General Knowledge Questions OPEN AT YOUR OWN RISK
General Knowledge Questions OPEN AT YOUR OWN RISK
1. What is a computer?
3. What are the different parts of a computer? Describe the function of each part.
4. What is the difference between input, processing, and output in a computer system?
Classification of Computers:
1. Classify computers according to their physical size and processing power, and describe each
category.
1. Who is regarded as the father of modern computers, and what was his contribution?
2. What was the first computing machine, and what was its use?
5. What improvements were made in the 2nd generation of computers over the 1st generation?
Applications of Computers:
5. Explain how computers are used in industrial processes and by remote-controlled robots.
o a) CPU
o b) Monitor
o c) Hard disk
o a) Microcomputer
o b) Analog computer
o c) Supercomputer
o d) Hybrid computer
Application-Based Questions:
These questions cover key concepts from the chapter and test the understanding of both definitions and
applications in the real world.
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3. How does a mouse function as a pointing device in Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)?
5. Explain the difference between a tower system unit and a desktop system unit.
1. Compare and contrast mini computers and microcomputers in terms of processing power, size,
and usage.
Historical Development:
4. How did the use of Integrated Circuits (IC) impact the development of third-generation
computers?
6. How did the invention of the microprocessor affect the development of personal computers?
2. How do computers assist in the management of traffic and navigation in the transport
industry?
3. What role do computers play in the healthcare sector, particularly in diagnostics and patient
care?
4. How does computer automation improve efficiency in large-scale industrial operations?
1. What improvements did the use of transistors bring to second-generation computers over the
vacuum tubes used in first-generation computers?
3. What are some examples of the types of tasks performed by fourth-generation computers?
5. What is the main difference between the processing power of second-generation computers
and third-generation computers?
1. What types of data are processed by digital computers, and how is this different from analog
computers?
2. Give an example of a situation where an analog computer would be more efficient than a
digital computer.
3. Explain the function of a hybrid computer and provide an example of where it might be used.
2. Describe how computer technology improves customer service in the banking industry,
specifically through ATMs.
3. How are computers used to monitor and control industrial machines or processes?
1. Fill in the blank: The ________ is the brain of the computer, located inside the system unit.
o a) Microcomputer
o b) Supercomputer
o c) Mainframe computer
o d) Mini computer
o
1. Used in scientific research
3. Fill in the blank: A computer that processes continuous data such as temperature readings or
pressure measurements is called an ________ computer.
1. Why do supercomputers need special cooling systems, and how do they manage to maintain
such high speeds?
2. How does the shift from vacuum tubes to transistors in second-generation computers
contribute to energy efficiency?
3. Discuss how the development of artificial intelligence is influencing the evolution of the fifth
generation of computers.
o a) CPU
o b) Motherboard
o c) Keyboard
o d) Power supply
Applications of Computers:
3. What are the advantages of using computers for air ticket reservations?
4. Explain how computers are used in education, particularly in long-distance learning and
research.
5. What is Computer Aided Learning (CAL) and Computer Aided Teaching (CAT), and how do they
benefit the education sector?
7. What role do computers play in the design and testing work of engineers and architects?
8. How are computers used in space exploration, both manned and unmanned?
9. In what ways do computers assist police and defense sectors in crime prevention and defense
strategies?
10. How does police force utilize face recognition systems to assist in identifying criminals?
11. What are the uses of computers in defense for tracking targets and radar systems?
14. What types of employment opportunities are created by the widespread use of computers?
15. Explain the role of computers in multimedia applications, especially in business presentations
and entertainment.
16. What are the uses of multimedia disks for training and education?
Advantages of Computers:
1. Why are computers considered faster than devices like calculators and typewriters?
2. What is meant by the phrase "Garbage In, Garbage Out" (GIGO) in relation to computers?
3. Explain how computers can store and retrieve vast amounts of data efficiently.
4. In what ways does the diligence of a computer benefit its performance compared to human
work?
5. How does computer automation improve productivity and efficiency in various sectors?
6. Explain how the versatility of computers enables them to perform different tasks effectively.
1. What are the key factors to consider when preparing a computer lab?
2. Why is security an important consideration in the setup of a computer lab?
3. How should the layout of a computer lab be designed to accommodate the maximum number
of users?
4. What safety precautions should be observed in a computer lab to prevent accidents and
damage?
5. Why is it necessary to have a stable power supply in a computer lab, and how can it be
ensured?
6. What is the role of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) in protecting computers in a lab?
8. Why is proper ventilation important in a computer lab, and how can it be achieved?
9. How can dust and humidity be controlled to protect computers in the lab?
10. What are the considerations for lighting in a computer lab to prevent eye strain?
11. Why is the furniture layout crucial for the comfort and efficiency of computer lab users?
1. What is the booting process in computers, and what role does POST play?
2. Explain the difference between cold booting and warm booting (restarting) a computer.
3. What are the potential risks of not shutting down a computer properly?
4. Describe the correct procedure for shutting down a computer to prevent data loss and
hardware damage.
