About this quiz
Full Section Officer preliminary mock: 50 general awareness, 30 aptitude and 20 English questions. In the real exam 20% of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 100 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Section Officer Preliminary (General Awareness, Aptitude and English) · For: Section Officer · 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 100 questions with answers and explanations
The speed of light is about:
- A) 3 lakh km per second ✔
- B) 3,000 km per second
- C) 30 km per second
- D) 300 km per hour
Why: Light travels at about 3 lakh (300,000) km per second in a vacuum, which is the fastest speed in the universe.
Which is the largest lake in the world?
- A) Lake Superior
- B) Caspian Sea ✔
- C) Lake Baikal
- D) Lake Victoria
Why: The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world by area, although its water is salty. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake.
The Kali Gandaki gorge lies between which two mountain massifs?
- A) Everest and Lhotse
- B) Manaslu and Ganesh Himal
- C) Makalu and Kangchenjunga
- D) Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ✔
Why: The Kali Gandaki cuts one of the deepest gorges in the world between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.
Rhododendron mainly grows in which zone?
- A) Tropical
- B) Temperate ✔
- C) Alpine desert
- D) Arctic
Why: It grows widely in the temperate hills.
The Magna Carta established that the king is:
- A) Not above the law ✔
- B) Above all law
- C) Chosen by the church
- D) Elected every year
Why: The Magna Carta (1215) established that the king is not above the law. It is seen as an early step toward the rule of law.
Bhimsen Thapa held the post of:
- A) Rana Prime Minister
- B) Mukhtiyar ✔
- C) Kaji
- D) King
Why: He was Mukhtiyar (chief minister).
Under the sanad of 1913 BS, what title and position did Jung Bahadur receive?
- A) Shree 3 and Maharaja of Kaski and Lamjung ✔
- B) Shree 5 and King of Nepal
- C) Shree 3 and Maharaja of Gorkha and Palpa
- D) Shree 2 and Commander-in-Chief only
Why: King Surendra's sanad of 1913 BS made Jung Bahadur Shree 3 Maharaja of Kaski and Lamjung, while the king stayed Shree 5.
Jana Andolan 2046 began on:
- A) 2046 Falgun 7 ✔
- B) 2046 Chaitra 26
- C) 2047 Kartik 23
- D) 2046 Magh 1
Why: It began on Democracy Day, 2046 Falgun 7.
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).
Which region of Nepal is the main food producer?
- A) Terai ✔
- B) Mountain
- C) Trans-Himalaya
- D) Kathmandu valley only
Why: The Terai is Nepal's main food producer because of its flat, fertile land and irrigation. It is often called the granary of Nepal.
Because most plants are run-of-river, Nepal faces power shortage mainly in:
- A) Monsoon
- B) Winter (dry season) ✔
- C) Spring only
- D) Never
Why: River flow falls in the dry winter.
Who invented the telephone?
- A) Edison
- B) Graham Bell ✔
- C) Marconi
- D) Baird
Why: Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Edison invented the light bulb and Marconi the radio.
Which hormone is known as the fight or flight hormone?
- A) Oestrogen
- B) Thyroxine
- C) Growth hormone
- D) Adrenaline ✔
Why: Adrenaline from the adrenal gland prepares the body to face emergencies.
Water moves from the roots to the leaves through:
- A) Phloem
- B) Xylem ✔
- C) Stomata
- D) Cambium
Why: Xylem carries water and minerals upward.
In which year was the Paris Agreement on climate change adopted?
- A) 1997
- B) 2015 ✔
- C) 1992
- D) 2005
Why: The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015; 1997 is the Kyoto Protocol and 1992 the UNFCCC.
Nepal shares borders with India on the:
- A) East, south and west ✔
- B) North only
- C) North and east
- D) No side
Why: Nepal borders India on the east, south and west, and China (Tibet) on the north.
International Literacy Day is on:
- A) 5 October
- B) 8 September ✔
- C) 21 September
- D) 16 October
Why: It is observed on 8 September.
"I have a dream" is a famous speech by:
- A) Martin Luther King Jr. ✔
- B) Barack Obama
- C) Lincoln
- D) Kennedy
Why: Martin Luther King Jr., 1963.
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and ____ Organization.
- A) Commercial
- B) Cultural ✔
- C) Communication
- D) Cooperative
Why: UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It lists World Heritage Sites.
The underground point where an earthquake starts is the:
- A) Focus (hypocentre) ✔
- B) Epicentre
- C) Crater
- D) Fault line only
Why: The focus (hypocentre) is the point under the ground where an earthquake starts. The epicentre is the point on the surface directly above it.
