UPHESC Assistant Professor Physical Education 2025 PYQs

Concept: Calisthenics comes from Greek kalos (beauty) + sthenos (strength) – ‘beautiful strength’.

1. Calisthenics are free-hand, body-weight exercises done rhythmically to develop strength, grace and posture.
2. Sthenos = strength (compare ‘asthenia’ = loss of strength); it has nothing to do with speed, endurance or flexibility.

Short trick: Asthenia = weakness, so Sthenos = strength.

Concept: AIU was founded in 1925 as the Inter-University Board (IUB) of India; renamed AIU in 1973.

1. It conducts the All India Inter-University sports tournaments and is the apex body of Indian university sport.
2. The first Inter-University tournaments (athletics) under IUB were held in the late 1920s.

Short trick: IUB 1925 → AIU 1973.

Concept: A child’s age can be expressed in four ways used in classification of pupils.

1. Chronological age = calendar age in years, months, days → III.
2. Anatomical age = skeletal growth (carpal bones X-ray) → IV.
3. Physiological age = sexual maturity, puberty, hormones → I.
4. Mental age = mental development (IQ = MA/CA × 100) → II.

Short trick: C-A-P-M → Calendar, Anatomy-bones, Puberty, Mind.

Concept: F. H. Bradley (author of Appearance and Reality, 1893) defined philosophy as an attempt to know reality as against mere appearances.

1. The key words ‘reality vs appearance’ are the title theme of Bradley’s famous book.
2. Locke, Aristotle and Socrates gave other definitions (e.g. Aristotle: science of first causes).

Short trick: Appearance and Reality → Bradley.

Concept: According to C. A. Bucher and others, principles of physical education are derived from science (facts) and philosophy (values).

1. Scientific principles: biological, physiological, psychological, sociological facts.
2. Philosophical principles: beliefs, values and aims guiding what ‘should’ be done.
3. Art/technique/skill are content, not the basis of principles.

Short trick: Principles = Facts (Science) + Values (Philosophy).

Concept: Socialization = learning the norms, values and habits of society; sport is a major agent of socialization.

1. A is true: through team play, rules and interaction, children become social beings.
2. R is true: sports teach cooperation, discipline, fair play, respect for rules – social habits.
3. Developing social habits is exactly how socialization happens, so R explains A.

Short trick: Social habits learnt = socialization → R explains A.

Concept: Sir T. Percy Nunn defined play as “a profound manifestation of creative activities”.

1. Froebel: play is the highest expression of human development in childhood.
2. Gulick: play is what we do when we are free to do what we will.
3. McDougall explained play through instincts; Ross: play is joyful, spontaneous, creative activity.

Short trick: Nunn → ‘profound … creative’ (both have double letters: Nunn, profound).

Concept: Curriculum foundations: the learner and learning process (psychological) and society/culture (sociological), along with philosophy.

1. I – knowledge of how pupils learn decides sequencing and methods: a basis.
2. III – needs and influences of society and culture decide content: a basis.
3. II and IV are outcomes/qualities of a programme or teacher, not foundations of planning.

Short trick: Curriculum rests on Learner + Society (psychological + sociological foundations).

Concept: Maslow’s pyramid (bottom → top): physiological → safety → love/belonging → esteem → self-actualization.

1. The options list four levels from top to bottom (love/belonging omitted).
2. Top to bottom: self-actualization, self-esteem, safety, physiological – option (B).
3. Others break the order (e.g. esteem above self-actualization, or safety below physiological).

Short trick: PSLES (bottom-up): Physiological, Safety, Love, Esteem, Self-actualization.

Concept: Positive reinforcement = presenting a pleasant consequence (reward, success) that strengthens a desired behaviour.

1. The teacher links learning to a rewarding outcome – being able to complete the project.
2. It is encouraging, clear and non-threatening, so not ambiguous advice or a threat.
3. It is a motivating promise of success – positive reinforcement.

Short trick: Learn → get something good = positive reinforcement.