5. What is the role of BIOS (Basic Input Output System) during the booting process?
Keyboard Layout:
1. What are alphanumeric keys on a keyboard, and what function do they serve?
3. Explain the role of the Enter key and when it should be used.
4. How does the Tab key help in editing or navigating text on a computer?
5. Describe the function of the Backspace key and how it differs from the Delete key.
6. What are function keys, and how do they enhance user interaction with software applications?
2. Software – Programs and instructions that tell the computer what to do.
3. Liveware – The computer user or operator who interacts with the system.
38. What are the four categories of hardware components in a computer system?
1. Input devices
2. Output devices
3. Storage devices
Answer: The main purpose of input devices is to convert human-readable data into machine-
readable form, allowing users to enter data and commands into the computer.
40. List and briefly describe the different types of input devices.
Answer:
1. Keying devices – Used for typing data, e.g., keyboard and keypad.
2. Pointing devices – Used for controlling a pointer on the screen, e.g., mouse and
trackball.
3. Scanning devices – Used for scanning data into the computer, e.g., scanners.
5. Touch screen digitizers and digital cameras – Used for direct interaction with a screen or
capturing images.
41. What is the difference between a traditional keyboard and a flexible keyboard?
Answer: A traditional keyboard is a full-sized, rigid keyboard commonly used for desktop
computers. A flexible keyboard, on the other hand, is portable and can be folded for easy
storage or transport.
Answer: A Braille keyboard is designed for use by blind individuals. It consists of keys with raised
dots that allow users to input data using Braille characters.
44. What are pointing devices, and what is their primary function?
Answer: Pointing devices are input devices used to control a pointer or cursor on the screen.
They allow users to interact with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) more easily.
Answer:
1. Standard mouse – A traditional mouse with a ball underneath and two buttons (left and
right) with an optional scroll wheel.
Answer:
o Advantages:
2. Inexpensive.
o Disadvantages:
47. What is a trackball, and how does it differ from a traditional mouse?
Answer: A trackball is a pointing device where the ball is placed on top, and the user rolls the
ball without moving the entire device. Unlike a mouse, it doesn't require a flat surface or extra
space for movement.
48. How does a joystick function, and what is it primarily used for?
Answer: A joystick is a hand-held device with a movable handle that can be moved in various
directions to control the cursor on the screen. It is primarily used for playing computer games.
Answer: A light pen is a light-sensitive device that interacts with a screen by detecting light
emitted from the display. It is used for tasks like drawing or reading barcodes, and it requires a
screen that emits light for interaction.
50. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a light pen?
Answer:
o Advantages:
o Disadvantages:
Answer:
1. Can only detect the presence and absence of light – Light pens are limited in their
ability to interact with screens since they can only respond to light and not other types
of input.
2. Can only be used with monitors that can sense light – Light pens can only work with
screens designed to detect light emitted by the pen.
Answer:
1. Pointing stick – A small device used in laptops to control the pointer on the screen.
2. Touch pad – A flat surface used to move the pointer by sensing the user's finger
movements.
Answer: Scanning devices are input devices that capture data from a source document and
convert it into an electronic signal for the computer. This process is called scanning, and it allows
the capture of documents, such as bank cheques or meter readings, into digital form.
Answer:
1. Optical scanners
2. Magnetic scanners
Answer: Optical scanners use light to sense the contents of a document and convert the data
into digital form, which is then passed to the computer for processing.
57. List and briefly describe the different types of optical scanners.
Answer:
1. Optical Mark Reader (OMR) – Detects marks (such as pencil or pen marks) in exact
positions on a document.
2. Optical Bar Reader (OBR) – Used to scan barcodes and convert them into digital data.
3. Optical Character Reader (OCR) – Recognizes characters and converts them into
machine-readable form.
58. What is an Optical Mark Reader (OMR), and what is it used for?
Answer: An Optical Mark Reader (OMR) detects marks made in specific locations on a paper
using a pencil or soft pen. It senses the presence or absence of a mark through reflected infrared
light.
Uses of OMR:
1. Multiple-choice exams
2. Voter registration
59. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an Optical Mark Reader (OMR)?
Answer:
o Advantages:
1. Data can be prepared at the collection point, such as students marking their
answers in a multiple-choice exam.
o Disadvantages:
60. What is an Optical Character Reader (OCR), and how does it work?
Answer: An Optical Character Reader (OCR) is a device that recognizes text, characters, and
objects, and then transforms them into a softcopy that can be manipulated by a computer. It
operates similarly to the human eye, interpreting text and images from documents.
