About this quiz
Nayab Subba preliminary mock test 1: 30 GK + 20 mental ability questions in the official unit-wise weightage. In the real exam each question carries 2 marks and 20% is deducted for each wrong answer.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Preliminary (GK and Mental Ability) · For: Nayab Subba · Level: Mixed). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
The Sun holds about what percentage of the solar system's mass?
- A) 99.8% ✔
- B) 50%
- C) 75%
- D) 10%
Why: The Sun holds about 99.8% of the solar system's mass. All the planets, moons, asteroids and comets together make up only about 0.2%.
The Mariana Trench is in the:
- A) Pacific Ocean ✔
- B) Atlantic Ocean
- C) Indian Ocean
- D) Arctic Ocean
Why: The Mariana Trench is in the western Pacific Ocean, near Guam. Its Challenger Deep, about 11 km deep, is the deepest known point in the oceans.
The coldest continent is:
- A) Antarctica ✔
- B) Europe
- C) Asia
- D) North America
Why: Antarctica is the coldest continent. The lowest natural temperature recorded, −89.2 °C, was at Vostok Station there.
Which is the largest province by area?
- A) Karnali ✔
- B) Koshi
- C) Bagmati
- D) Lumbini
Why: Karnali is the largest province by area (about 27,984 km²) but has the smallest population. Madhesh is the smallest by area.
The theoretical hydropower potential of Nepal is about:
- A) 8,300 MW
- B) 42,000 MW
- C) 83,000 MW ✔
- D) 1,00,000 MW
Why: Hari Man Shrestha estimated Nepal's theoretical hydropower potential at about 83,000 MW in 1966. The economically feasible potential is about 42,000 MW.
Nepal lies roughly in which latitude belt?
- A) Equatorial
- B) Subtropical ✔
- C) Temperate
- D) Polar
Why: Nepal lies between about 26°22′ N and 30°27′ N, which is in the subtropical belt. Height, not latitude, gives it Himalayan cold zones.
Utis (alder) grows mainly in the:
- A) Subtropical zone ✔
- B) Alpine zone
- C) Tropical Terai
- D) Desert
Why: Utis (alder) grows mainly in the subtropical hill zone. It grows fast and fixes nitrogen, so it is planted on landslide-prone slopes.
The USSR was formed in:
- A) 1917
- B) 1919
- C) 1922 ✔
- D) 1945
Why: The USSR (Soviet Union) was formed in December 1922 after the Russian Revolution, and was dissolved in December 1991.
Which event of 1903 BS made Jung Bahadur the prime minister of Nepal?
- A) Alau Parva
- B) Bhandarkhal Parva
- C) Kot Parva ✔
- D) Treaty of Sugauli
Why: After the Kot Parva in 1903 BS, the queen appointed Jung Bahadur prime minister, marking the start of Rana rule.
Kirtipur was conquered in which attempt?
- A) Third ✔
- B) First
- C) Second
- D) Fourth
Why: Prithvi Narayan Shah captured Kirtipur on his third attempt, in 1823 BS. The first two attacks failed, and Kalu Pande died in the first.
Which movement pushed for federalism in the interim constitution?
- A) Madhesh movement ✔
- B) Jhapa movement
- C) Student movement 2036
- D) Kot Parva
Why: The Madhesh movement of 2063/64 BS forced the first amendment of the Interim Constitution, 2063, which added federalism.
The national animal of Nepal is:
- A) Cow ✔
- B) Tiger
- C) Rhino
- D) Yak
Why: The cow (गाई) is Nepal's national animal. The national bird is the Danphe (Himalayan monal), and the national flower is the rhododendron (लालीगुराँस).
The Gorkha earthquake that damaged many monuments occurred on:
- A) 12 Baisakh 2072 BS ✔
- B) 15 Jestha 2065 BS
- C) 3 Ashwin 2072 BS
- D) 1 Magh 2063 BS
Why: On 12 Baisakh 2072 BS (25 April 2015).
"Palpasa Café" was written by:
- A) Narayan Wagle ✔
- B) Buddhisagar
- C) Subin Bhattarai
- D) Amar Neupane
Why: Journalist Narayan Wagle wrote Palpasa Café.
In C + I + G + (X − M), 'I' stands for:
- A) Investment ✔
- B) Income
- C) Interest
- D) Imports
Why: In the expenditure method, GDP = C (consumption) + I (investment) + G (government spending) + (X − M) (exports minus imports).
