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PAF Airman Initial Test study materials
PAF Airman Initial Test study resources

PAF Airman Initial Test practice questions

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Question 1English

Choose the word closest in meaning to 'commence'.

  1. repeat
  2. finish
  3. begin Correct answer.
  4. delay

Explanation

'Commence' is a verb meaning to start or begin an activity. A synonym must share that core sense of starting. Words describing postponement, completion or repetition belong to different meaning groups.

Question 2English

Choose the word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'scatter'.

  1. spread
  2. divide
  3. gather Correct answer.
  4. throw

Explanation

An antonym must express the reverse idea of the given word. 'Scatter' means to throw things in different directions, so its opposite is to bring things together into one place. 'Spread' and 'divide' actually reinforce the idea of separating.

Question 3English

Choose the correct word for the blank: 'She is ___ honest woman.'

  1. no article needed
  2. a
  3. the
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The indefinite article is used before a singular countable noun introduced for the first time. The choice between 'a' and 'an' depends on the sound that follows, not the letter. 'Honest' begins with a vowel sound because the 'h' is silent, so 'an' is required.

Question 4English

In the sentence 'The hungry child ate quickly', the word 'quickly' is a(n):

  1. verb
  2. noun
  3. adverb Correct answer.
  4. adjective

Explanation

Words that modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs are adverbs, and many of them end in '-ly'. Here 'quickly' tells us how the child ate, so it modifies the verb 'ate'. Adjectives, by contrast, modify nouns.

Question 5English

Which word is spelt correctly?

  1. separate Correct answer.
  2. definately
  3. beleive
  4. recieve

Explanation

Correct spelling often depends on a remembered rule or pattern. 'Separate' keeps the '-par-' of its root 'parare'. The other three options break the familiar 'i before e' pattern or double a consonant that should be single.

Question 6English

Choose the correct verb: 'Each of the students ___ a book.'

  1. has Correct answer.
  2. are having
  3. have
  4. were having

Explanation

When the subject begins with 'each of', the true grammatical subject is 'each', which is singular. The plural noun after 'of' does not change the verb. A singular subject takes a singular verb, so 'has' is correct.

Question 7English

What is the plural of 'child'?

  1. childs
  2. children Correct answer.
  3. childrens
  4. childes

Explanation

'Child' is an irregular noun that forms its plural by changing the root rather than adding '-s'. The plural is 'children', which is already plural and needs no further ending. Adding '-s' to an irregular plural is a common error.

Question 8English

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. He failed, he tried again later on.
  2. He failed; and tried again afterwards.
  3. He failed; he tried again. Correct answer.
  4. He failed he tried; again and again.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two independent clauses that are closely related and not already linked by a conjunction. Both 'He failed' and 'he tried again' can stand alone as sentences. A comma alone would create a comma splice.

Question 9English

Choose the correct option: 'By the time we reached the station, the train ___.'

  1. has already left
  2. had already left Correct answer.
  3. already leaves
  4. will already leave

Explanation

The past perfect is used for an action completed before another past action. 'Reached' is in the simple past, so the earlier action needs 'had' plus the past participle. Present perfect and future forms cannot express an event that happened before a past moment.

Question 10English

Choose the correct preposition: 'He is good ___ mathematics.'

  1. at Correct answer.
  2. for
  3. on
  4. in

Explanation

Certain adjectives are fixed to particular prepositions, and these collocations must be learnt. The adjective 'good' is followed by 'at' when it describes ability or skill in an activity or subject. Using another preposition changes or breaks the established idiom.

Question 11English

Change into the passive voice: 'The teacher praised the student.'

  1. The student has been praised by the teacher.
  2. The student is praised by the teacher.
  3. The student was being praised by the teacher.
  4. The student was praised by the teacher. Correct answer.

Explanation

When converting to the passive, the object becomes the subject and the verb becomes a form of 'be' plus the past participle. The tense of the original must be preserved: 'praised' is simple past, so the passive needs 'was praised'. The doer is then introduced with 'by'.

Question 12English

Change into indirect speech: He said, 'I am busy.'

  1. He said that he is busy.
  2. He says that he was busy.
  3. He said to me that I am busy.
  4. He said that he was busy. Correct answer.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past, the verb inside the reported clause usually shifts one step back in tense. 'Am' therefore becomes 'was', and the first-person pronoun changes to match the speaker. The reporting verb itself stays in the past.

