Computer Fundamentals Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What are programs primarily designed to do?

  • Serve as a backup for hardware components
  • Store data permanently in the computer
  • Provide instructions for a computer to execute (correct)
  • Translate high-level code to machine code

    • Which component of a computer is responsible for executing instructions?

  • Input Devices
  • Output Devices
  • Secondary Storage
  • Central Processing Unit (CPU) (correct)

    • Which type of software is responsible for managing computer hardware resources?

  • System Software (correct)
  • Application Software
  • Utility Programs
  • Development Tools

    • Which of the following is NOT a common operating system?

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

    What is the main memory also known as?

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

    What happens to the content of main memory when the computer is turned off?

    <p>It is erased completely</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of software is typically prewritten and ready to use for general purposes?

    <p>Off-the-shelf Software</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which programming language type is closest to human language?

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

    What role does a programmer have in relation to a computer?

    <p>To write instructions that the computer can interpret</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following represents a hardware output device?

    <p>Computer Monitor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a category of computer hardware?

    <p>Programming Languages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a compiler in programming?

    <p>To convert high-level code into machine code</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of an operating system?

    <p>To provide communication with the computer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is used for software written specifically for a unique purpose?

    <p>Custom Made Software</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the types of program errors?

    <p>Runtime errors occur during the execution of a program.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of programs would you expect in utility software?

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

    What does a binary digit or bit represent?

    <p>A digit that can only be zero or one</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the Control Unit (CU) within the CPU?

    <p>Retrieve, decode, and execute program instructions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly describes secondary storage?

    <p>It is non-volatile and stores data between sessions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the CPU is specifically designed for true/false and yes/no decisions?

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

    Which of the following can be considered an input device?

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

    What is the primary role of output devices?

    <p>To send information from the computer to the outside world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When dealing with large data, what does the address of that data refer to?

    <p>The address of the first byte used</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which storage medium is classified as non-volatile?

    <p>USB Flash drive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the only language that computers directly understand?

    <p>Machine Language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key feature of high-level programming languages?

    <p>They are easy to read and write.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a compiler do?

    <p>Translates high-level code into machine language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which language uses mnemonic symbols such as 'MULT'?

    <p>Assembly Language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a high-level programming language?

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

    Why is machine language considered difficult to write?

    <p>It consists only of zeros and ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the operation to multiply rates and hours represented in assembly language?

    <p>LOAD rate; MULT hours; STOR wages;</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does each binary digit, 0 and 1, represent in machine language?

    <p>Signal on and Signal off</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Computers and Programming Languages

    • The core concept of programming revolves around instructing a computer to follow instructions.
    • A computer, a programmable machine, needs programs to function.
    • A programmer writes instructions (programs) for the computer to execute tasks.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Understanding the purpose of computer programs.
    • Identifying and explaining hardware and software components of a computer system.
    • Defining the language used by computers.
    • Explaining the evolution of programming languages.
    • Listing various high-level programming languages.
    • Exploring the history of the C++ language.
    • Recognizing C++ programs.
    • Explaining different types of program errors.
    • Describing how a C++ program is processed and tested.
    • Explaining the roles of compiler, linker, and loader.

    Why Program?

    • Computers are programmable machines meant to follow directions.
    • Programs are a sequence of instructions for computers, expressed in a language computers understand.
    • Programmers write instructions to make computers perform specific tasks.
    • Without programmers, there are no programs, and computers cannot perform any actions.

    Simple View of Running a Program

    • A program provides instructions to the computer.
    • Data provides input to the program.
    • The computer processes these inputs.
    • The computer generates and outputs the result.

    Computer Components

    • All computers have two main components:
      • Hardware: Physical parts; tangible.
      • Software: Programs; intangible.

    Computer Hardware

    • The physical building blocks of a computer.
    • Five main categorizations:
      • Main Memory/Primary Storage/Internal Memory.
      • Central Processing Unit (CPU).
      • Secondary Storage/Auxiliary Storage/External Memory.
      • Input Devices.
      • Output Devices.

    Categories of Computer Hardware (Diagram)

    • Illustrates the connections between different hardware components.
    • Shows input devices, CPU, memory, storage, and output devices.

    Main Memory

    • Stores instructions and data for active programs on the computer.
    • Volatile: Data is lost when the computer is turned off.
    • Random Access Memory (RAM) is its alternative name.
    • Memory locations are indexed numerically (addresses).
    • A byte is a basic unit with 8 bits, 0's and 1's.
    • A bit is a single binary digit.

    Binary Units

    • Explains different units of measurement for computer memory (kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, terabytes, etc) and their relationship based on powers of 2.

    Main Memory (Continued)

    • Data and instructions are stored as binary digits in memory locations.
    • Each location has a unique address.
    • Data larger than a byte uses neighboring bytes.
    • The address of larger data refers to the first byte.

    Illustration of Main Memory (Diagram)

    • Shows memory locations and bytes organized in a structured fashion.