The budget implements plans on a:
- A) Yearly basis ✔
- B) Five-year basis
- C) Monthly basis
- D) Decade basis
Why: The annual budget carries out the periodic plan year by year: the plan sets five-year goals, and each budget funds that year's part.
Which sector employs the largest share of Nepal's workforce?
- A) Industry
- B) Agriculture ✔
- C) Tourism
- D) Banking
Why: Agriculture still employs the largest share of Nepal's workers, though its share of GDP is much smaller (about a quarter).
Which plant hormone helps ripen fruits?
- A) Auxin
- B) Cytokinin
- C) Ethylene ✔
- D) Gibberellin
Why: Ethylene is a gaseous ripening hormone.
The motor car with petrol engine is credited to:
- A) Karl Benz ✔
- B) Henry Ford
- C) Daimler only
- D) Diesel
Why: Karl Benz of Germany built the first practical petrol-engine motor car, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, in 1885 and patented it in 1886.
Stainless steel contains iron, carbon and:
- A) Chromium (and nickel) ✔
- B) Gold
- C) Lead
- D) Tin
Why: Stainless steel is iron and carbon with at least about 10.5% chromium (often with nickel). The chromium forms a thin oxide layer that stops rusting.
The term ecosystem was coined in:
- A) 1935 ✔
- B) 1859
- C) 1942
- D) 1972
Why: British ecologist Arthur Tansley coined the term 'ecosystem' in 1935, for living things and their physical environment working as one system.
In an ecosystem, which organisms break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil?
- A) Producers
- B) Herbivores
- C) Decomposers ✔
- D) Carnivores
Why: Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down dead bodies and recycle nutrients.
Remittance dependence is a result of:
- A) Large foreign labour migration ✔
- B) Tourism
- C) Hydropower
- D) Agriculture
Why: Large-scale foreign labour migration, mainly to the Gulf, Malaysia and India, means money sent home (remittance) is a big part of Nepal's economy.
The MCC Compact grant size was about:
- A) USD 500 million ✔
- B) USD 5 million
- C) USD 50 billion
- D) USD 1 trillion
Why: The US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact is a USD 500 million grant for power transmission and road maintenance. Parliament ratified it in Falgun 2078 BS.
UNDP mainly works on:
- A) Development ✔
- B) Peacekeeping only
- C) Aviation
- D) Postal services
Why: UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), set up in 1965 and based in New York, works on development: poverty reduction, governance and climate resilience.
Loktantra Diwas (Democracy restoration day) is on:
- A) 11 Baisakh ✔
- B) 7 Falgun
- C) 3 Asoj
- D) 15 Jestha
Why: Loktantra Diwas is on 11 Baisakh. On that day in 2063 BS, after the People's Movement II, the King restored the dissolved House of Representatives.
What is the currency of the Maldives?
- A) Rufiyaa ✔
- B) Ringgit
- C) Riyal
- D) Rupiah
Why: The Maldives uses the Maldivian rufiyaa. The Sri Lankan rupee and the Pakistani rupee are its neighbours' currencies.
The national sport of Nepal is:
- A) Football
- B) Cricket
- C) Volleyball ✔
- D) Dandi Biyo
Why: Volleyball was declared the national sport in 2074 BS.
The capital of North Korea is:
- A) Pyongyang ✔
- B) Seoul
- C) Kaesong
- D) Beijing
Why: Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea. Seoul is the capital of South Korea.
Which Nepali journalist won the Magsaysay Award in 2002?
- A) Bharat Dutta Koirala ✔
- B) Kanak Mani Dixit
- C) Kishor Nepal
- D) Narayan Wagle
Why: Bharat Dutta Koirala won the Magsaysay Award in 2002 for journalism and for training a new generation of Nepali journalists.
In the morning, a man's shadow falls to his right. Which direction is he facing?
- A) South ✔
- B) North
- C) East
- D) West
Why: Morning shadows point West. If West is on his right, he is facing South.
Pointing to a girl, Sita said, "She is the daughter of my father's only son." How is the girl related to Sita?
- A) Daughter
- B) Sister
- C) Niece ✔
- D) Cousin
Why: Sita is a woman, so her father's only son is her brother. The girl is her brother's daughter, her niece (bhatiji).
Your son's wife is your:
- A) Sister-in-law
- B) Niece
- C) Cousin
- D) Daughter-in-law ✔
Why: Your son's wife is your daughter-in-law (बुहारी). Your daughter's husband is your son-in-law (ज्वाइँ).
Find the odd one out: 4, 9, 16, 20, 25
- A) 20 ✔
- B) 4
- C) 16
- D) 25
Why: 4, 9, 16 and 25 are perfect squares (2², 3², 4², 5²). 20 is not a perfect square, so it is the odd one out.
India : Rupee :: Japan : ?
- A) Yen ✔
- B) Won
- C) Yuan
- D) Ringgit
Why: The pair is country : currency. India's currency is the rupee and Japan's is the yen.
If BAG is coded as 10 because 2 + 1 + 7 = 10, what is the code for HEN?
- A) 25
- B) 26
- C) 27 ✔
- D) 28
Why: H = 8, E = 5, N = 14, and 8 + 5 + 14 = 27.
Using the swap trick, 4% of 75 is equal to:
- A) 4
- B) 30
- C) 3 ✔
- D) 0.3
Why: 4% of 75 = 75% of 4 = 3/4 × 4 = 3.
1/2 + 1/3 = ?
- A) 5/6 ✔
- B) 2/5
- C) 1/6
- D) 2/3
Why: Use the LCM 6: 1/2 = 3/6 and 1/3 = 2/6, so the sum is 5/6.
The average of 4 numbers is 20. A fifth number 30 is added. The new average is:
- A) 22 ✔
- B) 25
- C) 24
- D) 21
Why: Sum of 4 numbers = 4 × 20 = 80. New sum = 80 + 30 = 110, and new average = 110 ÷ 5 = 22.
A, B and C can do a job in 20, 30 and 60 days. In how many days can all three finish it together?
- A) 10 days ✔
- B) 15 days
- C) 12 days
- D) 36.7 days
Why: 1/20 + 1/30 + 1/60 = 3/60 + 2/60 + 1/60 = 6/60 = 1/10, so 10 days.
Written as a fraction in its lowest terms, 35% is equal to which of the following?
- A) 7/20 ✔
- B) 7/10
- C) 3/5
- D) 35/10
Why: 35% = 35/100; dividing top and bottom by 5 gives 7/20.
A cyclist covers 1.2 km in 2 minutes. Speed in km/h:
- A) 36 ✔
- B) 24
- C) 30
- D) 40
Why: 1.2 km in 2 minutes = 0.6 km per minute. One hour has 60 minutes: 0.6 × 60 = 36 km/h.
Rs 24,000 is divided between two brothers in the ratio 5 : 7. What is the smaller share?
- A) Rs 14,000
- B) Rs 10,000 ✔
- C) Rs 12,000
- D) Rs 9,600
Why: Total parts = 12, one part = 24,000 ÷ 12 = 2,000. Smaller share = 5 × 2,000 = Rs 10,000.
In a table, A = 30, B = 45, C = 75. What percentage of the total is C?
- A) 50% ✔
- B) 75%
- C) 25%
- D) 40%
Why: Total = 30 + 45 + 75 = 150. C = 75 ÷ 150 × 100 = 50%.
40 students passed Nepali, 35 passed English and 20 passed both. How many passed at least one?
- A) 55 ✔
- B) 75
- C) 60
- D) 20
Why: Use n(A or B) = n(A) + n(B) − n(both) = 40 + 35 − 20 = 55. The 20 who passed both were counted twice, so subtract them once.
A figure turns 90° clockwise each step. After 4 steps it is:
- A) Back in its original position ✔
- B) Upside down
- C) Facing left
- D) Facing right
Why: 4 × 90° = 360°, a full turn, so the figure is back in its original position.
How many triangles are formed if one diagonal is drawn in a square?
- A) 2 ✔
- B) 4
- C) 1
- D) 3
Why: One diagonal joins two opposite corners and splits the square into 2 equal right-angled triangles. Both diagonals together make 8 triangles.
If 25 people read paper A, 15 read paper B, and none read both, how many read at least one?
- A) 40 ✔
- B) 25
- C) 10
- D) 15
Why: With no overlap, simply add: 25 + 15 = 40 people read at least one paper.
A mirror image swaps:
- A) Top and bottom
- B) Left and right ✔
- C) Both top-bottom and left-right
- D) Nothing
Why: A mirror placed beside the object swaps left and right, but keeps top and bottom the same. So 'b' looks like 'd' in a mirror.
Pieces forming a triangle must fit:
- A) Without gaps or overlaps ✔
- B) With gaps
- C) With overlaps
- D) In any way
Why: In figure-forming questions, the pieces must make the full shape without gaps or overlaps, so check that their sizes and angles add up exactly.