History of Computing and Technology MCQs

Solved MCQs on the history of computing: early machines like ENIAC, pioneers like Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing, and the founders of famous tech companies.

1. 1

   Who is often regarded as the world's first computer programmer?

   AAlan TuringBAda LovelaceCGrace HopperDCharles Babbage

   Correct answer: B. Ada Lovelace

   Ada Lovelace wrote what is considered the first algorithm intended for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in the 1840s.

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2. 2

   Alan Turing is famous for his work on computing theory and for helping break which code during the Second World War?

   AEnigmaBMorseCCaesarDNavajo

   Correct answer: A. Enigma

   Turing helped crack Germany's Enigma code at Bletchley Park. The Turing Test for machine intelligence is named after him.

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3. 3

   ENIAC, one of the first general-purpose electronic computers (1945–46), used which technology?

   AGears onlyBMicrochipsCTransistorsDVacuum tubes

   Correct answer: D. Vacuum tubes

   ENIAC used about 18,000 vacuum tubes and filled a large room.

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4. 4

   The transistor, which replaced vacuum tubes, was invented in 1947 at:

   ABell LabsBIBMCAppleDMicrosoft

   Correct answer: A. Bell Labs

   John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley invented the transistor at Bell Labs and shared the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics.

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5. 5

   The ancient counting tool with beads on rods, used for arithmetic, is the:

   ACalculatorBAbacusCAstrolabeDSlide rule

   Correct answer: B. Abacus

   The abacus is one of the oldest calculating devices and is still used to teach arithmetic.

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6. 6

   The computer mouse was invented by:

   ATim Berners-LeeBDouglas EngelbartCSteve JobsDBill Gates

   Correct answer: B. Douglas Engelbart

   Douglas Engelbart invented the mouse in the 1960s and demonstrated it in 1968.

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7. 7

   Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and:

   ALarry PageBPaul AllenCSteve JobsDSteve Wozniak

   Correct answer: B. Paul Allen

   Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft.

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8. 8

   Apple was co-founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and:

   AMark ZuckerbergBPaul AllenCSteve WozniakDBill Gates

   Correct answer: C. Steve Wozniak

   Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (with Ronald Wayne) founded Apple. Wozniak designed the early Apple computers.

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9. 9

   Google was founded in 1998 by:

   ABill Gates and Paul AllenBElon MuskCLarry Page and Sergey BrinDJeff Bezos

   Correct answer: C. Larry Page and Sergey Brin

   Larry Page and Sergey Brin started Google while they were PhD students at Stanford University.

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10. 10

    Facebook was launched in 2004 by:

    AJack DorseyBMark ZuckerbergCLarry PageDJeff Bezos

    Correct answer: B. Mark Zuckerberg

    Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook at Harvard University. The parent company was renamed Meta in 2021.

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12. 11

    The Linux operating system kernel was first released in 1991 by:

    ALinus TorvaldsBRichard StallmanCDennis RitchieDKen Thompson

    Correct answer: A. Linus Torvalds

    Finnish student Linus Torvalds released the Linux kernel, which became the base of Android and much of the internet's servers.

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13. 12

    The C programming language was developed at Bell Labs by:

    AJames GoslingBGuido van RossumCBjarne StroustrupDDennis Ritchie

    Correct answer: D. Dennis Ritchie

    Dennis Ritchie created C in the early 1970s. Bjarne Stroustrup later created C++.

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14. 13

    The Java programming language was created by:

    AGuido van RossumBDennis RitchieCLinus TorvaldsDJames Gosling

    Correct answer: D. James Gosling

    James Gosling led the team at Sun Microsystems that released Java in 1995.

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15. 14

    The Python programming language was created by:

    AGuido van RossumBLarry WallCJames GoslingDBrendan Eich

    Correct answer: A. Guido van Rossum

    Guido van Rossum first released Python in 1991. Brendan Eich created JavaScript.

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16. 15

    Ray Tomlinson is credited with sending the first network email and introducing which symbol into email addresses?

    A&B$C@D#

    Correct answer: C. @

    In 1971 Tomlinson used the @ sign to separate the user's name from the host computer's name.

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17. 16

    IBM launched its influential Personal Computer (IBM PC) in:

    A1971B1981C1991D2001

    Correct answer: B. 1981

    The IBM PC (1981) set the standard for personal computers that most PCs still follow.

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18. 17

    Charles Babbage designed which mechanical computing machine, considered the first design for a general-purpose computer?

    ADifference EngineBTuring MachineCEnigma MachineDAnalytical Engine

    Correct answer: D. Analytical Engine

    The Analytical Engine had features of a modern computer, such as memory and a processing unit. His earlier Difference Engine was a calculator.

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19. 18

    The first iPhone was introduced by Apple in:

    A2004B2007C2010D2012

    Correct answer: B. 2007

    Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in January 2007, helping to start the smartphone era.

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20. 19

    Amazon was founded in 1994 by:

    AJeff BezosBLarry EllisonCJack MaDElon Musk

    Correct answer: A. Jeff Bezos

    Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore. Jack Ma founded China's Alibaba.

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21. 20

    Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, was launched in 2001 by:

    ABill GatesBTim Berners-LeeCJimmy Wales and Larry SangerDLarry Page and Sergey Brin

    Correct answer: C. Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger

    Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launched Wikipedia, which anyone can edit.

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