12 Questions
What is the main characteristic of first generation programming languages?
They are directly recognized by the computer
What is the purpose of an assembler in the context of second generation programming languages?
To convert the assembly language source program into machine language
What is the relationship between machine language and assembly language?
Assembly language is a subset of machine language
Which of the following is a characteristic of second generation programming languages?
They are difficult to learn and understand
Which of the following is a key difference between first and second generation programming languages?
Second generation languages require an assembler to run
What is the main advantage of second generation programming languages over first generation?
They are easier to learn and remember
What led to the development of procedural languages in the late 1950s and 1960s?
The disadvantages of machine and assembly languages
What is a key difference between a compiler and an interpreter?
Compilers translate the entire source program into machine language before executing it, while interpreters translate and execute one statement at a time.
What is the purpose of a program listing produced by a compiler?
To help the programmer make necessary changes to the source code and correct errors in the program.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a third-generation programming language (3GL)?
It uses English-like words and arithmetic symbols to write instructions.
What is the main purpose of translating a 3GL source program into machine language?
To enable the computer to execute the program.
Which of the following is a disadvantage of an interpreter compared to a compiler?
Interpreters do not produce an object program.
Study Notes
Low-Level Programming Languages
- First generation programming languages (1st GL) include Machine Language, which is the only language that computers directly recognize.
- Machine languages use a series of binary digits (1s and 0s) to represent instructions, which can be time-consuming and tedious.
- Binary digits correspond to the on and off electrical state.
Second Generation Programming Languages
- Second generation programming languages (2nd GL) include Assembly Language, which uses symbols and instruction codes to represent machine codes.
- Assembly languages are difficult to learn and understand, and require conversion to machine language before execution.
- An assembler is used to convert the assembly language source program into machine language.
Third Generation Programming Languages
- Third generation programming languages (3rd GL) are procedural languages that use English-like words and arithmetic symbols to write instructions.
- 3GLs are simpler to develop than low-level languages, but require conversion to machine language before execution.
- A compiler or interpreter is used to translate 3GL code into machine language.
- A compiler converts the entire source program into machine language before executing it, producing an object code or object program.
- An interpreter translates and executes one statement at a time, without producing an object program.
- Compilers check the source program for errors and produce a program listing with errors, while interpreters do not produce an object program.
Test your knowledge of different types of programming languages, including low-level and high-level languages. Learn about first generation programming languages like Machine Language and the evolution through generations.
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