Computer Fundamentals and System Concepts

IC stands for Integrated Circuit, the fundamental building block of modern electronics. Options A, B, and D are incorrect expansions.

Statement (3) is correct about computer virus. 

Supercomputers are the largest and most powerful computers designed for complex calculations. Mainframes are large-scale servers for enterprise applications. Minicomputers are mid-range systems smaller than mainframes. Microcomputers (personal computers) are the smallest. This hierarchy reflects both physical size and computational capacity, from largest to smallest.

Computers perform all four basic mathematical operations. While addition is the fundamental operation at the hardware level (subtraction via 2's complement, multiplication via repeated addition, division via repeated subtraction), all operations are implemented at the instruction set level.

Multimedia programs integrate multiple forms of media and content: text for information, graphics for visual elements, sound for audio, animation and movies for video content. The combination of these different media types creates rich, interactive experiences that engage multiple senses. Modern multimedia applications span education, entertainment, advertising, and communication.

Storage and retrieval operation is correct because saving a program for later use involves storing it on disk and retrieving it when needed. Hard copy refers to paper output, while comparison and arithmetic operations are CPU functions, not storage operations.

A program is a sequence of instructions that tells a computer how to solve a problem. Soft copy is screen output, the control unit directs operations, and the CPU executes instructions but is not the instructions themselves.

Supercomputers use parallel processing with hundreds of microprocessors working together to achieve extreme processing power. They are more expensive than mainframes, faster than mainframes, and have limited expensive software due to their specialized nature.

Selection is correct because you must first highlight or select the text/segment before copying it. Deleting removes content, printing outputs to paper, and cutting removes content from original location.

A computer virus is fundamentally a type of malicious software program. It must contain executable code that can self-replicate by infecting other programs or files. It is not merely a bug (error), infected hardware, or infected media.

The three fundamental categories of operations a computer performs are: arithmetic operations (calculations), comparison operations (logical decisions), and storage/retrieval operations (managing data). Printing is a specific output operation, not a basic category.

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is always contained within the system unit (the main computer case) along with the motherboard. Peripherals like printers, monitors, and keyboards are external devices that connect to the system unit.

Hardware refers to the physical, tangible components of a computer system that you can touch - such as the CPU, memory, motherboard, keyboard, and monitor. This is distinct from software, which consists of programs and instructions.

The Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU) is the component of the CPU that performs all mathematical calculations (arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction) and logical comparisons (logic operations like AND, OR, comparisons).