Introduction
The 2016 Political Science Paper 1 MCQs focus on major political thinkers, theories, and concepts from Western and Muslim political thought, governance structures, and state institutions. Practicing past paper MCQs with explanations helps students strengthen conceptual understanding, recognize recurring patterns in CSS exams, and retain factual knowledge more effectively. Below is the complete set of 2016 MCQs with correct answers and brief explanations.
Political Science Paper 1 – MCQs (2016 with Answers)
Q1: The course of Athenian education was divided into
(A) Three stages
(B) Four stages
(C) Five stages
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (A) Three stages
👉 Athenian education focused on physical, intellectual, and moral development — hence, three stages.
Q2: The founder of communism is:
(A) Plato
(B) Karl Marx
(C) Mao-Tse-Tung
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Karl Marx
👉 Marx, along with Engels, formulated the theory of communism, advocating collective ownership and classless society.
Q3: According to Plato, the population of an ideal state should be
(A) 5040
(B) 50400
(C) 50040
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (A) 5040
👉 Plato in The Republic suggested 5040 citizens as ideal for governance and societal stability.
Q4: KEEMYA-E-SAADAT was written by
(A) Niazam-ul-Mulk Toosi
(B) Imam Ghazali
(C) Allama Iqbal
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Imam Ghazali
👉 A renowned Islamic philosophical and ethical work focusing on morality and spirituality.
Q5: Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal did his MA in Philosophy from Govt. College Lahore in
(A) 1890
(B) 1895
(C) 1899
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) 1895
👉 Iqbal completed his MA in Philosophy in 1895 before studying in Europe.
Q6: A History of Political Theory was written by
(A) ST Jones
(B) GH Sabine
(C) Gettle
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) GH Sabine
👉 Sabine’s work traces the evolution of political thought from ancient to modern thinkers.
Q7: What is the total number of states of USA?
(A) 48
(B) 52
(C) 50
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (C) 50
👉 The United States consists of 50 states.
Q8: Article 58 2(b) was invoked to dissolve National Assembly of Pakistan
(A) Four times
(B) Three times
(C) Twice
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Three times
👉 Used by the President to dismiss assemblies under the 1973 Constitution before its repeal.
Q9: Despotism means
(A) Rule of individual based on law
(B) Rule of Individual without law
(C) Democracy
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Rule of Individual without law
👉 Despotism refers to absolute, unchecked power in the hands of a ruler.
Q10: The regimes, like Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Soviet Union under Stalin are examples of
(A) Authoritarian rule
(B) Totalitarian rule
(C) Liberal democracy
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Totalitarian rule
👉 Totalitarianism involves centralized control over all aspects of life with no political freedom.
Q11: Alexander of Macedonia was student of
(A) Socrates
(B) Plato
(C) Aristotle
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (C) Aristotle
👉 Aristotle tutored Alexander, shaping his understanding of philosophy, science, and governance.
Q12: “Tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” is the famous quotation by
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Winston Churchill
(C) Lord Acton
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (C) Lord Acton
👉 Lord Acton emphasized that unchecked power leads to corruption.
Q13: Perestroika means
(A) To speak openly and honestly
(B) Restructuring or Reforming
(C) Workers
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Restructuring or Reforming
👉 Introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev, it referred to economic and political reforms in the USSR.
Q14: Materialistic interpretation of history was propounded by
(A) Stalin
(B) Lenin
(C) Karl Marx
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (C) Karl Marx
👉 Marx’s historical materialism explained social change through economic and class relations.
Q15: Plato was a
(A) Realist
(B) Idealist
(C) Rationalist
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Idealist
👉 Plato emphasized the world of ideas and forms as the basis of reality.
Q16: The concept of Separation of powers in US constitution was taken from
(A) J.S. Mill
(B) Montesquieu
(C) Burke
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (B) Montesquieu
👉 Montesquieu advocated dividing government into executive, legislature, and judiciary to prevent tyranny.
Q17: Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah died at
(A) Quetta
(B) Rawalpindi
(C) Hyderabad
(D) Karachi
✅ Answer: (D) Karachi
👉 Jinnah passed away in Karachi on 11 September 1948.
Q18: How many are the members of the Security Council
(A) 19
(B) 09
(C) 27
(D) 15
✅ Answer: (D) 15
👉 The UN Security Council has 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.
Q19: Who is called the Intellectual Father of the French Revolution
(A) Rousseau
(B) Montesquieu
(C) Napoleon
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (A) Rousseau
👉 Rousseau’s ideas on social contract and popular sovereignty inspired revolutionary France.
Q20: Principle of Utility as a formula was the idea of
(A) James Mill
(B) Herbert Spencer
(C) Jeremy Bentham
(D) None of these
✅ Answer: (C) Jeremy Bentham
👉 Bentham proposed “the greatest happiness of the greatest number” as the basis of utilitarian ethics.
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Conclusion
The 2016 Political Science Paper 1 MCQs cover a wide range of topics, including classical political philosophy, Islamic political thought, state theory, and modern political ideologies. Understanding these MCQs with explanations strengthens conceptual clarity, helping CSS aspirants recall key facts and the reasoning behind them, ultimately enhancing exam readiness.