Computer Basics Tutorial
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Questions and Answers

What are the three basic functionalities of a Computer System?

  • Save, Edit, Print
  • Input, Process, Output (correct)
  • Analyzing, Designing, Optimizing
  • Browse, Download, Upload

    • In a computer system, what is Step 2 of the five basic functions?

  • Controls all the above steps
  • Generates the output
  • Stores the data/instructions in its memory (correct)
  • Takes data as input

    • What does the term 'generation' refer to in computer terminology?

  • The size of a computer
  • A change in technology a computer is/was being used (correct)
  • The color of a computer
  • The brand of a computer

    • Which term was initially used to distinguish between varying hardware technologies?

    <p>Generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many computer generations are known till date?

    <p>Five</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which generation of computers were vacuum tubes used as the basic components for memory and circuitry?

    <p>First Generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which programming language was mainly used in the second generation of computers?

    <p>FORTRAN</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technology replaced transistors in the third generation of computers?

    <p>Integrated Circuits (ICs)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature distinguished fourth generation computers from their predecessors?

    <p>Small size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of operating system was primarily used in the first generation of computers?

    <p>Batch processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technology was used in the fourth generation of computers?

    <p>VLSI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature was introduced in the fourth generation of computers?

    <p>Pipeline processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a mini-computer from a supercomputer?

    <p>Number of users supported</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of computer is commonly used for CAD/CAM applications and software development?

    <p>Workstation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of personal computers in home settings?

    <p>Playing games and surfing the Internet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the processor in a computer system?

    <p>Execute instructions of the computer program</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the computer system is responsible for long-term storage of data and programs?

    <p>Secondary Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of input devices in a computer system?

    <p>Provide instructions or information to the computer system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes secondary memory from main memory in a computer system?

    <p>Speed and capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which components in a computer system represent the physical, tangible elements that can be seen and touched?

    <p>Output Devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

    <p>Perform arithmetic and logical operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which computer system component is referred to as the 'brain' or 'heart' of the computer?

    <p>CPU</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Control Unit (CU) in a computer system?

    <p>Convert instructions to control signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system provides the space to store data or instructions?

    <p>Storage Unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes Supercomputers from other types of computers?

    <p>Employed for specialized applications requiring intense mathematical calculations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between hardware and software?

    <p>Hardware and software must work together to produce a useful output.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of software serves as an interface between the user and the hardware?

    <p>Operating System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes system software in terms of design and usage?

    <p>Difficult to understand and fast in speed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is typical of application software?

    <p>Slow in speed and small in size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the primary objectives of the Operating System?

    <p>To provide a convenient interface for users to interact with the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic feature of an Operating System involves keeping track of primary memory and allocating memory when requested by a process?

    <p>Memory Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves preventing unauthorized access to programs and data using techniques like passwords?

    <p>Security</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Processor Management characteristic of an Operating System specifically focus on?

    <p>CPU allocation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature of an Operating System is responsible for deciding which process gets access to a device and for how long?

    <p>Device Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an Operating System, what characteristic feature focuses on keeping track of time and resources used by different jobs or users?

    <p>Job Accounting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Operating System feature is responsible for coordinating and assigning compilers, interpreters, and other software to different users?

    <p>Coordination Between Other Software and Users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of an Operating System involves recording delays between service requests and responses from the system?

    <p>Control Over System Performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System interacts with operators through the computer console?

    <p>Interaction with the Operators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Error-detecting Aids feature of an Operating System primarily involve?

    <p>Error-detecting Aids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System helps in allocating and de-allocating resources?

    <p>File Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

    <p>Processing data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes fifth generation computers from the fourth generation?

    <p>Development of true artificial intelligence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system provides the space to store data or instructions?

    <p>Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of computer is capable of supporting hundreds of users simultaneously?

    <p>Mainframe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the distinguishing feature of a Supercomputer?

    <p>Execution of hundreds of millions of instructions per second</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of software serves as an interface between the user and the hardware?

    <p>Operating system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which generation of computers were vacuum tubes used as the basic components for memory and circuitry?

    <p>First generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which computer type is specifically designed for software development and CAD/CAM applications?

    <p>Workstation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary use of Personal Computers in businesses according to the text?

    <p>Running spreadsheet and database management applications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes secondary memory from main memory in a computer system?

    <p>Secondary memory is non-volatile, main memory is volatile</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a supercomputer from other types of computers?

    <p>Supercomputers are very fast and used for specialized applications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technology was primarily used in the first generation of computers?

    <p>Vacuum Tubes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is commonly referred to as the 'brain' or 'heart' of a computer system?

