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What was the unit of Speed measured in the First Generation computers?
  • a)
    Milli seconds
  • b)
    Nano seconds
  • c)
    Micro seconds
  • d)
    Both (a) and (b)
  • e)
    All the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
The Electronic Computer (ENIAC), which had over 19000 vacuum tubes, weighed close to 30 tonnes and had a volume of 3000 cubic feet, is an example of a first-generation computer. Computers from the first generation had speeds measured in milliseconds (thousands of a second).

IBM 1401 is
  • a)
    First Generation Computer
  • b)
    Second Generation Computer
  • c)
    Third Generation Computer
  • d)
    Fourth Generation Computer
  • e)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rahul Mehta answered
IBM 1401 is a Second Generation Computer and is the first computer to enter Nepal in 2028 BS for census. Government of Nepal had brought this computer on rent and later purchased for data processing in Bureau of Statistics. After this computer, another ICL 2950/10, a British computer, was purchased by the fund of UNDP and UNFPA for the census of 2038 BS is second computer in Nepal.

The term 'Pentium' is related to -
  • a)
    DVD
  • b)
    Hard Disk 
  • c)
    Microprocessor 
  • d)
    Mouse
  • e)
    All of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Nikita Singh answered
Pentium is a brand used for a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel since 1993.

Which computer was built before the First Generation Computer?
  • a)
    Mechanical
  • b)
    Electrical
  • c)
    Electro-mechanical
  • d)
    Magnetic
  • e)
    Electronic
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Sakshi Bose answered
Electro-mechanical Computers

Before the first generation of computers, there were several attempts made to build calculating machines that could automate the process of mathematical calculations. The first of these machines were based on mechanical principles, and were called mechanical calculators. However, with the advent of electrical and electronic components, it became possible to build machines that were faster and more accurate than mechanical calculators. The first of these machines were called electro-mechanical computers.

Definition

Electro-mechanical computers are computing machines that use a combination of mechanical and electrical components to perform mathematical calculations. These machines were developed in the early 20th century, and were used primarily for scientific and military applications. Electro-mechanical computers were widely used during the Second World War, and played a crucial role in the development of radar and other military technologies.

Features

- Electro-mechanical computers were based on the principles of Boolean logic, which allowed them to perform complex logical operations.
- These machines used a combination of mechanical relays and electrical circuits to perform calculations.
- Electro-mechanical computers were relatively slow compared to modern computers, but they were much faster than mechanical calculators.
- These machines were large and bulky, and required a team of operators to run them.

Examples

- Some examples of electro-mechanical computers include the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the Harvard Mark I, and the Colossus.

Conclusion

Electro-mechanical computers were an important step in the development of modern computing technology. Although they were slow and cumbersome compared to modern computers, they paved the way for the development of electronic computers, which are the foundation of modern computing.

Which was the first electronic digital programmable computing device?
  • a)
    Analytical Engine
  • b)
    Difference Engine
  • c)
    Colossus
  • d)
    ENIAC
  • e)
    Both (b) and (d).
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

The correct answer is option 'D' - ENIAC.

- ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. It was the first electronic digital programmable computing device.
- ENIAC was developed by J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States during World War II.
- The main purpose of ENIAC was to perform complex calculations for military purposes, such as artillery trajectory calculations.
- ENIAC was a massive machine that occupied a large room and consisted of approximately 17,468 vacuum tubes, 7,200 crystal diodes, 1,500 relays, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, and 5 million soldered joints.
- It was programmed using a combination of patch cables and switches. The programming process was time-consuming and required physically rewiring the machine to change the program.
- ENIAC was capable of performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operations, as well as more complex calculations using its stored program.
- It had a speed of about 5,000 operations per second, which was significantly faster than previous computing devices.
- ENIAC was used for various calculations during its operational period, including calculations for the hydrogen bomb, weather prediction, and atomic energy research.
- Despite its groundbreaking capabilities, ENIAC had some limitations. It was not a stored-program computer, meaning that its program had to be physically reconfigured each time it needed to be changed. It also required a large amount of electricity and generated a significant amount of heat.
- ENIAC paved the way for the development of modern computers and is considered a landmark in the history of computing.

In conclusion, ENIAC was the first electronic digital programmable computing device, making option 'D' the correct answer.

Which of the following is not an example of a Word Processor?
  • a)
    IBM Lotus Symphony
  • b)
    Microsoft Excel
  • c)
    Google Docs
  • d)
    Microsoft Word
  • e)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program used to store and retrieve numerical data in a grid format of columns and rows. Excel is ideal for entering, calculating and analyzing company data such as sales figures, sales taxes or commissions.