Question 13English

Choose the correct pronoun: 'Between you and ___, this is a secret.'

  1. I
  2. myself
  3. mine
  4. me Correct answer.

Explanation

A preposition such as 'between' must be followed by an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun. 'Me' is the object form, so it is required here. 'I' would only be correct as a subject.

Question 14English

Choose the correct option: 'This is the ___ film I have ever seen.'

  1. badder
  2. worse
  3. worst Correct answer.
  4. most bad

Explanation

Adjectives with irregular comparison are formed without '-er' or '-est': bad, worse, worst. Because the sentence compares one film with all others the speaker has seen, the superlative is needed. The definite article 'the' also signals a superlative.

Question 15English

Choose the correct modal: 'You ___ obey the traffic rules.' (expressing strong obligation)

  1. could
  2. might
  3. may
  4. must Correct answer.

Explanation

Modal verbs express different shades of meaning such as ability, permission, possibility and obligation. Strong obligation is expressed by 'must'. The other modals in the list signal possibility or permission rather than compulsion.

Question 16English

Choose the correct conjunction: 'He ran fast ___ he could catch the bus.'

  1. unless
  2. because
  3. so that Correct answer.
  4. although

Explanation

The blank introduces the purpose of the action, and purpose is expressed by 'so that' followed by a clause. 'Because' would give a reason, 'although' a contrast and 'unless' a condition, none of which fits the intended meaning.

Question 17English

Choose the correct option: 'She enjoys ___ novels.'

  1. read
  2. to have read
  3. reading Correct answer.
  4. reads

Explanation

The verb 'enjoy' is followed by a gerund, that is, the '-ing' form of the verb. Some verbs take an infinitive and others take a gerund, and this pairing must be learnt. Here only the gerund fits.

Question 18English

Identify the part containing the error: 'One of my best friends are coming today.'

  1. are coming Correct answer.
  2. One of
  3. my best friends
  4. today

Explanation

In the pattern 'one of + plural noun', the grammatical subject is 'one', which is singular. The verb must therefore agree with 'one', giving 'is coming'. The plural noun inside the prepositional phrase does not control the verb.

Question 19English

A person who writes books is called a(n):

  1. author Correct answer.
  2. publisher
  3. critic
  4. editor

Explanation

One-word substitution questions test precise vocabulary for people and occupations. The writer of a book is its author. The other terms name people involved in different stages of book production or judgement.

Question 20English

The idiom 'to make ends meet' means:

  1. to travel a very long distance
  2. to finish a task quickly
  3. to cut something in two
  4. to live within one's means Correct answer.

Explanation

An idiom carries a figurative meaning that cannot be worked out from its separate words. 'To make ends meet' means to have just enough money to cover one's expenses. The literal readings of 'ends' and 'meet' are not intended.

Question 21English

Choose the correct option: 'If I ___ known about the meeting, I would have attended it.'

  1. would have
  2. had Correct answer.
  3. has
  4. have

Explanation

This is a third conditional sentence about an unreal past situation. Its pattern is 'if + past perfect' in the condition and 'would have + past participle' in the result. Only 'had' completes the past perfect correctly.

Question 22English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The committee's decision was ___; no one could predict what it would do next.'

  1. deliberate
  2. transparent
  3. predictable
  4. capricious Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause after the semicolon explains the missing word, so the blank must mean changeable or unpredictable. 'Capricious' describes something guided by sudden whims, which matches the clue exactly. A synonym clue of this kind should always be tested against the second half of the sentence.

Question 23English

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

  1. Hardly I reached the station when the train left.
  2. Hardly had I reached the station than the train had left.
  3. Hardly I had reached the station when the train left.
  4. Hardly had I reached the station when the train left. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a sentence opens with a negative or restrictive adverb such as 'hardly', the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. The correct pairing is 'hardly ... when'. Both the inversion and the paired conjunction are needed.

Question 24English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'His remarks were so ___ that the audience was left guessing what he really meant.'

  1. ambiguous Correct answer.
  2. transparent
  3. candid
  4. obvious

Explanation

The result clause tells us the audience could not work out the meaning, so the blank must mean open to more than one interpretation. 'Ambiguous' carries exactly that sense. The other choices all point to clarity or openness, which would make the result clause illogical.