How many of the world's fourteen 8,000 m peaks are in Nepal?
- A) Six
- B) Eight ✔
- C) Ten
- D) Five
Why: Eight peaks above 8,000 m lie fully or partly in Nepal.
Nepal covers about what share of the world's land area?
- A) 0.1% ✔
- B) 1%
- C) 3%
- D) 5%
Why: Nepal's area of 147,516 sq km is about 0.1% of the world's land area, although it contains the world's highest peak.
The powers of the local levels are listed in which schedule of the constitution?
- A) Schedule 5
- B) Schedule 6
- C) Schedule 7
- D) Schedule 8 ✔
Why: Schedule 8 lists local level powers; Schedule 5 is federal and Schedule 6 is provincial.
The army of Mir Kasim, Nawab of Bengal, was defeated near which place?
- A) Makwanpur ✔
- B) Kirtipur
- C) Nuwakot
- D) Sindhuli
Why: Mir Kasim's army, led by his general Gurgin Khan, was defeated near Makwanpur in Magh 1819 BS (January 1763 AD).
Muluki Ain was issued in:
- A) 1903 BS
- B) 1910 BS ✔
- C) 1913 BS
- D) 1934 BS
Why: The Muluki Ain was issued in 1910 BS.
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 2047 was promulgated on:
- A) 23 Kartik 2047 BS ✔
- B) 1 Poush 2047 BS
- C) 3 Ashwin 2047 BS
- D) 7 Falgun 2047 BS
Why: On 23 Kartik 2047 BS.
Krishna Mandir in Patan is built in which architectural style?
- A) Pagoda
- B) Stupa
- C) Shikhara ✔
- D) Mughal
Why: Krishna Mandir is a famous stone temple in the Shikhara style.
Muna Madan is written in which folk metre?
- A) Shardul Vikridit
- B) Anustup
- C) Jhyaure ✔
- D) Shikharini
Why: Devkota used the popular Jhyaure folk metre.
The second hydropower station of Nepal was:
- A) Sundarijal ✔
- B) Kulekhani
- C) Kaligandaki A
- D) Marsyangdi
Why: Sundarijal (1993 BS) was Nepal's second hydropower station, after Pharping (1968 BS).
Who is called the father of the computer?
- A) Charles Babbage ✔
- B) Bill Gates
- C) Alan Turing
- D) Tim Berners-Lee
Why: Charles Babbage designed early computing machines.
What is the diaphragm?
- A) A gland in the neck
- B) A part of the brain
- C) A valve of the heart
- D) A dome-shaped muscle below the lungs that helps breathing ✔
Why: The diaphragm moves down when we breathe in and up when we breathe out.
Which of these is a monocot plant?
- A) Pea
- B) Mango
- C) Rice ✔
- D) Gram
Why: Rice has one cotyledon and parallel veins.
Which of these is NOT a greenhouse gas?
- A) Carbon dioxide
- B) Methane
- C) Nitrous oxide
- D) Nitrogen ✔
Why: Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap heat; nitrogen, the main gas of air, does not.
The UK left the EU in:
- A) 2020 ✔
- B) 2016
- C) 2010
- D) 2024
Why: Brexit took effect 31 January 2020.
World AIDS Day is on:
- A) 1 December ✔
- B) 7 April
- C) 4 February
- D) 24 March
Why: It is observed on 1 December.
"The Republic" was written by:
- A) Aristotle
- B) Plato ✔
- C) Rousseau
- D) Kautilya
Why: "The Republic" was written by the Greek philosopher Plato. His student Aristotle wrote "Politics".
NHRC stands for:
- A) National Human Rights Commission ✔
- B) Nepal Health Research Council
- C) National Housing and Roads Company
- D) None
Why: NHRC stands for National Human Rights Commission, a constitutional body under Articles 248–249 that protects human rights.
Nepal has big earthquakes because:
- A) The Indian plate pushes under the Eurasian plate ✔
- B) It has active volcanoes
- C) It is near the sea
- D) It has deserts
Why: Nepal has big earthquakes because the Indian plate is pushing under the Eurasian plate. This collision also raised the Himalaya.
The Tibetan name of Mount Everest is:
- A) Chomolungma ✔
- B) Gauri Shankar
- C) Kailash
- D) Shishapangma
Why: Tibetans call Mount Everest Chomolungma. In Nepal it is called Sagarmatha.
The local level gets what share of natural resource royalty?
- A) 10%
- B) 25% ✔
- C) 50%
- D) 0%
Why: Natural resource royalty is shared 50% to the Federation, 25% to the province and 25% to the local level.
Manang, Mustang and Muktinath are associated with which province?
