Computer Fundamentals and System Concepts

In the early 1980s, when this question was written, 256K of RAM was considered substantial for business applications. 4K and 16K were too small for serious business work, while 64K was minimal. The question reflects historical computing context.

The ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) is the CPU component responsible for arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction) and logical comparisons (greater than, equal to). The control unit directs operations, while the disk unit stores data.

Multi-user systems save costs by connecting multiple dumb terminals (which only have keyboard and display) to a single processing unit. Dumb terminals are inexpensive because they lack independent processing power. Workstations and PCs have their own processors, while mainframes are the central processing units themselves.

EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) is an 8-bit character encoding developed by IBM and used primarily in IBM mainframe computers. It's different from ASCII, which is more common in smaller systems. Minicomputers and microcomputers typically use ASCII, while supercomputers use various encodings but rarely EBCDIC.

The ALU performs comparison operations as part of its decision-making capabilities. It can determine if one value is greater than, less than, or equal to another, which is fundamental for conditional branching in programs. All three comparison types are standard ALU operations.

A computer program that is meant to damage the computer's memory or to cause harm to another program is a virus. 

IC stands for Integrated Circuits - the fundamental building blocks of modern electronics that combine multiple electronic components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) on a single semiconductor chip. 'Integrated Charge' and 'Integrated Current' are incorrect terms.

In remote data entry, the application program runs on the central host computer while data is entered from remote terminals connected to it. This is a classic client-server architecture.

PCs have accuracy, speed, and high storage capacity. 'Actual Intelligence' is not a feature - PCs have artificial intelligence capabilities but not actual/real intelligence. This appears to be a trick question distinguishing between artificial and actual intelligence.

In computer networks, the host is the main computer that processes information and provides services to other connected computers or terminals. Mainframe is a specific type of large computer, while 'master' is not a standard technical term.

The question asks what was NOT present during fourth generation computers (1971-present, VLSI microprocessors). Minicomputers were primarily developed during the third generation (1965-1971, integrated circuits). Fourth generation saw personal computers, semiconductor memory, and GUI terminals - minicomputers existed earlier.

First generation computers (1940s-1950s) used vacuum tubes and were enormous in size, often filling entire rooms. Second generation (transistors) and fourth generation (VLSI microprocessors) computers were progressively smaller and more compact. The term 'bulkiest' refers to physical size.

These are the correct statements about mobile computing security.

Procedures, functions and methods are the same and used as smaller units of a program.