Computer Science/IT MCQs
Topic Notes: Computer Science/IT
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
51
Which of these file types is most likely to use "lossy" compression?
Answer:
A streaming video file (.mp4)
Lossy compression achieves higher compression ratios by discarding data that is less perceptible to human senses, which is suitable for media like audio and video.
52
What is the main purpose of a file extension?
Answer:
To indicate the file's format and the type of program that should be used to open it.
The primary purpose of a file extension is to help the operating system and the user identify the type of data stored in a file, which in turn determines which application is used to open it.
53
The `.tar` file format on its own provides:
Answer:
Bundling of multiple files into a single archive file, but no compression
`tar` stands for Tape Archive. Its sole purpose is to group files. It is often used with a separate compression utility like Gzip, resulting in files like `archive.tar.gz`.
54
What does the "read-only" file attribute typically do?
Answer:
It prevents the file from being modified or overwritten
Marking a file as "read-only" is a flag that tells the operating system to disallow any write operations on that file, protecting it from accidental changes.
55
On a Unix-like operating system (like Linux or macOS), what does the tilde (`~`) character typically represent in a file path?
Answer:
The current user's home directory.
In Unix-like systems, the tilde (`~`) is a shortcut that represents the home directory of the currently logged-in user. For example, `~/Documents` would refer to the "Documents" folder within the user's home directory.
56
Why is lossless compression essential for a text file?
Answer:
Losing even a single character could change the meaning of the document or corrupt it entirely
Unlike a picture where a few pixels might not be missed, every single character in a text document is important. Therefore, a compression method that discards data is unacceptable.
57
In a hierarchical file system, what is the top-most directory called?
Answer:
The root directory
The root directory is the starting point for the entire directory structure. All other directories and files are contained within it.
58
Before a file can be read or written to, it must first be:
Answer:
Opened
The "open" operation prepares a file for access by an application, telling the operating system that the file will be in use and establishing a connection to it.
59
Which of the following represents an absolute path?
Answer:
/home/user/documents/report.pdf
An absolute path specifies the location of a file or directory starting from the root directory. It contains the complete path and is not dependent on the current working directory.
60
If you see a file named "setup.exe", what is its most likely purpose?
Answer:
It's an executable file, likely an installer.
The ".exe" extension stands for "executable" and is used for programs that can be run on a computer. "setup.exe" is a common name for installation programs.