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UPMSP Intermediate Computer study materials
UPMSP Intermediate Computer study resources

UPMSP Intermediate Computer practice questions

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Question 1Computer Fundamentals and Organization

In the UPMSP Intermediate computer syllabus, which unit of memory is exactly 1024 bytes?

  1. One word
  2. One megabyte
  3. One kilobyte Correct answer.
  4. One nibble

Explanation

In binary memory measurement, one kilobyte equals 2^10 bytes, which is exactly 1024 bytes. Larger units such as the megabyte are built from 1024 kilobytes, so they are far bigger than 1024 bytes.

Question 2Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which number system uses only the digits 0 and 1 and is the internal representation used by digital computers?

  1. Decimal
  2. Hexadecimal
  3. Binary Correct answer.
  4. Octal

Explanation

The binary system has base 2 and only two symbols, 0 and 1, which map directly onto the two voltage states of digital circuits. Decimal, octal and hexadecimal are all positional systems but use ten, eight and sixteen symbols respectively.

Question 3Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which component of a computer is described as the 'brain' that fetches, decodes and executes instructions?

  1. The Central Processing Unit Correct answer.
  2. The SMPS power supply
  3. The Random Access Memory
  4. The hard disk drive

Explanation

The CPU contains the control unit and the arithmetic logic unit, and it performs the fetch-decode-execute cycle on program instructions. RAM only stores data temporarily, the disk stores data permanently, and the SMPS only supplies power.

Question 4Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which of these devices is classified as an input device in a computer system?

  1. A monitor
  2. A graphics tablet Correct answer.
  3. A laser printer
  4. A plotter

Explanation

An input device sends data from the user into the computer; a graphics tablet converts pen strokes into digital coordinates. Printers, monitors and plotters all work in the opposite direction, presenting processed output to the user.

Question 5Computer Fundamentals and Organization

What is the standard size of a single byte in a computer?

  1. 4 bits
  2. 16 bits
  3. 8 bits Correct answer.
  4. 32 bits

Explanation

By convention a byte is a group of 8 bits, which can represent 256 distinct values from 0 to 255. Four bits form a nibble, while 16 and 32 bits are word lengths used by some processors.

Question 6Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which type of software is the Windows operating system an example of?

  1. Application software
  2. Programming language
  3. Utility firmware
  4. System software Correct answer.

Explanation

An operating system is system software because it manages hardware, files and processes and provides a platform for other programs. Application software such as a word processor runs on top of the operating system rather than managing the machine itself.

Question 7Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which of the following is an example of primary memory in a computer?

  1. Random Access Memory Correct answer.
  2. A DVD-ROM disc
  3. A pen drive
  4. A magnetic tape cartridge

Explanation

Primary memory is directly accessible by the CPU and holds currently running programs; RAM is the standard example. DVDs, pen drives and tapes are secondary storage, which the CPU cannot address directly and which retains data without power.

Question 8Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which generation of computers is characterised by the use of integrated circuits?

  1. First generation
  2. Fifth generation
  3. Third generation Correct answer.
  4. Second generation

Explanation

Third-generation machines replaced discrete transistors with integrated circuits, which packed many components onto a single chip. The first generation used vacuum tubes, the second used transistors, and the fifth relies on very large scale integration and artificial intelligence techniques.

Question 9Computer Fundamentals and Organization

The decimal number 13 is written in binary as which of the following?

  1. 1001
  2. 1110
  3. 1011
  4. 1101 Correct answer.

Explanation

Converting 13 by repeated division by 2 gives remainders 1, 0, 1, 1 read upwards, so 13 equals 8+4+1, which is 1101 in binary. Checking the place values 8, 4, 2, 1 confirms only the 8, 4 and 1 positions are set.

Question 10Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A student adds the two binary numbers 1011 and 0110. What is the correct 4-bit result?

  1. 10001 Correct answer.
  2. 10011
  3. 11001
  4. 10101

Explanation

Adding bit by bit from the right: 1+0=1, 1+1=0 with carry 1, 0+1+1=0 with carry 1, and 1+0+1=0 with carry 1, giving 10001. In decimal terms 11 plus 6 equals 17, and 10001 in binary is 16+1=17, which confirms the answer.

