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PMA Long Course Initial Test study materials
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PMA Long Course Initial Test practice questions

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Question 1English

In the sentence 'The recruit saluted the officer smartly,' which word functions as the adverb?

  1. saluted
  2. recruit
  3. officer
  4. smartly Correct answer.

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb and often answers how, when, or where. Here 'smartly' describes how the recruit saluted, so it is the adverb. The other words are a verb and two nouns.

Question 2English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: 'Each of the cadets ___ required to report at dawn.'

  1. have been
  2. were
  3. are
  4. is Correct answer.

Explanation

The subject is 'each,' an indefinite pronoun that is always singular, so it takes a singular verb. 'Of the cadets' is a prepositional phrase and does not change the number of the subject. Therefore 'is' is the only correct form.

Question 3English

Which sentence uses the article correctly for a military context?

  1. He is the officer in Pakistan Army.
  2. He is a officer in the Pakistan Army.
  3. He is an Pakistan Army officer.
  4. He is an officer in the Pakistan Army. Correct answer.

Explanation

Use 'an' before a vowel sound and 'a' before a consonant sound; 'officer' begins with a vowel sound, so 'an officer' is correct. A named institution such as the Pakistan Army normally takes 'the,' and the indefinite article suits a non-specific officer.

Question 4English

Identify the tense of the sentence: 'The unit has completed its training exercise.'

  1. Past perfect
  2. Future continuous
  3. Simple past
  4. Present perfect Correct answer.

Explanation

The present perfect is formed with 'has/have' plus the past participle and links a finished action to the present. 'Has completed' fits this pattern exactly. Simple past would be 'completed' alone.

Question 5English

Choose the correctly spelled word to complete: 'The soldiers showed great ___ during the march.'

  1. indurance
  2. endurence
  3. endurance Correct answer.
  4. endurrance

Explanation

The noun formed from 'endure' is 'endurance,' spelled with '-ance.' The root keeps the 'e' and adds the suffix without doubling the 'r,' because the stress is not on the final syllable.

Question 6English

Which word is the synonym of 'brave' as used to describe a soldier?

  1. cautious
  2. valiant Correct answer.
  3. weary
  4. timid

Explanation

A synonym has a meaning close to the original word. 'Valiant' means showing courage, which matches 'brave' in a military description. The other options describe fear, care, or tiredness.

Question 7English

In the sentence 'The sergeant gave the orders quickly,' what is the grammatical function of 'the orders'?

  1. Subject complement
  2. Adverbial phrase
  3. Direct object Correct answer.
  4. Indirect object

Explanation

The verb 'gave' takes two objects: the thing given and the person receiving it. 'The orders' is the thing given, so it is the direct object. The indirect object would be the recipient.

Question 8English

Which option correctly completes: 'If the weather ___ fine tomorrow, the parade will proceed.'

  1. is Correct answer.
  2. will be
  3. was
  4. would be

Explanation

In a first conditional, the if-clause uses the present simple and the main clause uses 'will.' Therefore 'is' is correct. Using 'will' in the if-clause is a common error in English.

Question 9English

Choose the correct passive form: 'The commander ___ the plan before the briefing.'

  1. has approve
  2. approved Correct answer.
  3. is approving
  4. was approved

Explanation

The sentence needs an active verb because 'the commander' is the doer of the action. 'Approved' is the simple past active form. Passive would require 'was approved by,' which reverses the roles.

Question 10English

Identify the underlined clause type in: 'The officer who led the patrol was promoted.'

  1. Adjective clause Correct answer.
  2. Adverb clause
  3. Noun clause
  4. Independent clause

Explanation

'Who led the patrol' describes the noun 'officer,' so it functions like an adjective. Relative clauses beginning with 'who' that modify a noun are adjective clauses. It cannot stand alone, so it is dependent.

Question 11English

Which sentence uses the preposition correctly?

  1. The troops arrived at the base at midnight. Correct answer.
  2. The troops arrived to the base at midnight.
  3. The troops arrived on the base at midnight.
  4. The troops arrived in the base at midnight.

Explanation

The verb 'arrive' is followed by 'at' for a specific place such as a base, and 'at' is also used for clock times. 'Arrive in' suits cities or countries, while 'arrive to' is not standard English.

