BASIC Programming Language - SS1 ICT Past Questions and Answers - page 2
Which BASIC statement is used to read input from predefined data values?
READ
GET
INPUT
FETCH
Who were the developers of the BASIC programming language?
Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz
Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson
What is the primary purpose of BASIC?
Advanced scientific calculations
Writing complex algorithms
Making programming accessible to beginners
Developing operating systems
Which BASIC statement is used to prompt the user for input?
PROMPT
ASK
GET
INPUT
What role did BASIC play in the field of education?
It introduced assembly language programming
It emphasized complex data structures
It made programming concepts accessible to beginners
It focused on high-performance computing
Describe the significance of the acronym "BASIC" in the context of programming languages.
The acronym "BASIC" in the context of programming languages stands for "Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code." It reflects the language's primary goal of being accessible to beginners and providing a simple, symbolic way to give instructions to a computer. The name emphasizes the language's suitability for newcomers to programming.
How does the LET statement work in BASIC? Provide an example to illustrate its usage.
The LET statement in BASIC is used to assign values to variables. It's not always required, as variables can often be assigned values without explicitly using LET. For instance, in the statement LET X = 5, the value 5 is assigned to the variable X. However, in many BASIC dialects, the LET keyword can be omitted, simplifying the statement to just X = 5.
Explain the purpose and usage of the DATA and READ statements in BASIC programming.
The DATA statement in BASIC is used to define a list of data values that the program can read using the READ statement. This approach allows the program to store data in a structured format. For example:
DATA 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
The READ statement can then be used to retrieve these values sequentially and assign them to variables.
What are some of the characteristics that make BASIC suitable for beginners? How does its syntax contribute to its user-friendliness?
BASIC is suitable for beginners due to several characteristics:
- Simple Syntax: BASIC's syntax resembles natural language, making it easier for beginners to understand and write code.
- Interpreted Nature: BASIC programs are interpreted, allowing for immediate feedback and eliminating the need for compilation.
- Dynamic Typing: Variables are not explicitly typed, simplifying variable declaration.
- Limited Data Structures: While not as complex as some languages, BASIC's data structures (like arrays) are approachable for beginners.
- Educational Focus: BASIC played a pivotal role in introducing programming to non-computer science students and sparking interest in the field.
Discuss the historical importance of BASIC as a programming language and its impact on shaping the way programming was taught to novices.
BASIC holds historical significance for its impact on programming education. It democratized access to programming, allowing non-experts to create simple programs. Its user-friendly syntax encouraged many people to explore programming concepts, ultimately influencing the development of more advanced programming languages. BASIC's availability on early personal computers contributed to their popularity and paved the way for the widespread adoption of computing technology in various industries. The language's educational impact remains influential, as it laid the foundation for teaching programming to beginners.