Question 11Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which register in the CPU holds the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched?

  1. The Program Counter Correct answer.
  2. The Instruction Register
  3. The Accumulator
  4. The Memory Data Register

Explanation

The program counter stores the address of the next instruction and is incremented after each fetch so execution proceeds in sequence. The accumulator holds operands and results, the memory data register buffers data moving to or from memory, and the instruction register holds the instruction currently being decoded.

Question 12Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which memory is volatile, meaning its contents are lost when power is switched off?

  1. A hard disk platter
  2. Flash memory
  3. Static RAM Correct answer.
  4. Read Only Memory

Explanation

SRAM is volatile because it depends on continuous power to hold each bit in a flip-flop; switching off the supply clears it. ROM, flash memory and hard disks are non-volatile and retain their contents without power.

Question 13Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which of these is an example of system software that helps manage and maintain a computer's resources?

  1. A disk defragmenter utility Correct answer.
  2. A photo editor
  3. A web browser
  4. A spreadsheet program

Explanation

Utilities such as a disk defragmenter belong to system software because they maintain the machine's storage and performance. Spreadsheets, browsers and photo editors are application software aimed at user tasks.

Question 14Computer Fundamentals and Organization

What is the main function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit inside a processor?

  1. Displaying output on the monitor
  2. Storing the operating system permanently
  3. Performing arithmetic and logical operations on data Correct answer.
  4. Converting AC power into DC power

Explanation

The ALU carries out arithmetic operations such as addition and logical operations such as AND, OR and comparison on the operands supplied to it. Permanent storage, power conversion and display are handled by other subsystems entirely.

Question 15Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which of the following correctly orders these storage devices from fastest access to slowest access?

  1. Main memory, cache memory, magnetic tape, hard disk
  2. Hard disk, cache memory, main memory, magnetic tape
  3. Cache memory, main memory, hard disk, magnetic tape Correct answer.
  4. Magnetic tape, hard disk, main memory, cache memory

Explanation

Access time increases as one moves away from the CPU: cache is fastest, then main memory, then the hard disk, and tape is slowest because it is accessed sequentially. Cost per bit follows the opposite trend, which is why large fast memory is kept small.

Question 16Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which logic gate produces a HIGH output only when both of its inputs are HIGH?

  1. The XOR gate
  2. The OR gate
  3. The NOT gate
  4. The AND gate Correct answer.

Explanation

An AND gate outputs 1 only for the input combination 1,1, and outputs 0 for every other combination. An OR gate outputs 1 when at least one input is 1, and a NOT gate has only one input.

Question 17Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A computer has a 12-bit address bus. How many distinct memory locations can it directly address?

  1. 1024
  2. 8192
  3. 4096 Correct answer.
  4. 2048

Explanation

With n address lines the processor can select 2^n distinct locations, so 2^12 equals 4096. Each additional address line doubles the addressable space, which is why 11 lines give 2048 and 13 lines give 8192.

Question 18Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which type of computer is designed to handle a very large volume of input data with high reliability, typically used by banks and airlines?

  1. A palmtop computer
  2. A laptop computer
  3. A desktop computer
  4. A mainframe computer Correct answer.

Explanation

Mainframes are built for high-volume transaction processing, centralised storage and continuous availability, which suits banks and reservation systems. Palmtops, desktops and laptops are general-purpose personal machines without that scale of throughput and reliability.

Question 19Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which statement best describes the difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

  1. A compiler runs source code directly, while an interpreter produces an object file
  2. A compiler is hardware, while an interpreter is firmware
  3. A compiler works only on binary code, while an interpreter works only on machine instructions
  4. A compiler translates the whole program at once, while an interpreter translates and runs it line by line Correct answer.

Explanation

A compiler converts the entire source program into machine code before execution, whereas an interpreter translates and executes statements one at a time. This makes compiled programs faster to run but slower to modify, while interpreted programs are easier to debug interactively.

Question 20Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which of these is an example of a secondary storage device?

