Topic MCQs — Fundamentals & Architecture
35 original MCQs | DSSSB TGT CS style | Answers at end
Q1. Which of the following is hardware?
- A) Operating system
- B) Compiler
- C) Motherboard
- D) Spreadsheet software
Q2. Soft copy output typically refers to:
- A) Printed paper
- B) Display on a monitor
- C) Engraved metal plate
- D) Braille embossing only
Q3. In the memory hierarchy, the fastest and smallest storage is usually:
- A) Magnetic tape
- B) HDD
- C) CPU registers
- D) Optical disc
Q4. RAM is best described as:
- A) Non-volatile permanent archive only
- B) Volatile main memory
- C) Only used for BIOS storage
- D) Slower than magnetic tape always
Q5. Which memory retains content when power is removed?
- A) DRAM only
- B) SRAM only
- C) ROM
- D) CPU registers only
Q6. 1 Byte equals:
- A) 4 bits
- B) 8 bits
- C) 16 bits
- D) 32 bits
Q7. In binary convention used in many exams, 1 KB equals:
- A) 1000 bytes
- B) 1024 bytes
- C) 1000 bits
- D) 8 bytes
Q8. An example of system software is:
- A) Video game
- B) Operating system
- C) Photo editor only
- D) Online shopping app only
Q9. Disk cleanup and antivirus tools are commonly classified as:
- A) Application software only
- B) Utility software
- C) Firmware only
- D) Compilers only
Q10. An assembler translates:
- A) High-level language to assembly
- B) Assembly language to machine code
- C) Machine code to Python
- D) HTML to CSS
Q11. A compiler typically:
- A) Executes source line-by-line without translation
- B) Translates the whole program before execution
- C) Only links object files
- D) Replaces the CPU ALU
Q12. Second-generation computers mainly used:
- A) Vacuum tubes
- B) Transistors
- C) Microprocessors only
- D) Quantum qubits only
Q13. The ALU is responsible for:
- A) Directing the sequence of operations only
- B) Arithmetic and logic operations
- C) Storing the OS permanently
- D) Rendering only GPU shaders
Q14. The Program Counter (PC) holds:
- A) Current instruction opcode only always
- B) Address of the next instruction
- C) Only accumulated results
- D) Only interrupt masks
Q15. von Neumann architecture stores:
- A) Instructions and data in separate exclusive memories only (classic Harvard)
- B) Instructions and data in a shared memory space
- C) Only data, never instructions
- D) Only microcode in cloud
Q16. The address bus primarily carries:
- A) Control acknowledgements only
- B) Memory or I/O addresses
- C) Only pixel colors
- D) Only interrupt priorities
Q17. Which bus typically carries actual data words between CPU and memory?
- A) Address bus
- B) Data bus
- C) Only power bus
- D) Only USB always
Q18. In programmed I/O, the CPU generally:
- A) Never checks device status
- B) Polls/waits on the device
- C) Always uses DMA only
- D) Shuts down interrupts permanently
Q19. DMA stands for:
- A) Dual Memory Allocation
- B) Direct Memory Access
- C) Dynamic Module Assembly
- D) Digital Main Accumulator
Q20. Compared to HDD, SSD generally offers:
- A) Slower random access always
- B) Faster access and no spinning platters
- C) Only magnetic storage
- D) Mandatory optical laser reading
Q21. CD/DVD storage is an example of:
- A) Primary RAM
- B) Optical secondary storage
- C) CPU cache
- D) Register file
Q22. The main circuit board connecting CPU, memory, and ports is the:
- A) Power supply only
- B) Motherboard
- C) Heat sink only
- D) UPS
Q23. Which is a common modern display interface?