Question 12English

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined part: 'The recruits, along with their instructor, was marching to the parade ground.'

  1. has marched
  2. were marching Correct answer.
  3. marches
  4. is marching

Explanation

The subject is 'the recruits,' which is plural. The phrase 'along with their instructor' is parenthetical and does not change the number of the subject. Therefore the plural verb 'were marching' is required.

Question 13English

Which sentence correctly uses a modal verb to express obligation?

  1. Soldiers must follow orders. Correct answer.
  2. Soldiers must followed orders.
  3. Soldiers must to follow orders.
  4. Soldiers must following orders.

Explanation

Modal verbs such as 'must' are followed by the bare infinitive, that is, the base form of the verb without 'to.' Therefore 'must follow' is correct. Adding 'to' or changing the verb form is wrong.

Question 14English

What is the meaning of the idiom 'to keep a low profile' in a military setting?

  1. To report to a senior officer
  2. To maintain a written record
  3. To stay close to the ground during an attack
  4. To avoid attracting attention Correct answer.

Explanation

The idiom 'keep a low profile' means to act quietly so as not to draw attention. It is figurative and not about physical posture or paperwork. Idioms must be interpreted as a whole.

Question 15English

Choose the word that best completes: 'The officer's instructions were so ___ that every soldier understood them immediately.'

  1. ambiguous
  2. obscure
  3. explicit Correct answer.
  4. vague

Explanation

The clause 'every soldier understood them immediately' signals clarity. 'Explicit' means clear and fully stated, so it fits. The other options all suggest unclear meaning, which contradicts the sentence.

Question 16English

Which sentence is written in the correct direct speech punctuation?

  1. The major said, "Advance to the ridge at once." Correct answer.
  2. The major said, Advance to the ridge at once.
  3. The major said, "Advance to the ridge at once".
  4. The major said "Advance to the ridge at once".

Explanation

Direct speech is introduced by a comma, enclosed in quotation marks, and the full stop stays inside the closing quotation mark. Option A follows all three conventions. The others misplace punctuation or omit quotation marks.

Question 17English

In 'Having completed the drill, the platoon rested,' what does the opening phrase modify?

  1. The drill
  2. The resting place
  3. The platoon Correct answer.
  4. The completed task

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence should modify the subject of the main clause. The subject is 'the platoon,' which completed the drill and then rested. This avoids a dangling modifier.

Question 18English

Choose the correct comparative form: 'This route is ___ than the one we took yesterday.'

  1. shorter Correct answer.
  2. most short
  3. shortest
  4. more shorter

Explanation

Short adjectives form the comparative by adding '-er,' so 'shorter' is correct. Using 'more' with an '-er' form is a double comparative, which is wrong. 'Shortest' is superlative and needs 'the.'

Question 19English

Which option correctly completes: 'No sooner had the alarm sounded ___ the soldiers assembled.'

  1. than Correct answer.
  2. that
  3. when
  4. then

Explanation

The fixed correlative structure is 'no sooner ... than.' It pairs with a past perfect clause to show two events in quick succession. 'When' and 'then' do not complete this structure.

Question 20English

Identify the sentence that contains a dangling modifier.

  1. The troops marched through the night and reached the outpost.
  2. Marching through the night, the troops reached the outpost by dawn.
  3. After marching through the night, the troops reached the outpost.
  4. Marching through the night, the outpost was reached by dawn. Correct answer.

Explanation

In the second sentence, the opening participial phrase should describe the subject, but the subject is 'the outpost,' which cannot march. This mismatch creates a dangling modifier. The other sentences keep the doer as the subject.

Question 21English

Choose the option that best expresses the sentence in reported speech: The captain said, "We will move at first light."

  1. The captain says that they would move at first light.
  2. The captain said that they will move at first light.
  3. The captain said that they would move at first light. Correct answer.
  4. The captain said that we would moved at first light.

Explanation

In reported speech, the reporting verb 'said' is past, so 'will' shifts back to 'would,' and 'we' changes to 'they' because the reporter is not the speaker. 'Would move' preserves the future-in-the-past meaning correctly.

Question 22English

Which sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly?

  1. The colonel insisted that the report be submitted by noon. Correct answer.
  2. The colonel insisted that the report is submitted by noon.
  3. The colonel insisted that the report being submitted by noon.
  4. The colonel insisted that the report was submitted by noon.

