Computers and Microprocessors Quiz – Set 2
Attempt each question, then click “Show answer” to reveal the correct option and a brief explanation.
1. Which of the following is an example of non-volatile memory?
Correct answer: C. ROM — Read Only Memory retains its contents even when power is switched off.
2. The “program counter” (PC) in a microprocessor holds:
Correct answer: B. The address of the next instruction — The PC is updated after each fetch to point to the upcoming instruction.
3. Which of the following best describes “pipelining” in processors?
Correct answer: B. Overlapping stages — Pipelining allows fetch, decode, and execute stages of different instructions to occur simultaneously.
4. The term “bit” is a contraction of:
Correct answer: B. Binary digit — A bit is the smallest unit of data, representing 0 or 1.
5. Which number system is used internally by computers for all operations?
Correct answer: B. Binary — Computers represent and process data using 0s and 1s.
6. In a typical microprocessor, “general purpose registers” are used to:
Correct answer: B. Temporarily hold data — Registers provide the fastest form of storage inside the CPU.
7. “Interrupts” in microprocessors are used to:
Correct answer: C. Service urgent events — Interrupts improve responsiveness to external or internal events.
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of “virtual memory”?
Correct answer: B. Uses secondary storage — Virtual memory allows programs to use more memory than physically available RAM.
9. In terms of computer generations, microprocessors are primarily associated with:
Correct answer: D. Fourth generation — Microprocessors led to personal computers and modern systems.
10. Which of the following is NOT a type of computer network?
Correct answer: D. PANIC — LAN, MAN, WAN, and PAN (Personal Area Network) are valid; “PANIC” is not.
11. The main purpose of an operating system is to:
Correct answer: B. Manage hardware and provide services — The OS coordinates CPU, memory, devices, and user programs.
12. In microprocessor systems, “DMA” (Direct Memory Access) allows:
Correct answer: B. Direct device–memory transfers — DMA improves performance for large data transfers.
13. Which of the following is a key advantage of 64-bit processors over 32-bit processors?
Correct answer: C. Larger address space and word size — This enables more RAM usage and improved performance for certain tasks.
14. Which logic gate outputs 1 only when all its inputs are 1?
Correct answer: B. AND gate — It implements logical multiplication.
15. In a typical instruction format, the “opcode” field specifies:
Correct answer: B. Operation to be performed — The opcode tells the processor what action to carry out.
16. “Embedded systems” typically use microcontrollers or microprocessors to:
Correct answer: B. Control specific functions — Embedded systems are dedicated to particular tasks.
17. Which of the following best describes a microcontroller as compared to a microprocessor?
Correct answer: B. Integrated CPU, memory, peripherals — Microcontrollers are optimized for embedded control tasks.
18. Which unit of storage is the largest?
Correct answer: D. Terabyte — 1 TB ≈ 10¹² bytes, larger than GB, MB, and KB.
19. In networking, the device commonly used to connect multiple computers within a LAN is:
Correct answer: B. Switch — A switch forwards data between devices within a local network segment.
20. Which of the following best explains “booting” a computer?
Correct answer: B. Loading the operating system — The boot process initializes hardware and starts the OS.
