Computer Basics

In digital computing, 1 Kilobyte (KB) equals 1024 Bytes, not 1000. This is because computers use binary (base-2) where 2^10 = 1024. Option B is circular (1 KB = 1 KB), Option C shows a random larger number, and Option D confuses bits with bytes.

The control unit coordinates all computer operations like a brain coordinates body functions. It fetches instructions, decodes them, and directs other components. The heart pumps blood (power supply), and central nervous system is closer to the bus system that carries data.

Option 3 is the correct answer.

Primary memory (RAM, cache) is much faster than secondary memory (hard disk, tape, SSD). The statement claims secondary is faster, which is false. Primary memory has direct CPU access and uses volatile but fast technology.

Plotters are output devices that produce high-quality graphics and drawings on paper. Magnetic ink character readers, microphones, and scanners all input data INTO the computer, while plotters send data OUT for physical representation.

Option 2 is correct. 

A compiler is system software that translates high-level code into machine code. Spreadsheets, word processors, and DTP (Desktop Publishing) are all application software for end-users, while compilers directly support the computer's operation.

Magnetic tape is secondary (auxiliary) storage - it stores data permanently but has slow access. RAM is primary volatile memory, ROM is primary non-volatile memory, and PROM is a type of ROM. Secondary memory includes hard disks, tapes, and external storage.

Fourth Generation Languages (4GLs) are non-procedural - users specify WHAT to do, not HOW. Examples include SQL, query languages, and report generators. Earlier generations (3GL like C, Java) require procedural programming details.

The statement is false - volatile memory DOES lose contents when power is switched off. RAM is the classic example of volatile memory. Non-volatile memory (ROM, flash, hard disk) retains data without power. The correct answer is False because the statement's definition is wrong.

ROM (Read-Only Memory) stores permanent instructions like BIOS that the computer needs to start up and operate. These are 'firmware' - essential programs written by manufacturers. User programs run in RAM, but ROM provides the foundational instructions to boot and manage hardware.

A nibble is a standard unit of digital information equal to 4 bits or half a byte. It's commonly used in computing to represent a single hexadecimal digit (0-F), as each hex digit requires exactly 4 bits to encode. Option A (8 bits) equals one full byte, while Option C is also one byte, making them incorrect.

VDU stands for Visual Display Unit, which is the standard term for computer monitors and display screens. The term refers to any device that can visually display information processed by the computer. Option A incorrectly uses 'digital' while Options C and D incorrectly suggest 'video disk unit' or video-related terminology.

Personal computers, contains articles related to those Micro computers being used by individual people primarily for (home)office/productivity applications.

The Control Unit (CU) is the component within the CPU that interprets program instructions and directs the operation of the processor. It decodes instructions, determines the required operations, and coordinates data flow between the ALU, registers, and memory. Registers (Option B) store data temporarily, while the ALU (Option C) performs arithmetic and logical operations.

Correct Answer: Erasable & programmable read only memory

Encryption is the process of converting plaintext data into coded form (ciphertext) to prevent unauthorized access during storage or transmission. Only authorized parties with the decryption key can recover the original data. Ergonomics (Option A) relates to user comfort, Encapsulation (Option B) is an OOP concept for bundling data and methods, and Emulation (Option C) mimics one system on another.

In disk storage (including floppy disks), tracks are the concentric circles on which data is magnetically recorded. The read/write head moves over these tracks to access data. Sectors (Option A) are wedge-shaped divisions within tracks, while Cylinders (Option B) refer to a set of aligned tracks across multiple disk platters in hard drives.

Laser printers use electrostatic charges and toner to create images without physically striking the paper, making them non-impact printers. Drum, Daisy wheel, and Chain printers (Options A, C, D) are all impact printers that physically strike the paper through ribbon contact to create text/images.

Magnetic tape is a sequential access medium - data must be accessed in the order it was written. Unlike disks, tape cannot jump directly to any location. To reach specific data, you must fast-forward through all preceding content, making sequential access mandatory. Direct (Option A) and Random (Option B) access describe disk-based systems where any location can be reached directly.

Low-level languages like assembly and machine code are designed for specific processor architectures. They directly reference hardware-specific registers, instructions, and memory addressing modes. Code written for x86 processors won't work on ARM processors without modification, demonstrating machine dependence. High-level languages provide abstraction and portability across platforms.

Seek time is the time required for the disk's read/write head to move to the correct track where data is located. It's one component of total disk access time. Rotational delay (Option B) or latency (Option C) is the additional time waiting for the correct sector to rotate under the head. Seek time only measures the radial movement, not rotational positioning.

Multiprogramming is the technique of running multiple programs concurrently by sharing CPU time through scheduling. When one program waits for I/O, the CPU switches to another ready program, maximizing CPU utilization. Batch processing (Option A) processes jobs in groups without user interaction, while Microprogramming (Option B) implements CPU control logic. Real-time systems (Option D) prioritize time-critical tasks.

Third generation computers (1960s) used Integrated Circuits (ICs) - multiple transistors fabricated on a single silicon chip. This replaced the discrete transistors used in second generation computers. Vacuum tubes (Option B) were first generation, Large scale integration (Option A, LSI) was fourth generation, and Transistors (Option D) were second generation.