C Programming Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the 'while' loop syntax in C programming look like?

while(condition) // loop body

while{condition} // loop body

while { // loop body } until(condition)

while(condition) { // loop body } (correct)

Which feature of the C programming language provides low-level access to memory?

Structured Language

Efficiency (correct)

Portability

Rich Library Support

In a flowchart, which shape represents a decision point?

Circle

Diamond (correct)

Rectangle

Oval

How do you define a function in C?

int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; } Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an input device in a computer system?

To enter data Signup and view all the answers

Which symbol in a flowchart signifies the start or end of a process?

Oval Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between a structure and a union in C?

Structures require more memory than unions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the basic data types available in C?

int, char, float, double Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a token in C?

To represent specific elements such as keywords and variables Signup and view all the answers

What character signifies the end of a string in C?

'\0' Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of pointers in C?

They hold addresses of variables of similar data types. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about call-by-value in C?

Values of actual parameters are copied to function's formal parameters. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nested loop in C?

A loop inside another loop Signup and view all the answers

What does the format specifier '%' do in C?

Specifies the type for input and output functions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction of preprocessor directives in C?

They begin with the '#' character. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a union in C programming?

It is a collection of variables that share the same memory location. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ALU do within a computer system?

Performs arithmetic and logic operations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about volatile memory?

Data is lost when power is interrupted. Signup and view all the answers

How many keywords are defined in the C programming language?

32 Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the address operator '&' in C?

It returns the address of its operand. Signup and view all the answers

What do the terms DRAM and SRAM refer to?

Types of random-access memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is type casting in C programming?

Converting a variable of one data type into another. Signup and view all the answers

What does ASCII stand for?

American Standard Code for Information Interchange Signup and view all the answers

What is the lifetime of a static variable in a function?

It lasts for the duration of the program. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about automatic variables is true?

They are created when the function is called. Signup and view all the answers

Why are register variables generally faster than automatic variables?

They are stored in processor registers. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a register variable?

It has local scope within the function where it is declared. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of preprocessor directives in C?

To include files and define constants before compilation. Signup and view all the answers

When is an automatic variable created and destroyed?

Created when the function is called, destroyed when the function exits. Signup and view all the answers

How is the scope of a static variable different from that of an automatic variable?

A static variable cannot be accessed outside its function but retains its value. Signup and view all the answers

What will happen when the `static_example` function is called multiple times?

The count will increment and retain its value across calls. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of using pointers for large data structures instead of passing them by value?

It avoids the overhead of copying large amounts of data. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using pointers in programming?

The potential for memory leaks. Signup and view all the answers

What does a null pointer indicate?

It is uninitialized and does not point to any valid memory. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of pointer can reference any data type without needing a specific type?

Void pointer Signup and view all the answers

What problem can occur due to incorrect pointer arithmetic?

Security vulnerabilities and program crashes. Signup and view all the answers

How can pointers lead to more complex programs?

They can introduce more types of errors, like segmentation faults. Signup and view all the answers

What security issue can arise from improper pointer manipulation?

Buffer overflow attacks. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a developer allocates memory without freeing it?

It may cause memory leaks. Signup and view all the answers

What must be done to dereference a void pointer?

It must be cast to another pointer type. Signup and view all the answers

What will the factorial function return if the input is 0?

The value of 1. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a disadvantage of pointers?

Potential for memory leaks. Signup and view all the answers

How does the factorial function calculate results for values greater than 1?

It calls itself recursively. Signup and view all the answers

What will happen if a negative number is input to the factorial program?

It displays a message that factorial is not defined. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a null pointer?

It points to no valid memory location. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about recursion in the factorial function is true?

Recursion helps to implement the solution in a more straightforward manner. Signup and view all the answers

What type of pointer can point to any data type?

Void pointer Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Computing & Programming with C

UNIVAC is the Universal Automatic Computer.
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of any computer system.
Primary and Secondary memory are the two kinds of main memory.
A computer is free from tiresome and boardroom work, which is called diligence.
Chief components of first-generation computers were vacuum tubes and valves.
Hardware components in a computer include the CPU, motherboard, keyboard, mouse, and speaker.
Computer memory is categorized into primary and secondary types.
A network of networks is what the internet is.
Programming languages include C, C++, Java, and Python.
Key characteristics of a computer are speed, accuracy, diligence, reliability, memory, logic, and versatility.
Operating systems include Windows, Unix, and Linux.
Key components of a digital computer are input/output equipment, main memory, control unit, and arithmetic-logic unit.

Function of Operating System

An operating system manages files, memory, processes, and input/output, as well as peripheral devices like disks and printers.
Memory units include bits, nibbles, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, and petabytes.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) are types of character recognition.