  1. The cache memory
  2. A solid state drive Correct answer.
  3. The control unit
  4. A CPU register

Explanation

A solid state drive stores data permanently using flash memory and is therefore secondary storage. Cache, registers and the control unit are internal processor resources that hold data only temporarily.

Question 21Computer Fundamentals and Organization

The hexadecimal number 2F is equal to which decimal value?

  1. 38
  2. 62
  3. 45
  4. 47 Correct answer.

Explanation

In hexadecimal, 2F means 2 times 16 plus 15, since F represents 15, giving 32 plus 15 equals 47. Hexadecimal is used because one hex digit maps exactly onto four binary bits, so 2F is 0010 1111 in binary.

Question 22Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A processor fetches an instruction from memory. Which sequence of events correctly describes the remainder of the instruction cycle?

  1. Decode the instruction, fetch any operand, execute the operation, store the result Correct answer.
  2. Store the result, fetch the operand, execute the operation, decode the instruction
  3. Execute the operation, decode the instruction, fetch the operand, store the result
  4. Decode the instruction, store the result, execute the operation, fetch the operand

Explanation

After the fetch stage, the control unit decodes the opcode, then obtains any required operands, executes the operation in the ALU, and writes the result back. Execution cannot precede decoding because the processor would not yet know which operation to perform.

Question 23Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Using two's complement 8-bit representation, what is the result of adding 0111 1111 and 0000 0001?

  1. 1000 0000, which represents -128 because signed overflow has occurred Correct answer.
  2. 1111 1111, which represents -1
  3. 0000 0000, which represents zero
  4. 1000 0001, which represents -127

Explanation

Adding 127 and 1 gives the bit pattern 1000 0000, but in 8-bit two's complement that pattern denotes -128 rather than +128. The true sum exceeds the maximum positive value 127, so signed overflow occurs and the result is mathematically invalid.

Question 24Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which statement about the von Neumann architecture is correct?

  1. Instructions are stored in a separate memory from data at all times
  2. Memory is bypassed entirely because all operands live in registers
  3. The processor executes data values directly without fetching instructions
  4. Instructions and data share the same memory and are carried on the same bus Correct answer.

Explanation

In the von Neumann model, program instructions and data occupy a single common memory and travel over shared buses, which is why the CPU must distinguish them by context. The separate-memory approach is the Harvard architecture, which is a different design.

Question 25Computer Fundamentals and Organization

Which factor most directly explains why cache memory improves performance despite being much smaller than main memory?

  1. It permanently replaces main memory in the memory hierarchy
  2. It stores the entire contents of the hard disk for instant retrieval
  3. It slows the clock so that memory can keep pace with the processor
  4. It exploits locality of reference by keeping recently used data close to the CPU Correct answer.

Explanation

Programs tend to reuse the same instructions and data repeatedly, so a small fast cache holding recent items satisfies most requests. Because cache access is much quicker than main memory access, the average memory latency falls even though the cache is tiny.

Question 26Computer Fundamentals and Organization

In computer organization, which unit of storage is exactly equal to 1024 megabytes (MB)?

  1. One nibble
  2. One terabyte (TB)
  3. One kilobyte (KB)
  4. One gigabyte (GB) Correct answer.

Explanation

Memory sizes in computing scale in powers of two, and each step upward multiplies by 1024. Therefore 1024 MB combine to form one gigabyte, while a terabyte is 1024 GB and a kilobyte is far smaller. A nibble is only 4 bits, so it cannot equal a megabyte-scale quantity.

Question 27Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A keyboard, a mouse and a scanner all belong to which broad category of hardware?

  1. Output devices
  2. Input devices Correct answer.
  3. Processing devices
  4. Secondary storage devices

Explanation

Input devices are hardware that send data or commands from the user into the computer for processing. Keyboards, mice and scanners all capture information from the outside world and pass it to the CPU. Output devices instead present results, and storage devices retain data rather than capture it.

Question 28Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A computer's main memory holds 4096 words, and each word is 16 bits wide. What is the total capacity of this memory in bits?

  1. 262144 bits
  2. 65536 bits Correct answer.
  3. 4096 bits
  4. 8192 bits

Explanation

Total capacity equals the number of words multiplied by the width of each word. Here 4096 words times 16 bits per word gives 65536 bits, which is also 8 kilobytes. Multiplying only the word count or only the width gives an incomplete answer.

