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 largest freshwater lake by area is:
- A) Lake Superior ✔
- B) Lake Baikal
- C) Caspian Sea
- D) Lake Victoria
Why: Lake Superior in North America is the largest freshwater lake by area. The Caspian Sea is bigger but its water is salty.
International Mountain Day is observed on:
- A) 29 May
- B) 5 June
- C) 11 December ✔
- D) 22 April
Why: It is observed on 11 December.
Which department looks after minerals?
- A) Department of Mines and Geology ✔
- B) Department of Roads
- C) Department of Forests
- D) Department of Customs
Why: Department of Mines and Geology.
How many local levels does Nepal have in total?
- A) 744
- B) 753 ✔
- C) 775
- D) 460
Why: There are 753 local levels: 6 metropolitan, 11 sub-metropolitan, 276 municipalities and 460 rural municipalities.
Before starting his campaign, Prithvi Narayan Shah visited which city to buy weapons?
- A) Lhasa
- B) Banaras (Varanasi) ✔
- C) Patna
- D) Lucknow
Why: He went to Banaras to buy arms as part of his preparations.
Jung Bahadur died in:
- A) 1934 BS ✔
- B) 1910 BS
- C) 1960 BS
- D) 2007 BS
Why: He died in 1934 BS at Pattharghatta, Rautahat.
The Panchayat system was:
- A) Multiparty
- B) Partyless ✔
- C) Communist
- D) Federal
Why: It was a partyless system.
In which city is Indra Jatra mainly celebrated?
- A) Bhaktapur
- B) Lalitpur
- C) Pokhara
- D) Kathmandu ✔
Why: Indra Jatra is a major festival of Kathmandu, with the chariot of the living goddess Kumari.
Who wrote "Gitanjali"?
- A) Rabindranath Tagore ✔
- B) Kalidasa
- C) Jawaharlal Nehru
- D) Sarojini Naidu
Why: Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for Gitanjali.
Gautam Buddha International Airport is in:
- A) Bhairahawa ✔
- B) Pokhara
- C) Nepalgunj
- D) Biratnagar
Why: It is in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi.
Which plan was the first three-year plan of Nepal?
- A) First
- B) Second ✔
- C) Third
- D) Eighth
Why: The Second Plan (2019 to 2022 BS) was three-year.
Who coined the term artificial intelligence?
- A) John McCarthy ✔
- B) Alan Turing
- C) Charles Babbage
- D) Tim Berners-Lee
Why: John McCarthy coined the term for the Dartmouth conference of 1956.
The small units that join to form a polymer are:
- A) Monomers ✔
- B) Isotopes
- C) Ions
- D) Cells
Why: Monomers are small units that join in long chains to form polymers. For example, ethene monomers join to make polythene.
Which is a gaseous cycle?
- A) Nitrogen cycle ✔
- B) Phosphorus cycle
- C) Sulphur from rocks only
- D) Calcium cycle
Why: The nitrogen cycle is a gaseous cycle because its main reservoir is the atmosphere, which is about 78% nitrogen. Phosphorus and calcium cycles are sedimentary.
Who conducted Census 2078?
- A) National Planning Commission
- B) National Statistics Office ✔
- C) Election Commission
- D) Ministry of Home Affairs
Why: The National Statistics Office (formerly the Central Bureau of Statistics) conducted the National Population and Housing Census 2078.
What is the voltage of the Hetauda–Dhalkebar transmission line?
- A) 400 kV ✔
- B) 132 kV
- C) 220 kV
- D) 66 kV
Why: It is a 400 kV line linking eastern and western Nepal.
Nepal became an ICC associate member in:
- A) 1988
- B) 1996 ✔
- C) 2004
- D) 2014
Why: Nepal became an associate member of the International Cricket Council in 1996, after being an affiliate member from 1988. It gained ODI status in 2018.
What is the capital of Bhutan?
- A) Paro
- B) Thimphu ✔
- C) Punakha
- D) Gangtok
Why: Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan. Paro has Bhutan's international airport, and Gangtok is the capital of the Indian state of Sikkim.
The spring (vernal) equinox is around:
- A) 21 March ✔
- B) 21 June
- C) 23 September
- D) 22 December
Why: The spring (vernal) equinox falls around 21 March, when the sun is over the equator and day and night are almost equal everywhere.
Which is the second highest mountain in Nepal?
