GSA Practice Set 1 – General Science & Ability (20 Original MCQs Explained)

General Science & Ability (GSA) is a compulsory CSS subject (100 marks) that rewards clear concepts, not memorisation. This set of 20 original MCQs covers science (physics, chemistry, biology), everyday science, basic maths, and reasoning — the four areas GSA tests. Attempt all 20 in 25 minutes, then check the explained answers. These are original practice questions, not copied from FPSC papers or competitor question banks, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC. Scoring: 18–20 = strong. 15–17 = good. 12–14 = fair, revise the sections you missed. Below 12 = study the weak-section review, then re-attempt in 2 days.

Questions

Q1. What is the chemical symbol for gold? A) Ag B) Au C) Gd D) Go

Q2. Which planet is closest to the Sun? A) Venus B) Mercury C) Mars D) Earth

Q3. In which part of a plant cell does photosynthesis take place? A) Nucleus B) Mitochondria C) Chloroplast D) Vacuole

Q4. How many bones are in the adult human body? A) 106 B) 206 C) 306 D) 406

Q5. What is the boiling point of water at sea level? A) 90°C B) 95°C C) 100°C D) 110°C

Q6. Which vitamin is produced in human skin by sunlight? A) Vitamin A B) Vitamin B12 C) Vitamin C D) Vitamin D

Q7. What is the chemical formula of common salt? A) KCl B) NaCl C) CaCl2 D) HCl

Q8. Which gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere for photosynthesis? A) Oxygen B) Nitrogen C) Carbon dioxide D) Hydrogen

Q9. What is 15% of 200? A) 15 B) 25 C) 30 D) 45

Q10. If x = 3, what is the value of x² + 2x? A) 9 B) 12 C) 15 D) 18

Q11. What is the average of 10, 20, and 30? A) 15 B) 20 C) 25 D) 30

Q12. What is the perimeter of a square with side 5 cm? A) 10 cm B) 15 cm C) 20 cm D) 25 cm

Q13. Odd one out: Apple, Banana, Mango, Potato. A) Apple B) Banana C) Mango D) Potato

Q14. If CAT = 24 (C=3, A=1, T=20; sum = 24), what is DOG? (D=4, O=15, G=7) A) 24 B) 25 C) 26 D) 27

Q15. Next number in the series: 5, 10, 20, 40, ? A) 50 B) 60 C) 80 D) 100

Q16. If all pens are books, and all books are red, then all pens are: A) Blue B) Red C) Black D) Cannot be determined

Q17. Which instrument is used to measure temperature? A) Barometer B) Thermometer C) Altimeter D) Speedometer

Q18. What is the approximate speed of light in a vacuum? A) 150,000 km/s B) 300,000 km/s C) 450,000 km/s D) 600,000 km/s

Q19. Which organ pumps blood around the human body? A) Liver B) Lung C) Heart D) Kidney

Q20. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy? A) Coal B) Petrol C) Solar D) Natural gas

Answer Key + Explained Answers

Q1 – B) Au. Gold’s chemical symbol is Au (from Latin aurum). Ag = silver, Gd = gadolinium. “Go” is not an element symbol.

Q2 – B) Mercury. Mercury is closest to the Sun. Order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Q3 – C) Chloroplast. Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll (the green pigment). Mitochondria produce energy; nucleus holds DNA; vacuole stores substances.

Q4 – B) 206. An adult human has 206 bones. Babies are born with about 300 bones, many of which fuse as they grow.

Q5 – C) 100°C. Water boils at 100°C (212°F) at sea level. At higher altitudes (lower pressure), it boils at a lower temperature.

Q6 – D) Vitamin D. Sunlight (UVB) triggers Vitamin D production in skin. Vitamin C comes from food; Vitamin A from food; B12 from animal foods / supplements.

Q7 – B) NaCl. Common salt is sodium chloride (NaCl). KCl = potassium chloride, CaCl2 = calcium chloride, HCl = hydrochloric acid.

Q8 – C) Carbon dioxide. Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen during photosynthesis.

Q9 – C) 30. 15% of 200 = 0.15 × 200 = 30.

Q10 – C) 15. x² + 2x = 3² + 2(3) = 9 + 6 = 15.

Q11 – B) 20. Average = (10 + 20 + 30) ÷ 3 = 60 ÷ 3 = 20.

Q12 – C) 20 cm. Perimeter of a square = 4 × side = 4 × 5 = 20 cm. (25 would be area, not perimeter.)

Q13 – D) Potato. Apple, Banana, Mango are fruits. Potato is a vegetable (a tuber). The odd-one-out is by category, not by shape or colour.

Q14 – C) 26. DOG = D(4) + O(15) + G(7) = 26. The rule is sum of letter positions (A=1, B=2, … Z=26).

Q15 – C) 80. Each term doubles: 5 × 2 = 10, 10 × 2 = 20, 20 × 2 = 40, 40 × 2 = 80.

Q16 – B) Red. If all pens are books, and all books are red, then all pens (being books) are red. This is a syllogism: P ⊂ B, B ⊂ Red, so P ⊂ Red.

Q17 – B) Thermometer. Thermometer measures temperature. Barometer = air pressure, Altimeter = altitude, Speedometer = speed.

Q18 – B) 300,000 km/s. Speed of light in vacuum ≈ 299,792 km/s, rounded to 300,000 km/s in MCQs.

Q19 – C) Heart. The heart pumps blood. Liver filters blood, lungs oxygenate it, kidneys filter waste — but only the heart pumps it.

Q20 – C) Solar. Solar energy is renewable (replenished by the Sun). Coal, petrol, and natural gas are fossil fuels — non-renewable.

Weak-Section Review

Science (Q1–Q8, Q17–Q20): revise symbols, planets, photosynthesis, human body, and everyday instruments. Learn concepts, not just answers.

Maths (Q9–Q12): practise percentages, algebra, averages, and perimeter/area — show working, do not guess.

Reasoning (Q13–Q16): practise odd-one-out, letter sums, series, and syllogisms. Write the rule for each question you missed. Re-attempt in 2 days. Do not move to Set 2 until you score 15+ here.

These are original practice questions written for csspastpapers.pk. They are not FPSC official questions, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC.

Related reading: GSA past papers | CSS syllabus (General Science & Ability) | MPT Practice Set 1