Computer Past Paper MCQs with Answers and Explanations for preparation for all types of competitive exams
Prepare for these computer past paper MCQs for lecturers, IT teachers, computer operators, junior clerks, IT assistants, and other competitive examinations with these computer MCQs and detailed explanations. This practice MCQ set includes fundamental computer knowledge, Microsoft Office, operating systems, computer hardware, memory, file management, and basic information technology.
کمپیوٹر ٹیسٹ کی بہتر تیاری کے لیے ہمارے آن لائن ٹیسٹ میں حصہ لیں اور اپنی معلومات کو جانچیں۔ مزید مشق کے لیے حل شدہ پیپرز اور گزشتہ امتحانات کے سوالات دیکھیں اور اپنی تیاری کو بہتر بنائیں۔
What You Will Learn
- Computer Fundamentals: Hardware, software, input, output, and computer programs.
- Operating Systems: Windows, booting, BIOS/UEFI, folders, and file management.
- Microsoft Office: MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint features and keyboard shortcuts.
- Memory and Storage: RAM, ROM, storage devices, tracks, sectors, and file extensions.
- Basic Computer Science: Binary representation, user interfaces, and essential computing concepts.
1) The first computers were programmed using
- a) Python
- b) Machine Language ✅
- c) COBOL
- d) Java
Answer: b) Machine Language
Early computers were programmed directly in binary machine code (0s and 1s) because no high-level languages existed yet.
2) Which software does a computer normally need to load first to start its operating system?
- A) Device Driver
- B) BIOS / UEFI ✅
- C) Kernel
- D) Bootloader
Answer: B) BIOS / UEFI
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), or the modern UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), is firmware embedded on the motherboard. It is the very first software that runs to test hardware (POST) and locate the bootloader.
3) BIOS stands for:
- a) Binary Input Output Software
- b) Basic Internal Operating System
- c) Base Integrated Output Setup
- d) Basic Input Output System ✅
Answer: d) Basic Input Output System
BIOS is firmware stored on the motherboard that starts the hardware and loads the operating system.
4) Which function in Excel returns the remainder of a division?
- a) MOD ✅
- b) REM
- c) DIV
- d) QUOTIENT
Answer: a) MOD
MOD(10,3) returns 1, the remainder after dividing 10 by 3. QUOTIENT returns the whole-number part instead.
5) Which template provides a design concept, fonts, and color scheme?
- a) Content Template
- b) Design Template ✅
- c) Handout Master
- d) Notes Page
Answer: b) Design Template
A design template in PowerPoint supplies the overall look: background, fonts, and color scheme.
6) Which key is used to minimize an Excel worksheet window?
- a) Ctrl+F5
- b) Ctrl+F10
- c) Ctrl+F9 ✅
- d) Alt+F4
Answer: c) Ctrl+F9
Ctrl+F9 minimizes the workbook window. Ctrl+F10 maximizes or restores it.
7) Which of the following applications is designed to open and view multimedia content, such as videos, documents, and images?
- A) Notepad
- B) Calculator
- C) BIOS Setup
- D) WhatsApp ✅
Answer: d) WhatsApp
Modern messaging applications like WhatsApp are built with multimedia capabilities, allowing them to decode, display, and play a wide variety of files, including videos, photos, PDFs, and documents.
8) The extension of a PowerPoint file is:
- a) .pptx ✅
- b) .docx
- c) .xlsx
- d) .txt
Answer: a) .pptx
.pptx is the default PowerPoint format (older versions used .ppt). .docx is Word and .xlsx is Excel.
9) In MS Word, headers and footers are inserted:
- a) Only on the first page
- b) On every page ✅
- c) Only on the last page
- d) Only on odd pages
Answer: b) On every page
Unless options like a different first page are selected, a header or footer is automatically displayed on each page of the document.
10) Which button do you click to add up a series of numbers?
- a) AutoFill
- b) AutoFormat
- c) AutoSum ✅
- d) AutoCorrect
Answer: c) AutoSum
AutoSum (Σ) quickly inserts the SUM function for a selected range of numbers.
11) When you insert an Excel file into a Word document, the data are
- a) Deleted
- b) Encrypted
- c) Compressed
- d) Linked ✅
Answer: d) Linked
When an Excel file is inserted into Word as a linked object, the data stays connected to the original file and updates when the source changes. Depending on the method used, it can also be embedded or pasted as a static copy.
12) The usability of a user interface is regarded as?
- a) User-friendly ✅
- b) Command-driven
- c) Machine-oriented
- d) Batch-oriented
Answer: a) User-friendly
A user-friendly interface is simple, clear, and easy to learn, like the graphical interface of Windows.
13) CAD stands for:
- a) Computer Applied Data
- b) Computer Aided Design ✅
- c) Central Aided Display
- d) Computer Analysis Design
Answer: b) Computer Aided Design
CAD software is used by engineers and architects to create drawings and designs.