- A) Kangchenjunga ✔
- B) Lhotse
- C) Makalu
- D) Dhaulagiri
Why: Kangchenjunga, the third highest in the world, is the second highest peak in Nepal.
Sheetlahar in the Terai means:
- A) Heat wave
- B) Cold wave ✔
- C) Flood
- D) Drought
Why: Sheetlahar is a cold wave in winter.
Chhayanath National Park, the newest national park of Nepal, is located in which district?
- A) Mugu ✔
- B) Dolpa
- C) Humla
- D) Jumla
Why: Chhayanath National Park was created in Mugu in 2082 BS from the Mugu portion of Shey Phoksundo.
Who led the Bolsheviks in 1917?
- A) Stalin
- B) Lenin ✔
- C) Trotsky
- D) Marx
Why: Vladimir Lenin led the October Revolution.
Who defended the Nalapani fort?
- A) Bhakti Thapa
- B) Balbhadra Kunwar ✔
- C) Amar Singh Thapa
- D) Ranajor Singh Thapa
Why: Captain Balbhadra Kunwar defended Nalapani.
Which was the first political party of Nepal?
- A) Nepali Congress
- B) Nepal Praja Parishad ✔
- C) Communist Party of Nepal
- D) Nepal Prajatantrik Congress
Why: Nepal Praja Parishad was founded in 1993 BS.
How many members did the Constituent Assembly have?
- A) 275
- B) 334
- C) 601 ✔
- D) 575
Why: Both Constituent Assemblies of Nepal had 601 members: 240 directly elected, 335 by proportional representation and 26 nominated.
Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manchhe was written by:
- A) Bhupi Sherchan ✔
- B) Parijat
- C) Devkota
- D) Siddhicharan
Why: "Ghumne Mech Mathi Andho Manchhe" is a famous poetry collection by Bhupi Sherchan. It won the Sajha Puraskar.
The Araniko Highway was built with help from:
- A) India
- B) China ✔
- C) Japan
- D) UK
Why: The Araniko Highway, linking Kathmandu to Kodari on the Tibet border, was built with Chinese help and opened in the 1960s.
The period with no periodic plan (plan holiday) was:
- A) 2018 to 2019 BS
- B) 2047 to 2049 BS ✔
- C) 2064 to 2067 BS
- D) 2076 to 2077 BS
Why: There was no plan from 2047 to 2049 BS.
Nepal's National Artificial Intelligence Policy, 2082 was approved by the government in:
- A) 2019
- B) 2025 ✔
- C) 2022
- D) 2023
Why: The cabinet approved it on 11 August 2025 (Shrawan 26, 2082).
Green colour in glass can come from:
- A) Chromium oxide ✔
- B) Cobalt oxide
- C) Gold
- D) Sulphur
Why: Chromium oxide gives glass a green colour. Cobalt oxide gives blue, and gold compounds give a ruby red colour.
Converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms is:
- A) Nitrogen fixation ✔
- B) Denitrification
- C) Transpiration
- D) Respiration
Why: Nitrogen fixation turns nitrogen gas from the air into usable forms such as ammonia and nitrates, often by bacteria in the root nodules of legumes.
Which is the largest caste or ethnic group?
- A) Brahmin (Hill)
- B) Chhetri ✔
- C) Magar
- D) Tharu
Why: Chhetri is the largest group.
Which province will host the 10th National Games in December 2026?
- A) Koshi
- B) Karnali ✔
- C) Lumbini
- D) Gandaki
Why: The 10th National Games are scheduled in Karnali Province from 2 to 11 December 2026.
ICC's headquarters is in:
- A) London
- B) Dubai ✔
- C) Mumbai
- D) Melbourne
Why: The ICC is based in Dubai.
What is the currency of Bhutan?
- A) Ngultrum ✔
- B) Taka
- C) Rupee
- D) Kyat
Why: The ngultrum is the currency of Bhutan. The taka is used in Bangladesh and the kyat in Myanmar.
The thick, hot, partly molten layer is the:
- A) Mantle ✔
- B) Crust
- C) Inner core
- D) Troposphere
Why: The mantle lies between the crust and the core. It is hot, thick and partly molten, and its slow movement drives plate tectonics.
Chitwan, Dang and Surkhet are examples of what?
- A) Trans-Himalayan valleys
- B) Glacial lakes
- C) Inner Tarai (Bhitri Madhesh) valleys ✔
- D) High Himalayan peaks
Why: These are low valleys between the Chure and Mahabharat ranges, called inner Tarai.