Explanation

After verbs of demand or insistence such as 'insist,' formal English uses the subjunctive, which takes the base form 'be' regardless of the subject. 'That the report be submitted' is the correct construction. The indicative forms do not express the required demand.

Question 23English

Choose the option that correctly completes: 'Had the sentry been more alert, the breach ___.'

  1. will be prevented
  2. would be prevented
  3. had been prevented
  4. would have been prevented Correct answer.

Explanation

This is a third conditional with an inverted 'had' clause instead of 'if.' The main clause must use 'would have' plus the past participle. 'Would have been prevented' matches that pattern.

Question 24English

Which option best replaces 'in the event that' without changing the meaning in: 'In the event that the convoy is delayed, radio headquarters.'

  1. Although
  2. Because
  3. Unless
  4. If Correct answer.

Explanation

'In the event that' introduces a possible future condition, and its direct equivalent is 'if.' 'Unless' would reverse the condition, and the other conjunctions express contrast or cause rather than condition.

Question 25English

Identify the sentence in which the semicolon is used correctly.

  1. The drill ended; and the soldiers dispersed.
  2. The drill ended; because the soldiers dispersed.
  3. The drill ended; the soldiers dispersed. Correct answer.
  4. The drill; ended the soldiers dispersed.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related and not already joined by a conjunction. 'The drill ended' and 'the soldiers dispersed' are both independent, so the semicolon is correct. A coordinating conjunction or a subordinator makes the semicolon wrong.

Question 26English

In the sentence 'The recruits, who had marched all night, were exhausted,' what grammatical function does the clause 'who had marched all night' perform?

  1. It is a restrictive relative clause modifying 'recruits'
  2. It is a non-restrictive relative clause modifying 'recruits' Correct answer.
  3. It is a noun clause functioning as the subject of 'were'
  4. It is an adverbial clause of time modifying 'marched'

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas, which signals that it adds extra, non-essential information about 'recruits' rather than identifying which recruits are meant. A restrictive relative clause would appear without commas and would be needed to identify the noun. Because it is non-restrictive, it modifies the whole noun phrase 'the recruits' and can be removed without changing the basic meaning that the recruits were exhausted.

Question 27English

Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The platoon leader insisted that every soldier ___ his weapon before the inspection.'

  1. cleaned
  2. is cleaning
  3. clean Correct answer.
  4. cleans

Explanation

Verbs such as 'insist', 'demand', 'recommend', and 'require' trigger the subjunctive mood in a that-clause, and the present subjunctive uses the base form of the verb regardless of the subject. Therefore 'clean' is correct even though the subject 'every soldier' is singular. The indicative 'cleans' would be used in ordinary reporting, not after a mandative verb.

Question 28English

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

  1. The sergeant issued three orders: fall in, stand at ease, and await further instructions. Correct answer.
  2. The sergeant issued: three orders to fall in, stand at ease, and await further instructions.
  3. The sergeant issued three orders, fall in, stand at ease, and await further instructions.
  4. The sergeant issued three orders; fall in, stand at ease, and await further instructions.

Explanation

A colon is used after a complete independent clause to introduce a list or explanation. In option 0, 'The sergeant issued three orders' is a complete clause, and the colon properly introduces the list that follows. The colon should not separate a verb from its object, and a semicolon joins independent clauses rather than introducing a list.

Question 29English

Which word is closest in meaning to 'tenacious' as used in the sentence 'The tenacious defence of the outpost prevented the enemy from advancing'?

  1. Cautious
  2. Temporary
  3. Persistent Correct answer.
  4. Reluctant

Explanation

'Tenacious' describes someone or something that holds on firmly and does not give up easily, so 'persistent' is the closest synonym in this context of a defence that refused to yield. The other options describe duration, caution, or unwillingness, none of which captures the idea of stubborn endurance.

Question 30English

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence in reported speech: The major said, 'I will inspect the barracks tomorrow.' → The major said that he ___ inspect the barracks the following day.

  1. shall
  2. will
  3. is going to
  4. would Correct answer.

Explanation

In reported speech after a past reporting verb such as 'said', the modal 'will' normally shifts to 'would' to reflect the past perspective. The time expression 'tomorrow' also shifts to 'the following day', which confirms the backshift. 'Shall' and 'is going to' do not undergo the required modal backshift here.