- A) Only Centronics parallel
- B) HDMI
- C) Only RS-232 mandatory
- D) Only PS/2 video
Q24. Providing virtual machines and storage where the user manages the OS is closest to:
- A) SaaS
- B) PaaS
- C) IaaS
- D) Only firmware
Q25. Gmail or online CRM used as a complete application is an example of:
- A) IaaS
- B) SaaS
- C) Bare-metal BIOS only
- D) Assembler service
Q26. BIOS/UEFI firmware is typically stored in:
- A) Volatile DRAM only
- B) Non-volatile chip on the motherboard
- C) Optical DVD only
- D) Cloud SaaS only
Q27. UEFI compared to legacy BIOS commonly supports:
- A) Smaller disks only
- B) GPT large disks and Secure Boot features
- C) No POST
- D) Removal of all bootloaders
Q28. Cache memory is used to:
- A) Permanently archive backups
- B) Speed up access to frequently used data/instructions
- C) Replace secondary storage entirely
- D) Cool the CPU mechanically
Q29. Fourth-generation computers are associated with:
- A) Vacuum tubes
- B) Microprocessors
- C) Only mechanical gears
- D) Only punched cards as CPU
Q30. Interrupt-driven I/O is more efficient than programmed I/O mainly because:
- A) CPU must poll continuously
- B) CPU can do other work until device signals readiness
- C) Memory is never used
- D) DMA is forbidden
Q31. A nibble is:
- A) 2 bits
- B) 4 bits
- C) 8 bits
- D) 16 bits
Q32. Which register commonly holds the instruction currently being decoded/executed?
- A) Program Counter
- B) Instruction Register
- C) Stack Pointer only in BIOS
- D) Only MAR
Q33. Firmware is best described as:
- A) Application software on HDD only
- B) Software embedded closely with hardware (e.g., BIOS)
- C) Only cloud SaaS dashboards
- D) Only interpreted Python scripts
Q34. The von Neumann bottleneck refers mainly to:
- A) Unlimited parallel buses always
- B) Shared path/memory limiting instruction & data throughput
- C) Excess of ALUs
- D) Too many optical drives
Q35. Which storage unit is largest?
- A) MB
- B) GB
- C) TB
- D) PB
Answer Key
| Q | Ans | Brief explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Motherboard is physical hardware. |
| 2 | B | Soft copy = screen display. |
| 3 | C | Registers are fastest/smallest. |
| 4 | B | RAM is volatile main memory. |
| 5 | C | ROM is non-volatile. |
| 6 | B | 1 byte = 8 bits. |
| 7 | B | Binary KB = 1024 bytes. |
| 8 | B | OS is system software. |
| 9 | B | Utilities maintain/support the system. |
| 10 | B | Assembler: assembly → machine code. |
| 11 | B | Compiler translates whole program first. |
| 12 | B | 2nd gen = transistors. |
| 13 | B | ALU = arithmetic & logic. |
| 14 | B | PC = next instruction address. |
| 15 | B | Shared memory for code and data. |
| 16 | B | Address bus carries addresses. |
| 17 | B | Data bus carries data. |
| 18 | B | Programmed I/O uses polling/waiting. |
| 19 | B | Direct Memory Access. |
| 20 | B | SSDs are faster, no platters. |
| 21 | B | CD/DVD = optical storage. |
| 22 | B | Motherboard is the main PCB. |
| 23 | B | HDMI is a common display port. |
| 24 | C | IaaS = infra; user manages OS. |
| 25 | B | Full app in cloud = SaaS. |
| 26 | B | Firmware chip on motherboard. |
| 27 | B | UEFI: GPT, Secure Boot, etc. |
| 28 | B | Cache speeds frequent accesses. |
| 29 | B | 4th gen = microprocessors. |
| 30 | B | Interrupts avoid constant polling. |
| 31 | B | Nibble = 4 bits. |
| 32 | B | IR holds current instruction. |
| 33 | B | Firmware lives with hardware. |
| 34 | B | Shared memory/bus limits throughput. |
| 35 | D | PB > TB > GB > MB. |
Count: 35 MCQs