Top 100 MCQs on Logic Design and Computer Organization

1–20: Logic Functions and Circuit Design

1. What is the output of an AND gate when both inputs are 1?

o A) 0 B) 1 C) Depends D) Undefined
Ans: B
2. Which gate outputs 1 only when all inputs are 0?
o A) NAND B) NOR C) XOR D) XNOR
Ans: B
3. What is the function of a multiplexer?
o A) Selects one input from many inputs
o B) Adds two binary numbers
o C) Stores data temporarily
o D) Performs logical AND
Ans: A
4. Which method is used for Boolean expression minimization?
o A) Karnaugh Map B) Assembly C) Binary Search D) Recursion
Ans: A
5. What is the simplest form of the expression A+A′BA + A'B?
o A) A B) B C) A+BA + B D) A′BA'B
Ans: C
6. A flip-flop is used to:
o A) Store one bit of data
o B) Perform arithmetic operations
o C) Generate clock pulses
o D) None of the above
Ans: A
7. The clock input in sequential circuits is used to:
o A) Synchronize changes in state
o B) Add two bits
o C) Reset the circuit
o D) Control power
Ans: A
8. The output of a XOR gate is 1 when:
o A) Both inputs are 0
o B) Both inputs are 1
o C) Inputs are different
o D) Inputs are the same
Ans: C
9. Which circuit is used to detect overflow in binary addition?
o A) AND gate
o B) XOR gate
o C) Flip-flop
o D) Multiplexer
Ans: B
10. The main function of an encoder is to:
o A) Convert 1-of-n code to binary code
o B) Convert binary to decimal
o C) Perform arithmetic
o D) Generate clock
Ans: A
11. A decoder converts:
o A) Binary to 1-of-n code
o B) 1-of-n code to binary
o C) Binary to decimal
o D) Decimal to binary
Ans: A
12. The Boolean expression for a NAND gate is:
o A) A⋅B‾\overline{A \cdot B}
o B) A+BA + B
o C) A⋅BA \cdot B
o D) A+B‾\overline{A + B}
Ans: A
13. A JK flip-flop differs from an SR flip-flop because it:
o A) Has no invalid states
o B) Has invalid states
o C) Is asynchronous
o D) Is combinational
Ans: A
14. Which circuit stores the output of a logic operation temporarily?
o A) Multiplexer
o B) Flip-flop
o C) Decoder
o D) Adder
Ans: B
15. The sum output in a half adder is:
o A) AND of inputs
o B) XOR of inputs
o C) OR of inputs
o D) NAND of inputs
Ans: B
16. The carry output in a half adder is:
o A) XOR of inputs
o B) AND of inputs
o C) OR of inputs
o D) NAND of inputs
Ans: B
17. A sequential circuit's next state depends on:
o A) Current inputs only
o B) Current state and inputs
o C) Output only
o D) None of the above
Ans: B
18. The purpose of a clock in sequential circuits is to:
o A) Reset the circuit
o B) Provide timing control
o C) Power the circuit
o D) Synchronize outputs
Ans: B
19. What is a characteristic of combinational circuits?
o A) Memory elements
o B) Output depends only on current inputs
o C) Feedback loops
o D) Uses flip-flops
Ans: B
20. The function of a latch is:
o A) Temporary data storage
o B) Arithmetic computation
o C) Signal amplification
o D) None of the above
Ans: A
21–40: Number Systems and Computer Arithmetic
21. The binary equivalent of decimal 10 is:
o A) 1010
o B) 1111
o C) 1001
o D) 1100
Ans: A
22. The largest number that can be represented with 4 bits is:
o A) 15
o B) 16
o C) 14
o D) 13
Ans: A
23. Floating-point representation uses:
o A) Sign, exponent, mantissa
o B) Only exponent
o C) Only mantissa
o D) Sign and mantissa only
Ans: A
24. What is the bias in IEEE 754 single precision floating point?
o A) 127
o B) 128
o C) 126
o D) 255
Ans: A
25. Two’s complement is used to represent:
o A) Signed numbers
o B) Unsigned numbers
o C) Floating-point numbers
o D) None of the above
Ans: A
26. The decimal number -5 is represented in 4-bit two’s complement as:
o A) 1011
o B) 1010
o C) 0110
o D) 1101
Ans: A
27. Overflow in binary addition occurs when:
o A) Carry out of MSB is 0
o B) Carry into MSB differs from carry out
o C) Sum exceeds 1
o D) Carry out equals carry in
Ans: B
28. Binary subtraction can be performed by:
o A) Using addition and two’s complement
o B) Using XOR gates
o C) Using decoders
o D) None of the above
Ans: A
29. The hexadecimal equivalent of binary 1010 1111 is:
o A) AF
o B) FA
o C) BF
o D) AB
Ans: A
30. Fixed-point representation is useful for:
o A) Simple arithmetic operations
o B) Scientific calculations
o C) Real numbers only
o D) Complex numbers