14) When you open a new presentation, a slide with the default ______ appears:
- a) Blank Layout
- b) Title and Content Layout
- c) Title Slide Layout ✅
- d) Section Header Layout
Answer: c) Title Slide Layout
A new PowerPoint presentation opens with the Title Slide layout as the first slide.
15) The capacity of a standard floppy disk is:
- a) 1.44 GB
- b) 720 GB
- c) 640 MB
- d) 1.44 MB ✅
Answer: d) 1.44 MB
The common 3.5-inch high-density floppy disk stores 1.44 MB.
16) Which key is used to insert text in a cell?
- a) Any alphanumeric key ✅
- b) Only Enter
- c) Only F2
- d) Only Tab
Answer: a) Any alphanumeric key
Selecting a cell and typing any letter or number starts entering text in that cell.
17) What is the smallest width of a column in Excel?
- a) 1
- b) 0 ✅
- c) 5
- d) 10
Answer: b) 0
A column can be reduced to a width of 0, which hides it.
18) Which of the following is not a part of the Control Panel?
- a) Programs and Features
- b) Device Manager
- c) My Documents ✅
- d) Date and Time
Answer: c) My Documents
My Documents is a user folder, not a Control Panel setting.
19) 1000 million bytes is equal to:
- a) 1 Megabyte
- b) 1 Terabyte
- c) 1 kilobyte
- d) 1 Gigabyte ✅
Answer: d) 1 Gigabyte
1 gigabyte is roughly one billion (1000 million) bytes.
20) The numeric keypad is a:
- a) Input section/keys ✅
- b) Output device
- c) Storage device
- d) Processing unit
Answer: a) Input section/keys
The numeric keypad is part of the keyboard and is used to input numbers.
21) Paramecium contains two nuclei. This statement is:
- a) False
- b) True ✅
- c) Only in some species
- d) Only during division
Answer: b) True
Paramecium has a large macronucleus and a small micronucleus, so it has two nuclei.
22) Radioactivity was discovered by:
- a) Isaac Newton
- b) Thomas Edison
- c) Henri Becquerel ✅
- d) Michael Faraday
Answer: c) Henri Becquerel
In 1896, Henri Becquerel discovered radioactivity while working with uranium salts.
23) Initially, a deleted file is sent to the:
- a) Control Panel
- b) Desktop
- c) Task Manager
- d) Recycle Bin ✅
Answer: d) Recycle Bin
When you delete a file in Windows, it doesn’t disappear forever right away. It is first moved to the Recycle Bin, from which it can be recovered.
24) In MS Excel, data can be arranged by:
- a) Sort ✅
- b) Merge
- c) Wrap
- d) Freeze
Answer: a) Sort
The Sort command arranges data in ascending or descending order.
25) Which is not a standard process queue?
- a) Job queue
- b) PCB queue ✅
- c) Ready queue
- d) Device queue
Answer: b) PCB queue
The main process queues are the job, ready, and device queues. A PCB (Process Control Block) is a data structure, not a queue.
26) Which key is used to get help in MS Word?
- a) F2
- b) F5
- c) F1 ✅
- d) F12
Answer: c) F1
F1 opens the Help feature in MS Word and most Windows programs.
27) You can organize files by storing them in a:
- a) Cursor
- b) Pixel
- c) Clipboard
- d) Folder ✅
Answer: d) Folder
A folder (directory) is used to group and organize files.
28) Which memory retains data without power?
- a) ROM ✅
- b) RAM
- c) Cache
- d) Register
Answer: a) ROM
ROM keeps its contents without power (non-volatile), and its data is not changed during normal use (static).
29) Which of the following controls the interaction between the user and the operating system?
- a) Compiler
- b) User Interface ✅
- c) Assembler
- d) Linker
Answer: b) User Interface
The user interface (GUI or command line) lets the user communicate with the operating system.
30) Which technology is used in compact disks?
- a) Magnetic tape
- b) Infrared sensor
- c) Laser ✅
- d) Ultrasound
Answer: c) Laser
A laser beam reads and writes data on the pits and lands of a CD.
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31) Any data or instruction entered into the memory of a computer is considered as:
- a) Output
- b) Hardware
- c) Software
- d) Input ✅
Answer: d) Input
Data or instructions given to the computer are called input.
32) What should be done after fixing a problem, installing a new application, or making a configuration change in a computer?
- a) Restart ✅
- b) Format the disk
- c) Uninstall Windows
- d) Remove the RAM
Answer: a) Restart
Restarting applies the changes and lets the system load the new settings properly.
33) The physical part of a computer is known as:
- a) Software
- b) Hardware ✅
- c) Firmware
- d) Freeware
Answer: b) Hardware
Hardware means the parts you can touch, such as the monitor, keyboard, and CPU.
34) What do we call the combination of a row and a column?