Question 29Computer Fundamentals and Organization

In the stored-program concept, what is kept in main memory alongside the data being processed?

  1. The physical wiring of the control unit
  2. Only the operating system kernel
  3. The program instructions that the CPU will execute Correct answer.
  4. Only the contents of the cache

Explanation

The stored-program concept means that both instructions and data reside in the same main memory in binary form. The CPU fetches instructions from memory one by one, which allows a machine to run different programs without rewiring. Data alone would not tell the processor what operations to perform.

Question 30Computer Fundamentals and Organization

A system uses a 16-bit address bus and a word-addressable memory in which each addressable word is 8 bits. How large is the directly addressable memory space?

  1. 16 kilobytes
  2. 64 kilobytes Correct answer.
  3. 32 kilobytes
  4. 8 kilobytes

Explanation

A 16-bit address bus can select 2^16 distinct addresses, which equals 65536 locations. Because each location holds one 8-bit byte, the space is 65536 bytes, or 64 KB. Treating the address width itself as the capacity leads to the incorrect answers.

Question 31Data Representation and Number Systems

In the binary number system, what is the place value (weight) of the fourth position counted from the right, starting at position 1?

  1. 2
  2. 16
  3. 4
  4. 8 Correct answer.

Explanation

Binary is base-2, so each position doubles in weight as you move left. Position 1 has weight 2^0 = 1, position 2 has 2, position 3 has 4, and position 4 has 2^3 = 8.

Question 32Data Representation and Number Systems

What is the decimal value of the binary number 1101?

  1. 13 Correct answer.
  2. 15
  3. 11
  4. 12

Explanation

Add the place values where a 1 appears: 8 + 4 + 1 = 13. The zero in the 2's position contributes nothing, so the total is 13.

Question 33Data Representation and Number Systems

Which digits are valid in the octal number system?

  1. 0 and 1
  2. 0 to 8
  3. 0 to 7 Correct answer.
  4. 0 to 9

Explanation

Octal is base-8, so it uses exactly eight symbols: the digits 0 through 7. The digit 8 is not allowed because it would immediately carry into the next position.

Question 34Data Representation and Number Systems

What is the hexadecimal digit that represents the decimal value 12?

  1. D
  2. C Correct answer.
  3. E
  4. B

Explanation

Hexadecimal extends the digits with letters A=10, B=11, C=12, D=13, E=14, F=15. Therefore decimal 12 is written as C.

Question 35Data Representation and Number Systems

Which of the following is the correct 8-bit binary representation of the decimal number 45?

  1. 01001101
  2. 00101101 Correct answer.
  3. 00101011
  4. 00111101

Explanation

45 = 32 + 8 + 4 + 1, so the bits at weights 32, 8, 4 and 1 are set. Reading from 128 down to 1 gives 00101101.

Question 36Data Representation and Number Systems

How many bits are needed to store a single hexadecimal digit in binary form?

  1. 4 Correct answer.
  2. 16
  3. 8
  4. 3

Explanation

Each hexadecimal digit covers 16 values (0-15), and 2^4 = 16, so exactly 4 bits are required. This is why hexadecimal is a compact shorthand for binary.

Question 37Data Representation and Number Systems

Convert the octal number 247 to decimal.

  1. 167 Correct answer.
  2. 175
  3. 169
  4. 183

Explanation

Evaluate positionally: 2×8^2 + 4×8^1 + 7×8^0 = 128 + 32 + 7 = 167. Each step left multiplies the weight by 8.

Question 38Data Representation and Number Systems

What is the decimal equivalent of the hexadecimal number 2F?

  1. 31
  2. 63
  3. 47 Correct answer.
  4. 45

Explanation

Hexadecimal 2F means 2×16 + 15 = 32 + 15 = 47, since F represents 15. The left digit carries a weight of 16.

Question 39Data Representation and Number Systems

Convert the decimal number 100 into binary.

  1. 1100010
  2. 1110100
  3. 1100100 Correct answer.
  4. 1010000

Explanation

100 = 64 + 32 + 4, so the bits at weights 64, 32 and 4 are set. Reading from 64 down to 1 yields 1100100.