Question 31English

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

  1. Having checked the perimeter, the sentry's return to his post was prompt. Correct answer.
  2. After the perimeter had been checked, the sentry returned to his post.
  3. The sentry, having checked the perimeter, returned to his post.
  4. Having checked the perimeter, the sentry returned to his post.

Explanation

A dangling modifier occurs when the implied subject of an introductory participial phrase does not match the subject of the main clause. In option 1, 'Having checked the perimeter' implies that the sentry did the checking, but the main clause subject is 'the sentry's return', which cannot perform that action. The other options all attach the participial phrase to a subject capable of doing the checking.

Question 32English

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

  1. By the time reinforcements arrived, the platoon had held the bridge for six hours. Correct answer.
  2. By the time reinforcements arrived, the platoon held the bridge for six hours.
  3. By the time reinforcements arrived, the platoon was holding the bridge for six hours.
  4. By the time reinforcements arrived, the platoon has held the bridge for six hours.

Explanation

The past perfect ('had held') is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action or time. Here the holding of the bridge occurred before the reinforcements arrived, so the past perfect is appropriate. The simple past, present perfect, and past progressive do not clearly express that earlier completion.

Question 33English

Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The officer spoke ___ enough for every recruit in the rear rank to hear.'

  1. aloud
  2. loudness
  3. loud
  4. loudly Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence needs an adverb to modify the verb 'spoke', and 'loudly' is the standard adverb form. Although 'loud' can function as a flat adverb in informal speech, 'loudly' is the unambiguous choice in formal written English. 'Loudness' is a noun and 'aloud' means 'audibly' rather than 'with high volume'.

Question 34English

Which sentence correctly uses a conditional form to express an unreal past situation?

  1. If the sentry was more alert, he would detect the intruder.
  2. If the sentry had been more alert, he would have detected the intruder. Correct answer.
  3. If the sentry were more alert, he would have detected the intruder.
  4. If the sentry had been more alert, he would detect the intruder.

Explanation

The third conditional describes an unreal past situation using 'if' + past perfect in the condition and 'would have' + past participle in the result. Option 0 follows this pattern correctly. Mixing a past perfect condition with a present result, or a present condition with a past result, produces an inconsistent conditional.

Question 35English

Which word is the best antonym for 'meticulous' as used in 'The quartermaster kept meticulous records of all supplies'?

  1. Thorough
  2. Detailed
  3. Organised
  4. Careless Correct answer.

Explanation

'Meticulous' means showing great attention to detail, so its antonym is 'careless', which describes a lack of such attention. 'Thorough', 'organised', and 'detailed' are all near-synonyms rather than opposites. Identifying the contrast between precision and neglect is the key to this vocabulary item.

Question 36English

Which sentence uses the definite article 'the' correctly?

  1. The sergeant ordered the recruits to assemble at the main gate. Correct answer.
  2. Sergeant ordered the recruits to assemble at the main gate.
  3. A sergeant ordered the recruits to assemble at a main gate.
  4. The sergeant ordered recruits to assemble at main gate.

Explanation

The definite article 'the' is used when the noun is specific or already known to the reader. In option 0, 'the recruits' refers to a specific group and 'the main gate' is a unique, identifiable location, so both uses are correct. Omitting articles or using an indefinite article with a unique noun creates errors.

Question 37English

Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'The commander, together with his staff officers, ___ scheduled to visit the training area.'

  1. is Correct answer.
  2. are
  3. were
  4. have been

Explanation

When a subject is followed by a parenthetical phrase introduced by 'together with', 'along with', or 'as well as', the verb agrees with the main subject, not the noun in the phrase. The main subject is 'The commander', which is singular, so the singular verb 'is' is correct. The plural forms would incorrectly agree with 'staff officers'.

Question 38English

Which sentence correctly uses a gerund as the subject of a clause?

  1. Patrolling the border at night requires specialised training. Correct answer.
  2. To patrol the border at night requires specialised training.
  3. The patrol of the border at night requires specialised training.
  4. Patrol the border at night requires specialised training.

Explanation

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. In option 0, 'Patrolling the border at night' functions as the subject of 'requires'. 'To patrol' is an infinitive, 'patrol' is a bare verb, and 'the patrol' is a noun, none of which is a gerund subject.

