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Hardware (Computer Science) Solved Questions & Notes (2026) - Apex Rankers

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198 Total Solved Questions
~297 mins Estimated Reading Time
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13 Questions in this set
OPERATIONS RESEARCH & HARDWARE: Write the correct answer for questions involving PERT/CPM critical paths, mathematical modeling variables (uncontrollable, dependent, decision), and the history of microprocessor development.
Q. 1 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
One computer that is not considered a portable computer is:
A
Minicomputer
✓ Correct
B
A laptop computer
C
Main computer
D
None of these
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Minicomputers are large, multi-user systems that are stationary, unlike laptops.
Q. 2 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The accuracy of the floating-point numbers representable in two 16-bit words a computer is approximately
A
16 digits
B
6 digits
✓ Correct
C
9 digits
D
All of above
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Single precision (32 bits total) typically offers approximately 6 to 9 decimal digits of accuracy.
Q. 3 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
A dumb terminal has:
A
An embedded microprocessor
B
Extensive memory
C
Independent processing
D
A keyboard and screen
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Dumb terminals have no local processing capability; they only input/output data.
Q. 4 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Plotter accuracy is measured in terms of repeatability and:
A
Buffer size
B
Resolution
✓ Correct
C
Vertical dimensions
D
None of these
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Resolution defines the smallest increment of movement or dot density the plotter can achieve.
Q. 5 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Daisy wheel printer is a type of:
A
Matrix primer
B
Impact printer
✓ Correct
C
Laser printer
D
Manual printer
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Like a typewriter, it strikes a ribbon against paper to form characters.
Q. 6 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The number of records contained within a block of data on magnetic tape is defined by the:
A
Block definition
B
Record contain clause
C
Blocking factor
✓ Correct
D
Record per block factor
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Blocking factor refers to the number of logical records stored in a single physical block.
Q. 7 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Serial access memories are useful in applications where:
A
Data consists of numbers
B
Short access time is required
C
Each stored word is processed differently
D
Data naturally needs to flow in and out in a serial form
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Serial access is ideal for sequential data processing where random jumping isn't needed.
Q. 8 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Which of the following memories must be refreshed many times per second?
A
Static RAM
B
Dynamic RAM
✓ Correct
C
EPROM
D
ROM
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
DRAM stores data in capacitors that leak charge and require periodic refreshing.
Q. 9 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
The memory which is programmed at the time it is manufactured:
A
ROM
✓ Correct
B
RAM
C
PROM
D
EPROM
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Read-Only Memory (ROM) is hard-coded during the manufacturing process.
Q. 10 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Which of the following memory medium is not used as main memory system?
A
Magnetic core
B
Semiconductor
C
Magnetic tape
✓ Correct
D
Both (a) and (b)
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Tape is a secondary/sequential storage medium rather than primary/main memory.
Q. 11 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Registers, which are partially visible to users and used to hold conditional, are known as:
A
PC
B
Memory address registers
C
General purpose register
D
Flags
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Status registers (flags) indicate conditions like zero results or overflows.
Q. 12 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
One of the main feature that distinguish microprocessors from micro-computers is:
A
Words are usually larger in microprocessors
B
Words are microprocessors
C
Microprocessor does not contain (I/O) input/output devices
✓ Correct
D
Exactly the same as the machine cycle time
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
A microprocessor is just the CPU; a microcomputer includes I/O and memory.
Q. 13 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
Which type of control pins are needed in a microprocessor to regulate traffic on the bus, in order to prevent two devices from trying to use it at the same time?
A
Bus control
B
Interrupts
C
Bus arbitration
✓ Correct
D
Status
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Arbitration protocols manage which device has priority to use the shared system bus.
📜 Instructions / Reading Passage
12 Questions in this set
HARDWARE AND SYSTEM GENERATIONS: Write the correct answer for questions involving computer generations (1st to 4th), specific hardware standards (VGA, MSI, Floppy disk capacities), and programming language origins.
Q. 14 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
An integrated circuit is:
A
A complicated circuit
B
An integrating device
C
Consisting on a single transistor
D
Fabricated on a tiny Silicon chip
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
An Integrated Circuit (IC) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece of semiconductor material.
Q. 15 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Most important advantage of an IC is its:
A
Easy replacement in case of circuit failure
B
Extremely high reliability
✓ Correct
C
Reduced cost
D
Low powers consumption
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
ICs are highly reliable due to the lack of soldered connections between individual components.
Q. 16 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
A IBM System/38 represents the computer class of:
A
Small scale computer
B
Medium scale computer
✓ Correct
C
Large scale computer
D
Super computer
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The IBM System/38 was a minicomputer (midrange) system architecture.
Q. 17 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
CD-ROM stands for:
A
Compactable Read
B
Memory b- Compact Data Read Only Memory
C
Compatible Disk Read Only Memory
D
Compact Disk Read Only Memory
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Standard abbreviation for optical storage media.
Q. 18 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
ALU is:
A
Arithmetic Logic Unit
✓ Correct
B
Array Logic Unit
C
Application Logic Unit
D
None of above
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The CPU component that performs mathematical and logical operations.
Q. 19 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
VGA is:
A
Video Graphics Array
✓ Correct
B
Visual Graphics Array
C
Volatile Graphics Array
D
Video Graphics Adapter
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
A standard for video displays introduced by IBM in 1987.
Q. 20 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
MSI stands for:
A
Medium Scale Integrated Circuits
✓ Correct
B
Medium System Integrated Circuits
C
Medium Scale Intelligent Circuit
D
Medium System Intelligent Circuit
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
MSI refers to ICs containing hundreds of transistors.
Q. 21 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
The capacity of 3.5 inch floppy disk is:
A
1.40 MB
B
1.44 GB
C
1.40 GB
D
1.44 MB
✓ Correct
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
High-density 3.5" floppy disks standardly hold 1.44 Megabytes.
Q. 22 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
WAN stands for:
A
Wap Area Network
B
Wide Area Network
✓ Correct
C
Wide Array Net
D
Wireless Area Network
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
A network that spans a large geographical area (e.g., a country or continent).
Q. 23 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
MICR stands for:
A
Magnetic Ink Character Reader
✓ Correct
B
Magnetic Ink Code Reader
C
Magnetic Ink Cases Reader
D
None of these
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Technology used primarily by banks to process checks.
Q. 24 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
EBCDIC stands for:
A
Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
✓ Correct
B
Extended Bit Code Decimal Interchange Code
C
Extended Bit Case Decimal Interchange Code
D
Extended Binary Case Decimal Interchange Code
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
An 8-bit character encoding used primarily on IBM mainframe systems.
Q. 25 Computer Aptitude Test
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
BCD is:
A
Binary Coded Decimal
✓ Correct
B
Bit Coded Decimal
C
Binary Coded Digit
D
Bit Coded Digit
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
A class of binary encodings of decimal numbers where each digit is represented by a fixed number of bits.
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