SSC Computer Awareness Questions with Answers

Computer Awareness is a high-scoring section in SSC CHSL, MTS, CPO and many state exams, and computer questions also appear in the General Awareness part of SSC CGL. The questions are mostly fact-based, so smart revision gives quick marks. This practice paper gives you key tables (generations, memory units, shortcuts and file extensions) and 30 questions with answers and short explanations.

Practice Paper at a Glance

What Is Computer Awareness? Basic Concept in Simple Words

A computer is an electronic machine that accepts data (input), processes it and gives results (output). Every computer works with the following basic parts:

• Input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, webcam.
• Output devices: monitor, printer, speaker, projector.
• CPU (Central Processing Unit): the brain of the computer, made of the ALU, control unit and registers.
• Memory: primary memory (RAM and ROM) and secondary storage (hard disk, SSD, pen drive).
• Software: system software (operating system) and application software (MS Word).

Important Tables and Facts for SSC Computer Awareness

Generations of Computers

Units of Memory

Important Keyboard Shortcuts

Common File Extensions

Important Full Forms

Set 1: Computer Basics and Generations (Q1–Q10)

Q1. What is the full form of CPU?
Answer: Central Processing Unit
Solution: The CPU is called the brain of the computer.

Q2. Which part of the computer is called its brain?
Answer: CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Solution: The CPU performs all the processing and controls other parts.

Q3. Who is known as the Father of the Computer?
Answer: Charles Babbage
Solution: He designed the Analytical Engine in the 19th century.

Q4. Which technology was used in the first generation of computers?
Answer: Vacuum tubes
Solution: First generation computers (1940-1956) used vacuum tubes.

Q5. Which technology was used in the second generation of computers?
Answer: Transistors
Solution: Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the second generation.

Q6. Which technology was used in the third generation of computers?
Answer: Integrated circuits (IC)
Solution: Third generation computers used ICs, which made them smaller and faster.

Q7. Which technology was used in the fourth generation of computers?
Answer: Microprocessors
Solution: The microprocessor puts the whole CPU on a single chip.

Q8. Which of these is an output device: keyboard, mouse, monitor or scanner?
Answer: Monitor
Solution: A monitor displays the output. The others are input devices.

Q9. How many bits are there in one byte?
Answer: 8 bits
Solution: 1 byte = 8 bits.

Q10. How many bytes are there in 1 KB?
Answer: 1,024 bytes
Solution: 1 KB = 1,024 bytes.

Set 2: Memory, Software, Operating Systems and Internet (Q11–Q20)

Q11. What is the full form of RAM and is it volatile?
Answer: Random Access Memory. It is volatile.
Solution: RAM loses its data when the power is switched off.

Q12. What is the full form of ROM and is it volatile?
Answer: Read Only Memory. It is non-volatile.
Solution: ROM keeps its data even when the power is off.

Q13. Which is the fastest memory in a computer?
Answer: Registers (followed by cache memory)
Solution: Registers are inside the CPU and are the fastest storage.

Q14. What is the full form of BIOS?
Answer: Basic Input Output System
Solution: BIOS starts the computer and loads the operating system.

Q15. Which of these is not an operating system: Linux, Windows, Oracle or Android?
Answer: Oracle
Solution: Oracle is a database software. The others are operating systems.

Q16. What is the full form of URL?
Answer: Uniform Resource Locator
Solution: A URL is the web address of a page.

Q17. What is the full form of HTTP?
Answer: HyperText Transfer Protocol
Solution: HTTP is the protocol used to transfer web pages.

Q18. Who invented the World Wide Web?
Answer: Tim Berners-Lee
Solution: He invented the WWW in 1989 at CERN.

Q19. What is the full form of USB?
Answer: Universal Serial Bus
Solution: USB is used to connect devices to a computer.

Q20. What is the full form of PDF?
Answer: Portable Document Format
Solution: PDF files look the same on all devices.