Question 39English

In the sentence 'The general, whose orders were obeyed without question, inspected the parade,' what is the function of 'whose orders were obeyed without question'?

  1. It is a noun clause acting as the object of 'inspected'.
  2. It is a defining relative clause identifying which general is meant.
  3. It is an adverbial clause of reason explaining why the general inspected the parade.
  4. It is a non-defining relative clause giving extra information about 'the general'. Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas and begins with the possessive relative pronoun 'whose', which links it to 'the general'. Because it is comma-separated and adds descriptive information rather than identifying the general, it is a non-defining relative clause. A defining clause would not take commas and would be essential to identify the noun.

Question 40English

Which option best replaces 'in the event that' without changing the meaning of the sentence? 'In the event that the convoy is delayed, the escort will proceed to the alternate route.'

  1. Because
  2. If Correct answer.
  3. Unless
  4. Although

Explanation

'In the event that' introduces a condition that may or may not happen, so the simplest equivalent is 'if'. 'Unless' would reverse the condition, 'although' introduces contrast, and 'because' introduces a cause. Only 'if' preserves the conditional meaning of the original sentence.

Question 41Mathematics

A cadet scores 72, 85, 68 and 95 marks in four mathematics tests. What is the mean score of the four tests?

  1. 78
  2. 76
  3. 82
  4. 80 Correct answer.

Explanation

The mean is the total of all scores divided by the number of scores. The sum is 72 + 85 + 68 + 95 = 320, and dividing by 4 gives 80.

Question 42Mathematics

Simplify the expression 3(2x - 4) + 5x.

  1. 11x - 12 Correct answer.
  2. 11x - 4
  3. 6x - 7
  4. 6x - 12

Explanation

Expand the bracket first: 3(2x - 4) = 6x - 12. Adding 5x gives 6x + 5x - 12 = 11x - 12.

Question 43Mathematics

What is the value of 2^5 - 3^2?

  1. 32
  2. 13
  3. 23 Correct answer.
  4. 41

Explanation

Compute each power separately: 2^5 = 32 and 3^2 = 9. Subtracting gives 32 - 9 = 23.

Question 44Mathematics

A rectangle has length 12 cm and width 7 cm. What is its perimeter?

  1. 42 cm
  2. 38 cm Correct answer.
  3. 19 cm
  4. 84 cm

Explanation

The perimeter of a rectangle is 2(length + width). Here 2(12 + 7) = 2 x 19 = 38 cm.

Question 45Mathematics

Convert the fraction 3/8 to a decimal.

  1. 0.83
  2. 0.38
  3. 0.3
  4. 0.375 Correct answer.

Explanation

Dividing 3 by 8 gives 0.375 exactly, since 8 x 0.375 = 3. The decimal terminates after three places.

Question 46Mathematics

If 40 percent of a number is 90, what is the number?

  1. 180
  2. 130
  3. 360
  4. 225 Correct answer.

Explanation

Let the number be x. Then 0.40x = 90, so x = 90 / 0.40 = 225.

Question 47Mathematics

What is the next term in the sequence 3, 7, 15, 31, ...?

  1. 55
  2. 47
  3. 63 Correct answer.
  4. 62

Explanation

Each term is double the previous term plus one: 3x2+1=7, 7x2+1=15, 15x2+1=31. So the next term is 31x2+1 = 63.

Question 48Mathematics

A train covers 240 km in 3 hours. What is its average speed?

  1. 80 km/h Correct answer.
  2. 120 km/h
  3. 72 km/h
  4. 60 km/h

Explanation

Average speed equals distance divided by time. Here 240 km / 3 h = 80 km/h.

Question 49Mathematics

Solve for x: 5x - 7 = 3x + 9.

  1. 4
  2. 8 Correct answer.
  3. 16
  4. 2

Explanation

Subtract 3x from both sides to get 2x - 7 = 9, then add 7 to get 2x = 16, so x = 8.

Question 50Mathematics

Two angles of a triangle measure 48 degrees and 67 degrees. What is the third angle?

  1. 55 degrees
  2. 75 degrees
  3. 85 degrees
  4. 65 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

The angles of a triangle sum to 180 degrees. The two given angles total 115, so the third is 180 - 115 = 65 degrees.