The Firsts in Computer Science MCQs with Answers
Solved Firsts in Computer Science MCQs with answers — first computer, ENIAC, Colossus, Simula, FORTRAN, Intel 4004 & mouse. Free quiz + PDF for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS & PMS.
The Firsts in Computer Science — Master Reference for Pakistani Competitive Exams
The chapter The Firsts in Computer Science is a guaranteed-marks Computer Science / GK topic in Pakistan’s PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS, OTS, CTS, BPSC, KPPSC and SPSC One Paper exams. Almost every Junior Clerk, Tehsildar, Assistant, Sub-Inspector, Computer Operator, Lecturer and BPS-14 to BPS-17 paper carries 2–3 MCQs from this chapter — the dates and names are fixed and high-yield. This page consolidates solved MCQs with answers covering every classic ‘first’ — first computer (Difference Engine, 1821), first general-purpose computer (Analytical Engine, 1834), first program (Ada Lovelace, 1841), first electronic computer (ABC, 1942), Colossus (1943), ENIAC (1946), Plankalkül (1948), SSEM (1948), A-0 compiler (1951), FORTRAN (1957), Simula (1967), first computer mouse (1964), Intel 4004 microprocessor (1971). For wider context, see the Wikipedia history of computing hardware and the Computer History Museum — the most authoritative timeline of computing milestones.
Chronological Timeline — Computer Science Firsts
| Year | Milestone / First | Name / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | First Computer | Difference Engine — Charles Babbage |
| 1834 | First General-Purpose Computer | Analytical Engine — Charles Babbage |
| 1841 | First Computer Program | Written by Ada Lovelace |
| 1884 | Tabulating Machine | Herman Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine |
| 1930 | First Analog Computer | Differential Analyzer |
| 1941 | First Working Programmable Computer | Z3 |
| 1941/1952 | First Trackball | Developed during a WWII radar project |
| 1942 | First Electronic Computer | ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) |
| 1943 | First Programmable Computer | Colossus |
| 1946 | First General-Purpose Programmable Electronic Computer | ENIAC |
| 1948 | First Complete High-Level Language | Plankalkül |
| 1948 | First Stored-Program Electronic Digital Computer | SSEM (Small-Scale Experimental Machine) |
| 1949 | First Assembler | Initial Orders |
| 1950 | First Personal Computer | Simon |
| 1951 | First Compiler for Electronic Computer | A-0 System |
| 1951 | First Real-Time Graphics Display Computer | AN/FSQ-7 |
| 1952 | First Autocode | Glennie’s Autocode |
| 1953 | First Open-Source Software | A-2 System |
| 1957 | First Popular High-Level Language | FORTRAN |
| 1962–1967 | First Object-Oriented Programming Language | Simula — Ole-Johan Dahl & Kristen Nygaard |
| 1964 | First Computer Mouse | Douglas Engelbart |
| 1965 | First Touchscreen | — |
| 1965 | First Commercial Personal Computer | Programma 101 |
| 1971 | First Microprocessor | Intel 4004 |
Spotlight — Simula (1967, the first OOP language)
The Simula programming language was designed and built by Ole-Johan Dahl and Kristen Nygaard at the Norwegian Computing Center (NCC) in Oslo between 1962 and 1967. Simula was designed for doing simulations, and the needs of that domain provided the framework for many of the features of object-oriented languages today — classes, objects, inheritance and dynamic binding all trace back to Simula.
Key Highlights at a Glance
- First computer ever built — Difference Engine (1821, Charles Babbage).
- First general-purpose computer — Analytical Engine (1834, Charles Babbage).
- First computer program — Written in 1841 by Ada Lovelace.
- First analog computer — Differential Analyzer (1930).
- First working programmable computer — Z3 (1941).
- First electronic computer — ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer, 1942).
- First programmable computer — Colossus (1943).
- First general-purpose programmable electronic computer — ENIAC (1946).
- First complete high-level language — Plankalkül (1948).
- First stored-program electronic digital computer — SSEM (1948).
- First assembler — Initial Orders (1949).
- First personal computer — Simon (1950).
- First compiler — A-0 System (1951).
- First open-source software — A-2 System (1953).
- First popular high-level language — FORTRAN (1957).
- First computer mouse — invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964.
- First touchscreen — 1965.
- First commercial personal computer — Programma 101 (1965).
- First object-oriented programming language — Simula (1967, Dahl & Nygaard).
- First microprocessor — Intel 4004 (1971).
Exam tip: Lock six anchors and you cover ~80% of all MCQs from this chapter — Difference Engine 1821 = Babbage, Ada Lovelace 1841 = first program, ABC 1942 = first electronic computer, ENIAC 1946 = first general-purpose programmable electronic, Simula 1967 = first OOP language, and Intel 4004 1971 = first microprocessor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first computer ever built was the Difference Engine in 1821 by Charles Babbage. He later designed the Analytical Engine in 1834 — the first general-purpose computer.
The first computer program was written in 1841 by Ada Lovelace for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.
The first electronic computer was the ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer), built in 1942.
FORTRAN (1957) was the first popular high-level programming language. The first complete high-level language was Plankalkül (1948), and the first object-oriented language was Simula (1967).
The first microprocessor was the Intel 4004, made commercially available in 1971.
The first computer mouse was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964.
Yes — essential. “Firsts in Computer Science” MCQs are tested in every One Paper, NTS NAT, GAT, OTS, CTS, BPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, PPSC and FPSC computer paper. Expect 2–3 MCQs in any 100-mark paper.
Yes. Click the Download PDF button to get all Firsts in Computer Science MCQs with correct answers as a branded QuizWing PDF for offline revision.