Who is known as the father of supercomputing?
  • a)
    David J. Brown
  • b)
    Gene Amdahl
  • c)
    Adam Dunkels
  • d)
    Seymour Cray
  • e)
    Both (c) and (d).
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Varun Dasgupta answered
Father of Supercomputing: Seymour Cray

Seymour Cray, an American electrical engineer and computer architect, is widely regarded as the "father of supercomputing." He played a pivotal role in the development of high-performance computers and is known for designing a series of supercomputers that pushed the boundaries of computational power.

Cray's Contributions and Achievements:

1. Designing the CDC 6600:
- In the 1960s, Cray designed the CDC 6600, which was the world's first supercomputer and the fastest computer of its time.
- The CDC 6600 introduced several groundbreaking innovations, including the concept of pipelining, which allows multiple instructions to be processed simultaneously, improving overall performance.

2. Founding Cray Research:
- In 1972, Cray founded Cray Research, a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing supercomputers.
- Cray Research went on to create a series of highly successful supercomputers, including the Cray-1, Cray-2, and Cray-3.

3. Cray-1 Supercomputer:
- The Cray-1, introduced in 1976, was one of Cray's most iconic designs.
- It featured a unique "C" shape design that allowed for efficient cooling and reduced signal delays.
- The Cray-1 achieved a peak performance of 160 megaflops (million floating-point operations per second) and was the world's fastest supercomputer at the time.

4. Continued Innovations:
- Throughout his career, Cray continued to push the boundaries of supercomputing.
- He designed the Cray-2, which introduced a new architecture and achieved a peak performance of 1.9 gigaflops (billion floating-point operations per second).
- Cray also worked on the Cray-3, which was meant to be even faster but faced technical challenges and was ultimately canceled.

Legacy and Impact:

Seymour Cray's contributions to supercomputing have had a lasting impact on the field. His designs and innovations set the stage for the development of faster and more powerful computers, enabling advancements in scientific research, engineering, weather forecasting, and other computationally intensive tasks.

Today, supercomputers continue to evolve, with companies and research institutions striving to achieve even greater levels of performance. However, Cray's work laid the foundation for the field of supercomputing and established him as a pioneer in the industry. His legacy as the "father of supercomputing" remains significant and influential.

Microprocessors as switching devices are for which generation computers:
  • a)
    First Generation
  • b)
    Second Generation
  • c)
    Third Generation
  • d)
    Fourth Generation
  • e)
    All of the above
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nikita Singh answered
Microprocessors further revolutionized the development of computers. Personal microcomputers were possible due to the microprocessors. The first microprocessor called Intel 4004 was developed by American Intel Corporation in 1971. Microprocessors are used in the computers of fourth generation computers.

Choose the generation in which the microprocessor was first launched.
  • a)
    First
  • b)
    Second
  • c)
    Third
  • d)
    Fourth
  • e)
    Fifth
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Aarav Sharma answered
The correct answer is option 'D' - Fourth. Let's discuss the details below:

The microprocessor is a central processing unit (CPU) that integrates the functions of a computer's central processing unit onto a single integrated circuit (IC). It is often referred to as the "brain" of a computer. The development of the microprocessor revolutionized the field of computing and paved the way for the modern digital age.

Here is a breakdown of the different generations of microprocessors:

First Generation:
The first generation of microprocessors was not commercially available. However, the concept of a microprocessor was introduced in the early 1970s. The microprocessors developed during this time were relatively simple and had limited capabilities.

Second Generation:
The second generation of microprocessors, also known as 8-bit microprocessors, was introduced in the mid-1970s. These microprocessors had improved performance and capabilities compared to the first generation. They were used in early personal computers, such as the Intel 8080 and the Motorola 6800.

Third Generation:
The third generation of microprocessors, also known as 16-bit microprocessors, was introduced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These microprocessors had further improved performance and capabilities compared to the second generation. They were used in more advanced personal computers and other computing devices.

Fourth Generation:
The fourth generation of microprocessors, also known as 32-bit microprocessors, was introduced in the mid-1980s. This is the generation in which the microprocessor was first launched. The introduction of 32-bit microprocessors brought significant improvements in processing power, efficiency, and capabilities. These microprocessors were used in a wide range of applications, including personal computers, gaming consoles, and embedded systems.

