PROVINCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE, ETC. (PMS) / COMBINED COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION (BS-17) 2020

• (A) United Kingdom

After the United States, the United Kingdom has the second-highest number of Nobel laureates, with Germany following suit. The UK has consistently contributed a number of laureates across various fields, especially in science and literature, with approximately 143 to 145 prizes awarded up to 2025.

• (C) Sedimentary Rocks

Fossil-bearing rocks are sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks are formed from layers of sediment, like sand, mud, and organic matter, that collect and harden over long periods of time, helping preserve fossils. Sedimentary rocks are different from igneous and metamorphic rocks, since they are formed at temperatures and pressures that don’t destroy fossils.

• (A) 2%

The Human Genome Project has shown that only a small fraction of our genome actually codes for proteins. About 1% to 2% of our genome consists of exons, which are the coding parts of our genome. The rest of our genome, approximately 98% to 99% of our approximately 3 billion base pairs of DNA, consists of non-coding DNA. Even though some sources give the exact percentage of this part of our genome to be around 1.5%, the commonly used percentage for this part of our genome in academic and biological circles for this topic is around 2%.

• (D) Integration

The word Segregation refers to the act of setting someone or something apart from others or keeping different groups separate. Integration is the most precise antonym because it describes the process of combining or uniting different groups into a single, unified whole.

• (A) Appreciation: This means to recognize the full worth of something or to be grateful, which does not relate to the concept of physical or social separation.
• (B) Union: While “Union” does imply joining together, it is a broader term that refers to the state of being joined. In linguistic and social contexts, Integration is the specific and direct opposite of Segregation.
• (C) Collecting: This refers to the act of gathering things together in one place, but it does not necessarily imply the deep social or structural unity that is the opposite of segregation.

• (B) Embedding and Linking

In computing, particularly within the context of Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), there are two primary methods for inserting and sharing data between applications: when you copy and paste content from one app to another, there are two options:

• – Embedding: Where the pasted content becomes part of the new document. If the source document changes, it does not affect the embedded document.
• – Linking: Where the pasted document remains connected to the source document. Changes to the source document are reflected in the destination document.

Therefore, the correct answer is: (B) Embedding and Linking. 

• (C) URL

A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the precise address that refers to a given web page or resource on the internet. A domain refers to a website, e.g., google.com, while a URL refers to the location of a given web page on that website.

• (B) Predefined formula

A predefined formula is a pre-written formula that is used to perform calculations with its input arranged in a specific order. In a spreadsheet program such as Excel, a function is a pre-written formula that has specific requirements to perform a set of calculations.

• (A) 54.5%

Let’s break this down step by step.

• Given:
• – Boys: 1100, pass percentage: 50%
  Boys who passed: 1100 x 50%
  Boys who passed: 550
• – Girls: 900, pass percentage: 40%
  Girls who passed: 900 x 40%
  Girls who passed: 360
• Total appeared: 1100 + 900 = 2000
  Total passed: 550 + 360 = 910
  Total failed: 2000 – 910 = 1090
  Fail percentage: (1090 / 2000) x 100 = 54.5%

• (A) Tropical Rain Forest

Coniferous forests, otherwise known as taiga or boreal forests, have much lower biodiversity than Tropical Rain Forests. The explanation for this lies in their harsh climate and poor soils lacking nutrients. In comparison, tropical rainforests have a constant and pleasant climate and annual rainfall, creating perfect conditions to support the greatest biodiversity found anywhere on Earth. These boreal forests are dominated by a small number of tree species, like pines, firs, and spruces. In comparison, tropical rainforests are teeming with life and have a staggering array of species, making them have high biodiversity.

• (B) Vitamin C

The vitamin that is primarily responsible for controlling the enzymatic browning of fruits is vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. The enzymatic browning occurs when the enzyme polyphenol oxidase reacts with oxygen and converts phenolic compounds into melanin pigments. Vitamin C is responsible for controlling the enzymatic browning of fruits in two different ways. First, vitamin C reduces o-quinones into phenolic compounds before the formation of melanin pigments. Second, vitamin C reduces the pH of the fruits’ surface. Vitamin C is an acid that reduces the pH of the fruits’ surface, thereby slowing down or completely inhibiting the activity of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase.