The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) - Secondary
Chapter – 1 Basics of Computer
Notes & Question Answers
Q.1 What are the five basic operations performed by the computer?
Ans The five basic operations that a computer performs are input, storage, processing, output and
control.
Q.2 Define ALU, CU and CPU.
ALU: Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is the major operations performed are addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, logic and comparison.
CU: Control Unit (CU): The process of input, output, processing and storage is performed under the
supervision of a unit called 'Control Unit'. It decides when to start receiving data, when to stop it, where to
store data, etc. It takes care of step -by-step processing of all operations in side the computer.
CPU: The ALU and the CU of a computer system are jointly known as the central processing unit (CPU). CPU
is called as the brain of any computer system.
Q.3 Choose the correct answer:
(a) The task of performing arithmetic and logical operations is called: (i) ALU (ii) editing (iii) storage (iv)
Output
Ans : (i) ALU
(b) The ALU and CU jointly are known as (i) RAM (ii) ROM (iii) CPU (iv) None of above
Ans: (iii) CPU
(c) The process of producing results from the data for getting useful information is called: (i) output (ii)
input (iii) processing (iv) storage
Ans: (i) output
Q.4 Write True or False for the following:
(1) Mouse is an output device. Ans : False
(2) OCR stands for Optical Content Reader. Ans : False
(3) LCD Monitor is used in notebook computer. Ans : True
(4) Speed of DOT Matrix Printer is measured in Characters Per Second. Ans : True
(5) Plotters are used to produce high quality drawings and images, such as construction plans for buildings
or blueprints for mechanical objects. Ans : True
(6) Operating System (OS) is an Application Software. Ans : False
(7) High level languages are easy to program than low level language. Ans : True
(8) Computer language FORTRAN is used to solve Scientific and Mathematical problems. Ans : True
(9) C is an object oriented programming language. Ans : False
(10) Compiler converts high level languages into machine language. Ans : True
Q.1 What is a computer? Draw a block diagram to illustrate the basic organisation of a computer
system and explain the functions of various units.
Ans Computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. Computer can also be
defined in terms of functions it can perform.
Block diggram of computer organisation
1. Input: This is the process of entering data and programs into the computer system.
2. Control Unit (CU): The process of input, output, processing and storage is performed under the
supervision of a unit called 'Control Unit'. It decides when to start receiving data, when to stop it,
where to store data, etc. It takes care of step -by-step processing of all operations in side the
computer.
3. Memory Unit: Computer is used to store data and instructions.
4. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): The major operations performed by the ALU are addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, logic and comparison.
5. Output: This is the process of producing results from the data for getting useful information. The
ALU and the CU of a computer system are jointly known as the central processing unit (CPU).
Q.2 What is an input device? Briefly describe various important input devices.
Ans Input device is a device which accept data and instructions from the user.
Following are the examples of various input devices.
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. Light Pen
4. Optical/magnetic Scanner
5. Touch Screen
6. Microphone for voice as input
7. Track Ball
1. A keyboard is the most common input device. Several kinds of keyboards are available, but they
resemble each other with minor variations. The keyboard in most common use is the QWERTY
board. Generally standard keyboard has 104 keys.
2. A mouse is an electro-mechanical, hand-held. It is used as a pointer. It can perform functions like
selecting menu commands, moving icons, resizing windows, starting programs, and choosing
options.
3. Light pen is an input device that utilizes a light-sensitive detector to select objects on a display
screen. A light pen is similar to a mouse, except that with a light pen you can move the pointer and
select objects on the display screen by directly pointing to the objects with the pen.
4. Optical/magnetic Scanner: These devices are used for automatic data collection. The devices of this
category completely eliminate manual input of data. For example, the bar-code reader is actually
just a special type of image scanner. An image scanner translates printed images into an electronic
format that can be stored in a computer’s memory, and with the right kind of software, one can
alter a stored image. Another example of scanner is optical character recognition (OCR) device, used
by banks
5. Touch Screen: Touch panel displays and pads are now being offered as alternatives to keyboard.
Here the input can be given through the computer screen, that accepts the input through monitor,
users touch electronic buttons displayed on the screen or they may use light pen.
6. Microphone is an input device, which takes voice as input. The voice communication is more
error-prone than information through keyboard. There are two types of microphones available 1.
Desktop Microphone 2. Hand held Microphone
7. Trackball is also a pointing device. To move the pointer, we rotate the ball with our thumb, our
fingers, or the palm of our hand. There are usually one to three buttons next to the ball, which we
use just like mouse buttons.
Q.3 Discuss two basic types of monitors CRT and LCD.