31. Which addressing mode uses the actual operand value in the instruction?
A) Immediate
B) Direct
 C) Indirect
D) Register
Answer: A

32. In register addressing mode, the operand is stored in:

A) Memory
B) Instruction
C) Register
D) ALU
Answer: C

33. Which mode provides the most flexibility?

A) Immediate
B) Direct
C) Indexed
D) Indirect
Answer: C

34. Which addressing mode is used in PUSH/POP operations?

A) Register
B) Stack
C) Direct
D) Immediate
Answer: B

35. The effective address in indexed addressing is:

A) Base + offset
B) Register
C) Memory + PC
D) Stack + offset
Answer: A

36. Which of the following is a characteristic of a RISC processor?

A) Large number of addressing modes
B) Complex instructions
C) Single cycle execution
D) Microprogrammed control
Answer: C

37. What is the main advantage of pipelining?

A) Reduce power consumption
B) Increase instruction throughput
C) Reduce clock cycle time
D) Simplify control unit
Answer: B

38. Cache memory is used to:

A) Store programs
B) Store instructions permanently
C) Reduce memory access time
D) Provide virtual memory
Answer: C

39. Which of the following is a volatile memory?

A) ROM
B) SSD
C) RAM
D) Flash
Answer: C

40. In a microprogrammed control unit, control signals are generated by:

A) Decoder
B) Instruction register
C) Microinstructions
D) Control memory
Answer: D

41. DMA stands for:

A) Direct Memory Access
B) Digital Memory Allocation
C) Dynamic Memory Access
D) Data Management Access
Answer: A

42. Serial communication transmits data:

A) All at once
B) In parallel
C) Bit by bit
D) In packets
Answer: C

43. The unit which performs arithmetic operations is called:

A) CU
B) ALU
C) RAM
D) Register
Answer: B

44. Floating point representation is used to represent:

A) Characters
B) Integers
C) Real numbers
D) Boolean values
Answer: C

45. A parity bit is used for:

A) Encoding
B) Decoding
C) Error detection
D) Compression
Answer: C
46. Which of the following uses a stack for expression evaluation?
A) Infix notation
B) Postfix notation
C) Prefix notation
D) Algebraic notation
Answer: B

47. Which circuit is used to store a single bit of data?

A) Multiplexer
B) Decoder
C) Flip-Flop
D) Encoder
Answer: C

48. The basic unit of a memory is:

A) Byte
B) Word
C) Bit
D) Nibble
Answer: C

49. In which memory does CPU store data temporarily during execution?
A) Hard disk
B) ROM
C) RAM
D) EEPROM
Answer: C

50. A 4-bit binary counter can count up to:

A) 4
B) 8
C) 15
D) 16
Answer: D

51. A decoder with n input lines can produce how many output lines?
A) 2n
B) n
C) n²
D) 2n+1
Answer: A

52. What is the function of a multiplexer?

A) It converts digital to analog
B) It selects one input from many
C) It stores data
D) It multiplies binary numbers
Answer: B

53. Which register stores the address of the next instruction to be executed?
A) MAR
B) IR
C) PC
D) ACC
Answer: C

54. Which of the following is a combinational circuit?

A) Flip-Flop
B) Counter
C) Decoder
D) Shift register
Answer: C

55. Which logic gate is known as a universal gate?

A) AND
B) OR
C) NAND
D) XOR
Answer: C

56. The instruction cycle consists of:

A) Fetch and Decode
B) Decode and Execute
C) Fetch, Decode, and Execute
D) Fetch and Execute
Answer: C

57. A 1-to-4 demultiplexer has how many control lines?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
Answer: B

58. The control unit of a computer:

A) Performs calculations
B) Stores data
C) Directs operations of the processor
D) Manages memory
Answer: C

59. Which storage retains data after power off?

A) RAM
B) ROM
C) Cache
D) Register
Answer: B

60. Instruction pipelining improves:

A) Speed of arithmetic operations
B) Speed of memory
C) Instruction throughput
D) Clock rate
Answer: C

61.What does ALU stand for?

