Basic ComputersNavigation — Instrumentation — DGCA CPL practice questions
Question 1 of 12
A basic digital computer consists of: (1) input peripherals (2) CPU (3) inertial unit (4) memory (5) auto brightness control (6) output peripherals
All 12 questions — Basic Computers
Navigation — Instrumentation · DGCA CPL. The correct option is marked on each.
Q1. A basic digital computer consists of: (1) input peripherals (2) CPU (3) inertial unit (4) memory (5) auto brightness control (6) output peripherals
- A.1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
- B.1, 2, 4 and 6✓
- C.1, 4, 6 only
- D.2, 3, 4 and 6
Why: The four basic components of a digital computer are: (1) input peripherals, (2) CPU, (4) memory, and (6) output peripherals. Items (3) inertial unit and (5) auto brightness control are NOT computer components — they are aircraft-specific or display-specific hardware unrelated to the computer architecture.
Q2. The Central Processing Unit (CPU) consists of: (1) input device (2) output device (3) ALU (4) shift registers (5) control unit (6) hard disk
- A.1, 2, 3 and 5
- B.3, 4, and 6
- C.1, 2, 5, and 6
- D.3, 4 and 5✓
Why: The CPU consists of: (3) ALU, (4) shift registers (including accumulator), and (5) control unit (with clock). Input devices, output devices, and hard disk are EXTERNAL to the CPU. The CPU is just the processing core.
Q3. In computer terminology an input peripheral device would be:
- A.A hard disk
- B.A floppy disk
- C.A keyboard✓
- D.A screen display unit
Why: A keyboard is a classic input peripheral — it sends data INTO the computer. Hard disk and floppy disk are storage devices (not strictly input or output). A screen display unit is an OUTPUT peripheral.
Q4. In computer terminology an output peripheral device would be:
- A.A floppy disk
- B.A hard disk
- C.A screen display unit✓
- D.A keyboard
Why: A screen display unit (monitor/VDU) is an output peripheral — the computer sends processed data OUT to the screen for the user to see. Keyboard = input. Disks = storage. In an aircraft, the EFIS symbol generator output and the FMS CDU display are output devices.
Q5. In computer terminology a memory which loses its data when power is removed is called:
- A.Non-volatile
- B.Non-permanent
- C.Non-retentive
- D.Volatile✓
Why: Volatile memory loses its data when power is removed. RAM is the primary example of volatile memory. The word "volatile" means easily evaporated/lost — exactly what happens to RAM data when power goes. "Non-volatile" = retains data without power.
Q6. In computer terminology a memory which retains its data when power is removed is called:
- A.Non-volatile✓
- B.Volatile
- C.RAM
- D.ROM
Why: Non-volatile memory retains data when power is removed. Examples: ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash memory, hard disks, optical disks. Note that ROM is one specific type of non-volatile memory, but the general term is "non-volatile." Choosing ROM (D) would be too specific when the question asks for the general terminology.
Q7. Examples of input peripheral devices are: (1) mouse (2) modem (3) printer (4) screen display unit (5) keyboard
- A.2, 3, 4 and 5
- B.1, 2 and 5✓
- C.1 and 5
- D.1, 2, 3
Why: Input peripherals: (1) mouse, (2) modem, (5) keyboard — these all send data INTO the computer. Printer (3) and screen display unit (4) are OUTPUT devices — they receive data FROM the computer to display or print.
Q8. In computer terminology "software" refers to:
- A.The memory system — floppy disks, hard disks, etc.
- B.The RAM and ROM capacity
- C.The programme of instructions✓
- D.The BIOS
Why: Software = the programme of instructions. This is the fundamental distinction: Hardware = physical components; Software = the programs/code that run on the hardware. BIOS is itself software (a specific type of software), but the general definition of software is the programme of instructions.
Q9. In computer terminology "hardware" refers to:
- A.The digital computer components — keyboard, monitor, CPU, etc.✓
- B.The permanent memory system and its capacity
- C.The RAM capacity
- D.The programme of instructions
Why: Hardware = all the physical components of the computer system: keyboard, monitor, CPU, memory chips, disk drives, etc. The chapter title is "Digital Computer Components (Hardware)" — confirming that hardware = the physical components.
Q10. The permanent memory of a digital computer usually takes the form of:
- A.Integrated circuits rated in megabytes
- B.Shift registers whose capacity is rated in mega or gigabytes
- C.Floppy or hard disks whose capacity is measured in mega or gigabytes✓
- D.Central Processing Unit
Why: Permanent (long-term) storage takes the form of magnetic disks (hard disks, floppy disks — though floppies are now obsolete), optical disks, or flash memory chips — all measured in mega or gigabytes. Shift registers are temporary stores within the CPU (volatile). The CPU itself is not a storage medium. Note: flash memory is an electronic chip but the book specifically mentions floppy/hard disks for "permanent storage."
Q11. The purpose of the Arithmetic Logic Unit within the CPU is to:
- A.Act as a temporary store for information being processed
- B.Perform calculations in the binary number system✓
- C.Perform calculations in the binary, octal or hexadecimal system
- D.Perform all clock functions based on the computer clock frequency
Why: The ALU performs arithmetic calculations and logical operations in the binary number system. The shift registers (including accumulator) act as temporary stores — not the ALU. The Control Unit handles the clock functions.
Q12. Within the CPU, the temporary stores and accumulator which handle data during processing are called:
- A.Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
- B.Shift registers✓
- C.Control unit
- D.BIOS
Why: Shift registers are the temporary stores within the CPU. One of the shift registers, specifically called the accumulator, contains the data actually being processed at any given moment. ALU does the calculations; Control Unit provides timing; BIOS is the input/output conversion system external to the CPU.