Ans Cathode Ray Tube (CRT): CRT or Cathode Ray Tube Monitor is the typical monitor that you see on a
desktop computer. It looks a lot like a television screen, and works the same way. This type uses a large
vacuum tube, called cathode ray tube (CRT).
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD): This type of monitors are also known as flat panel monitor. Most of
these employ liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to render images. These days LCD monitor are very popular.
Q.4 What is a software? Discuss its various categories with the help of diagram.
Ans Software refers to a set of programs that makes the hardware perform a particular set of tasks in
particular order. Software can be classified mainly into following categories and sub-categories.
1.System softwares are sets of programs, responsible for running the computer, controlling various
operations of computer systems and management of computer resources.
a)An operating system is a system software that provides an interface for a user to communicate with the
computer, manages hardware devices (disk drives, keyboard, monitor, etc), manages and maintains disk file
systems and supports application programs. Some popular Operating systems are UNIX, Windows and
Linux.
b)Utilities are programs that bridge the gap between the functionality of an OS and the needs of users.
Utility programs are a broad category of software such as compress (zip)/uncompress (unzip) files software,
antivirus software, split and join files software, etc.
2. Application software is a set of programs, which are written to perform specific tasks, for example: An
application package for managing library known as library information system is used to manage
information of library. Application software can be broadly classified into two types: (a) Generalized
packages (b) Customized packages.
a) Generalized packages: These are user friendly softwares written to cater to user’s very general needs
such as preparing documents, drawing pictures, database to manage data/information, preparing
presentations, play games etc.
Some of the generalized packages are listed below: Word Processing Software, Spreadsheets,
Presentations, Database Management System, Graphics Tools
b) Customized packages: These are the applications that are customized (or developed) to meet the
specific requirements of an organization/institution. For Example: Student information details, Payroll
packages, inventory control etc.
Q. 5 Distinguish between system and application software.
Ans: System software’s are sets of programs, responsible for running the computer, controlling various
operations of computer systems and management of computer resources. Some popular Operating
systems are UNIX, Windows and Linux.
Application software is a set of programs, which are written to perform specific tasks, for example: An
application package for managing library known as library information system is used to manage
information of library such as: keeping book details, account holder details, book issue details, book return
details etc.
Q.6 Write short notes on: (a) Laser Printer (b) High level language (c) Compiler (d) Plotter
(a) Laser Printer
Laser Printer: A laser printer produces high quality print that one normally finds in publishing. It is
extremely fast and quiet. Moreover, the operation of a laser printer is easy with automatic paper loading
and no smudging or messing up of ink ribbons. The fastest laser printer can print up to 200 pages per
minute in monochrome (black and white) and up to 100 pages per minute in color.
(b) High level language
To overcome the limitation, high level language has been evolved which uses normal English like, easy to
understand statements to solve any problem. Higher level languages are computer independent and
programming becomes quite easy and simple.
Various high level languages are given below:
BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), COBOL (Common Business Oriented language),
FORTRAN (Formula Translation), C, C++
(c) Compiler
The software (set of programs) that reads a program written in high level language and translates it into an
equivalent program in machine language is called as Compiler.
The program written by the programmer in high level language is called source program and the program
generated by the compiler after translation is called as object program.
(d) Plotter
A plotter is a special kind of output device that, like a printer, produces images on paper, but does so in a
different way. Plotters are designed to produce large drawings or images, such as construction plans for
buildings or blueprints for mechanical objects. A plotter can be connected to the port normally used by a
printer.
Plotters usually come in two designs: 1. Flat Bed 2. Drum
Q.7 Write a note on Computer language and its classification.
Ans The computer language is defined as code or syntax which is used to write programs or any specific
applications. The computer language is used to communicate with computers. Broadly the computer language
can be classified into three categories assembly language, machine language, and high-level language.
A computer language is a formal language used to communicate with a computer
Computer languages are broadly classified as:
1. Low Level Language: These are machine-friendly languages that are very difficult to understand by
human beings but easy to interpret by machines. These are very difficult to execute.
The low level languages are:
a. Machine Language: This is the language (in the form of 0’s and 1’s, called binary numbers)
understood directly by the computer. It is machine dependent. It is difficult to learn and even more
difficult to write programs.
b. Assembly Language: This is the language where the machine codes comprising of 0’s and 1’s are
substituted by symbolic codes (called mnemonics) to improve their understanding. It is the first step
to improve programming structure
2. High Level Language: These are programmer-friendly languages that are manageable, easy to
understand, debug, and widely used in today’s times. These are very easy to execute.
Various high level languages are given below: BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, C, C++.
