26. The Pascaline was invented by:
- John Napier
- Charles Babbage
- Blaise Pascal
- Herman Hollerith
Answer: C) Blaise Pascal
Explanation: Blaise Pascal built the Pascaline in 1642.
MCQs / Computer Science / Introduction and History of Computers
Introduction and History of Computers MCQs — Computer Science (page 2)
50 multiple-choice questions on Introduction and History of Computers from Computer Science, each with the correct answer and, where available, a teacher's explanation. Read through them to revise the chapter, then practise the same questions one by one to test yourself.
27. The Pascaline could perform:
- all four operations and store programs
- only multiplication
- addition and subtraction
- logical decisions
Answer: C) addition and subtraction
Explanation: Pascal's machine was a mechanical adding machine.
28. Desktop publishing, video editing and digital broadcasting are uses of computers in:
- medicine
- education
- manufacturing
- media
Answer: D) media
Explanation: These are media-industry applications.
29. A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do is called a:
- program
- peripheral
- datum
- circuit
Answer: A) program
Explanation: A program (software) is a set of instructions the computer follows.
30. The Harvard Mark I was developed by:
- Charles Babbage
- Howard Aiken with IBM
- Bill Gates
- Blaise Pascal
Answer: B) Howard Aiken with IBM
Explanation: Howard Aiken designed Mark I with IBM (1944).
31. The abacus belongs to which stage of computing history?
- Mechanical
- Electronic
- Electromechanical
- Manual
Answer: D) Manual
Explanation: It is operated by hand without gears or electricity.
32. Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the:
- second generation
- first generation
- fourth generation
- third generation
Answer: A) second generation
Explanation: The 2nd generation (1956–64) used transistors.
33. Which is the correct order of the four stages of computing history?
- Manual → Electronic → Mechanical → Electromechanical
- Manual → Mechanical → Electromechanical → Electronic
- Electronic → Electromechanical → Mechanical → Manual
- Mechanical → Manual → Electronic → Electromechanical
Answer: B) Manual → Mechanical → Electromechanical → Electronic
Explanation: Computing moved from hand methods to gears, then relays, then electronics.
34. "Garbage In, Garbage Out" (GIGO) refers to which characteristic of computers?
- Accuracy depends on correct input
- Versatility
- Large storage capacity
- Speed of processing
Answer: A) Accuracy depends on correct input
Explanation: A computer is accurate only if the data and instructions given to it are correct.
35. ATMs, online banking and e-commerce are uses of computers in:
- manufacturing
- business and banking
- weather forecasting
- media
Answer: B) business and banking
Explanation: These are business and financial applications.
36. The word "computer" is derived from the Latin word "computare", which means:
- to type
- to calculate
- to store
- to remember
Answer: B) to calculate
Explanation: "Computare" means to calculate or reckon.
37. The ability of a computer to perform many different kinds of tasks is called:
- reliability
- accuracy
- diligence
- versatility
Answer: D) versatility
Explanation: Versatility means the same computer can be used for many different jobs.
38. Artificial intelligence is the main feature of which generation?
- Second
- Fifth
- Fourth
- Third
Answer: B) Fifth
Explanation: 5th-generation computers aim to think, learn and understand natural language.
39. The output of one process can become the input (data) of another process. This statement is:
- true
- false
- true only for printers
- true only in the first generation
Answer: A) true
Explanation: A monthly report (information) can be data for an annual summary.
40. CAD stands for:
- Computer-Aided Design
- Computer Applied Diagram
- Computer-Assisted Drawing
- Central Automated Design
Answer: A) Computer-Aided Design
Explanation: CAD software is used to design products, buildings and machine parts.
41. Herman Hollerith's tabulating machine was first used to process the:
- World War II codes
- weather data
- payroll of a bank
- 1890 US census
Answer: D) 1890 US census
Explanation: It read punched cards and finished the census far faster than by hand.
42. First-generation computers were programmed in:
- Python
- natural language
- BASIC
- machine language
Answer: D) machine language
Explanation: Only machine language (0s and 1s) was available.
43. Punched cards for controlling a machine were first used in the:
- Mark I
- Jacquard loom
- Pascaline
- abacus
Answer: B) Jacquard loom
Explanation: Jacquard's loom (1801) used punched cards to control weaving patterns.
44. The fourth generation of computers is based on:
- transistors only
- vacuum tubes
- microprocessors
- relays
Answer: C) microprocessors
Explanation: The microprocessor (CPU on a single chip) defines the 4th generation.
45. The slide rule is based on:
- punched cards
- beads on rods
- logarithmic scales
- vacuum tubes
Answer: C) logarithmic scales
Explanation: Sliding log scales allow multiplication and division.
46. Which generation produced a lot of heat, consumed huge power and filled whole rooms?
- Fourth
- Third
- Second
- First
Answer: D) First
Explanation: Vacuum tubes generated heat and failed often.
47. The first microprocessor was:
- Motorola 68000
- Intel 4004
- AMD Ryzen
- Intel Pentium
Answer: B) Intel 4004
Explanation: Intel 4004 was released in 1971.
48. Raw, unorganised facts and figures are called:
- data
- knowledge
- information
- program
Answer: A) data
Explanation: Data has not yet been processed into meaningful form.
49. Who is considered the world's first computer programmer?
- Charles Babbage
- Alan Turing
- Grace Hopper
- Ada Lovelace
Answer: D) Ada Lovelace
Explanation: Ada Lovelace wrote an algorithm for the Analytical Engine in 1843.
50. The Difference Engine was designed to:
- send messages over telegraph
- weave cloth patterns
- calculate mathematical tables automatically
- process census data
Answer: C) calculate mathematical tables automatically
Explanation: Babbage's Difference Engine (1822) computed polynomial tables.
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