Languages of Computer MCQs with Answers
Solved Languages of Computer MCQs with answers — Machine, Assembly, High-Level, FORTRAN, COBOL, C, C++, Java, Python. Free quiz + PDF for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS & PMS.
Languages of Computer — Master Reference for Pakistani Competitive Exams
The chapter Languages of Computer is one of the highest-yield Computer Science topics in Pakistan’s PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS, OTS, CTS, BPSC, KPPSC and SPSC One Paper exams — every Junior Clerk, Assistant, Sub-Inspector, Lecturer and BPS-14 to BPS-17 paper carries 2–4 MCQs from this chapter. This page consolidates 55+ solved MCQs with answers covering the three classification levels (Machine / Assembly / High-Level), the six functional categories (algorithmic, object-oriented, declarative, scripting, etc.) and the complete history & creators of every classic language — FORTRAN, COBOL, C, C++, C#, Java, Python, BASIC, Pascal, ALGOL, LISP, Ada, Logo, PROLOG, SQL, HTML, XML, SGML, CGI, TeX, PostScript, Visual Basic and Hypertalk.
Three Levels of Computer Languages
| Level | Also Known As | How It Works | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Level Language | Machine Language | Uses 1s & 0s to create instructions | Binary Language |
| Middle-Level Language | Assembly Language | Uses mnemonics to create instructions | Assembly |
| High-Level Language | — | Similar to human language | COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, C, C++, Java |
Famous Computer Languages — Year & Creator
| Language | Full Name / Meaning | Year & Creator |
|---|---|---|
| FORTRAN | Formula Translation | 1957 — John Backus / IBM |
| ALGOL | Algorithmic Language | 1958–60 — American & European scientists |
| LISP | List Processing | ~1960 — John McCarthy / MIT |
| COBOL | Common Business-Oriented Language | 1959 |
| C | — | 1972 — Dennis Ritchie & Brian Kernighan / AT&T |
| BASIC | Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code | Mid-1960s — Kemeny & Kurtz / Dartmouth |
| Pascal | — | ~1970 — Niklaus Wirth (Switzerland) |
| Logo | Simplified LISP dialect | Late 1960s |
| Ada | — | Early 1980s — US Department of Defense |
| C++ | — | Mid-1980s — Bjarne Stroustrup / AT&T |
| Java | — | Early 1990s — Sun Microsystems |
| Python | — | 1991 — Guido van Rossum (Netherlands) |
| Visual Basic | — | Microsoft (extension of BASIC) |
| C# | C Sharp | 2000 — Anders Hejlsberg / Microsoft |
| SQL | Structured Query Language | — |
| HTML | Hypertext Markup Language | — |
| SGML | Standard Generalized Markup Language | — |
| XML | Extensible Markup Language | — |
| CGI | Common Gateway Interface | — |
| TeX | — | 1977–86 — Donald Knuth / Stanford |
| PostScript | — | Early 1980s — Adobe Systems |
| PROLOG | Programming in Logic | — |
Key Facts to Memorise
- Machine Language — Numeric codes (1s & 0s) that a particular computer can execute directly.
- Assembly Language — Uses short mnemonic codes for instructions; allows naming blocks of memory.
- Algorithmic languages — Designed to express mathematical or symbolic computations.
- Object-oriented languages — Help manage complexity in large programmes.
- Declarative languages (also called nonprocedural / very high level) — Specify what is to be done rather than how.
- Scripting languages — Sometimes called “little languages”; intended to solve relatively small programming problems.
- FORTRAN — First important algorithmic language; 1957; John Backus / IBM.
- COBOL — Heavily used by businesses since 1959 (Common Business-Oriented Language).
- LISP — Founded on the mathematical theory of recursive functions; ~1960; John McCarthy at MIT.
- C — 1972; Dennis Ritchie & Brian Kernighan at AT&T; for OS programming. 5 basic data types: int, char, float, double, void.
- C++ — Mid-1980s; Bjarne Stroustrup at AT&T; extended C by adding objects while preserving efficiency.
- C# — 2000; Anders Hejlsberg at Microsoft.
- Pascal — ~1970; Niklaus Wirth (Switzerland); designed to teach structured programming without GOTO.
- BASIC — Mid-1960s; Kemeny & Kurtz at Dartmouth.
- Ada — Early 1980s; for the US Department of Defense.
- Java — Early 1990s; Sun Microsystems; designed for the WWW.
- Python — 1991; Guido van Rossum (Netherlands); uses indentation instead of brackets.
- Hypertalk — “Programming for the rest of us”; Bill Atkinson; for Apple’s Macintosh.
- Logo — Late 1960s; simplified LISP dialect for education.
- SQL — Structured Query Language; specifies organisation of databases.
- TeX — 1977–86; Donald Knuth at Stanford; text-formatting language for mathematical notation.
- PostScript — Early 1980s; Adobe Systems (based on Xerox PARC); page-description language.
- SGML — International standard for the definition of markup languages.
- HTML — Markup language for encoding Web pages.
- XML — Simplified form of SGML for documents published on the Web.
- CGI — Transmits requests/responses between a Web browser and Web server.
- PROLOG — Programming in Logic; states a programme as a set of logical relations.
Exam tip: Lock six anchors and you cover ~80% of all MCQs from this chapter — 3 levels (Machine / Assembly / High-Level), FORTRAN 1957 = Backus / IBM, C 1972 = Ritchie & Kernighan / AT&T, Java 1990s = Sun Microsystems, Python 1991 = Guido van Rossum, and SQL = databases / HTML = web pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
The three main types are: (1) Low-Level / Machine Language — uses 1s and 0s; (2) Middle-Level / Assembly Language — uses mnemonics; and (3) High-Level Language — similar to human language (e.g. COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, C, C++, Java).
The C language was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan at AT&T Corporation, primarily for programming computer operating systems. C has 5 basic data types: int, char, float, double, void.
FORTRAN stands for Formula Translation. It was the first important algorithmic language, designed in 1957 by an IBM team led by John Backus.
Java was designed in the early 1990s by Sun Microsystems, Inc. as a programming language specifically for the World Wide Web (WWW).
Python is an open-source language developed in 1991 by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum. It is designed as an easy-to-use language and uses indentation instead of brackets to group statements.
COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language. It has been heavily used by businesses since its inception in 1959 for business and commercial applications.
Yes — essential. Computer languages are tested in every One Paper, NTS NAT, GAT, OTS, CTS, BPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, PPSC and FPSC exam. Expect 2–4 MCQs from this chapter in any 100-mark paper.
Yes. Click the Download PDF button to get all Languages of Computer MCQs with correct answers as a branded QuizWing PDF for offline revision.