- a) Table
- b) Range
- c) Cell ✅
- d) Sheet
Answer: c) Cell
In a spreadsheet, a row and a column meet at a cell, such as A1.
35) Data on a magnetic disk is stored in concentric circles called?
- a) Cluster
- b) Folder
- c) Byte
- d) Tracks ✅
Answer: d) Tracks
A disk is organized into concentric circles called tracks, which are divided into smaller sections called sectors. A sector stores a portion of data.
36) Which of the following is the file extension of the PowerPoint application?
- a) .ppt ✅
- b) .doc
- c) .xls
- d) .txt
Answer: a) .ppt
.ppt is the classic PowerPoint extension (newer versions use .pptx). .doc is Word, and .xls is Excel.
37) Which shortcut key is used to close a tab in a browser?
- a) Ctrl+T
- b) Ctrl+W ✅
- c) Ctrl+N
- d) Ctrl+P
Answer: b) Ctrl+W
Ctrl+W closes the current tab. Ctrl+T opens a new tab.
38) What displays the content of the active cell in MS Excel?
- a) Title Bar
- b) Status Bar
- c) Formula Bar ✅
- d) Name Box
Answer: c) Formula Bar
The Formula Bar shows the data or formula in the selected cell.
39) MS PowerPoint is an example of:
- a) System software
- b) Utility software
- c) Operating system
- d) Application software ✅
Answer: d) Application software
Microsoft PowerPoint is application software used to create, edit, and present slide-based presentations containing text, images, audio, video, and animations.
40) Which software is used for preparing an office presentation?
- a) PowerPoint ✅
- b) Word
- c) Access
- d) Notepad
Answer: a) PowerPoint
PowerPoint is used to create slide presentations.
41) Which of the following is not a Windows version?
- a) Windows 7
- b) Windows 9 ✅
- c) Windows 10
- d) Windows 11
Answer: b) Windows 9
Microsoft skipped Windows 9 and went from Windows 8 to Windows 10.
42) Which CPU scheduling algorithm completely eliminates the problem of process starvation?
- A) Priority Scheduling
- B) Shortest Job First (SJF)
- C) Round Robin (RR) ✅
- D) Multilevel Queue Scheduling
Answer: c) Round Robin (RR)
Round Robin uses a fixed time slice (quantum) to cycle through all ready processes. This guarantees that every process gets a turn on the CPU within a predictable timeframe, completely preventing starvation.
43) Which of the following is the most powerful type of computer?
- a) Mainframe
- b) Laptop
- c) Microcomputer
- d) Supercomputer ✅
Answer: d) Supercomputer
Supercomputers have the highest processing speed and are used for weather forecasting and scientific research.
44) A list of instructions used by a computer is called a:
- a) Program ✅
- b) Folder
- c) Network
- d) Database
Answer: a) Program
A program is a set of instructions that tells the computer what to do.
45) MS Word is an example of:
- a) System Software
- b) Application Software ✅
- c) Firmware
- d) Programming Language
Answer: b) Application Software
MS Word is application software designed for word processing.
46) A common use of computers in offices is for:
- a) Weather control
- b) Space launch
- c) Word Processing ✅
- d) Power generation
Answer: c) Word Processing
Offices commonly use computers to write, edit, and print documents.
47) Instructions and memory addresses are represented by:
- a) Decimal codes
- b) Alphabet codes
- c) Color codes
- d) Binary codes ✅
Answer: d) Binary codes
Computers represent instructions and addresses in binary form (0 and 1).
48) By default, the orientation of a document when printing is:
- a) Portrait ✅
- b) Landscape
- c) Square
- d) Diagonal
Answer: a) Portrait
MS Word pages are set to Portrait (vertical) by default.
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FAQs – Computer Past Paper MCQs
1. What are Computer Past Paper MCQs?
Computer Past Paper MCQs are multiple-choice questions based on computer topics commonly covered in previous examinations and competitive tests. They help candidates understand question patterns and revise important concepts.
2. Which computer topics are important for competitive exams?
Important topics include computer fundamentals, hardware and software, operating systems, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, internet, networking, memory, input and output devices, and keyboard shortcuts. The above questions are taken from Computer Past Paper MCQs to help candidates
3. Are Computer Past Paper MCQs important for BPSC and FPSC exams?
Yes. Computer-related questions may appear in BPSC, FPSC, and other recruitment examinations (such as IT Teacher or Lecturer Computer Science), depending on the syllabus and job requirements. Candidates should check the official syllabus for their specific test.
4. Can I prepare for computer tests using Computer Past Paper MCQs?
Yes. Practising Computer Past Paper MCQs can help you revise important concepts, identify weak areas, and become familiar with multiple-choice questions. Combine practice with explanations and syllabus-based study.
5. Are answers and explanations included with these Computer MCQs?
Yes. This page provides answers and explanations to help you understand why an option is correct and improve your computer knowledge.