- A) Gandaki ✔
- B) Karnali
- C) Lumbini
- D) Bagmati
Why: Manang and Mustang are districts of Gandaki Province, and Muktinath lies in Mustang.
Which king of Gorkha was famous for his fair laws and justice?
- A) Ram Shah ✔
- B) Dravya Shah
- C) Bahadur Shah
- D) Rana Bahadur Shah
Why: Ram Shah was known for justice, giving rise to the saying that those who find no justice elsewhere should go to Gorkha.
Whose murder led to the Kot Parva?
- A) Fateh Jung Shah
- B) Gagan Singh Bhandari ✔
- C) Mathbar Singh Thapa
- D) Abhiman Singh Rana
Why: Gagan Singh Bhandari's murder led to the gathering at the Kot.
The Land Reform Act was passed in:
- A) 2021 BS ✔
- B) 2015 BS
- C) 2030 BS
- D) 2046 BS
Why: The Lands Act was passed in 2021 BS. It fixed land ceilings and protected tenant rights.
According to the National Census 2078, how many caste and ethnic groups are there in Nepal?
- A) 125
- B) 142 ✔
- C) 126
- D) 131
Why: The 2078 census recorded 142 caste and ethnic groups.
"Karnali Blues" is by:
- A) Krishna Dharabasi
- B) Buddhisagar ✔
- C) Narayan Wagle
- D) Parijat
Why: Buddhisagar's Karnali Blues is set in the Karnali region.
The Siddhartha Highway was built with help from:
- A) India ✔
- B) China
- C) Japan
- D) Germany
Why: The Siddhartha Highway, linking Sunauli (Belahiya) and Pokhara, was built with help from India.
Nepal's plans are linked to global goals called:
- A) MDGs only
- B) SDGs ✔
- C) IMF goals
- D) WTO rules
Why: Current plans are linked with the SDGs (2030).
Face unlock on a mobile phone is an example of:
- A) General AI
- B) Narrow (weak) AI ✔
- C) Super AI
- D) Quantum computing
Why: It does one specific job, so it is narrow AI. All AI in use today is narrow AI.
A major problem of plastics is that they are:
- A) Non-biodegradable ✔
- B) Too heavy
- C) Edible
- D) Magnetic
Why: Plastics are non-biodegradable, so they do not rot and stay in soil and water for hundreds of years.
Find the next term: 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, ?
- A) 126
- B) 125
- C) 95
- D) 127 ✔
Why: Rule: × 2 then + 1. 63 × 2 + 1 = 127.
Your mother's sister's son is your:
- A) Brother
- B) Nephew
- C) Uncle
- D) Cousin ✔
Why: The child of any aunt or uncle is a cousin.
A number is divisible by 8 if:
- A) Its last digit is divisible by 8
- B) Its last two digits are divisible by 8
- C) Its last three digits are divisible by 8 ✔
- D) The sum of its digits is divisible by 8
Why: Divisibility by 8 depends on the last three digits.
What is the compound ratio of 3 : 4, 8 : 9 and 3 : 2?
- A) 2 : 3
- B) 1 : 1 ✔
- C) 3 : 2
- D) 14 : 15
Why: (3 × 8 × 3) : (4 × 9 × 2) = 72 : 72 = 1 : 1.
What amount will Rs 5,000 become in 2 years at 10% per annum compounded yearly?
- A) Rs 6,050 ✔
- B) Rs 6,000
- C) Rs 5,500
- D) Rs 6,100
Why: A = 5,000 × 1.1 × 1.1 = 5,000 × 1.21 = Rs 6,050.
Matrix rows: 5,7,12 | 8,3,11 | 6,9,? The missing number is:
- A) 15 ✔
- B) 54
- C) 3
- D) 12
Why: Sum of the first two.
In a row of 30 people, A is 10th from the left and B is 15th from the right. How many people are between them?
- A) 5 ✔
- B) 4
- C) 6
- D) 7
Why: B is 30 − 15 + 1 = 16th from the left. Between them: 16 − 10 − 1 = 5.
Problem: A rare animal species is declining in a national park. Which action follows?
- A) Strengthen anti-poaching and protect its habitat ✔
- B) Open the park for hunting
- C) Remove the park
- D) Do nothing
Why: The right action protects the species directly: stronger anti-poaching patrols and habitat protection. The other options would make things worse.
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.
Two phones are sold for Rs 4,800 each, one at 20% profit and the other at 20% loss. What is the total loss in rupees?
