Computer Operator & IT — Past Papers — Part 6 MCQs with Explanations

Gateway — connects networks with different protocols ; performs protocol conversion (works up to the application layer). Additional information: Bridge — connects networks using the same protocol (data link layer). Router — connects networks using the same protocol, typically IP (network layer) . Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

The Windows + M key combination is used to minimize all open windows on your screen . Additional information: Windows key + D: Show or hide the desktop Windows key + M: Minimize all open windows Windows key + Left/Right Arrow: Snap the active window to the left or right side of the screen Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize the active window Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize the active window Alt + Tab: Switch between different open windows or programs Alt + F4: Close the active window or app Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access . It is a digital wireless radio transmission technology Used in mobile phones and communication networks Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

MICR = Magnetic Ink Character Recognition M: Magnetic I: Ink C: Character R: Recognition It is mainly used by banks to process cheques. MICR reads characters printed with magnetic ink quickly and accurately. Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

In Microsoft Excel, pressing Ctrl + 1 opens the Format Cells dialog box. MS Excel Shortcut Keys Ctrl + N New Workbook Ctrl + O Open Workbook Ctrl + S Save Workbook Ctrl + P Print Ctrl + K Insert Hyperlink Ctrl + ; Insert Current Date Ctrl + Shift + ; Insert Current Time Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

A half-byte, also known as a nibble . Size: It consists of 4 bits , which is exactly half of an 8-bit byte. It can represent 16 different values, from 0000 to 1111 . It is also called a tetrade, quadbit, or semi-octet Last updated NA on 10-09-2026

DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol . It is a network protocol that automatically assigns devices IP addresses and other network configuration settings. DHCP helps devices connect to a network without manually entering an IP address .

A plotter is an output device. It is used to produce vector graphics, drawings, maps, and engineering designs on paper. Plotters are commonly used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design).

Ctrl + E → Center Align It places the selected text in the center of the document.

VLSI stands for Very Large Scale Integration VLSI began in 1970 It is the process of creating an i ntegrated circuit (IC) by combining thousands, millions, or even billions of transistors onto a single tiny silicon chip

Windows + Home minimizes all windows except the active one Press it again to restore the minimized windows Additional information: Windows logo key + Shift + Up arrow: Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.

An input device is any hardware component used to send data, signals, and commands to a compute r. Keyboard: Used to type text and enter commands . Mouse: Used to control the cursor and select items. Microphone: Used to record sound. Scanner: Used to convert physical documents into digital file Last updated by NA on 09-09-2026

Compiler/Windows XP is not hardware; it is software . Compiler: A program that translates computer code into machine language. Windows XP: An operating system that runs computer programs . Additional information : CPU, RAM, Hard Disk, Monitor, and Chip are all hardware. A compiler is software that converts code into machine language. Windows XP is an operating system. Last updated by NA on 09-09-2026

In MS Word 2003 , the Graph option is NOT available under Insert . In MS Word 2003 , WordArt was inserted through Insert → Picture → WordArt . Chart and Clip Art could also be inserted through the Insert menu.

In Microsoft Word 2003 and earlier , the default left and right margins were 1.25 inches (31.7 mm). The default top and bottom margins were 1 inch (25.4 mm). From Word 2007 onward, the default margins became 1 inch on all sides.

In MS Word , the View buttons are located to the left of the horizontal scroll bar . They provide quick access to different document views. View buttons are used to switch between document views such as Print Layout and Web Layout .

BASIC stands for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code . BASIC is a family of high-level programming languages. It was created in 1964 by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz . It was developed at Dartmouth College . Its main purpose was to make computer programming easier and accessible to students .

Access time is the time required by a computer to locate and access data. It is an important measure of the speed of memory or storage devices . Lower access time generally means faster data retrieval.

Multiprocessing means using two or more processors/CPU cores to execute multiple programs or processes simultaneously (at the same time). Additional information : Multitasking generally means running multiple tasks by sharing CPU time. Multiprogramming means keeping multiple programs in memory and switching the CPU among them.

ABC refers to the Atanasoff-Berry Computer , an early electronic digital computer . The computer was developed by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry . It was developed during 1939–1942 .

ORACLE is a Database Management System (DBMS) used for storing, retrieving, and managing data in databases. ORACLE is specifically designed to handle database operations.

MBR stands for Master Boot Record . It is a special boot sector located at the beginning of a storage disk. It contains information about the disk’s partitions and boot process. MBR is associated with traditional BIOS-based computer systems.

