Understanding Programming Languages

The video explores the evolution of programming languages from the early days of computer science, where computers were programmed using plug boards and binary, to the development of low-level languages like assembly, which allowed for more efficient programming. It then discusses the rise of high-level languages, which made programming more accessible and easier to understand. The video concludes with a comparison of machine code, low-level, and high-level languages, highlighting their uses and efficiencies.

What was a major challenge of programming in the early days of computer science?

• High cost of computer hardware

• Lack of programming languages

• Limited access to computers

• Complexity of using electrical cables and plug boards

What is a characteristic of low-level languages like assembly?

• They closely map to machine architecture

• They are independent of hardware

• They are easy to write and understand

• They are slower to execute

Why was Shortcode significant in the history of programming languages?

• It eliminated the need for machine code translation

• It was the first language to use binary code

• It allowed mathematical expressions to be written in an understandable form

• It was the first language to be used on personal computers

What is a reason for the continued use of assembly language today?

• It is easier to learn than high-level languages

• It is faster to write than high-level languages

• It is used for creating games

• It is necessary for instructing hardware directly in embedded systems

What is a key advantage of high-level languages over low-level languages?

• They allow direct hardware manipulation

• They are more memory efficient

• They are easier to write and understand

• They are faster to execute

How are high-level languages typically translated into machine code?

• Using a compiler or an interpreter

• Through manual conversion

• Using an assembler

• Directly by the CPU

What is a disadvantage of high-level languages compared to low-level languages?

• They are limited to specific processors

• They require more hardware knowledge

• They are less memory efficient

• They are harder to understand

Which of the following is NOT a high-level programming language?

• Python

• C

• Java

• Assembly

What is the role of an assembler in programming?

• To optimize high-level code for speed

• To execute machine code directly

• To translate assembly language into machine code

• To translate high-level code into machine code

Which statement is true about machine code?

• It is written in a language similar to English

• It is the binary representation of instructions

• It is independent of the CPU architecture

• It is used only in high-level programming