its opposite.

97He appears to be a PHONY person.

• A)Fake
• B)Genuine
• C)Clever
• D)Rude

Explanation: Phony means fake; genuine means real.

98There is a SCARCITY of milk in Karachi.

• A)Shortage
• B)Lack
• C)Excess
• D)Want

Explanation: Scarcity is shortage; excess is its opposite.

99Why do you DISPARAGE him all the time?

• A)Glorify
• B)Belittle
• C)Criticise
• D)Insult

Explanation: To disparage is to belittle; to glorify is to praise highly.

100Political differences introduced a note of DISCORD into their relationship.

• A)Conflict
• B)Tension
• C)Concord
• D)Rivalry

Explanation: Discord is disagreement; concord is harmony.