A) Arithmetic Logic Unit
B) Analog Logic Unit
C) Arithmetic Level Unit
D) Application Logic Unit
Answer: A

62. The number of bits that a CPU can process at a time is called:
A) Word length
B) Bus width
C) Byte size
D) Register depth
Answer: A

63. A shift register is used for:

A) Arithmetic operations
B) Logical comparisons
C) Data movement
D) Memory addressing
Answer: C

64. A flip-flop can store:

A) 2 bits
B) 1 byte
C) 1 bit
D) 4 bits
Answer: C

65. The memory hierarchy from fastest to slowest is:

A) Cache → RAM → Hard Disk
B) RAM → Cache → Hard Disk
C) Hard Disk → RAM → Cache
D) RAM → Hard Disk → Cache
Answer: A

66. Which of the following is not a type of ROM?

A) PROM
B) EPROM
C) EEPROM
D) DRAM
Answer: D

67. How many instructions per second is 1 MIPS?

A) 10^3
B) 10^6
C) 10^9
D) 10^12
Answer: B
68. In Von Neumann architecture, which memory holds instructions and data?
A) Separate memories
B) Cache
C) Unified memory
D) Stack
Answer: C

69. The main function of a register is to:

A) Store large files
B) Perform ALU operations
C) Temporarily hold data
D) Provide permanent storage
Answer: C

70. The term “instruction set” refers to:

A) Group of instructions written in high-level language
B) Set of machine-level instructions a CPU can execute
C) The size of the instruction register
D) The number of memory units
Answer: B

71. Control signals are generated by:

A) RAM
B) ALU
C) Control unit
D) Data bus
Answer: C

72. The output of a logic gate is HIGH only when all inputs are LOW. The gate is:
A) AND
B) NOR
C) NAND
D) XOR
Answer: B

73. How many bits are there in a nibble?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16
Answer: B

74. Which operation is not performed by ALU?

A) Addition
B) Subtraction
C) Multiplication
D) Fetching
Answer: D

75. A program counter stores:

A) Data
B) Memory address of the next instruction
C) Current instruction
D) Instruction length
Answer: B

76. DRAM needs to be refreshed:

A) Never
B) Occasionally
C) Periodically
D) Continuously
Answer: C

77. A multiplexer is a:
A) Memory device
B) Data selector
C) Decoder
D) Data distributor
Answer: B

78. The result of adding two 8-bit numbers may cause:

A) Underflow
B) Overflow
C) Parity error
D) Deadlock
Answer: B

79. The main advantage of microprogramming is:

A) Simplicity
B) Speed
C) Cost
D) Flexibility
Answer: D

80. LIFO structure is used in:

A) Queue
B) Stack
C) Register
D) Memory
Answer: B

81. What is the role of the MAR (Memory Address Register)?

A) Store data
B) Store instructions
C) Hold the address of data
D) Execute operations
Answer: C

82. Cache is used between:

A) CPU and Hard disk
B) CPU and RAM
C) RAM and ROM
D) ALU and CU
Answer: B

83. Instruction pipelining is used in:

A) RISC architecture
B) CISC architecture
C) Harvard architecture
D) All architectures
Answer: A

84. How many flip-flops are needed to store one byte?

A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16
Answer: C

85. Which logic gate outputs 1 when inputs are unequal?

A) AND
B) OR
C) NAND
D) XOR
Answer: D

86. The instruction register holds:

A) Next instruction address
B) Currently executing instruction
C) Instruction result
D) Instruction set
Answer: B

87. In synchronous circuits, changes occur with:

A) Voltage
B) Clock signal
C) Input signals
D) Output states
Answer: B

88. In asynchronous circuits, transitions are triggered by:

A) Clock
B) Control unit
C) Input changes
D) Memory
Answer: C

89. A half-adder adds:

A) Two binary digits
B) Three binary digits
C) One binary digit
D) Four binary digits
Answer: A
90. The purpose of tri-state buffer is to:
A) Invert signal
B) Amplify signal
C) Control data bus access
D) Delay signal
Answer: C

91. Which of the following is not a combinational circuit?

A) Encoder
B) Decoder
C) Counter
D) Multiplexer
Answer: C

92. Which memory is used to store the BIOS?

A) DRAM
B) SRAM
C) ROM
D) Cache
Answer: C

93. Floating point format is mainly used in:

A) Embedded systems
B) Scientific computations
C) Image processing
D) I/O operations
Answer: B

94. Which addressing mode uses a register to point to the operand?

A) Immediate
B) Register indirect
C) Direct
D) Indexed
Answer: B

95. A 3-to-8 decoder has how many output lines?

A) 3
B) 8
C) 6
D) 4
Answer: B

96. Which type of instruction performs logical operations?

A) Data transfer
B) Arithmetic
C) Branch
D) Logical
Answer: D

97. The main memory communicates directly with:

A) ALU
B) I/O devices
C) Cache
D) CPU
Answer: D

98. Which register contains the data to be written into memory?

A) MAR
B) IR
C) MDR
D) PC
Answer: C

99. The size of the address bus determines:

A) Speed of CPU
B) Memory size
C) Number of processors
D) Register width
Answer: B

100. The carry lookahead adder is used to:

A) Slow down addition
B) Detect overflow
C) Speed up addition
D) Store carry
Answer: C