Concept: Demonstration is the key teaching method in physical education – pupils imitate what they see.

1. A is true: the PE teacher must be highly skilled in activities taught.
2. R is true: correct demonstration of the skill is essential for teaching it.
3. He must be skilled precisely because he has to demonstrate correctly – R explains A.

Short trick: Show it right → must be skilled.

Concept: Harry Crowe Buck (YMCA) founded the YMCA College of Physical Education, Madras (1920) and shaped modern physical education in India.

1. He framed courses, rules of Indian games and teacher training – called the father of modern physical education in India.
2. J. B. Nash and Hagman were American educationists; J. D. Butler was an American philosopher of education.

Short trick: Buck → YMCA Madras 1920 → modern Indian PE.

Concept: Playing courts and fields are laid with their long axis North–South so that the rising and setting sun (east–west) does not shine into players’ eyes.

1. The same rule is followed for courts in indoor complexes, where sunlight enters through east/west windows and ventilators.
2. East–West is avoided (glare); kho-kho is the commonly quoted exception outdoors.

Short trick: Sun moves E→W, so play N–S.

Concept: Electrolytes and trace minerals have specific roles.

1. Potassium – nerve impulse and muscle contraction (heart rhythm) → II.
2. Sodium – fluid and blood volume balance, keeps blood cells in proper osmotic state → III.
3. Fluoride – hardens tooth enamel → IV; Chloride – forms HCl of gastric juice, aids digestion → I.
4. Only option (C) has a-II, c-IV, d-I together.

Short trick: Chloride → HCl → stomach; Fluoride → toothpaste.

Concept: Folic acid (vitamin B9) is needed for DNA synthesis and formation of red blood cells.

1. Deficiency → megaloblastic anaemia, common in women and children.
2. In pregnancy, deficiency causes neural-tube birth defects (spina bifida) – hence folic-acid supplements.
3. Thiamin → beriberi, Niacin → pellagra, Biotin → dermatitis.

Short trick: Folate for Fetus and blood (RBC).

Concept: The wellness movement (Halbert Dunn, 1960s–70s) shifted focus from curing illness to promoting health and preventing disease through lifestyle.

1. Wellness = active process of making choices toward a healthy, fulfilling life.
2. Its programmes target healthy lifestyle, risk-factor reduction and preventive health care.
3. Personality, skill and fitness are components, but the movement’s stated aim is health promotion and disease prevention.

Short trick: Wellness = Prevent + Promote.

Concept: β-carotene is provitamin A; the intestine and liver split it into retinol (vitamin A).

1. Rich sources: carrots, papaya, mango, green leafy vegetables.
2. Vitamin D is formed from 7-dehydrocholesterol in skin by sunlight; B and C are not made from carotene.

Short trick: Carrot → Carotene → vitamin A (eyes).

Concept: Cirrhosis = scarring (fibrosis) of liver replacing healthy tissue.

1. Chronic heavy alcohol use is the leading cause, along with hepatitis B and C.
2. Smoking mainly harms lungs/heart, solar radiation affects skin, cholesterol affects arteries.

Short trick: Alcohol → liver; smoking → lungs.

Concept: Malnutrition is the general condition of inadequate nutrients – due to poor intake (starvation) or poor absorption/utilisation.

1. Marasmus = severe deficiency of calories and protein (wasting) – one form of malnutrition.
2. Kwashiorkor = protein deficiency with oedema – another specific form.
3. The definition given is the broad term ‘malnutrition’.

Short trick: Broad term → Malnutrition; specific diseases → marasmus, kwashiorkor.

Concept: Each vitamin has a chemical name.

1. Vitamin E = tocopherol → IV; Vitamin B₂ = riboflavin → III.
2. Vitamin D₂ = (ergo)calciferol → II; Vitamin C = ascorbic acid → I.
3. Code: a-IV, b-III, c-II, d-I.

Short trick: ‘Toco’ = childbirth (E fertility), ‘Calci’ = D bones, ‘Ascorbic’ = anti-scurvy C.