Shrawan and Bhadra form which season?
- A) Grishma
- B) Barsha ✔
- C) Sharad
- D) Shishir
Why: Barsha ritu is the rainy season.
The smallest protected area of Nepal, Krishnasar Conservation Area, is located in which district?
- A) Bardiya ✔
- B) Banke
- C) Kailali
- D) Dang
Why: Krishnasar (Blackbuck) Conservation Area, about 16.95 sq km, is at Khairapur in Bardiya.
The Second World War began when Germany invaded:
- A) France
- B) Poland ✔
- C) Russia
- D) Britain
Why: Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.
The Treaty of Sugauli was ratified on:
- A) 4 March 1816 ✔
- B) 2 December 1815
- C) 10 January 1817
- D) 1 November 1814
Why: It was ratified on 4 March 1816.
When did King Tribhuvan enter the Indian Embassy?
- A) 21 Kartik 2007 BS ✔
- B) 7 Falgun 2007 BS
- C) 1 Baisakh 2007 BS
- D) 15 Jestha 2008 BS
Why: On 21 Kartik 2007 BS.
How many days did Jana Andolan II last?
- A) 7
- B) 19 ✔
- C) 30
- D) 45
Why: Jana Andolan II lasted 19 days, from 24 Chaitra 2062 to 11 Baisakh 2063 BS, when the King restored the House of Representatives.
Bhanubhakta is famous for translating:
- A) Mahabharata
- B) Ramayana ✔
- C) Gita
- D) Vedas
Why: He translated the Ramayana into Nepali.
Which of these is a World Heritage Site in Nepal?
- A) Rara Lake
- B) Chitwan National Park ✔
- C) Phewa Lake
- D) Gosaikunda
Why: Chitwan National Park is a natural World Heritage Site.
Who is called the father of national income accounting?
- A) Adam Smith
- B) Simon Kuznets ✔
- C) Amartya Sen
- D) J. M. Keynes
Why: Simon Kuznets developed national income accounting.
Mutation theory was given by:
- A) Hugo de Vries ✔
- B) Darwin
- C) Watson
- D) Pasteur
Why: Hugo de Vries gave the mutation theory of evolution in 1901, saying new species arise from sudden changes. Darwin gave natural selection.
Beriberi is caused by lack of:
- A) Vitamin B1 ✔
- B) Vitamin B12
- C) Vitamin A
- D) Vitamin E
Why: Thiamine (B1) deficiency causes beriberi.
Through which medium does sound travel fastest?
- A) Vacuum
- B) Air
- C) Water
- D) Steel ✔
Why: Sound travels fastest in solids such as steel and cannot travel through a vacuum at all.
Ram walks 3 km North and then 4 km East. How far is he from the starting point?
- A) 7 km
- B) 1 km
- C) 5 km ✔
- D) 12 km
Why: Distance = √(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 km.
A conclusion follows from a statement only if it is:
- A) Definitely true from the statement ✔
- B) Probably true from outside knowledge
- C) Popular opinion
- D) Long
Why: In statement and conclusion questions, a conclusion follows only if it is definitely true from the given statement, without using outside knowledge or guesses.
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 cupboard bought for Rs 2,500 is sold for Rs 2,150. What is the loss percent?
- A) 15%
- B) 35%
- C) 12%
- D) 14% ✔
Why: Loss = 350; 350 / 2,500 × 100 = 14%.
A train 240 m long at 72 km/h crosses a platform 160 m long. The time taken is:
- A) 12 seconds
- B) 20 seconds ✔
- C) 16 seconds
- D) 24 seconds
Why: 72 km/h = 20 m/s; distance = 240 + 160 = 400 m; 400 ÷ 20 = 20 seconds.
Length : Metre :: Electric current : ?
- A) Volt
- B) Watt
- C) Ohm
- D) Ampere ✔
Why: The SI unit of length is the metre; the SI unit of electric current is the ampere.
Sita is 5th from the left and 8th from the right in a row. How many are in the row?
- A) 12 ✔
- B) 13
- C) 14
- D) 11
Why: 5 + 8 − 1 = 12.
2/3 + 1/4 = ?
- A) 3/7
- B) 11/12 ✔
- C) 5/12
- D) 1/2
Why: 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12.
The average age of 25 students is 12 years. When the teacher's age is included, the average becomes 13 years. The teacher's age is:
- A) 25 years
- B) 38 years ✔
- C) 13 years
- D) 40 years
Why: 26 × 13 = 338 and 25 × 12 = 300, so the teacher is 338 − 300 = 38 years.
