Here’s a fully detailed and simple explanation of the CSC101 exam preparation questions

and answers in easy English. The content is organized by common topics covered in an
introductory computer science course.

1. Introduction to Computer Science

Short Questions

1. What is Computer Science?

o Computer Science is the study of computers. It focuses on how they work,
how to build them, and how to create programs (software) that solve problems.
2. What are the main parts of a computer?
o A computer has five main parts:
1. Input devices (like a keyboard or mouse) to give instructions.
2. Processing unit (CPU) to perform calculations.
3. Memory (RAM/ROM) to store data temporarily or permanently.
4. Storage devices (like hard drives or SSDs) to save files.
5. Output devices (like monitors or printers) to display results.

Long Questions

1. Explain how Computer Science is useful today.

o Computer Science is important in almost every field. For example:
 In healthcare, it helps doctors store patient information and use
machines to treat diseases.
 In education, students can use online learning tools.
 In finance, banks use computers for transactions.
 In entertainment, it powers games, movies, and music apps.
2. What is the difference between hardware and software?
o Hardware is the physical part of a computer that you can touch, like the
monitor, keyboard, or CPU.
o Software is the instructions or programs that run on hardware. For example:
 Hardware: A smartphone.
 Software: The apps like WhatsApp or games.

2. Basics of Algorithms
Short Questions

1. What is an algorithm?
o An algorithm is a set of steps or instructions that solves a problem. For
example, a recipe for making tea is like an algorithm.
2. Why are algorithms important?
 o Algorithms are important because they give a clear method to solve a problem.
This makes it easier for computers to perform tasks quickly and accurately.

Long Questions

1. What are the characteristics of a good algorithm?

o A good algorithm has these qualities:
1. Finiteness: It must stop after a certain number of steps.
2. Clarity: Each step should be simple and easy to understand.
3. Input and Output: It should take inputs (data) and produce outputs
(results).
4. Efficiency: It should use time and resources wisely.
5. Generality: It should work for many different problems.
2. Write an algorithm to find the largest number in a list of numbers.
o Steps:
1. Start with a list of numbers (e.g., 5, 8, 12, 4).
2. Assume the first number is the largest (e.g., 5).
3. Compare it with every other number in the list.
4. If any number is bigger, update the largest number.
5. At the end, the largest number will be the answer.

3. Programming Basics
Short Questions

1. What are the basic concepts in programming?

o Programming uses three main ideas:
1. Sequence: Instructions happen in order (one after another).
2. Selection: Decisions like "if this happens, do that" (if-else).
3. Loops: Repeat instructions multiple times (e.g., for, while).
2. What is the difference between compiled and interpreted languages?
o Compiled languages (like C++) turn the whole program into machine code
before running it.
o Interpreted languages (like Python) check and run the code line by line.

Long Questions

1. What are high-level and low-level programming languages?

o High-level languages:
 These are easier to understand and write because they are close to
human language.
 Example: Python, Java.
o Low-level languages:
 These are closer to machine language and are harder to understand.
 Example: Assembly language, machine code.
2. Write a simple program to find the factorial of a number.
 o Factorial means multiplying a number by all numbers below it. For example,
factorial of 5 is 5×4×3×2×1 = 120.
3. def factorial(n):
4. result = 1
5. for i in range(1, n + 1):
6. result *= i
7. return result
8.
9. num = int(input("Enter a number: "))
10. print("Factorial is:", factorial(num))

4. Data Representation
Short Questions

1. What is binary representation?

o Binary is the way computers store data using only 0s and 1s.
2. What is the difference between bits and bytes?
o A bit is the smallest piece of data (0 or 1).
o A byte is a group of 8 bits. For example, 10101011 is one byte.

Long Questions

1. How do you convert a decimal number to binary?

o Steps:
1. Divide the number by 2.
2. Write down the remainder (0 or 1).
3. Keep dividing the quotient by 2 until the result is 0.
4. Write the remainders from bottom to top to get the binary number.

Example: Convert 10 to binary.

 10 ÷ 2 = 5 remainder 0
 5 ÷ 2 = 2 remainder 1
 2 ÷ 2 = 1 remainder 0
 1 ÷ 2 = 0 remainder 1
 Binary: 1010
2. What are the common number systems used in computers?
o Computers use different systems to represent data:

1. Binary (Base 2): Uses only 0 and 1 (e.g., 1010).

2. Decimal (Base 10): Uses digits 0-9 (e.g., 25).
3. Octal (Base 8): Uses digits 0-7 (e.g., 17 in octal = 15 in decimal).
4. Hexadecimal (Base 16): Uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F (e.g., A = 10).

5. Computer Networks
Short Questions

1. What is a computer network?

o A computer network is a group of computers connected together to share data
and resources, like files, printers, or the Internet.
2. What is the difference between LAN and WAN?
o LAN (Local Area Network): Small networks like in schools or homes.
o WAN (Wide Area Network): Large networks that cover big areas, like the
Internet.

Long Questions

1. What is the OSI Model? Explain its layers.

o The OSI Model explains how data travels in a network. It has 7 layers:
1. Physical Layer: Sends raw data (bits) through wires.
2. Data Link Layer: Detects and fixes errors in data transfer.
3. Network Layer: Decides the route for data (e.g., IP address).
4. Transport Layer: Ensures all data reaches the destination.
5. Session Layer: Starts and ends communication between devices.
6. Presentation Layer: Converts data to a format the user understands
(e.g., images or text).
7. Application Layer: Apps like browsers or email work here.

6. Database Basics
Short Questions

1. What is a database?
o A database is a place to store and organize data so it can be accessed easily.
2. What is SQL?
o SQL (Structured Query Language) is used to create, update, and read data
from databases.

Long Questions

1. What are the types of databases?

o Relational Database: Stores data in tables (e.g., MySQL).
o NoSQL Database: Stores data in other ways, such as documents (e.g.,
MongoDB).
o Distributed Database: The database is stored in different locations.
o Cloud Database: The database is stored online (e.g., Google Cloud).
2. Write a simple SQL query to get student names from a table.
o Suppose you have a table named Students. To get all the names:
o SELECT Name FROM Students;
This guide should help you understand the topics step by step in simple terms. Let me know
if you need clarification or more topics!