History of Computing: A Journey Through the Evolution of Computers

Question 1

What was the primary application of the ENIAC computer?

Accepted Answer

Scientific calculations for ballistics research

Answer

Business calculations

Answer

Word processing

Answer

Artificial intelligence development

Question 2

Which of the following is not a component of Moore's Law?

Accepted Answer

Halving of computer performance

Answer

Exponential growth of transistor count

Answer

Shrinking size of transistors

Answer

Doubling of transistor density

Question 3

Who developed the mechanical calculator known as the 'Difference Engine'?

Accepted Answer

Charles Babbage

Answer

Ada Lovelace

Answer

Herman Hollerith

Answer

Alan Turing

Question 4

Which of the following individuals was NOT a prominent figure in the development of the modern electronic computer?

Accepted Answer

Albert Einstein

Answer

John Atanasoff

Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Claude Shannon

Question 5

Identify the first commercially successful electronic computer.

Accepted Answer

UNIVAC I

Answer

ENIAC

Answer

EDSAC

Answer

IBM System/360

Question 6

Who is credited with developing the first high-level programming language, FORTRAN?

Accepted Answer

Grace Hopper

Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Charles Babbage

Answer

Alan Turing

Question 7

What was the main purpose of the ARPANET?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate communication and resource sharing among researchers across different universities

Answer

To develop a network for commercial use

Answer

To connect businesses and government agencies

Answer

To provide a platform for online gaming

Question 8

Which of the following is a key concept associated with the Turing Machine?

Accepted Answer

Algorithm

Answer

Heuristic

Answer

Artificial intelligence

Answer

Parallel processing

Question 9

Who invented the World Wide Web?

Accepted Answer

Tim Berners-Lee

Answer

Steve Wozniak

Answer

Bill Gates

Answer

Mark Zuckerberg

Question 10

What is the purpose of a compiler in the software development process?

Accepted Answer

To translate high-level code into machine code

Answer

To execute the program directly

Answer

To debug the program

Answer

To optimize the program's performance

Question 11

Which device, considered the first general-purpose mechanical computer, was designed by Charles Babbage?

Accepted Answer

Analytical Engine

Answer

Zuse Z3

Answer

ENIAC

Answer

Altair 8800

Question 12

Who is credited with proposing the concept of a stored program computer, which revolutionized computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Alan Turing

Answer

Grace Hopper

Answer

Steve Jobs

Question 13

Which of the following is a prominent trend in modern computing that involves delivering computing resources over the internet?

Accepted Answer

Cloud computing

Answer

Artificial intelligence

Answer

Quantum computing

Answer

Edge computing

Question 14

In the context of computing, which ethical consideration encompasses concerns about unauthorized access, data breaches, and system vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

Security

Answer

Privacy

Answer

Sustainability

Answer

Accessibility

Question 15

Which of the following is not considered a key milestone in the evolution of operating systems?

Accepted Answer

Invention of the World Wide Web

Answer

Development of multitasking kernels

Answer

Introduction of graphical user interfaces

Answer

Emergence of cloud-based operating systems

Question 16

'Open source' software refers to software that is:

Accepted Answer

Freely available and can be modified by users

Answer

Exclusively developed and owned by a single company

Answer

Protected by copyright and cannot be modified

Answer

Used exclusively by governments and organizations

Question 17

Which computational device is credited as the first general-purpose mechanical computer?

Accepted Answer

Analytical Engine

Answer

Z3

Answer

Difference Engine

Answer

ENIAC

Question 18

Attribute the development of the stored-program computer concept to the correct individual.

Accepted Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Claude Shannon

Answer

Edsger Dijkstra

Answer

Dennis Ritchie

Question 19

State the primary function of a compiler in computer science.

Accepted Answer

Translating high-level code into machine code

Answer

Executing programs

Answer

Managing memory

Answer

Providing a graphical user interface

Question 20

Which defining characteristic distinguished the Analytical Engine created by Charles Babbage?

Accepted Answer

It was the first mechanical computer capable of being programmed.

Answer

It employed electronic components for processing and storage.

Answer

Its primary function was word processing and data entry.

Answer

It was invented by Ada Lovelace, known as the first computer programmer.

Question 21

Which programming language is widely recognized for its emphasis on readability and simplicity?

Accepted Answer

Python

Answer

R

Answer

Java

Answer

C++

Question 22

What was the primary purpose behind the development of the World Wide Web (WWW)?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate the sharing of information across the internet

Answer

To enable online shopping

Answer

To provide a platform for online gaming

Question 23

Which of the following is widely considered a major trend in the evolution of modern computing?

Accepted Answer

Cloud computing

Answer

Magnetic tape storage

Answer

Punch card technology

Answer

Vacuum tube usage

Question 24

In the software development process, what is the primary function of a compiler?

Accepted Answer

To translate source code into machine code

Answer

To execute source code during runtime

Answer

To identify and fix errors in code

Answer

To generate documentation for software

Question 25

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of artificial intelligence (AI)?

Accepted Answer

Ability to learn from data

Answer

Vulnerability to viruses

Answer

Limited memory capacity

Answer

Inefficient use of resources

Question 26

What is the term for a visual representation that displays the contents of a computer's memory?

Accepted Answer

Memory map

Answer

Flowchart

Answer

Binary code

Answer

Program flowchart

Question 27

The first general-purpose mechanical computer was developed by:

Accepted Answer

Charles Babbage

Answer

Bill Gates

Answer

Alan Turing

Answer

John Atanasoff

Question 28

The transistor was invented in:

Accepted Answer

1947

Answer

1967

Answer

1957

Answer

1977

Question 29

The World Wide Web (WWW) was developed by:

Accepted Answer

Tim Berners-Lee

Answer

Bill Gates

Answer

Steve Jobs

Answer

Larry Page

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a high-level programming language?

Accepted Answer

Assembly

Answer

Python

Answer

Java

Answer

C++

Question 31

Cloud computing refers to:

Accepted Answer

Providing computing resources over the internet

Answer

Storing data on local hard drives

Answer

Developing software applications for mobile devices

Answer

Using computers for gaming and entertainment

Question 32

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) aims to:

Accepted Answer

Create machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence

Answer

Enhance the performance of computers in numerical calculations

Answer

Improve the security of computer systems

Question 33

Which of the following is a key challenge in the history of computing?

Accepted Answer

Overcoming limitations in computational power and storage capacity

Answer

Developing software that is free from bugs

Answer

Ensuring compatibility between different computing systems

Question 34

The study of the history of computing is important because it:

Accepted Answer

Provides context for current and future developments in technology

Answer

Is a prerequisite for pursuing a career in computer science

Answer

Helps students memorize facts and dates