Answer:
1. Stocktaking sheet – OCR can read stock checklists filled out by hand and update stock
records automatically.
2. Electricity billing – OCR can be used to scan handwritten meter readings and process
them for billing.
62. What are the advantages of using an Optical Character Reader (OCR)?
Answer:
2. Allows both humans and machines to understand the contents of the documents.
Answer:
1. Documents should not be folded or creased – For accurate reading, documents need to
be in good condition.
3. Limited font compatibility – OCR systems typically recognize only specific fonts, which
limits their use.
64. What is Optical Bar Recognition (OBR), and how does it work?
Answer: Optical Bar Recognition (OBR) involves scanning barcodes, which are lines of varying
thickness that encode product information. The barcodes are read by a laser beam that
generates electrical pulses corresponding to the bars. These pulses are compared with stored
codes in the computer to retrieve details such as product name, price, and description.
Answer: MICR is a technology that reads characters printed using magnetic ink. The characters,
which have magnetic properties due to the inclusion of iron oxide, are recognized by their
magnetism as the document passes through the MICR reader. This process generates electrical
signals, which are then sent to a computer for processing.
Answer:
o Uses of MICR:
o Advantages of MICR:
Answer:
Answer: Magnetic stripe recognition involves reading data stored on a magnetic stripe, typically
found on the back of cards like ATM cards. The magnetic stripe contains encoded information
that can be read by a scanner.
Answer: Speech recognition allows users to input data into a computer using their voice. The
system analyzes the spoken words after training and matches them to pre-recorded vocabulary.
It typically requires the user to train the system to recognize their specific voice.
70. What are the uses and limitations of speech recognition?
Answer:
2. Speaker variability – different speech patterns, tones, and accents can cause
issues.
3. Homophones – Words that sound the same but have different meanings can be
confused.
Answer:
1. Not suitable for inputting large quantities of data due to the tactile limitations.
Answer: A digitizer or graphic tablet is an input device that allows users to draw or trace images
using a stylus pen. The drawing does not appear on the tablet but on the computer screen. It is
commonly used for detailed architectural, engineering, and artistic drawings.
73. What is a digital camera, and how does it function as an input device?
Answer: A digital camera captures images in digital form, unlike traditional film cameras. The
images can be directly transferred to a computer for editing or printing via a special cable,
turning it into an input device for visual data.
74. What is an interactive whiteboard (smartboard), and where is it used?
76. What is the function of the Control Unit (CU) in the CPU?
Answer: The Control Unit (CU) coordinates all processing activities within the CPU, including
input, output, and storage operations. It directs the flow of information within the CPU, main
memory, and storage media, and controls the sequence of instructions the CPU will perform
next.
77. What are the functions of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?
Answer: The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) performs all arithmetic operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical operations (e.g., comparisons such as "equal to"
or "greater than"). It uses registers for temporary storage during processing.
78. What are the two main types of computer memory, and what is their purpose?
Answer:
1. ROM (Read-Only Memory) – Stores permanent instructions or data that do not need to
change, such as booting instructions.
2. RAM (Random Access Memory) – Temporarily stores data and instructions that the CPU
is actively using, but is cleared when the computer is powered off.
Answer:
Answer: ROM (Read-Only Memory) stores permanent or semi-permanent data, such as boot
instructions, and is non-volatile (data is not lost when powered off). RAM (Random Access
Memory) temporarily stores data and instructions currently being processed and is volatile (data
is lost when powered off).
SRAM (Static RAM) is faster and retains data as long as power is supplied. It does not need to be
refreshed and is more expensive.
DRAM (Dynamic RAM) is slower, needs to be refreshed periodically to maintain data, and is less
expensive compared to SRAM.
Volatile means that the data stored in RAM is lost when the power is turned off. RAM
temporarily holds data while the system is running, but once the computer is shut down, the
data is erased.
Buffers, Registers, and Cache memory are special-purpose memories designed to improve the
performance of the CPU by providing temporary storage for data, instructions, and processing
results.
A buffer is a temporary storage area that holds data while the CPU is busy processing other
tasks. For example, a printer buffer holds print data temporarily so the CPU doesn't have to wait
for the printer to finish printing before it can continue with other tasks.
Cache memory is a small, high-speed memory located near the CPU. It stores frequently used
data or instructions, allowing the processor to access them much faster than fetching them from
the main memory (RAM). This speeds up overall processing.
6. What are registers used for in a CPU?
Registers are small, high-speed storage locations within the CPU. They temporarily hold data and
instructions that are being actively processed. Examples include the Accumulator (holds the
result of operations), Instruction Register (holds the current instruction), and Address Register
(holds the memory address of data to be processed).