Fifth Generation:
The fifth generation of microprocessors, also known as 64-bit microprocessors, was introduced in the early 2000s. These microprocessors further improved processing power and capabilities compared to the fourth generation. They are commonly used in modern personal computers, servers, and high-performance computing systems.

In summary, the microprocessor was first launched in the fourth generation, which is why the correct answer is option 'D' - Fourth.

Which of the following languages may be understood by a computer?
  • a)
    Binary
  • b)
    Assembly
  • c)
    BASIC
  • d)
    JAVA
  • e)
    All the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Ishita Nair answered
Understanding Languages for Computers

Languages for Computers

Computers are electronic devices that process data and information. To do this, computers require instructions or code in a language that they can understand. There are several programming languages that can be used to write code for computers. However, not all languages can be understood by computers.

Binary Language

Binary language is the language that computers can understand. It is made up of only two digits, 0 and 1, which are also called bits. These digits are used to represent all data and instructions in a computer. Binary language is the most basic form of computer language.

Assembly Language

Assembly language is a low-level programming language that is used to write code that can be easily understood by computers. It is a human-readable form of machine language that uses abbreviations and symbols to simplify programming. Assembly language is specific to a particular computer architecture, and each instruction corresponds to a specific machine language instruction.

High-Level Languages

High-level languages are programming languages that are designed to be easily understood by humans. These languages are closer to natural language and are easier to read and write than low-level languages like assembly language. Examples of high-level languages are BASIC, JAVA, Python, and C++. However, these languages cannot be directly understood by computers. They need to be translated into machine language or binary language using a compiler or interpreter.

Conclusion

In conclusion, computers can only understand binary language, which is the most basic form of computer language. Assembly language is also understood by computers, but it is specific to a particular computer architecture. High-level languages like BASIC, JAVA, Python, and C++ are designed to be easily understood by humans, but they need to be translated into machine language or binary language using a compiler or interpreter.

Which of the following programming language was used in the First Generation of Computers?
  • a)
    Machine
  • b)
    Assembly
  • c)
    Logic Programming
  • d)
    Both (a) and (b)
  • e)
    Both (a) and (c)
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
First-generation computers used machine language, a type of programming language. A collection of machine-level programming languages used to create programs for first-generation computers is referred to as a first-generation (or 1GL) language.

A semiconductor wafer on which thousands or millions of tiny resistors, capacitors, and transistors are manufactured is known as an integrated circuit (IC). Which element is used to make computer chips and IC?
  • a)
    Copper
  • b)
    Iron
  • c)
    Silicon
  • d)
    Aluminium
  • e)
    Silver
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
The material silicon, which makes up the majority of ICs, is common in beach sand. At standard room temperature, pure crystalline silicon exhibits extremely high resistance to electrical current, similar to other semiconducting materials.

MS-DOS is a _______ operating system.
  • a)
    User-Friendly Graphical 
  • b)
    Graphical User Interface 
  • c)
    Real Time GUI
  • d)
    Command Line Interface
  • e)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nikita Singh answered
The short form for Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system derived from 86-DOS that was created for IBM compatible computers.

Which computer generation saw the introduction of integrated Circuits, sometimes known as ICs?
  • a)
    First
  • b)
    Second
  • c)
    Third
  • d)
    Fourth
  • e)
    Fifth
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
The third generation spanned the years 1965 to 1971. Third-generation computers substituted integrated circuits (ICs) for transistors. Numerous transistors, resistors, and capacitors, as well as the related circuitry, are found in a single integrated circuit (IC). Jack Kilby was the man who created the IC.

Which of the following is the Second Generation of Computers?
  • a)
    1940-56
  • b)
    1956-63
  • c)
    1964-71
  • d)
    1971-1992
  • e)
    1971-present
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
Transistors were used in place of vacuum tubes in the second generation of computers. From 1956 through 1963, transistors were a common component in computers. Because transistors were more compact than vacuum tubes, computers could be made more compactly, more quickly, and more affordably.

Which of the following is sometimes called Chips or microchips?
  • a)
    Vacuum tubes
  • b)
    Transistors
  • c)
    Microprocessor
  • d)
    Integrated Circuits
  • e)
    Optical Cable
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohan Sengupta answered
A semiconductor wafer on which thousands or millions of tiny resistors, capacitors, and transistors are manufactured is known as an integrated circuit (IC), sometimes known as a chip or microchip. A microprocessor, oscillator, timer, counter, computer memory, or amplifier are all examples of ICs.

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