SRINIVAS UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BCA FIRST SEMESTER QUESTION BANK
COURSE NAME: FOUNDATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
COURSE CODE: 25BCA12 CREDITS : 4
Module 1
Section A
Objective Type of Questions / One word Answer Questions
1. Question: Which component in the computer manages the operations.
A. Central Processing Unit B. Control Unit
C. Input Unit D. Memory Unit
Answer: A. Central Processing Unit
2. Question: What is the number of bits in one byte?
A. 4bits B. 32bits
C. 8 bits D. 12 bits
Answer: C. 8 bits
3. Question: In Which generation of computers the microprocessor was saw introduced?
A. First Generation B. Second Generation
C. Fourth Generation D. Third Generation
Answer: C.Fourth Generation
4. Question: What is the smallest unit of data to store in memory unit.
A. Terabyte B. Kilobyte
C. Gigabyte D. None of these
Answer: B. Kilobyte
5. Question: What type of computer is UNIVAC?
A. First generation computer B. Second generation computer
C. Third generation computer D. Fourth generation computer
Answer: A. First generation computer
1. Question: What type of computers would you prefer in solving the scientific and
engineering problems?
Answer : Super Computers
2. Question : What approach would you use to avoid slowing down of computer due to
too many accumulation of temporary files?
Answer : Clearing the Cache Memory.
3. Question: What would be the number of lines needed to transfer 2 bytes of data in the
system bus at a time?
Answer: 16 Lines.
4. Question: What would be the binary equivalent of 9?
Answer : 1001
5. Question: Predict what would happen if there is no RAM in the computer?
Answer: Every process will be slowed down.
Section B
Short answer Type Questions
1. Question: List any 3 areas where computers are commonly used.
Answer: (Any 3)
Science: Scientists have been using computers to develop theories, to analyze, and
test the data.
Medicine and Health Care: Now, doctors are using computers right from diagnosing
the illness to monitoring a patient's status during complex surgery.
Communication: Email or Electronic Mail is one of the communication media in
which computer is used. Through e-mail, messages and reports are passed from one
person to or more persons with the aid of computer and telephone line.
Banking: In the field of banking and finance, computers are extensively used. People
can use the ATM(Automated Teller Machine) services 24 hours of the day in order to
deposit and withdraw cash.
2. Question: What do you mean by Cache memory.
Answer:
• The cache is a very high speed, expensive piece of memory, which is used to speed
up the memory retrieval process.
• Due to its higher cost, the CPU comes with a relatively small amount of cache
compared with the main memory.
• Without the cache memory, every time the CPU requests for data, it would send a
request to the main memory which would then be sent back across the system bus
to the CPU.
3. Question: Describe system bus.
Answer:
• A bus is a set of connections between two or more components/devices,
which are designed to transfer several/all bits of a word from a specific
source to destination.
• A bus consists of multiple paths, which are also termed as lines; 1each line
is capable of transferring one bit at a time.
• A bus that connects to all three components (CPU, memory, I/O
components) is called a system bus.
4. Question: Describe the three main subsystems of CPU.
Answer:
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): This unit performs the arithmetical and logical
operations on the stored numbers.
Control Unit: This unit checks the correctness of sequence of operations. It controls
the input/output devices and directs the overall functioning of the other units of the
computer.
Memory Unit: This unit holds the intermediate results during the course of calculations
and provides the data as and when required.
5. Question: Explain the sequence of events in transferred from memory to the
processor?
Answer:
• The processor places the address in Memory Address Register through the
address bus.
• The processor issues a READ command through the control bus.
• The memory places retrieved data on the data bus, which is then
transferred to the processor.
6. Question: Describe the process of writing the information into the memory
Answer:
• The processor places the address in memory address register through the address bus.
• The processor transmits the data to be written in memory using the data bus.
• The processor issues a WRITE command to memory by the control bus.
• The data is written in memory at address specified in memory address register.
7. Question : What are the difference between RAM and ROM.
Answer :
Random Access Memory Read Only Memory
Volatile in Nature Non-volatile in nature
Data will be lost when the power Data will remain even after the
supply is stopped. power supply is stopped.
Data can be Erased, Read and Data only can be Read.
Modified.
Stores Data for current instruction Stores Data that are required to
processing start a computer or bootstrap
the computer
Stores data up to 256 GB Stores data 4 to 8MB only.
Section C
1. Question: What are various units used to represent computer memory?
Answer:
Bit: Bit is the basic unit of memory. It is the smallest unit of information on a machine
and a single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1.
Byte: A unit of eight bits is known as a byte.
Kilobyte (KB): In a binary system, kilo refers to1024. Therefore, a kilobyte is equal to
1024 bytes.
Megabyte (MB): It comprises 1024 kilobytes. A megabyte can be thought of as a million
bytes. Megabyte is the standard unit of measurement for RAM.
Gigabyte (GB): A gigabyte consists of 1024 megabytes. It is the standard unit of
measurement for hard disks.
Terabyte (TB): The term terabyte refers to 1024 gigabytes of memory. Terabyte memory
is usually associated with super computers only.
2. Question: List and explain any Five characteristics of computers.
Answer: (Any 5)
1. Speed: The computer can process data very fast, at the rate of millions of instructions
per second. The speed of a computer is calculated in MHz (megahertz) i.e. One
million instructions per second.
2. Accuracy: Computer provides a high degree of accuracy. For example, the
computers can accurately give the result of division of any two numbers up to 10
decimal places.
3. Diligence : When used fora longer period of time, the computer does not get tired . It
can perform long and complex calculations with the same speed and accuracy from
the start till the end.
4. Reliability : is the measurement of the performance of a computer, which measured
against some predetermined standard for operation without any failure.
