#1421

Why did Humayun leave Sindh and go to Persia?

(a) The climate was too hot

(b) He failed to capture Bhakkar and Sehwan

(c) He was invited by the Shah

(d) Rana Prasad betrayed him

Explanation: After failing to capture the strategic forts of Bhakkar and Sehwan and facing hostility from local rulers, Humayun decided to leave for Persia to seek greater aid.

#1422

Who remarked that Humayun 'stumbled out of life as he had stumbled through it'?

(a) V.A. Smith

(b) Stanley Lane-Poole

(c) Jadunath Sarkar

(d) R.P. Tripathi

Explanation: British historian Stanley Lane-Poole made the famous remark regarding Humayun's turbulent life and accidental death.

#1423

What was the primary reason for Humayun's initial failure against Sher Shah?

(a) Lack of artillery

(b) Betrayal by Bairam Khan

(c) Lack of coordination with his brothers

(d) Sher Shah's superior navy

Explanation: The lack of unity and coordination among Humayun and his brothers (Kamran, Askari, Hindal) significantly weakened the Mughal defense against Sher Shah.

#1424

Who wrote the 'Humayun-nama'?

(a) Humayun

(b) Gulbadan Begum

(c) Abul Fazl

(d) Jahanara

Explanation: Gulbadan Begum was the sister of Humayun and wrote his biography, 'Humayun-nama', at the request of her nephew, Emperor Akbar.

#1425

Which ruler famously defeated Humayun twice?

(a) Bahadur Shah

(b) Sher Shah Suri

(c) Rana Sanga

(d) Mahmud Lodi

Explanation: Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at the Battle of Chausa (1539) and the Battle of Kannauj (1540), forcing him into exile.

#1426

The 'Mayo Resolution' of 1870 is associated with:

(a) Financial Decentralization

(b) Educational Reform

(c) Military Reform

(d) Police Reform

Explanation: Lord Mayo's resolution of 1870 initiated the process of financial decentralization in India, transferring control over certain departments (like education and health) to provincial governments with fixed grants.

#1427

Innocence (معصومیت) means the state of being innocent of an offense, crime, or wrongdoing. Crime (جرم) means an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law. Mischief (شرارت) means playful misbehavior or troublemaking, especially in children. Sin (گناہ) means an immoral act considered a transgression against divine law. Guilt (جرم) means the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime. Which of the following is the most appropriate antonym for "DIABOLIC"?

(a) Patient

(b) Kind

(c) Simple

(d) Generous

#1428

The company is in the red and may have to lay off some employees.

(a) making a large profit

(b) located in a building painted red

(c) operating at a financial loss; in debt

(d) celebrating a major success

Explanation: **Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'in the red' means to be in debt or losing money. It originates from the accounting practice of using red ink to denote financial losses. The possibility of having to 'lay off some employees' is a consequence of financial trouble. Option (c) is the correct meaning. Options (a) and (d) are the opposite. Option (b) is a literal misinterpretation.

#1429

Simplest and smallest form of plant life, present in air, water and soil; essential to life but may cause disease

(a) Virus

(b) Amoeba

(c) Bacteria

(d) Toxin

Explanation: Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that can be essential (like in digestion) or cause disease. (Note: They were historically classified as plants, but are now in their own kingdom). 'Virus' is non-living. 'Amoeba' is a protozoan.

#1430

A fault that may be forgiven

(a) Mercenary

(b) Venial

(c) Pardonable

(d) Excusable

Explanation: A venial sin or fault is one that is slight and excusable, in contrast to a 'mortal' (deadly) sin. While 'pardonable' and 'excusable' are similar, 'venial' is the specific term for a minor, forgivable transgression. Mercenary means motivated by money.

#1431

A fault that may be forgiven.

(a) Pardonable

(b) Excusable

(c) Mercenary

(d) Venial

Explanation: A venial fault or sin is one that is slight and pardonable, not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. Pardonable and excusable are synonyms, but venial is a more specific term often used in a moral or religious context. Mercenary relates to making money.

#1432

The city's mayor is known for his ______ speeches, which often last for hours.

(a) laconic

(b) pithy

(c) concise

(d) verbose

Explanation: Rule: Vocabulary from Definition. The definition is provided in the sentence: the speeches 'often last for hours'. This means they are very long and wordy. 'Verbose' means using or expressed in more words than are needed. This is the perfect word. Options (a) 'laconic', (b) 'pithy', and (c) 'concise' are all antonyms, meaning using very few words.

#1433

A new hospital wing __________ by the mayor next Monday.

(a) is opening

(b) opens

(c) is going to be opened

(d) will open

Explanation: **Rule:** This requires a future passive form ('be going to be' + past participle) because the 'wing' is the receiver of the action. 'Be going to' is used because this is a planned, scheduled event. Present continuous passive ('is being opened') would also be possible, but this is a clear and correct alternative.

#1434

___ Ramayana is a sacred book of the Hindus.

(a) A

(b) An

(c) The

(d) No article

Explanation: **Rule: The definite article 'the' is used before the names of holy or important books.** 'The Ramayana', 'the Bible', 'the Quran' are all names of specific religious texts and require 'the'. Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect.

#1435

Ali said to his teacher, "May I come in?" Options:

(a) Ali told his teacher that he might come in.

(b) Ali asked his teacher if he might come in.

(c) Ali asked his teacher that he may come in.

(d) Ali said his teacher he might come in. Correct

Explanation: Direct question (yes/no) → if/whether. said to → asked. May → might (backshift). Pronoun: I → he**.

#1436

He said, "May God bless you." Options:

(a) He prayed that God might bless me.

(b) He wished that God might bless me.

(c) He prayed that God bless me.

(d) Both (a) and (b). Correct

Explanation: May …! = prayer/blessing → reporting verb prayed/wished. may → might**. Both (a) and (b) are valid.

#1437

The old man said, “May Allah bless you with success.”

(a) The old man prayed that Allah may bless me with success.

(b) The old man wished that Allah might bless me with success.

(c) The old man said Allah should bless you with success.

(d) The old man prayed Allah will bless me with success.

Explanation: May → might** in reported speech when expressing wishes/prayers.

#1438

The old lady said, “May Allah bless you and give you all you desire in life!” Options:

(a) … says that may Allah bless you …

(b) … said that Allah may bless you …

(c) … said that Allah will bless me …

(d) The old lady wished that Allah would bless me and give me all I desired in life. Correct

Explanation: May …! = prayer → wished/prayed; may → would; you → me; backshift desire → desired**. Options (a)/(b)/(c) fail tense or pronoun rules.

#1439

Rukhsana said, “I may buy a new car this year.”

(a) Rukhsana said that she may buy a new car this year.

(b) Rukhsana said that she might buy a new car that year.

(c) Rukhsana said that she could buy a new car this year.

(d) Rukhsana said that she might buy a new car last year.

Explanation: ** “May” → “might.” Time expression “this year” → “that year.”

#1440

He said, “I may visit Islamabad next week.”

(a) He said that he may visit Islamabad next week.

(b) He said that he might visit Islamabad the following week.

(c) He said that he could visit Islamabad the next week.

(d) He said that he will visit Islamabad next week.

Explanation: ** “May” → “might.” “Next week” → “the following week.”

May 2025 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions