Complete the idiom: 'A blessing in disguise' refers to something that ____.

looks harmful but turns out beneficial

is obviously fortunate from the start

ISSB - PAF Officer Selection English Prepositions MCQs with Answers

ISSB - PAF Officer Selection English: Prepositions MCQs — sample questions

Question 1
Q1. Choose the correct preposition: "He is adept ______ handling difficult situations."
- A) in
- B) at
- C) on
- D) with
Answer: at
Explanation: The fixed collocation is "adept at" + gerund/noun. "Adept in" is sometimes heard but "adept at" is standard in ISSB/ competitive English papers.
Question 2
Q2. Fill in the blank: 'The cadet apologized ___ his instructor ___ the delay.'
- A) to, for
- B) for, to
- C) at, about
- D) with, on
Answer: to, for
Explanation: We apologize 'to' the person and 'for' the reason. 'Apologized for his instructor' would wrongly suggest the instructor was at fault.
Question 3
Q3. Fill in the blank: 'She is proficient ___ mathematics and keen ___ joining the aviation branch.'
- A) in, on
- B) at, in
- C) in, on
- D) with, for
Answer: in, on
Explanation: Standard usage is 'proficient in' a subject and 'keen on' doing something.
Question 4
Q4. Fill in: 'The officer insisted ___ punctuality and was admired ___ his discipline.'
- A) on, for
- B) for, on
- C) at, by
- D) in, with
Answer: on, for
Explanation: We insist 'on' something and are admired 'for' a quality. Review the rule behind the correct option so you can apply it to similar questions.
Question 5
Q5. Fill in: 'She is allergic ___ dust and sensitive ___ cold weather.'
- A) to, to
- B) with, for
- C) from, in
- D) of, about
Answer: to, to
Explanation: Standard collocations: allergic 'to' a substance; sensitive 'to' conditions. Review the rule behind the correct option so you can apply it to similar questions.
Question 6
Q6. Fill in the blank: 'The cadet is capable ___ solving problems and eligible ___ promotion.'
- A) of, for
- B) in, to
- C) at, of
- D) with, on
Answer: of, for
Explanation: We say capable of doing something and eligible for something. Other pairs do not collocate in standard English.
Question 7
Q7. Fill in: 'He is senior ___ me ___ rank but junior ___ age.'
- A) to, in, in
- B) than, by, in
- C) to, by, in
- D) than, in, to
Answer: to, in, in
Explanation: Senior to someone in rank. Junior in age. 'Than' is used with comparative adjectives, not with senior or junior in this sense.
Question 8
Q8. Fill in: 'The briefing will commence ___ 0900 hours ___ Monday.'
- A) at, on
- B) in, at
- C) on, in
- D) by, at
Answer: at, on
Explanation: Use at with clock time and on with days. Commence at 0900 on Monday is standard military phrasing.
Question 9
Q9. Fill in: 'She is good ___ mathematics but weak ___ spelling.'
- A) at, in
- B) in, at
- C) on, with
- D) for, on
Answer: in, at
Explanation: Good in a school subject. Weak at a skill like spelling. These collocations appear often in ISSB papers.
Question 10
Q10. Fill in: 'The officer is responsible ___ security ___ the camp.'
- A) for, of
- B) of, for
- C) to, at
- D) with, in
Answer: for, of
Explanation: Responsible for a duty. Security of a place. These fixed pairs appear often in ISSB English.
Question 11
Q11. The cadet was warned _____ reporting late to the parade ground.
- A) against
- B) for
- C) about
- D) on
Answer: against
Explanation: Warned against means the cadet was told not to repeat that behaviour. For usually states the reason after punishment has already been given.
Question 12
Q12. The interviewing officer insisted _____ punctuality from every candidate.
- A) in
- B) for
- C) on
- D) at
Answer: on
Explanation: Insist on is the fixed preposition pattern with a noun like punctuality. Insist in and insist for are not standard in formal English.
Question 13
Q13. After the briefing, the candidates were divided _____ four subgroups for the group task.
- A) in
- B) between
- C) among
- D) into
Answer: into
Explanation: Divide into is used when a whole is split into separate parts. Between is used for two items, not four subgroups.
Question 14
Q14. She is good _____ map reading during land navigation tasks at the selection centre.
- A) in
- B) with
- C) at
- D) for
Answer: at
Explanation: Good at follows a skill or activity. Good in is used with school subjects, not practical skills like map reading.
Question 15
Q15. On the ISSB panel, the psychologist is senior _____ the medical officer.
- A) from
- B) than
- C) to
- D) over
Answer: to
Explanation: Senior to is the standard formal pattern in Pakistani competitive exams. Senior than copies the comparative pattern used with shorter adjectives but is incorrect here.
Question 16
Q16. All candidates must abide _____ the rules of the selection centre.
- A) by
- B) with
- C) to
- D) for
Answer: by
Explanation: Abide by is a fixed verb-preposition pair meaning to follow rules. Abide with is not used in standard English for obeying regulations.
Question 17
Q17. The cadet apologised _____ the interviewing officer for his careless remark.
- A) for
- B) with
- C) to
- D) at
Answer: to
Explanation: Apologise to is used before the person who receives the apology. Apologise for introduces the thing you are sorry about, not the person.
Question 18
Q18. Candidates were prohibited _____ using mobile phones inside the selection centre.
- A) to
- B) for
- C) against
- D) from
Answer: from
Explanation: Prohibited from follows the gerund when stating what is not allowed. Prohibited to is a common error but not standard after this verb.
Question 19
Q19. Fill in the blank: The candidate is proficient ___ map reading.
- A) in
- B) on
- C) at
- D) with
Answer: in
Explanation: Standard usage is proficient in a skill or subject. Proficient at is sometimes heard, but proficient in is preferred in formal tests.
Question 20
Q20. Fill in the blank: The officer congratulated the team ___ their success.
- A) for
- B) on
- C) about
- D) with
Answer: on
Explanation: We congratulate someone on an achievement. Congratulate for is a common error in Pakistani exams.