Computer MCQs for Competitive Exams

Spybot is an application program specifically designed to secretly gather user information from a computer and transmit it to others through the Internet.

The correct answer is 64 bits. The word length (or word size) of a computer refers to the maximum number of bits that the CPU can process, store, and transfer in a single operation. It determines the size of general‑purpose registers, integer arithmetic capabilities, and the maximum addressable memory space. While earlier personal computers used smaller word lengths, all modern PCs are built on 64‑bit architecture.

Why 64 Bits Is the Correct Answer

• Modern PC Standard: Since the mid‑2000s, every mainstream personal computer—whether running Windows, macOS, or Linux—has been powered by a 64‑bit processor (x86‑64 architecture from Intel/AMD or ARM64 from Apple Silicon and Qualcomm). This has become the baseline for even entry‑level desktops and laptops.
• Technical Advantages: A 64‑bit word length allows the CPU to handle massive integers (up to 2⁶⁴‑1) and directly address up to 16 exabytes of RAM (though practical motherboard limits are far lower). This far exceeds the 4‑gigabyte ceiling of 32‑bit systems, enabling seamless multitasking and large‑scale data processing.
• Software Requirement: Most modern operating systems and applications are compiled natively for 64‑bit processors. Even budget PCs today ship with 64‑bit processors and run 64‑bit operating systems, making "64 bits" the only accurate representation of a current‑generation personal computer.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

• 4 bits (Option 1): This was used in the very first microprocessors (like the Intel 4004, released in 1971), but they were designed for calculators and embedded systems, not personal computers.
• 8 bits (Option 2): Personal computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s (such as the Apple II and Commodore 64) used 8‑bit processors. These are obsolete by today’s standards.
• 16 bits (Option 3): The 16‑bit era included the Intel 80286 and early IBM PC/AT models. These were common in the mid‑1980s but were completely replaced by 32‑bit and later 64‑bit systems.

In summary, while historical PCs used smaller word lengths, the universal standard for personal computers today is 64 bits, making it the definitive answer.

A desktop computer is a general-purpose microcomputer that is larger than portable computers like laptops, designed for stationary use in one location.

Edward Roberts is considered the "father of the personal computer" because he created the Altair 8800 in 1975, initiating the microcomputer revolution.

Minicomputers are generally more powerful and have higher processing speeds than microcomputers, which are typically smaller and less powerful personal computers.

CAD is an acronym for Computer-Aided Design, a technology used by engineers and designers to create, modify, analyze, and optimize designs digitally.

Data represents raw, unorganized facts and figures, while information is data that has been processed, organized, and structured to become meaningful.

UNIVAC was one of the first commercial computers, representing the first generation due to its use of vacuum tubes for processing.

J. Presper Eckert, along with John Mauchly, was instrumental in designing ENIAC, the pioneering electronic general-purpose digital computer.

A small or intelligent device is often called so because it contains a sensor, allowing it to detect and respond to environmental changes.

RAM is an acronym that stands for Random Access Memory, a volatile type of computer memory for temporary data storage.

Data becomes information when it is processed and presented in a structured, understandable format, making it meaningful and useful to people.

An off-line device operates independently without direct connection or control from the central processing unit (CPU).

MS-Excel is a spreadsheet application software, not a programming language, unlike BASIC, COBOL, and C++.

The default style for new data entered into a new Microsoft Excel workbook is 'Normal', which applies general formatting without specific number or text styles.

Servers are specifically designed to provide shared resources and services to multiple client computers within a connected network environment.

A single Microsoft Excel sheet contains 1,048,576 rows, providing extensive capacity for data entry and organization within a spreadsheet.

The acronym "RW" stands for "Rewritable," indicating that the optical storage medium can be written to, erased, and rewritten multiple times.

In Microsoft Word, the Ctrl + H shortcut key is used to open the "Find and Replace" dialog box, enabling efficient text searching and modification.

The Power-On Self-Test (POST) is the initial diagnostic routine performed by a computer's firmware when it is first turned on.

All formulas in Excel must begin with an equals sign (=) to indicate to the software that a calculation or function is being entered.

The typical computer criminal is often a trusted employee with no prior criminal record, exploiting internal access and knowledge for malicious activities.

Compact disks (CDs) utilize laser technology to read and write data, as a laser beam reflects off the disk's surface to interpret information.

Digital photos and scanned images are stored as bitmap graphics, which are composed of individual pixels, hence both terms are relevant.