    <p>Control Unit (CU)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which generation of computers introduced Integrated Circuits (ICs) as a technological advancement?

    <p>Third Generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of programming language was mainly used during the third generation of computers?

    <p>High-level Language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

    <p>Performing arithmetic and logical operations on binary numbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the storage unit in a computer system primarily provide?

    <p>Space for data or instruction storage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primary technology was utilized in fourth-generation computers to make them more powerful and compact?

    <p>VLSI Circuits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which generation of computers saw the use of magnetic cores as primary memory and magnetic disks for storage?

    <p>Second Generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the distinguishing factor between a minicomputer and a mainframe?

    <p>Size and number of users supported</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the processor in a computer system?

    <p>Execute instructions of computer programs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which device allows data to be readable and writeable in a computer system?

    <p>Main Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of output devices in a computer system?

    <p>Generate human-readable results from binary code</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do input devices contribute to the computer system?

    <p>Provide a medium for communication between users and the system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system is responsible for long-term storage of data?

    <p>Secondary Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of an Operating System?

    <p>To manage overall resources and operations of the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of size, which of the following correctly describes system software?

    <p>Smaller in size and difficult to manipulate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature distinguishes application software from system software?

    <p>More interactive and bigger in size</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of a software package containing multiple programs?

    <p>To work together to accomplish a task</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If hardware is considered the 'heart' of a computer system, what analogy is used for software?

    <p>'Soul'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Device Management characteristic of an Operating System primarily involve?

    <p>Keeping track of all the devices connected to the computer system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves coordinating and assigning compilers, interpreters, and other software to users?

    <p>Coordination Over System Performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the Security characteristic of an Operating System?

    <p>Preventing unauthorized access to programs and data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes Job Accounting from Memory Management in an Operating System?

    <p>Job Accounting deals with tracking resource usage by jobs/users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature of an Operating System involves allocating and deallocating resources?

    <p>File Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Control Unit (CU) in a computer system?

    <p>Interprets program instructions and initiates processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system provides space for storing data and instructions temporarily?

    <p>Main Memory (RAM)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Arithmetic and Logical Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

    <p>Performs arithmetic and logical operations on data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of software serves as an interface between the user and hardware components?

    <p>Operating System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main responsibility of an Operating System's Error-detecting Aids feature?

    <p>Producing error messages and debugging aids for system issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of a computer processor?

    <p>Converting data into useful information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which function involves storing data/instructions in a computer's memory?

    <p>Processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes computer generations in contemporary technology?

    <p>Hardware and software advancements combined</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which step involves controlling all the functions of a computer system based on the text?

    <p>Overall system control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three basic functionalities of a Computer System according to the text?

    <p>Input, store, output</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technology was primarily used in the third generation of computers?

    <p>Integrated Circuits (ICs)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the Control Unit (CU) in a computer system?

    <p>Control all activities inside the computer system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a distinguishing feature of fifth-generation computers?

    <p>Development of true artificial intelligence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system is responsible for long-term storage of data and programs?

    <p>Storage Unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are workstations different from personal computers?

    <p>Workstations have higher computing power and graphics capability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary memory component used in the second generation of computers?

    <p>Magnetic cores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a supercomputer from a mainframe computer?

    <p>Speed and processing power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which programming languages were mainly used during the fourth generation of computers?

    <p>High-level languages like C, C++, DBASE</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary feature of fourth-generation computers?

    <p>Use of VLSI technology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of computer system can support hundreds of users simultaneously?

    <p>Main Frame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main feature that distinguished the second generation of computers from the first generation?

    <p>Use of transistors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the computer system is referred to as the 'brain' or 'heart' of the computer?

    <p>CPU (Central Processing Unit)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main use of Personal Computers in businesses according to the text?

    <p>Running spreadsheet and database management applications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic was common to computers of the first and second generations?

    <p>Use of vacuum tubes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are supercomputers primarily employed for?

    <p>Weather forecasting, simulations, and data analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the processor in a computer system?

    <p>Carries out instructions of computer programs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system is known for its speed and allows data to be both readable and writeable?

    <p>Main Memory (RAM)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes input devices from output devices in a computer system?

    <p>Input devices communicate user instructions to the system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does secondary memory differ from primary memory in a computer system?

    <p>Primary memory directly communicates with the CPU, unlike secondary memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do output devices do in a computer system?

    <p>Generate human-readable results based on input</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of an Operating System?

    <p>To act as an intermediary between the hardware and the software</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes system software from application software?

    <p>Application software serves as an interface between user and hardware</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of system software?

    <p>Close to the system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the computer system is considered a one-time expense?

    <p>Hard disk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the objective of an Operating System according to the text?