Pipes A and B fill a tank in 12 and 15 hours, and pipe C empties it in 10 hours. If all three are opened on an empty tank, how long will it take to fill?
- A) 4 hours
- B) 12 hours
- C) 20 hours ✔
- D) 15 hours
Why: LCM = 60 units. Per hour: 5 + 4 − 6 = 3 units. Time = 60 ÷ 3 = 20 hours.
Find the next term: 4, 12, 10, 30, 28, ?
- A) 26
- B) 84 ✔
- C) 56
- D) 90
Why: The operations alternate × 3 and − 2: 4 × 3 = 12, 12 − 2 = 10, 10 × 3 = 30, 30 − 2 = 28, so next is 28 × 3 = 84.
In Nepali, Kaka is your:
- A) Mother's brother
- B) Father's younger brother ✔
- C) Father's elder brother
- D) Sister's husband
Why: Kaka is the father's younger brother. The father's elder brother is Thulobua.
Three bells ring every 6, 8 and 12 minutes. If they ring together now, after how many minutes will they ring together again?
- A) 12
- B) 24 ✔
- C) 36
- D) 48
Why: LCM of 6, 8 and 12 is 24.
What is the mean proportional between 9 and 49?
- A) 21 ✔
- B) 29
- C) 441
- D) 16
Why: Mean proportional = √(9 × 49) = √441 = 21.
Find the compound interest on Rs 10,000 at 10% per annum for 3 years, compounded yearly.
- A) Rs 3,000
- B) Rs 3,310 ✔
- C) Rs 3,210
- D) Rs 13,310
Why: A = 10,000 × 1.1³ = 10,000 × 1.331 = 13,310; CI = Rs 3,310.
Odd day number 4 corresponds to:
- A) Thursday ✔
- B) Wednesday
- C) Friday
- D) Tuesday
Why: In odd-day calculations, Sunday is 0, Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4. So odd day 4 means Thursday.
You are facing West and turn 90° clockwise. Which direction are you facing now?
- A) South
- B) East
- C) North ✔
- D) North-West
Why: Clockwise from West is North.
A: Lightning is seen before thunder is heard. R: Light travels faster than sound. The answer is:
- A) Both true; R explains A ✔
- B) Both true; R does not explain A
- C) A false; R true
- D) A true; R false
Why: Both statements are true, and the reason explains the assertion: light travels much faster than sound, so we see the lightning before we hear the thunder.
A student scores 63 marks out of 90. What is the percentage score?
- A) 72%
- B) 63%
- C) 70% ✔
- D) 68%
Why: 63 / 90 × 100 = 0.7 × 100 = 70%.
Two successive discounts of 15% each are equal to a single discount of:
- A) 30%
- B) 27.5%
- C) 27.75% ✔
- D) 28.25%
Why: 15 + 15 − (15 × 15)/100 = 30 − 2.25 = 27.75%.
A boat goes 20 km/h downstream and 14 km/h upstream. The speed of the stream is:
- A) 3 km/h ✔
- B) 6 km/h
- C) 17 km/h
- D) 7 km/h
Why: Speed of stream = (20 − 14) ÷ 2 = 3 km/h.
AZ : BY :: CX : ?
- A) DV
- B) EW
- C) DW ✔
- D) DX
Why: These are opposite letter pairs. The opposite of D is W (4 + 23 = 27).
Ram is 7th from the top and 14th from the bottom. How many students are there?
- A) 20 ✔
- B) 21
- C) 19
- D) 22
Why: 7 + 14 − 1 = 20.
5 pens cost Rs 75. What do 8 pens cost?
- A) Rs 100
- B) Rs 120 ✔
- C) Rs 135
- D) Rs 150
Why: 1 pen = 15; 8 pens = 120.
The average of 8 numbers is 15. Their sum is:
- A) 23
- B) 100
- C) 120 ✔
- D) 150
Why: Sum = Average × Number = 15 × 8 = 120.
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.
Find the next term: 8, 27, 64, 125, ?
- A) 196
- B) 225
- C) 256
- D) 216 ✔
Why: These are cubes of 2, 3, 4, 5, so the next is 6 × 6 × 6 = 216.
If A + B means A is the father of B and A × B means A is the brother of B, what does M + N × O tell us about M and O?