Question 40Data Representation and Number Systems

Using 8-bit two's complement representation, what is the binary form of -5?

  1. 00000101
  2. 11111011 Correct answer.
  3. 10000101
  4. 11111010

Explanation

Write +5 as 00000101, invert the bits to get 11111010, then add 1 to obtain 11111011. In two's complement the leading 1 marks the value as negative.

Question 41Data Representation and Number Systems

What is the result of adding the two binary numbers 1011 and 0110?

  1. 10001 Correct answer.
  2. 11001
  3. 10011
  4. 10101

Explanation

Adding column by column: 1011 + 0110 = 10001, which is decimal 17. Carries propagate left as in decimal addition, but each carry is worth 2.

Question 42Data Representation and Number Systems

Which decimal value does the BCD (binary-coded decimal) code 10010111 represent?

  1. 151
  2. 127
  3. 97 Correct answer.
  4. 1001

Explanation

In BCD each group of 4 bits encodes one decimal digit: 1001 = 9 and 0111 = 7, giving 97. BCD is not a pure binary value, so the bits are read in nibbles.

Question 43Data Representation and Number Systems

The ASCII code of the character 'A' is 65. What is the ASCII code of the character 'D'?

  1. 67
  2. 68 Correct answer.
  3. 69
  4. 70

Explanation

Uppercase letters occupy consecutive ASCII codes, so 'D' is three positions after 'A'. Adding 3 to 65 gives 68.

Question 44Data Representation and Number Systems

Convert the binary number 101101 into hexadecimal.

  1. 2D Correct answer.
  2. 2B
  3. 5B
  4. 1D

Explanation

Group the bits into nibbles from the right: 0010 1101. The nibble 0010 is 2 and 1101 is D (13), so the hexadecimal form is 2D.

Question 45Data Representation and Number Systems

What is the 8-bit binary representation of the decimal fraction 0.5?

  1. 0.00000001
  2. 0.11000000
  3. 0.10000000 Correct answer.
  4. 0.01000000

Explanation

0.5 equals 2^-1, so the first fractional bit (weight one-half) is set and the rest are zero. The result is 0.10000000.

Question 46Data Representation and Number Systems

In the IEEE 754 single-precision floating-point format, how many bits are allocated to the exponent field?

  1. 23
  2. 11
  3. 1
  4. 8 Correct answer.

Explanation

Single precision uses 32 bits in total: 1 sign bit, 8 exponent bits and 23 mantissa bits. The 8-bit exponent is stored with a bias of 127.

Question 47Data Representation and Number Systems

Subtract the binary number 0011 from 1010 using binary arithmetic. What is the result?

  1. 0101
  2. 1101
  3. 1001
  4. 0111 Correct answer.

Explanation

1010 equals 10 and 0011 equals 3, so the difference is 7, written as 0111. Borrows occur when 0 must give 1 to a neighbour, and each borrow is worth 2.

Question 48Data Representation and Number Systems

An 8-bit register stores the signed value 11110000 in two's complement form. What is its decimal value?

  1. -15
  2. -16 Correct answer.
  3. -112
  4. 240

Explanation

The leading 1 indicates a negative number, so invert the bits (00001111) and add 1 to get 00010000, which is 16. The value is therefore -16.

Question 49Data Representation and Number Systems

The 8-bit two's complement representation of a number is 10000000. What decimal value does it represent?

  1. -127
  2. 128
  3. -128 Correct answer.
  4. 0

Explanation

In 8-bit two's complement the range is -128 to +127, and 10000000 is the smallest value, -128. Inverting and adding 1 gives 10000000 again, confirming -128.

Question 50Data Representation and Number Systems

A binary number has n bits. Which expression gives the total number of distinct unsigned values it can represent?

  1. 2n
  2. 2^n Correct answer.
  3. n^2
  4. 2^(n-1)

Explanation

Each bit doubles the number of combinations, so n bits give 2^n distinct patterns, covering 0 to 2^n - 1. For example, 8 bits give 256 values from 0 to 255.