    <p>To hide details of hardware from users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Memory Management characteristic feature of an Operating System primarily involve?

    <p>Allocating and de-allocating primary memory resources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves preventing unauthorized access using techniques like passwords?

    <p>Security</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the Device Management characteristic feature of an Operating System?

    <p>Decides which process gets the device and for how long</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System is responsible for deciding which process gets access to a device and for how long?

    <p>Device Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of Job Accounting in an Operating System?

    <p>Keeping track of time and resources used by jobs/users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves coordinating and assigning compilers, interpreters, and assemblers?

    <p>Coordination Between Other Software and Users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the Control Over System Performance characteristic feature in an Operating System?

    <p>Recording delays between service requests and execution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves interacting with operators via the computer console?

    <p>'Interaction with the Operators'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Error-detecting Aids characteristic feature of an Operating System primarily involve?

    <p>'Production of dumps, traces, error messages'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the first generation of computers, which of the following was a common issue with the machines?

    <p>Lack of support for high-level programming languages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the third generation of computers from the second generation?

    <p>Integration of Integrated Circuits (ICs) for improved reliability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of computer generations, what technological advancement was significant during the second generation?

    <p>Development of High-Level Programming Languages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature was not associated with fourth-generation computers?

    <p>Use of transistors instead of vacuum tubes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a primary disadvantage of first-generation computers compared to fourth-generation computers?

    <p>Lower processing speed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the Control Unit (CU) in a computer system?

    <p>Controls all the functions of the computer system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which generation of computers were magnetic cores primarily used for memory and magnetic disks for storage?

    <p>Third generation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes mini-computers from supercomputers?

    <p>Size and complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of introducing the concept of computer generations in computer terminology?

    <p>To distinguish between hardware and software technologies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the computer system is considered a one-time expense?

    <p>Processor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the processor in a computer system?

    <p>Executing instructions of computer programs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system has the largest capacity to store data?

    <p>Secondary Memory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do output devices contribute to a computer system?

    <p>Converting data into human-readable form</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature best describes input devices in a computer system?

    <p>They communicate between the computer system and the outside world.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of speed and capacity, what distinguishes secondary memory from main memory?

    <p>Secondary memory is slower and has more capacity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of a computer system is responsible for controlling all the functions based on the provided text?

    <p>Control Unit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the characteristics of Mainframe computers from Supercomputers according to the text?

    <p>Number of supported users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In computer terminology, what does the term 'generation' primarily refer to?

    <p>Technological advancements in hardware</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) in a CPU as described in the text?

    <p>Arithmetic and logical operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a distinguishing feature of Supercomputers from Minicomputers given the information provided?

    <p>Specialized applications for mathematical calculations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the fifth generation of computers from the fourth generation?

    <p>Development of true artificial intelligence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of computer system is characterized by being an extremely fast computer capable of executing hundreds of millions of instructions per second?

    <p>Super-Computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In terms of speed and computing power, which type of computer system can support hundreds of users simultaneously?

    <p>Main Frame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a distinguishing feature of workstations compared to personal computers?

    <p>More powerful microprocessor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature is common to both mini-computers and mainframe computers?

    <p>Support for multiple users simultaneously</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the Operating System in a computer system?

    <p>To act as an intermediary between hardware and software</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of computer systems, what makes system software different from application software?

    <p>System software interacts more with hardware</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes high-level language from low-level language in software development?

    <p>Low-level languages interact at a very basic level with hardware</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature primarily distinguishes system software from application software in terms of design?

    <p>Close connection to hardware operations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the relationship between hardware and software described as mutually dependent?

    <p>Hardware cannot operate without software, and vice versa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves deciding which process gets a device, when, and for how much time?

    <p>Device Management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the Security characteristic feature in an Operating System?

    <p>To prevent unauthorized access to programs and data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes supercomputers from other computer types?

    <p>They are mainly employed for high-speed computations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves coordinating and assigning compilers, interpreters, and assemblers?

    <p>Coordination Between Other Software and Users</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of an Operating System involves production of dumps, traces, error messages, and other debugging methods?

    <p>Error-detecting Aids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is commonly referred to as the 'brain' or 'heart' of a computer system?

    <p>Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an Operating System, which characteristic feature acknowledges instructions from operators via the computer console?

    <p>Interaction with Operators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the third generation of computers primarily in terms of technology used?

    <p>'Brain' was primarily represented by integrated circuits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic feature of an Operating System involves keeping track of time and resources used by various jobs and users?

    <p>Job Accounting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes fifth generation computers from those in the fourth generation?

    <p>Introduction of advanced AI technologies</p> Signup and view all the answers

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