Question 25English

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. It's a pity that the dog lost it's collar.
  2. It's a pity that the dog lost its collar. Correct answer.
  3. Its a pity that the dog lost it's collar.
  4. Its' a pity that the dog lost its collar.

Explanation

'It's' is the contraction of 'it is', while 'its' is the possessive form and takes no apostrophe. In this sentence the first blank needs the contraction and the second needs the possessive. Apostrophes are never used to form the possessive of 'it'.

Question 26English

Choose the word that is closest in meaning to 'rapid'.

  1. late
  2. dull
  3. quick Correct answer.
  4. slow

Explanation

'Rapid' means happening or moving quickly, so 'quick' is the closest synonym. The other options describe lack of speed, delay, or lack of interest.

Question 27English

Choose the correct article: 'She is ___ honest girl.'

  1. the
  2. no article
  3. an Correct answer.
  4. a

Explanation

Use 'an' before a vowel sound; 'honest' begins with a vowel sound because the h is silent. 'A' is used before consonant sounds, and 'the' would point to a specific girl already known.

Question 28English

Choose the correctly spelt word.

  1. receve
  2. receeve
  3. receive Correct answer.
  4. recieve

Explanation

The correct spelling is 'receive', which follows the familiar pattern of ei after c. The other spellings either reverse the letters or omit a needed letter.

Question 29English

Choose the correct preposition: 'She has been living here ___ 2010.'

  1. since Correct answer.
  2. for
  3. from
  4. during

Explanation

'Since' is used with a specific starting point in time in perfect tenses. 'For' is used with a length of time, not a point such as a year.

Question 30English

Choose the correct verb: 'He ___ in this office since 2015.'

  1. working
  2. has worked Correct answer.
  3. works
  4. worked

Explanation

With 'since' and a situation continuing to the present, use the present perfect 'has worked'. The simple present does not connect the action to a past starting point.

Question 31English

Choose the correct option: 'If I ___ rich, I would travel the world.'

  1. am
  2. become
  3. will be
  4. were Correct answer.

Explanation

This is a second conditional sentence about an unreal present situation, so the past subjunctive 'were' is used. The other forms do not match the hypothetical pattern with 'would travel'.

Question 32English

The word 'abundant' most nearly means:

  1. tiny
  2. scarce
  3. hidden
  4. plentiful Correct answer.

Explanation

'Abundant' means existing in large quantities, so 'plentiful' is the closest meaning. The other choices describe something rare, small, or concealed.

Question 33English

Choose the correct conjunction: '___ he was tired, he continued working.'

  1. Therefore
  2. Although Correct answer.
  3. So
  4. Because

Explanation

'Although' introduces a contrast between being tired and continuing to work. 'Because' and 'so' show cause and result, which does not fit the contrast.

Question 34English

Choose the correct word: 'The doctor's ___ was quick and accurate.'

  1. diagnosis Correct answer.
  2. diagnostic
  3. diagnose
  4. diagnosed

Explanation

A noun is needed after 'doctor's', and 'diagnosis' is the noun meaning identification of an illness. The other forms are a verb, an adjective, and a verb form.

Question 35English

Choose the correct phrasal verb: 'The match was ___ because of heavy rain.'

  1. called off Correct answer.
  2. called for
  3. called up
  4. called on

Explanation

'Called off' means cancelled, which fits a match stopped because of rain. The other phrasal verbs have different meanings, such as visit, summon, or require.

Question 36English

Choose the best completion: 'The reason why he failed is ___ he did not study.'

  1. because
  2. since
  3. due to
  4. that Correct answer.

Explanation

The standard construction is 'The reason ... is that'; using 'because' after 'reason' repeats the idea of cause. 'Due to' normally introduces a noun phrase, and 'since' is not the usual complement here.

Question 37English

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'whom'.

  1. Whom of the two is taller?
  2. Whom is going to the party?
  3. The man whom called you is my uncle.
  4. To whom did you speak? Correct answer.

Explanation

'Whom' is the object form of the pronoun; after the preposition 'to' it is correct. In subject positions, 'who' is required instead.

Question 38English

Choose the correct verb: 'The committee ___ divided in its opinion.'

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

Explanation

'Committee' is a collective noun acting as one unit here, so the singular verb 'is' agrees with it. The pronoun 'its' also signals singular treatment.

