SPSC 2014 Assistant Engineer (Civil) BPS-17, Public Health Engineering Department (2014) — General Knowledge and Current Affairs Paper

Assistant Engineer (Civil) BPS-17, Public Health Engineering Department (2014) — General Knowledge and Current Affairs. Competitive examination for the post of Assistant Engineer (Civil) BPS-17 in PHED, Government of Sindh · Wednesday 22 January 2014, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm · Max marks 100. Attempt five questions in all. All questions carry equal marks. Question No. 01 is compulsory and of objective type; every sub-question carries 2 marks.

1. 1Objective type, 10 sub-questions (fill in the blank): (20) (a) The surface area of Moon is almost equal to the surface area of World Continent ____ (b) Roman Numeral MDCMXCII is equal to arithmetic numerals ____ (c) A man purchased 10 goats and sold them for Rs. 60,000/- gaining thereby the cost of 2 goats. What is the cost of one goat? Rs. ____ (d) First man takes 3 days to dig a certain ditch, second takes 5 days and third takes 6 days. How long would it take all three to do the job collectively? ____ (e) If the two digits of a number are multiplied together, the result is one third of the number itself; what is the number? ____ (f) Niagara Falls is located on Niagara River. On one bank of the river is the Province of ____ (Canada) and on the other bank is the State of ____ (USA). (g) A semi-circular low wall about 35 inches high, originally part of Holy Kaaba and composed of white marble, opposite but not connected to the North-West wall of Baitullah, is known as ____ (h) After Migration to Medina from Mecca, our Holy Prophet Muhammad-e-Mustafa (PBUH) constructed first mosque which is known as ____ (i) The metal which can join well with the glass is ____ (j) Potato is native of ____ and is actually ____ part of plant. Answers: (a) Asia (the Moon's surface is about 38 million km², closest to Asia's 44.6 million km²; some keys say Africa). (b) 1992 (properly written MCMXCII). (c) Rs. 5,000 (selling price = cost of 12 goats). (d) 30/21 = 10/7 days, about 1.43 days. (e) 15 or 24 (1 × 5 = 15 ÷ 3; 2 × 4 = 24 ÷ 3). (f) Ontario; New York. (g) Hateem (Hijr Ismail). (h) Masjid-e-Quba. (i) Platinum (it expands at about the same rate as glass). (j) South America (the Andes); the stem (a tuber is an underground stem).

2. 2Enumerate the most important events that took place in Pakistan in the year 2013 and briefly describe what effects these events would cast on the future of our Nation. (20)

3. 3Who invented the Polio Live Vaccine? The World Health Organization has declared Pakistan the most vulnerable country, where the Polio Vaccination programme has failed to bring about desirable results and make the country Polio free within the next five years. What are the causes for this failure and what measures do you suggest for our country to eradicate Polio from our infant population? (20) (The oral live polio vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin.)

4. 4Enumerate a list of important websites you know. The Pakistan Government has blocked the YouTube site but Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Malaysia, all Gulf countries and many more have not done so. Suggest the measures and steps the Pakistan Government should adopt before unblocking YouTube in order to curb blasphemy on one hand and share important information and knowledge on the other. (20)

5. 5Pakistan is facing acute shortage of natural gas and the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project has been halted by fear of facing sanctions from the U.S. Government. How should this issue be addressed so as to provide gas to the industrial hub, CNG stations and meet growing household needs? (20)

6. 6India has violated the Indus Basin Treaty by constructing the Kishan Ganga Dam and Wullar Barrage. Hydrologists point out that there is an acute need to modify and recast the Indus Basin Treaty in order to avoid future conflicts on water apportionment between the two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. Comment. (20)

7. 7What do you understand by "Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction"? What action was taken recently by the U.N. in this direction in Syria and was that action justified? (20)