A register holds a single piece of data at a time and is located inside the CPU, used for
immediate processing. A buffer, on the other hand, can hold multiple pieces of data temporarily
and is often located outside the CPU to free up the CPU to continue processing other tasks.
Memory capacity is measured in bytes (8 bits = 1 byte), and higher storage units like Kilobytes
(KB), Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB), and Terabytes (TB) represent increasingly large amounts
of storage.
The control bus carries control signals from the Control Unit (CU) to other parts of the system,
ensuring the correct timing and coordination of operations within the CPU and between the CPU
and other devices.
The address bus carries the memory address of data or instructions that need to be processed. It
tells the CPU where to find or store data in the memory.
11. What are the different types of processor clock speeds, and why are they important?
Clock speed is measured in Hertz (Hz), and it determines how quickly a processor can execute
instructions. Higher clock speeds mean faster processing. The clock speed is often measured in
Kilohertz (KHz), Megahertz (MHz), or Gigahertz (GHz).
o 1 KHz = 1,000 Hz
o 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz
o 1 GHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz
12. What are some examples of processors in the market today?
Examples of processors include the Intel Pentium (I, II, III, IV) series and Pentium Pro, as well as
processors from other companies like AMD, Cyrix, and Motorola.
The clock speed of a processor directly impacts its performance by determining how quickly it
can execute instructions. A higher clock speed results in faster processing, which improves
overall system performance.
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A bit (Binary Digit) is the smallest unit of data in computing, represented as either a 0 or a 1. A
byte consists of 8 bits and is typically used to represent one character, like a letter or number.
15. How does the CPU communicate with the memory and input/output devices?
The CPU communicates with the memory and input/output devices using electrical pathways
known as buses. These buses include the control bus, address bus, and data bus.
The ALU is a part of the CPU that performs mathematical, logical, and decision-making
operations on the data it receives. It executes operations like addition, subtraction, and
comparisons.
18. How does the CPU use the main memory (RAM) during processing?
The CPU uses main memory (RAM) to store and retrieve data and instructions during
processing. The address bus locates the memory positions, the data bus transfers data, and the
control bus ensures correct operation.
RAM stores data that is actively used by the operating system, applications, and the CPU. This
includes program instructions, user data, and operating system data that the CPU needs for
processing.
20. What happens to the contents of RAM when the computer is turned off?
Since RAM is volatile, all data stored in it is lost when the power is turned off. This is in contrast
to non-volatile memory like hard drives, which retain data without power.
21. What are some real-life examples of how cache memory improves system performance?
Cache memory speeds up data retrieval. For example, when using a web browser, frequently
visited websites are stored in the cache, allowing faster access the next time you visit them.
22. How do buffer and cache memory differ in terms of their usage?
Buffer memory temporarily stores data for I/O operations, like printing or reading from a disk.
Cache memory, however, stores frequently accessed instructions and data to speed up the CPU's
processing time.
Address registers temporarily hold the memory address of the data to be processed next. They
help the CPU identify the specific location in the main memory where data needs to be read
from or written to.
24. What is the significance of using extended ASCII and EBCDIC in computer systems?
Extended ASCII and EBCDIC are 8-bit character encoding standards used to represent characters
(like letters, digits, and symbols) in binary form. These codes are essential for data
communication and storage in computers.
25. How does the address bus help in locating data in memory?
The address bus transmits memory addresses from the CPU to the main memory. It tells the
memory which specific location to access, whether it's to fetch data for processing or to store
results.
26. How do the different types of computer buses (Control, Address, Data) interact during processing?
The control bus sends signals for operation timing, the address bus carries the memory address,
and the data bus transfers the actual data between the CPU, memory, and input/output devices
during processing.
RAM is used for temporary storage because it allows for fast data retrieval and writing during
active processing. However, since it is volatile, its contents are cleared when the power is turned
off, making it unsuitable for permanent data storage.
28. How does the CPU interact with secondary storage devices like hard disks or CDs?
The CPU communicates with secondary storage through the use of I/O operations, which are
managed by the operating system. Data is transferred between the CPU and secondary storage
through data buses and controlled by the control bus.
The accumulator is a register that temporarily holds the result of the last operation performed
by the ALU. It is essential for carrying out arithmetic and logical operations, as it stores
intermediate values during processing.
30. What are the advantages and disadvantages of SRAM compared to DRAM?
Advantages of SRAM: Faster, does not need refreshing, more reliable for high-speed operations.
Disadvantages of SRAM: More expensive, takes up more space on the chip, lower storage
density.
Advantages of DRAM: More affordable, higher storage density, less power consumption. Disadvantages
of DRAM: Slower than SRAM, needs to be refreshed periodically, and is volatile.