Question 39English

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'Her explanation was so ___ that everyone understood immediately.'

  1. vague
  2. clear Correct answer.
  3. confusing
  4. lengthy

Explanation

The result 'everyone understood immediately' shows that the explanation was easy to understand, so 'clear' fits. The other options suggest difficulty, confusion, or length.

Question 40English

Choose the sentence that uses 'fewer' correctly.

  1. There were fewer chairs than expected. Correct answer.
  2. Please add fewer salt to the soup.
  3. He spends fewer money than his brother.
  4. We had fewer rain this year than last year.

Explanation

'Fewer' is used with plural countable nouns, so it fits 'chairs', which can be counted one by one. 'Less' is the correct choice with uncountable nouns such as rain, money, and salt.

Question 41Mathematics

What is the sum of 4567 and 2878?

  1. 7445 Correct answer.
  2. 7435
  3. 7545
  4. 7345

Explanation

Add column by column from the right: 7 + 8 = 15, so write 5 and carry 1; then 6 + 7 + 1 = 14, write 4 and carry 1; then 5 + 8 + 1 = 14, write 4 and carry 1; then 4 + 2 + 1 = 7. The total is therefore 7445.

Question 42Mathematics

What is the value of 3/4 + 1/6?

  1. 7/12
  2. 4/10
  3. 11/12 Correct answer.
  4. 5/6

Explanation

Rewrite both fractions with the lowest common denominator, 12: 3/4 = 9/12 and 1/6 = 2/12. Adding the numerators gives 9 + 2 = 11, so the sum is 11/12.

Question 43Mathematics

Find 15% of 240.

  1. 34
  2. 32
  3. 36 Correct answer.
  4. 38

Explanation

A percentage of a quantity is found by multiplying the quantity by the percentage written as a decimal. Here 0.15 × 240 = 36.

Question 44Mathematics

What is the average of the numbers 12, 18, 24 and 30?

  1. 19
  2. 22
  3. 21 Correct answer.
  4. 20

Explanation

The average equals the sum of the values divided by how many there are. The sum is 12 + 18 + 24 + 30 = 84, and 84 ÷ 4 = 21.

Question 45Mathematics

What is the lowest common multiple of 8 and 12?

  1. 96
  2. 36
  3. 24 Correct answer.
  4. 48

Explanation

The LCM is the smallest number divisible by both values. Listing multiples of 8 (8, 16, 24, ...) and of 12 (12, 24, ...) shows that 24 is the first common one.

Question 46Mathematics

What is the square root of 1764?

  1. 46
  2. 44
  3. 38
  4. 42 Correct answer.

Explanation

The square root is the number which, multiplied by itself, gives 1764. Since 42 × 42 = 1764, the square root is 42.

Question 47Mathematics

Find the simple interest on 5000 rupees at 4% per annum for 3 years.

  1. 500 rupees
  2. 600 rupees Correct answer.
  3. 550 rupees
  4. 650 rupees

Explanation

Simple interest is calculated as principal × rate × time ÷ 100. Substituting gives 5000 × 4 × 3 ÷ 100 = 600 rupees.

Question 48Mathematics

A sum of 720 rupees is divided between two people in the ratio 5 : 4. What is the larger share?

  1. 320 rupees
  2. 400 rupees Correct answer.
  3. 380 rupees
  4. 360 rupees

Explanation

The ratio has 5 + 4 = 9 equal parts, so each part is 720 ÷ 9 = 80 rupees. The larger share is 5 parts, that is 5 × 80 = 400 rupees.

Question 49Mathematics

Solve for x: 5x − 7 = 3x + 11.

  1. 2
  2. 9 Correct answer.
  3. 7
  4. 4

Explanation

Subtract 3x from both sides to get 2x − 7 = 11, then add 7 to both sides to get 2x = 18. Dividing by 2 gives x = 9.

Question 50Mathematics

A train covers 450 km in 5 hours at a steady speed. How far will it travel in 7 hours at the same speed?

  1. 630 km Correct answer.
  2. 720 km
  3. 660 km
  4. 600 km

Explanation

Speed equals distance divided by time, so the train travels 450 ÷ 5 = 90 km each hour. In 7 hours it covers 90 × 7 = 630 km.