General Hardware Terms MCQs: 12 Solved Questions on Memory, Storage and I/O

Hardware MCQs look like simple recall, but their distractors are designed to catch imprecise reading. One altered word can spoil an acronym, volatile memory can be confused with persistent storage, and an input role can be reversed into an output role. Hardware terms and data units lead into memory, storage, input-output devices and networking hardware. Answer each one before checking the key, then use the short explanation to identify the decisive distinction. Decimal GB and binary GiB must stay separate.

General hardware terms MCQs on components, bits and acronyms

Start by separating physical components, software and data units. This mixed set uses one hardware/software boundary item; Hardware and Software MCQs owns the full classification treatment, including architecture, software roles, microcontrollers, buffers and storage media. Commit to an option before revealing each answer.

Question 1, UGC NET 2026

Which term is NOT related to computer hardware?

• A. Bus

• B. Switch

• C. Windows

• D. Mouse

Correct answer: C. Windows.

Hardware consists of physical or electronic equipment and its connections. Windows is software; a bus, switch and mouse are hardware terms in computer or networking contexts.

Question 2, UGC NET 2026

The smallest unit of information a computer can understand and process is known as:

• A. Digit

• B. Byte

• C. Nibble

• D. Bit

Correct answer: D. Bit.

A bit is one binary digit, 0 or 1. A nibble has 4 bits and a byte 8; "digit" is not the specific unit asked for.

Question 3, UGC NET 2026

Which of the following pair of acronym and its expansion is incorrectly matched?

• A. CPU - Central Processing Unit

• B. UPS - Uninterruptible Power Software

• C. DVD - Digital Versatile Disc

• D. MAN - Metropolitan Area Network

Correct answer: B. UPS - Uninterruptible Power Software.

UPS means Uninterruptible Power Supply, not Software. CPU, DVD and MAN are correct, so inspect every letter when only an acronym's final word changes.

BIOS, RAM and ROM MCQs with the volatile-memory test

Firmware starts the machine, RAM holds working data, and ROM retains boot instructions without power. This mixed set tests the power-loss distinction in two items; Basics of Memory MCQs owns the full treatment of unit sizes, hierarchy, SRAM, cache and access methods.

Question 4, UGC NET 2020

What is the full form of the abbreviation BIOS?

• A. Big Information Online System

• B. Binary Input Output Software

• C. Basic Input/Output System

• D. Binary Inner Open Software

Correct answer: C. Basic Input/Output System.

BIOS expands to Basic Input/Output System. It is firmware that initialises hardware and begins booting, not the operating system.

Question 5, UGC NET 2020

Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R) : Assertion (A) : Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile and stores data/programs currently in use. Reason (R) : RAM is a storage medium that retains its contents even after the supply of electricity has been turned off. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

• C. (A) is true but (R) is false

• D. (A) is false but (R) is true

Correct answer: C. (A) is true but (R) is false.

RAM is volatile working memory, making the assertion true. It loses stored state without power, so the reason is false.

Question 6, UGC NET 2023

A computer uses RAM and ROM to store data. Which of the following statements describing ROM is/are true?
A. It stores the programs and data that are currently in use.
B. It is used to boot up the computer when power is turned on.
C. Its contents are retained when power is turned off.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A only

• B. B only

• C. A and B only

• D. B and C only

Correct answer: D. B and C only.

ROM is non-volatile and traditionally stores startup firmware. It retains contents without power; statement A describes RAM.

Storage-unit MCQs with one complete decimal conversion

Keep decimal GB and binary GiB distinct. Powers of 1,000 and 1,024 must not be mixed.

Question 7, UGC NET 2023

Identify the correct sequence of the missing units of data A-D that can be used to represent the size of a file, as it changes in size. The units increase from smallest to largest:

bit
........................
........................
kilo Byte (KB)
.......................
.......................
tera Byte (TB)

(A) byte
(B) gigaByte (GB)
(C) megaByte (MB)
(D) nibble

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (B), (A), (C), (B)

• B. (A), (C), (D), (B)

• C. (D), (A), (C), (B)

• D. (A), (D), (C), (B)

Correct answer: C. (D), (A), (C), (B).

The chain is bit, nibble, byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte. Therefore the blanks are D, A, C, B.

Question 8, UGC NET 2020

Which of the following is correct with respect to the size of the storage units?

• A. Terabyte < Petabyte < Exabyte < Zettabyte

• B. Petabyte < Exabyte < Zettabyte < Terabyte

• C. Exabyte < Zettabyte < Terabyte < Petabyte

• D. Zettabyte < Exabyte < Petabyte < Terabyte

Correct answer: A. Terabyte < Petabyte < Exabyte < Zettabyte.

The ascending prefixes are T, P, E, Z. Decimal or binary bases do not change this order.

Question 9, UGC NET 2020

Which one of the following represents one billion characters?

• A. 1 Kilobyte

• B. 1 Megabyte

• C. 1 Gigabyte

• D. 1 Terabyte

Correct answer: C. 1 Gigabyte.

Assume one character occupies one byte. In decimal notation, 1,000,000,000 characters x 1 byte/character = 1,000,000,000 bytes = 1 GB.

Binary notation gives 1,000,000,000 / 1,073,741,824 = 0.9313 GiB, approximately 0.93 GiB. Thus GB and GiB are not interchangeable.

Input and output hardware MCQs

Apply the direction test carefully before considering device names. An input device converts an external physical signal or document into computer data, while an output device turns computer data into a human-usable result. This mixed set uses scanner and plotter to test direction; Input Output Devices MCQs owns specialised devices, printer mechanisms, peripherals and storage comparisons.

Question 10, UGC NET 2020

The term Plotter is best described as:

• A. An input device to produce good quality graphics

• B. An output device to produce drawings and graphics

• C. A fast storage device for storing good quality graphics

• D. A multipurpose device for taking inputs as well as outputs

Correct answer: B. An output device to produce drawings and graphics.

A plotter receives computer drawing data and produces a physical graphic. Data flows out, so it is neither storage nor input hardware.

Question 11, UGC NET 2020

Which of the following devices allows a user to copy an external document and save it in electronic form onto a computer?

• A. Spammer

• B. Scanner

• C. Printer

• D. Plotter

Correct answer: B. Scanner.

A scanner converts a physical document or image into digital data, making it an input device. Printers and plotters move information towards physical output.

Networking hardware MCQ and the function-matching method

Match distinctive functions first. This reduces the choices before handling similar roles.

Question 12, UGC NET 2025

Match LIST-I with LIST-II.

Choose the correct answer:

• A. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

• B. A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV

• C. A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I

• D. A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III

Correct answer: A. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I.

Modems convert analog/digital signals; routers forward by IP; NICs carry physical or MAC addresses; repeaters regenerate signals. Match repeater to I and modem to IV first, then finish.

General hardware MCQ traps

More than 120 questions are available in the General Hardware Terms practice bank. That count shows how much practice is available, not how often these ideas appear in an official paper. This mixed set is a diagnostic across five boundaries; use the table below to tag the boundary behind each error.

The short version: revise the distinctions, then attempt a fresh set

Use five steps: classify hardware/software, expand each acronym letter, test volatility, write the unit chain, then trace data flow or match the decisive device function.

If you need the full Unit 8 sequence, the NTA UGC NET Paper 1 Course includes Information and Communication Technology with Terms and Abbreviations. Use UGC NET Preparation Courses & Test Series to browse the wider category.

Now retry Questions 5, 7, 9 and 12 without looking. Reproduce 1,000,000,000 bytes = 1 GB = approximately 0.93 GiB, then attempt a fresh hardware set.