Peopleware refers to the people who are involved in the use, development, operation , and maintenance of computer systems . It includes programmers, system analysts, operators, technicians , and other computer personnel. Additional information : Programmer is only one type of computer professional. System Analyst is specifically responsible for analyzing and designing systems.

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group . JPEG is a common digital image compression and file format . The name comes from the organization that developed the standard. JPEG is widely used for photographs and web images . Its common file extensions are .jpg and .jpeg .

System analysis is the process of studying a problem or existing system to determine what the new system should accomplish. It involves understanding requirements, processes, data , and system functions . Creating a formal model of the problem is a key part of system analysis. Screen design and data format/type are mainly associated with system design.

Transitions command is used to set slide transition effects, not as a Slide Show presenter option . During a PowerPoint slide show, the presenter can use navigation commands to move between slides. Speaker notes are available to assist the presenter. Meeting Minder is also a presenter-related feature.

In PowerPoint , an object is active/selected when it is highlighted . Selection indicates that the object is currently active and ready for editing .

In MS PowerPoint , Templates are pre-designed slide formats. They control layout, colors, fonts, and overall design. Templates help maintain consistency in presentations. They save time in designing professional slides .

XLOOKUP replaces VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. Works both horizontally and vertically Direct return r ange — no column number Built-in "not found" option No need for sorted data Additional information: SUM and AVERAGE — These are aggregation functions, unrelated to lookups. COUNT and COUNTA — These count cells; not replaced by XLOOKUP. IF and AND — Logical functions, not lookup functions. Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) uses Port 443 for secure communication It protects sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data from being stolen or read by attackers Additional information Port 80 — standard HTTP (unencrypted web traffic) Port 21 — FTP (file transfer) Port 25 — SMTP (email sending) Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

1 Petabyte (PB) is equivalent t o 1,024 Terabytes (TB) in binary measuremen t and 1,000 Terabytes (TB) in decimal measurement Binary (Base-2, used by operating systems): 1 PB = 1,024 TB 1,048,576 GB (1,024 × 1,024 GB) Decimal (Base-10, used by storage manufacturers): 1 PB = 1,000 TB 1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes (10¹⁵ bytes) Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

The primary function of a Subnet Mask in IPv4 networking is to distinguish the Network ID from the host ID It splits the 32-bit IPv4 address into two distinct parts . Uses bitwise AND with the IP address to separate the network and host portions Not for: MAC addressing (ARP), encryption (IPsec/TLS), auto-assignment (DHCP) Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

The formula =COUNTA(A1:A5) counts Non-empty cells (text & numbers). The function counts cells containing any type of data, including: Numbers Text or letters Logical values (TRUE or FALSE) Error values (like #N/A or #REF!) Empty text strings (such as "" returned by a formula) Additional information: COUNT counts only cells with numbers COUNTIF/COUNTIFS count cells meeting specific criteria COUNTBLANK counts empty cells Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

Cache Memory — the buffer between CPU and RAM. Stores frequently used data for quick CPU access Faster but smaller than RAM Falls between the CPU and main memory Has levels (L1, L2, L3) — L1 is fastest/closest to CPU Reduces memory access time, boosting performance Additional information: RAM = the main memory itself ROM = read-only, holds firmware (BIOS) SRAM = a type used to build cache, not the buffer itself Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

SFC /scannow — it scans and repairs corrupted Windows system files. Additional information: CHKDSK: checks disks for errors, not system files DISKPART: manages disk partitions TASKLIST: lists running processes Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

WPA3 is the latest, most secure Wi-Fi standard (2018). Uses SAE — blocks offline password-guessing attacks. Provides forward secrecy and stronger encryption. Additional information: WEP — obsolete, easily cracked. WPA — older, uses TKIP, considered insecure. WPS — not an encryption standard, just a setup feature with known flaws. Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy. When you put an email address in the BCC field, that person receives the message . The people in the "To" and "CC" f ields cannot see that the BCC recipient received a copy . It keeps the email addresses of the BCC recipients private from everyone else on the email. Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

There are 3 main types of loops in C++: For Loop (including the modern range-based for loop) While loop: repeats a statement or group of statements do-while loop: Like a while loop, except that it tests the condition at the end of the loop body Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

In C++, the extraction operator (>>) is used to take input from the user. It is used in combination with the cin (character input ) stream object, which belongs to the standard <iostream> library. Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA

In C++, the cout object combined with the insertion operator (<<) is the standard way to display output on the screen . It is part of the std namespace and requires including the <iostream> library Last updated 07-09-2026 by NA