5. Storage Capability : Large volumes of data and information can be stored in the
computer and also retrieved whenever required. A limited amount of data can be
stored, temporarily, in the primary memory. Secondary storage devices like magnetic
tape or disks can store a large amount of data permanently.
6. Versatility: It can perform different types of tasks with the same ease. At one
moment you can use the computer to prepare a letter document and in the next
moment you may play music or print a document.
7. Resource sharing Computers today have the capability to connect with each other.
This has made the sharing of costly resources like printers possible. Apart from
device sharing, data and information can also be shared among groups of computers,
thus creating large information.
3. Question: List and explain the different generations of computers.
Answer:
First Generation (Using Vacuum Tubes) The first generation of computers used vacuum
tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory.
The input to the computer was through punched cards and paper tapes.
The output was displayed as printouts.
The instructions were written in machine language
Second Generation (Using Transistors) These machines were based on transistors
technology. The second generation computers used magnetic core technology for primary
memory.
They used magnetic tapes and magnetic disks for secondary storage.
The input was still through punched cards and the output using printouts.
The instructions were written using assembly Language.
Third Generation (Using Integrated Circuits) The third generation computers used the
Integrated Circuit (IC).
Instead of punched cards and printouts users interacted with third generation computers
through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with operating system.
High-Level Languages were used extensively for programming.
Fourth Generation (Using Microprocessors) Fourth generation computers are
microprocessor based systems.
Graphical User Interface (GUI). GUI is a user-friendly interface that allows user to
interact with the computer via menus and icons.
High-level programming languages are used for the writing of programs.
Fifth Generation( Using Artificial Intelligence) The fifth generation computers use
Super Large Scale Integrated (SLSI) chips that are able to store millions of components
on a single chip.
Parallel processing Parallel processing results in faster processing speed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)They try to simulate the human way of thinking and reasoning.
4. Question : Describe the Processor to Input and Output device communication
Answer :
• I/O units are connected to the computer system through the system bus.
• Each I/O device in a computer system is first met with controller, called DMA
(Direct Memory Access) controller, which controls the operation of that device.
• The controller is connected to the buses to perform a sequence of data transfers on
behalf of the CPU.
• It is capable of taking over control the system bus from the CPU, which is
required to transfer data to and from memory over the system bus.
• DMA controller can directly access memory and is used to transfer data from one
memory location to another or from anI/O device to memory and viceversa.
• With DMA, a dedicated data transfer device reads incoming datafrom a device and
Stores that data in a system memory buffer for later retrieval by the CPU.
5. Question: Define computer and briefly explain the classification of computers.
Answer:
The term computer is derived from the word compute. A computer is an electronic
machine that accepts data from the user, processes the data by performing calculations
and operations on it, and generates the desired output results.
Micro computer : The micro computer is generally the smallest of the computer family.
These were designed for individual users only, but now a days they have become
powerful tools for many businesses that, when networked together, can serve more than
one user. Micro computers include desktop, laptop and hand-held models(PDA)
Minicomputers are digital computers, generally used in multi-user systems. They have
high processing speed and high storage capacity than the microcomputers. Mini
computer can support 4-200 users simultaneously.
Mainframes : It is able to process and store more data than a mini computer and far
more than a micro computer. It is designed to perform at a faster rate than a mini
computer and at even more faster rate than a microcomputer. Mainframes can usually
execute many programs simultaneously, at a high speed.
Super computers : Super computers are the fastest and the most expensive machines.
They have high processing speed compared to other computers. A super computer has the
highest processing speed.
6. Question : List and Explain the types of ROM.
Answer :
1. Masked ROM: The very first ROMs were hard-wired devices that contained
a pre- programmed set of data or instructions. These kinds of ROMs are known as
masked ROMs.
2. Programmable ROM (PROM): Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM),
which can be programmed. Once a PROM has been programmed, its contents can
never be changed.
3. Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM): An EPROM is programmed in
exactly the same manner as a PROM. However, unlike PROM, an EPROM can
be erased and reprogrammed repeatedly.
4. Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM): This type of
ROM can be erased by an electrical charge and then written to by using
slightly higher-than-normal voltage. EEPROM can be erased one byte at a
time, rather than erasing the entire chip with ultraviolet light.
5. Flash ROM: Is also called flash BIOS or flash memory, is a type of
constantly powered non- volatile memory that can be erased and re-
programmed in blocks. It is a variation of EEPROM, which, unlike flash
memory, is erased and rewritten at the byte level. Flash memory is often
used to hold control code such as the BIOS in a personal computer. When
BIOS needs to be changed or rewritten, the flash memory can be written in
block (rather than byte) sizes making it easy to update. Flash memory is
used in digital cellular phones, digital cameras, and otherdevices.
7. Question : What are the components of a computer system?
Answer:
Central processing unit (CPU) : This unit performs processing of instructions and data
inside the computer. It is the "administrative" section of the computer system. It interpret,
coordinates the operations, and supervises the instructions. CPU works with data in
discrete form, that is, either I or 0.
The CPU itself has three parts:
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): This unit performs the arithmetical and logical
operations on the stored numbers.
Control Unit: This unit checks the correctness of sequence of operations. It
controls the input/output devices and directs the overall functioning of the other
units of the computer.
Memory Unit: This unit holds the intermediate results during the course of
calculations and provides the data as and when required
Input :An input unit accepts instruction and data from the user and communicates them
to the computer. Human communicate with computers through input devices.
Output “:The computer can communicate with human beings using output devices.
Some of the commonly used output devices are printer, monitor, and plotter etc.
Storage Units :This unit stores temporary and final results. The physical components or
materials on which data is stored permanently are called storage units or devices. It
supplies the stored information to the other units of computer as and when required.
Some common storage devices are floppy disks, hard disks, and tape drives.