- A) M is O's brother
- B) M is O's father ✔
- C) M is O's uncle
- D) M is O's grandfather
Why: M is N's father and N is O's brother, so O is also M's child.
The HCF of two numbers is 8 and their LCM is 96. If one number is 24, the other is:
- A) 28
- B) 32 ✔
- C) 36
- D) 40
Why: 8×96 ÷ 24 = 32.
15 kg of rice costs Rs 1,350. What will 22 kg of the same rice cost?
- A) Rs 2,025
- B) Rs 1,980 ✔
- C) Rs 1,850
- D) Rs 2,200
Why: Direct proportion. Price per kg = 1,350 ÷ 15 = Rs 90. Cost of 22 kg = 22 × 90 = Rs 1,980.
If the office ___ at 10, the staff must arrive by 9:45.
- A) opens ✔
- B) opened
- C) would open
- D) had opened
Why: A real present condition takes present simple.
Fill in the blank: "Sunita was ___ first student to arrive."
- A) a
- B) an
- C) the ✔
- D) no article
Why: Ordinal numbers such as first, second and last take the.
Choose the correct negative sentence in the present simple.
- A) Ram does not smoke. ✔
- B) Ram do not smokes.
- C) Ram does not smokes.
- D) Ram not smoke.
Why: In the negative of the present simple, does is followed by the base form V1.
Which conditional is used for scientific facts and general truths?
- A) Zero ✔
- B) First
- C) Second
- D) Third
Why: The zero conditional (If + present, present) expresses facts that are always true.
Fill in the blank: "The boys play ___ football every evening."
- A) a
- B) the
- C) no article ✔
- D) an
Why: Names of games and sports take no article.
"We ___ each other since childhood." Choose the correct form.
- A) have known ✔
- B) are knowing
- C) know
- D) have been knowing
Why: An action from past to now with since takes a perfect form, and know is stative, so the present perfect "have known" is right.
Should you need help, ___ me.
- A) call ✔
- B) called
- C) would call
- D) had called
Why: Should + subject is a formal first conditional; main clause can be imperative.
She is ___ European.
- A) an
- B) a ✔
- C) the
- D) no article
Why: European begins with a 'yu' sound.
Which of these takes "since" rather than "for"?
- A) three days
- B) Monday ✔
- C) ten years
- D) two hours
Why: Since is used with a point of time such as Monday; the other options are lengths of time.
'Unless you study, you will fail' means:
- A) If you do not study, you will fail. ✔
- B) If you study, you will fail.
- C) When you study, you fail.
- D) You studied and failed.
Why: "Unless" means "if not". So "Unless you study, you will fail" means "If you do not study, you will fail".
He is ___ best student in the class.
- A) a
- B) an
- C) the ✔
- D) no article
Why: A superlative such as "best" takes the definite article "the", because it points to one particular person: the best student in the class.
"At ten tomorrow I ___ for the exam." Choose the correct form.
- A) sat
- B) will be sitting ✔
- C) have sat
- D) had been sitting
Why: An action in progress at a definite future time takes the future continuous.
If I ___ the answer, I would tell you.
- A) knew ✔
- B) know
- C) had known
- D) will know
Why: Unreal present: past simple in the if-clause.
He bought ___ umbrella.
- A) an ✔
- B) a
- C) the
- D) no article
Why: Umbrella begins with a vowel sound.
"By the end of this year, Sita ___ her degree." Choose the correct form.
- A) completes
- B) will have completed ✔
- C) had completed
- D) has completed
Why: "By" with a future time points to the future perfect, will have + V3.
She would buy a car if she ___ enough money.
- A) had ✔
- B) has
- C) will have
- D) would have
Why: Second conditional: past simple in the if-clause.
Which word needs 'an'?
- A) hour ✔
- B) house
- C) university
- D) uniform
Why: Hour has a silent h.
"By June, Ram will have been teaching in Dhangadhi for ten years." Which tense is this?
- A) Future perfect
- B) Future perfect continuous ✔
- C) Future continuous
- D) Present perfect continuous
Why: Will have been + V-ing is the future perfect continuous, showing how long an action will have continued.
If I had money, I ___ a new house.
- A) would buy ✔
- B) will buy
- C) would have bought
- D) buy
Why: Second conditional: If + simple past, would + V1.
Fill in the blank: "What ___ beautiful view of Machhapuchhre!"
- A) the
- B) an
- C) a ✔
- D) no article
Why: Exclamations with what use a or an, and beautiful begins with a consonant sound.