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General Awareness practice

Computer Questions with Answers

Computer questions in SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and RRB NTPC/Group D exams stay at the fundamentals: parts of a computer, memory types, units of storage, generations, number systems, common file extensions, keyboard shortcuts and basic internet terms. These are quick marks if the basics are clear. Tip: learn the full forms and the function of each part, because options often differ by one word.

Key facts

  • The CPU has the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), the Control Unit (CU) and registers
  • RAM is volatile memory (contents are lost when power is off); ROM is non-volatile
  • 1 byte = 8 bits; 1 KB = 1024 bytes; 1 MB = 1024 KB
  • Input devices include the keyboard, mouse and scanner; output devices include the monitor and printer
  • Computer generations: first used vacuum tubes, second transistors, third integrated circuits, fourth microprocessors
  • Binary has base 2, octal base 8, decimal base 10 and hexadecimal base 16
  • Charles Babbage is called the father of the computer
  • Common shortcuts: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print
  • File extensions: .docx is Word, .xlsx is Excel, .pptx is PowerPoint, .pdf is a portable document
  • Windows, Linux and macOS are operating systems; the Linux kernel was created by Linus Torvalds
  • HTTP is the protocol for web pages, HTML is the markup language for web pages, and Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web
  • Cache memory is faster than RAM and sits between the CPU and main memory

Worked examples

Q1. Which of the following is a volatile memory? (A) ROM (B) RAM (C) Hard disk (D) Pen drive

  1. Volatile means the data is lost when power is cut.
  2. ROM, hard disks and pen drives keep their data without power.

Answer: (B) RAM

Q2. The smallest unit of data in a computer is: (A) Byte (B) Bit (C) Nibble (D) Word

  1. A bit is a single binary digit, 0 or 1.
  2. A byte is 8 bits and a nibble is 4 bits, so both are larger.

Answer: (B) Bit

Q3. What is the file extension of a Microsoft Excel workbook (modern format)? (A) .docx (B) .pptx (C) .xlsx (D) .txt

  1. Docx is for Word and pptx is for PowerPoint.
  2. Excel workbooks end in xlsx.

Answer: (C) .xlsx

Shortcuts that save time

  • For memory questions, ask one thing: does it lose data without power? That single test separates RAM from ROM, disks and flash drives and removes most wrong options.
  • Learn shortcuts by their letters (C for copy, V for paste, Z for undo, S for save). Do not guess a shortcut you have not memorised; skip it instead.
  • Watch the one-word differences in options, such as bit and byte or RAM and ROM. Read the question once more before marking.

Where this appears

SSC CGL Tier-1General Awareness section
SSC CHSL Tier-1General Awareness section
SSC MTSGeneral Awareness section
RRB NTPC CBT-1General Awareness section
RRB Group D CBTGeneral Awareness section

Computer

Practice Set
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What does CPU stand for?

General Awareness · stress-free practice · answers reveal instantly · difficulty adapts as you go

Computer questions with answers

10 sample questions from this topic with the correct option and the solution.

  1. Q1. Physically, a CPU is placed on one or more microchips known as: (RRB NTPC GRADUATE CBT 1 (22/03/2026) Shift 2)

    1. Microprocessors
    2. Integrated circuits (ICs)
    3. Transistors
    4. Compact disks

    Answer: (B) Integrated circuits (ICs)

    Solution
    Physically, a CPU is built on one or more chips called integrated circuits (ICs), which pack millions of tiny transistors onto a small piece of semiconductor. When the entire CPU sits on a single chip it is called a microprocessor, but the general term for the chips themselves is integrated circuits. Hence integrated circuits (ICs) is the correct answer.

  2. Q2. What does RAM stand for?

    1. Random Access Memory
    2. Read Access Memory
    3. Random Available Memory
    4. Read Available Memory

    Answer: (A) Random Access Memory

    Solution
    RAM stands for Random Access Memory.

  3. Q3. Which power mode uses the least electricity while maintaining an open session?

    1. Sleep
    2. Standby
    3. Hibernate
    4. Active mode

    Answer: (C) Hibernate

    Solution
    In Hibernate mode, the computer saves the contents of memory to the hard disk and then powers off almost completely, so it uses the least electricity. When resumed, the open session (programs and documents) is restored from the disk. Sleep and Standby keep the RAM powered and so use more electricity, and Active mode uses the most. Hence Hibernate is correct.

  4. Q4. What does 'WWW' stand for?

    1. World Wide Web
    2. World Wide Wire
    3. Wide World Web
    4. World Web Wide

    Answer: (A) World Wide Web

    Solution
    WWW stands for World Wide Web. It is a system of interlinked web pages and resources that are accessed over the internet using a web browser. It was invented by Tim Berners-Lee in 1989.

  5. Q5. Which of the following best describes an operating system?

    1. A program used to watch videos
    2. A program used to access the internet
    3. A program that manages memory, processes, and devices
    4. A program used for data entry

    Answer: (C) A program that manages memory, processes, and devices

    Solution
    An operating system is system software that manages the computer's memory, processes and hardware devices, and provides a platform for other programs to run. Watching videos, browsing the internet and data entry are tasks done by application software running on top of it. Hence a program that manages memory, processes, and devices is the correct answer.

  6. Q6. Which of these is an input device?

    1. Monitor
    2. Printer
    3. Keyboard
    4. Speaker

    Answer: (C) Keyboard

    Solution
    Keyboard is an input device used to enter data into a computer.

  7. Q7. The computer system which does not require any storage device? (RRB NTPC Tier I (27/04/2016) Shift 1)

    1. Analog
    2. Digital
    3. Hybrid
    4. Third generation computer

    Answer: (A) Analog

  8. Q8. Which company developed the Windows operating system?

    1. Apple
    2. Microsoft
    3. Google
    4. IBM

    Answer: (B) Microsoft

    Solution
    Microsoft developed the Windows operating system.

  9. Q9. Who invented the mouse of a computer? (RRB NTPC Tier I (16/04/2016) Shift 1)

    1. John Backus
    2. Charlas Babbage
    3. Douglas Engelbart
    4. Simon Colton

    Answer: (C) Douglas Engelbart

  10. Q10. Which of these is an output device?

    1. Mouse
    2. Keyboard
    3. Monitor
    4. Scanner

    Answer: (C) Monitor

    Solution
    Monitor is an output device used to display information.