- A) Nothing
- B) Rs 200
- C) Rs 960
- D) Rs 400 ✔
Why: CPs are 4,800 × 100/120 = 4,000 and 4,800 × 100/80 = 6,000. Total CP 10,000, total SP 9,600, loss Rs 400.
Two trains 100 m and 150 m long run in opposite directions at 40 km/h and 50 km/h. The time they take to cross each other is:
- A) 10 seconds ✔
- B) 12 seconds
- C) 15 seconds
- D) 25 seconds
Why: Relative speed = 90 km/h = 25 m/s; distance = 250 m; 250 ÷ 25 = 10 seconds.
Nepal : Kathmandu :: Japan : ?
- A) Osaka
- B) Kyoto
- C) Tokyo ✔
- D) Seoul
Why: Country and capital. Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
Gita works on Monday; Ram works the day after Gita. Ram works on:
- A) Sunday
- B) Tuesday ✔
- C) Wednesday
- D) Monday
Why: The day after Monday is Tuesday.
A car uses 16 L for 240 km. Litres needed for 360 km?
- A) 20
- B) 22
- C) 24 ✔
- D) 26
Why: 15 km per litre; 360 ÷ 15 = 24.
The average of 10 numbers is 30. If 5 is added to each number, the new average is:
- A) 30
- B) 35 ✔
- C) 50
- D) 80
Why: Adding 5 to every number adds 5 to the average: 30 + 5 = 35.
Pipe A fills a tank in 10 hours and pipe B fills it in 15 hours. If both are opened together, how long will they take to fill it?
- A) 12.5 hours
- B) 5 hours
- C) 25 hours
- D) 6 hours ✔
Why: 1/10 + 1/15 = 3/30 + 2/30 = 1/6, so 6 hours.
Find the next term: 2, 2, 4, 12, 48, ?
- A) 240 ✔
- B) 96
- C) 192
- D) 144
Why: The multipliers are × 1, × 2, × 3, × 4, so the next is × 5: 48 × 5 = 240.
What is your mother's brother called in Nepali?
- A) Kaka
- B) Mama ✔
- C) Phupu
- D) Thulobua
Why: Mother's brother is Mama (maternal uncle). Kaka and Thulobua are father's brothers; Phupu is father's sister.
The largest number that divides 43 and 91 leaving remainder 7 in each case is:
- A) 6
- B) 12 ✔
- C) 14
- D) 18
Why: HCF of 36 and 84 is 12.
Rs 27,000 is divided among A, B and C in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. What is C's share?
- A) Rs 9,000
- B) Rs 6,000
- C) Rs 12,000 ✔
- D) Rs 13,500
Why: Total parts = 9, one part = 27,000 ÷ 9 = 3,000. C's share = 4 × 3,000 = Rs 12,000.
Find the compound interest on Rs 12,000 at 5% per annum for 2 years, compounded yearly.
- A) Rs 1,200
- B) Rs 13,230
- C) Rs 1,230 ✔
- D) Rs 1,260
Why: A = 12,000 × 1.05 × 1.05 = 13,230; CI = 13,230 − 12,000 = Rs 1,230.
February in an ordinary year has how many odd days?
- A) 0 ✔
- B) 1
- C) 2
- D) 3
Why: 28 days = 4 weeks.
You are facing South and turn right. Which direction are you facing now?
- A) East
- B) West ✔
- C) North
- D) South-East
Why: When you face South your right hand points West.
Problem: Many people fell ill after drinking village tap water. Which action follows?
- A) Test and clean the water supply ✔
- B) Close all taps in the country
- C) Ignore the problem
- D) Ban drinking water forever
Why: The sensible action is to test and clean the village water supply. It deals with the actual cause without extreme measures.
Find 18% of Rs 3,500.
- A) Rs 630 ✔
- B) Rs 580
- C) Rs 650
- D) Rs 540
Why: 18/100 × 3,500 = 18 × 35 = Rs 630.
Two articles are each sold for Rs 1,200, one at 20% profit and the other at 20% loss. What is the overall result?
- A) 4% loss ✔
- B) No profit, no loss
- C) 4% profit
- D) 2% loss
Why: With the same SP and equal profit and loss percent, there is always a loss of r²/100 = 400/100 = 4%.
A car covers a distance in 6 hours at 40 km/h. To cover the same distance in 4 hours, its speed must be:
- A) 50 km/h
- B) 55 km/h
- C) 60 km/h ✔
- D) 80 km/h
Why: Distance = 40 × 6 = 240 km; 240 ÷ 4 = 60 km/h.
Find the odd one out: 27, 64, 125, 144, 216
- A) 64
- B) 125
- C) 216
- D) 144 ✔
Why: 144 is 12 squared, not a cube. The others are 3³, 4³, 5³ and 6³.