Set 3: MS Office, Shortcuts and Security (Q21–Q30)

Q21. Which shortcut key is used to copy selected text?
Answer: Ctrl + C
Solution: Ctrl + C copies and Ctrl + V pastes.

Q22. Which shortcut key is used to undo the last action?
Answer: Ctrl + Z
Solution: Ctrl + Z undoes and Ctrl + Y redoes.

Q23. Which shortcut key is used to save a document?
Answer: Ctrl + S
Solution: Ctrl + S saves the current file.

Q24. Which shortcut key is used to select all the content?
Answer: Ctrl + A
Solution: Ctrl + A selects all the text or objects.

Q25. What is the default file extension of MS Word 2007 and later?
Answer: .docx
Solution: Older versions used .doc.

Q26. What is the default file extension of an MS Excel workbook (2007 and later)?
Answer: .xlsx
Solution: Older versions used .xls.

Q27. What is the default file extension of an MS PowerPoint file (2007 and later)?
Answer: .pptx
Solution: Older versions used .ppt.

Q28. What is a cell address in MS Excel?
Answer: The combination of a column letter and a row number (for example A1)
Solution: A cell is the intersection of a row and a column.

Q29. What is a computer virus?
Answer: A malicious program that can replicate itself and damage files or the system
Solution: Antivirus software is used to detect and remove viruses.

Q30. What is a firewall?
Answer: A security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic
Solution: A firewall protects a network from unauthorised access.

Common Mistakes in Computer Awareness

• Confusing RAM (volatile, temporary) with ROM (non-volatile, permanent).
• Mixing up the technology used in each generation of computers.
• Writing the wrong full form because of similar abbreviations (HTML and HTTP).
• Forgetting that 1 KB is 1,024 bytes, not 1,000 bytes.
• Not learning the keyboard shortcuts and file extensions properly.
• Reading only theory and not practising previous year computer questions.

How to Practice These 30 Questions

1. Learn the tables (generations, memory units, shortcuts and file extensions) first.
2. Make a list of 50 important full forms and revise five every day.
3. Solve one set daily and note down the facts you missed.
4. Try the shortcuts on a real computer to remember them better.
5. Revise the paper after seven days and solve previous year computer questions.

Related Topics to Study Next

• Computer Knowledge Notes
• SSC Static GK Questions
• SSC Science Questions
• SSC Previous Year Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

How many computer awareness questions come in SSC exams?

SSC CHSL and MTS usually have a few computer questions in the General Awareness section, while SSC CGL Tier 2 and several other exams include a separate computer knowledge section.

What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

RAM is temporary (volatile) memory used to run programs and loses data when power is off. ROM is permanent (non-volatile) memory that stores start-up instructions like the BIOS.

What are the generations of computers?

First generation used vacuum tubes, second used transistors, third used integrated circuits, fourth uses microprocessors and the fifth generation is based on artificial intelligence.

What is an operating system?

An operating system is system software that manages the hardware and software of a computer and provides a user interface. Examples are Windows, Linux, macOS and Android.

What are input and output devices?

Input devices send data to the computer (keyboard, mouse, scanner). Output devices show the result of processing (monitor, printer, speaker).

What is the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web?

The Internet is the global network of computers, while the World Wide Web is a collection of web pages accessed through the Internet using a browser.

What are the most important MS Office shortcuts for exams?

Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste), Ctrl + X (cut), Ctrl + Z (undo), Ctrl + Y (redo), Ctrl + S (save), Ctrl + P (print) and Ctrl + A (select all).

What is a computer virus and how can it be prevented?

A virus is a harmful program that can copy itself and damage data. It can be prevented using antivirus software, a firewall, regular updates and avoiding unknown downloads.

How many bytes are there in a KB, MB and GB?

1 KB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MB = 1,024 KB and 1 GB = 1,024 MB.

How should I prepare computer awareness for SSC exams?

Learn the tables and full forms, practise one set daily, revise shortcuts and file extensions and solve previous year computer questions and mock tests.