    Central Processing Unit (CPU)

    • The brain of the computer.
    • Control Unit (CU) retrieves, decodes, and executes program instructions from RAM.
    • Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) performs mathematical calculations and logical decisions.

    CPU Organization (Diagram)

    • Shows the structure of a CPU, highlighting the interaction between the control unit, arithmetic logic unit, and input/output processes.

    Secondary Storage

    • Stores data and instructions even when the computer is off.
    • Non-volatile storage.
    • Categorized into forms of storage
      • Magnetic (floppy, hard drive, tape).
      • Optical (CD, DVD).
      • Flash Memory (USB drive).

    Input Devices

    • Receives information from the outside world; enters data or input in the computer.
    • Input may include: Programs and data.
    • Includes: Keyboards, mice, scanners, cameras, microphones, etc.

    Output Devices

    • Sends information from the computer to the outside world; presents the computer's output.
    • Includes: Monitors, printers, speakers, headphones, plotters, etc.

    Computer Software

    • Programs that reside and execute on the hardware.
    • Two categories:
      • System software (normally pre-installed)
      • Application software (user-installed to execute specific functionalities).

    System Software

    • Manages hardware resources, enabling application programs' execution.
    • Types: BIOS, operating systems, utilities, development tools.
    • The operating system is the core system software, handling user requests.

    Operating System

    • A program controlling the computer.
    • Allowing communication with computer hardware.
    • Allocating computer resources.
    • Responding to requests to run programs.
    • Common operating systems include various types.

    Application Software

    • Programs enabling users to perform specific tasks or work.
    • Categories: General-purpose tasks (word processors, games) and specific ones.
    • Users can purchase off-the-shelf software or develop custom software.

    Where are the Application and System Software? (Diagram)

    • Illustrates the relationship between software, hardware, and user interaction, with software placed concentrically in layers around the hardware.

    Programs and Programming Languages

    • A computer program is a set of instructions for the computer.
    • Programming languages allow programmers to create programs for computers.
    • Types: - High-Level (closer to human language). - Low-Level (closer to machine language).

    The Language of a Computer

    • Machine language uses binary digits, 0 and 1 (bits)
    • Provides instructions understandable to the computer's hardware.
    • Is the most basic form of computer language,.

    History of Computer Languages

    • Shows the evolution of computer languages from machine language through various levels toward natural language.

    History of Computer Languages (Continued)

    • Machine language: The computer's primary language (binary code) is difficult to write and understand.
    • Symbolic/Assembly Language: Uses mnemonics (symbols) instead of binary code; more human-readable.

    History of Computer Languages (Continued)

    • High-level languages: Closer to human language, using words and expressions, but need translation to machine language.

    History of Computer Languages (Continued)

    • Natural language: Using structured language like English but lacks widespread practical usage due to limitations.

    C++ History

    • C++ evolved from the C language; developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs in the early 1980s.
    • Added object-oriented capabilities while maintaining C's efficiency.

    A Sample of C++ Program

    • Shows the typical structure of a C++ program, with header files and functions.

    Example of a C++ Program

    • Presents a runnable C++ code example with input-output to illustrate basic programming execution.

    Program Development

    • To ensure the computer understands, code needs to convert to machine language.
    • The conversion process involves the writer's understanding of the problem and breaking down complex tasks into simpler steps.
    • Programmers work to create a program that functions properly and produces the expected output.
    • Errors are possible during program development; therefore, programmers work to find and correct them.

    Types of Program Errors

    • Syntax Errors: Occur when the code violates the programming language's grammar rules.
    • Run-time Errors: Occur during program execution due to improper calculations and conditions.
    • Logic Errors: Errors in the code's logic; the code may execute without any errors, but the output isn't as intended due to errors in its logic during programming.

    Processing a C++ Program

    • Steps to convert high-level code to instructions understandable by the computer.
      • Edit (create the code).
      • Compile (translate the code to machine language).
      • Link (combines parts of the machine language into the actual program).
      • Load (moves the program from disk to computer's memory).
      • Execute (runs the program.)

    Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)

    • Single software tools for developing programs, combining an editor, compiler, linker, loader, and debugger.
    • Examples include Microsoft Visual C++, Borland C++ Builder, CodeWarrior.

    Using Visual C++ IDEs (Editing Process)

    • Shows the steps for writing the high-level program in Visual C++ and saving it to a file.

    Using Visual C++ IDEs (Compiling Process)

    • Steps for translating the high-level code into machine language using the compiler.

    Using Visual C++ IDEs (Linking Process)

    • Steps in Visual C++ for linking different parts of the program to create an executable program.

    Using Visual C++ IDEs (Loading and Executing Process)

    • Steps for preparing the program in RAM for execution; also displays the output of executing the program.

    Can You...

    • List of questions for the student to attempt based on the lecture's content.

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    Introduction to Computers and Programming Language PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the basics of computer programs, hardware, and software with this comprehensive quiz. From the roles of operating systems to the types of programming languages, explore various concepts that form the backbone of computing.

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