Which type of storage device is a hard disk?
- A.Tertiary
- B.Off-line
- C.Primary
- D.Secondary
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, Secondary. A hard disk is secondary storage: the CPU cannot work on its contents directly, and data must first be copied into main memory. Secondary storage is non-volatile, so it keeps files, programs and the operating system even after the power is switched off, and it is far larger and cheaper per gigabyte than RAM, though much slower. A hard disk drive stores data magnetically on spinning platters, with a read-write head moving over the tracks and sectors; solid-state drives, pen drives, CDs and memory cards are secondary storage as well. Option A is wrong because tertiary storage means robotic tape libraries and similar archival systems used for very large backups. Option B is wrong because off-line storage is a removable medium kept away from the computer, such as a tape or a disc on a shelf. Option C is wrong because primary storage means RAM, ROM and cache, which the processor reaches directly. Exam tip: RAM is primary and volatile, hard disk is secondary and non-volatile.
Practice Questions
View allWhich language uses the symbolic representation of machine codes needed to program a particular processor or processor family?
- A.Machine Language
- B.Assembly Language
- C.High-Level Language
- D.All of the above
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Assembly language replaces the binary machine codes of a processor with short symbols called mnemonics, such as MOV, ADD and JMP.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is the characteristic of Artificial Intelligence ?
- A.Replicates human decision making
- B.Stores relevant information
- C.Stores similar kind of data for a specific purpose
- D.Allows user to interact with media
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Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a machine to perform tasks that normally need human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning and taking decisions.
Read the full explanation →What is an interactive combination of text, graphics, video, audio and images termed as ?
- A.JPEG
- B.Multimedia
- C.AVA
- D.PNG
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Multimedia means using several forms of media, such as text, graphics, audio, video, images and animation, together, often in a way the user can interact with.
Read the full explanation →Which among the following is a malicious software?
- A.Hacking
- B.Password Cracking
- C.Trojan Horse
- D.Firewall
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A Trojan is a program that looks useful or harmless but secretly carries harmful code, so it is a piece of malicious software, or malware.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is not an application software?
- A.Spreadsheet
- B.AutoCAD
- C.MS PowerPoint
- D.Linker
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A linker is system software, a programming tool that joins compiled pieces of code into one program that can run; it does not do a task for the end user.
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