Components of CPU

A CPU has three main components: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit (CU) and memory unit.
E-mail relies on electronic devices to deliver messages across computer networks.
Software types include application software, system software, driver software, middleware, and programming software.

Pseudocode and Flowcharts

Pseudocode describes the steps in an algorithm using programming language conventions.
Flowcharts are diagrams that represent workflows or processes using symbols for actions, steps, and decision points.

Tokens in C

Keywords, identifiers, constants, operators, punctuation marks are types of tokens in C.

If, If-Else, Nested If-Else and Cascaded If-Else Statements

If statement checks a condition; if it's true, the code executes.
If-else statement offers two options.
Nested if-else chains more complex conditions within an if or else.
Cascase if-else multiple conditions checked sequentially.

Loops in C

For loop, while loop and do-while loop are types of loops in C.

Key Features of C

C is known for its efficiency, portability, a rich library, structured nature, and flexibility with pointers.

Difference between Structures and Unions

Structures allocate memory for all members, and all members can be accessed simultaneously.
Unions allocate memory only for the largest member. Only one member can be accessed at a time.
Structures are better for storing data of different types together, while unions are useful for storing different data types in the same memory space where only one can be utilized.

Flowcharts

Flowcharts use symbols such as ovals, rectangles, and diamonds to represent processes.

Algorithms for Area and Perimeter of Circle

Input radius;
Calculate area using πr²;
Calculate perimeter using 2πr;
Output calculated area and perimeter.

Function Calls, Definitions, and Prototypes

Function prototypes declare functions before use.
Function definitions implement the function's body.
Function calls invoke the function in a program.

Input Devices

Keyboards and mouse are input devices for inputting data into a computer system.

Variables

Variables are named storage locations in memory.
Variable names must start with a letter or underscore and can contain letters, digits, and underscores, and be case sensitive.

Data Types in C

Basic data types in C include int, float, double, and char for storing integers, floating-point numbers, double-precision floating-point numbers, and character data, respectively.

Storage Classes in C

Variables can have different scopes and lifetimes, including external, static, automatic, and register variables. The scope and lifetime defines when and how long the variable exists.

Array Declaration and Initialization

One-dimensional arrays store data in a single row.
Two-dimensional arrays store data in rows and columns (like tables)

Pointers

Pointers store memory addresses.
Pointer functions return pointer values; pointer arguments receive addresses not values.

String Manipulation Functions

String functions like strlen(), strcpy(), strcat(), and strcmp() are used for tasks like measuring string length, copying, concatenation, and comparison.

General Structure of C Programs

Preprocessor directives—lines that start with #, often #include, are processed before compilation.
Main function—a special function that is the entry point of execution.
Variable declarations—statements that declare variables.
Executable statements—statements that perform actions.
Return statement—a statement that returns a value at the end of a function.

Array Sorting

Bubble sort is an algorithm for sorting an array of elements in ascending order.

Difference Between Recursion and Iteration

Recursion is when a function calls itself to solve a smaller instance of a problem.
Iteration is when a loop repeatedly executes a block of code until a condition is met.

Palindromes

A palindrome is a number or string that reads the same forward and backward (e.g., 121, madam). A C program can be designed to check if a given number or string is a palindrome, using either loop or recursion.

Logic Gates

Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks of digital circuits. Common types include AND, OR, and NOT gates.

Number Systems

Number systems including Binary, Decimal, Octal, and Hexadecimal use different symbols or representations for numbers, and are used to represent data efficiently in computers.

Computer Generations

Computer generations from vacuum tubes, to transistors, integrated circuits, and microprocessors highlight the advancements in technology. The final stages highlight quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

Von Neumann Architecture

A computer architecture where program instructions (code) and data are stored in the same memory. The design includes components like the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Control Unit, input/output equipment, and memory.

Primary and Secondary Memories

Primary memory stores data that is actively used in the computer. It is volatile, meaning the information it stores is lost if the power is turned off.
Secondary memory stores data permanently, and isn't lost when the power is off.

Operating Systems

Operating systems manage computer hardware and software resources.
Key functions include process management, memory management, file management, device management, security, and user interfaces.

Types of Software

Types of software include system software such as operating systems and utilities, application software such as word processors, database software, and development software. Middleware, firmware and freeware are also types of software.

Pascal's Triangle

Pascal's Triangle is a number triangle. A C program could be written to generate and plot it.

Pyramid Patterns

A C program is capable of generating pyramid shapes based on user input.

Switch Cases

The switch statement in C allows a program to choose between branches based on different values.

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Description

Test your knowledge of fundamental C programming concepts with this quiz. Questions cover syntax, data types, functions, memory access, and more. Perfect for beginners and those looking to refresh their understanding of C.