PPSC Subject Specialist Test General Knowledge & Everyday Science Syllabus

General Knowledge & Everyday Science syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Knowledge & Everyday Science in PPSC Subject Specialist Test, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Geography & Universe

   4 topics

   • Solar System & Planets
   • Earth: Structure, Atmosphere & Climate
   • Continents, Oceans & Major Rivers
   • World Geography of Pakistan & Neighbours
2. 2

   Physics in Everyday Life

   4 topics

   • Units, Measurement & Quantities
   • Force, Motion & Energy
   • Heat, Light & Sound
   • Electricity & Magnetism
3. 3

   Chemistry in Everyday Life

   4 topics

   • Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
   • Acids, Bases & Salts
   • Common Chemicals & Their Uses
   • Metals, Non-Metals & Alloys
4. 4

   Biology & Human Body

   4 topics

   • Human Body Systems
   • Vitamins, Diseases & Nutrition
   • Cell, Genetics & Reproduction
   • Plants, Photosynthesis & Ecology
5. 5

   Science & Technology

   4 topics

   • Famous Scientists & Inventions
   • Information & Communication Technology
   • Space Exploration & Satellites
   • Environmental Science & Pollution
6. 6

   General Awareness

   4 topics

   • Important Days & Events
   • World Organizations & Headquarters
   • Awards, Prizes & Honours
   • Abbreviations & Currencies

General Knowledge & Everyday Science flashcards for PPSC Subject Specialist Test

19 of 50 cards from the General Knowledge & Everyday Science deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which planet is closest to the Sun, and which is the largest in the Solar System?

   Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun; Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System.

2. Why is Venus the hottest planet in the Solar System despite Mercury being closer to the Sun?

   Venus has a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere that traps heat through a runaway greenhouse effect, raising its surface temperature above Mercury's.

3. What is the order of the eight planets from the Sun outward?

   Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

4. Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet' and why?

   Mars; its surface is rich in iron oxide (rust), giving it a reddish appearance.

5. What is the approximate time light takes to travel from the Sun to the Earth?

   About 8 minutes and 20 seconds (roughly 8.3 minutes).

6. What are the four 'gas giants' (and ice giants) of the Solar System?

   Jupiter and Saturn (gas giants), and Uranus and Neptune (ice giants).

7. Why was Pluto reclassified, and what is it now called?

   In 2006 the IAU reclassified Pluto as a 'dwarf planet' because it has not cleared its orbital neighbourhood of other objects.

8. What are the three main internal layers of the Earth?

   The crust (outermost), the mantle (middle), and the core (inner solid core and outer liquid core).

9. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet radiation?

   The stratosphere.

10. List the layers of Earth's atmosphere from lowest to highest.

    Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

11. In which atmospheric layer does almost all weather occur?

    The troposphere (the lowest layer).

12. What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere, and its approximate percentage?

    Nitrogen, making up about 78% of the atmosphere (oxygen is about 21%).

13. What is the difference between weather and climate?

    Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere at a place; climate is the average weather pattern of a region over a long period (typically 30+ years).

14. What are the seven continents of the world?

    Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia (Oceania).

15. Name the five oceans of the world.

    Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Arctic Oceans.

16. Which is the longest river in the world and which is the largest by water volume?

    The Nile is generally considered the longest river; the Amazon is the largest by water discharge/volume.

17. Which is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth?

    The Pacific Ocean is both the largest and deepest ocean.

18. Which countries share a land border with Pakistan?

    India (east), Afghanistan (northwest), Iran (southwest), and China (northeast).

19. Which mountain range separates Pakistan from China and contains K2?

    The Karakoram range; K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) is the second-highest peak in the world at 8,611 m.

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