When solving puzzles, the first step should be to:
- A) Guess the answer
- B) Make a table of facts ✔
- C) Read only the question
- D) Skip "not" facts
Why: A table keeps facts organised.
3/4 × 2/5 = ?
- A) 3/10 ✔
- B) 5/9
- C) 6/9
- D) 3/5
Why: Multiply the tops and bottoms: (3 × 2)/(4 × 5) = 6/20, which simplifies to 3/10.
One word for 'that which cannot be seen':
- A) invisible ✔
- B) visible
- C) audible
- D) legible
Why: "Invisible" means something that cannot be seen. "Audible" means can be heard and "legible" means can be read.
We arrived ___ the airport early.
- A) in
- B) to
- C) at ✔
- D) on
Why: Arrive at a specific place.
Which sentence CANNOT be changed into the passive voice?
- A) The baby sleeps. ✔
- B) Ram reads a book.
- C) They built a school.
- D) Gita sings a song.
Why: Sleep is an intransitive verb with no object, so it has no passive form.
Antonym of 'increase':
- A) rise
- B) grow
- C) decrease ✔
- D) expand
Why: "Decrease" means to become smaller, the opposite of "increase". Rise, grow and expand all mean increase.
Fill in the blanks: "Kamala is interested ___ painting, and she is good ___ it."
- A) on, in
- B) at, in
- C) in, at ✔
- D) for, on
Why: The fixed phrases are interested in and good at.
Which tense is normally NOT changed into the passive in exam grammar?
- A) Past simple
- B) Present perfect
- C) Present perfect continuous ✔
- D) Future simple
Why: The perfect continuous tenses and the future continuous are normally not changed into the passive because the forms become very awkward.
Antonym of 'permanent':
- A) temporary ✔
- B) lasting
- C) stable
- D) fixed
Why: "Temporary" means lasting only for a short time, the opposite of "permanent". Lasting, stable and fixed are synonyms.
He is afraid ___ dogs.
- A) of ✔
- B) from
- C) with
- D) by
Why: Afraid of is the correct collocation.
Change into passive: "Sita cooks rice."
- A) Rice was cooked by Sita.
- B) Rice is cooked by Sita. ✔
- C) Rice is cooking by Sita.
- D) Rice cooks by Sita.
Why: Present simple passive is is/am/are + V3, so "Rice is cooked by Sita".
Choose the antonym of "Temporary".
- A) Brief
- B) Permanent ✔
- C) Short
- D) Quick
Why: Permanent lasts for ever; temporary lasts a short time.
Fill in the blank: "Divide the mangoes ___ Ram and Shyam."
- A) among
- B) between ✔
- C) beside
- D) into
Why: Between is used for two persons or things; among is for more than two.
Change into passive: "What did Hari buy?"
- A) What did bought by Hari?
- B) What has been bought by Hari?
- C) What is bought by Hari?
- D) What was bought by Hari? ✔
Why: The question word stays at the front and the past simple passive form was + V3 is used.
Synonym of 'meagre':
- A) plenty
- B) huge
- C) rich
- D) scanty ✔
Why: Meagre = very small in amount.
The minister was accused ___ corruption.
- A) for
- B) with
- C) on
- D) of ✔
Why: The verb "accuse" takes the preposition "of": accused of corruption, accused of theft. "Charged with" is a different phrase.
Which sentence about the accident is correct?
- A) The accident was happened at night.
- B) The accident happened at night. ✔
- C) The accident is happened at night.
- D) The accident had been happened at night.
Why: Happen is intransitive, so it has no passive form.
A remedy for all diseases:
- A) Panacea ✔
- B) Antidote
- C) Vaccine
- D) Placebo
Why: Panacea means a cure for everything.
He died ___ cancer.
- A) from
- B) of ✔
- C) by
- D) with
Why: We say "die of" a disease, such as died of cancer. "Die from" is used for causes like injuries or wounds.
Which kind of writing uses the passive voice often?
- A) Formal notices and official rules ✔
- B) Text messages to friends
- C) Personal diaries only
- D) Children's rhymes
Why: Notices, reports and rules are formal, so they often use the passive, for example "Mobile phones are not allowed in the exam hall."
Synonym of 'abundant':
- A) plentiful ✔
- B) scarce
- C) rare
- D) empty
Why: Abundant = existing in large quantity.
Which sentence uses the correct pattern with "next week"?
- A) Bishnu will come in next week.
- B) Bishnu will come on next week.
- C) Bishnu will come next week. ✔
- D) Bishnu will come at next week.
Why: No preposition is used before next, last, this or every.