SAMPLE MCQ QUESTION’S FOR EXAM

PREPARATION
SUBJECT: - MICROCONTROLLER PRACTICAL

1) What is the main function of a microcontroller?

Processing data
Storing data
Displaying data
None of the above
ANSWER: - Processing data
2) What is the purpose of GPIO pins in a microcontroller?
General Purpose Input/Output
Graphics Processing Unit
Global Positioning System
General Purpose Interface
ANSWER: - General Purpose Input/Output
3) What does ADC stand for in microcontroller terminology?
Analog to Digital Converter
Analog Data Channel
Automatic Data Collector
Analog Data Converter
ANSWER: - Analog to Digital Converter
4) In microcontroller terminology, what does PWM stand for?
Pulse Width Modulation
Pulse Wave Modulation
Phase Width Modulation
Power Width Modulation
ANSWER: - Pulse Width Modulation
5) What is the function of a microcontroller's oscillator?
To generate clock signals
To regulate voltage
To convert signals
To amplify signals
ANSWER: - To generate clock signals

6) What is the typical operating frequency range of a microcontroller?

1 MHz to 10 MHz
1 kHz to 100 kHz
1 GHz to 2 GHz
10 MHz to 1 GHz
ANSWER: - 1 MHz to 10 MHz

7) Which type of microcontroller is best suited for low-power applications?

8-bit microcontroller
16-bit microcontroller
32-bit microcontroller
64-bit microcontroller
ANSWER: - 8-bit microcontroller

8) What is a common programming tool used for microcontroller

development?
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Text Editor
Debugger
Spreadsheet
ANSWER: - Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
9) What does GPIO stand for in microcontroller terminology?
General Purpose Input/Output
General Purpose Integrated Output
General Purpose Input/Output Interface
General Input/Output
ANSWER: - General Purpose Input/Output

10) What does the term "embedded system" refer to?

A computer system that is part of a larger system
A standalone computer
A cloud-based system
None of the above
ANSWER: - A computer system that is part of a larger system

11) What is the purpose of an analog comparator in a microcontroller?

To compare voltage levels
To process digital signals
To convert analog signals
To amplify signals
ANSWER: - To compare voltage levels

12) What type of sensor would you use for temperature measurement in a
microcontroller project?
Thermistor
LDR
Ultrasonic sensor
Pressure sensor
ANSWER: - Thermistor
13) What is the purpose of a DAC in a microcontroller?
To convert digital to analog
To convert analog to digital
To amplify signals
To store data
ANSWER: - To convert digital to analog

14) What is the function of a data bus in a microcontroller?

To transmit data
To store data
To process data
To amplify signals
ANSWER: - To transmit data

15) What does the term "bit-banging" refer to in microcontroller

programming?
Software-driven signal processing
Hardware-driven signal processing
High-speed data transfer
None of the above
ANSWER: - Software-driven signal processing

16) What is the primary function of the UART protocol?

To transmit data
To synchronize clocks
To store data
To convert analog to digital
ANSWER: - To transmit data
17) Which of the following components provides power to a microcontroller?
Voltage regulator
Oscillator
LED
Resistor
ANSWER: - Voltage regulator

18) What does the term "sampling rate" refer to in microcontroller

applications?
Frequency of data acquisition
Amount of data processed
Speed of microcontroller
Power consumption
ANSWER: - Frequency of data acquisition

19) Which type of connector is commonly used for programming

microcontrollers?
USB
HDMI
VGA
Ethernet
ANSWER: - USB

20) Which of the following microcontrollers is commonly used in embedded

systems?
Intel 8086
ARM Cortex-M
Pentium
Raspberry Pi
ANSWER: - ARM Cortex-M
21) What is the primary function of a microcontroller's memory?
To process instructions
To store instructions
To display instructions
To transmit data
ANSWER: - To store instructions

22) What type of memory is used to store the program code in a

microcontroller?
RAM
ROM
Cache
Flash
ANSWER: - ROM

23) What does USART stand for in microcontroller communication?

Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
Universal Serial Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
Universal Serial Automatic Receiver Transmitter
Universal Synchronous Automatic Receiver Transmitter
ANSWER: - Universal Serial Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter

24) What is the typical voltage range for microcontroller operation?

1.8V to 3.3V
3V to 5V
5V to 12V
12V to 24V
ANSWER: - 3V to 5V
25) What is the role of the watchdog timer in a microcontroller?
To count time
To monitor system operation
To create delays
To reset the system
ANSWER: - To monitor system operation

26) What is the function of a microcontroller's ADC?

To convert digital to analog
To convert analog to digital
To amplify signals
To store data
ANSWER: - To convert analog to digital

27) What is the primary purpose of an external interrupt in a microcontroller?

To increase processing speed
To allow the microcontroller to respond to external events
To store data
To generate clock signals
ANSWER: - To allow the microcontroller to respond to external events

28) What does SPI stand for in communication protocols?

Synchronous Peripheral Interface
Serial Peripheral Interface
Standard Peripheral Interface
Single Peripheral Interface
ANSWER: - Serial Peripheral Interface
29) What is the function of a microcontroller's bootloader?
To start the microcontroller
To load the firmware
To manage power
To monitor system performance
ANSWER: - To load the firmware

30) Which of the following is an example of a high-level programming language

for microcontrollers?
Assembly
C/C++
Verilog
Machine Language
ANSWER: - C/C++

31) What is the function of a multiplexer in a microcontroller?

To increase processing speed
To select one of many inputs
To convert analog to digital
To store data
ANSWER: - To select one of many inputs

32) What is the significance of using a debugger in microcontroller

development?
To monitor power consumption
To analyze and fix code errors
To improve graphics
To generate reports
ANSWER: - To analyze and fix code errors
33) What does the term "real-time operating system" (RTOS) refer to?
An OS that provides graphics support
An OS that responds to events within a specified time
An OS that is only for embedded systems
An OS that requires constant updates
ANSWER: - An OS that responds to events within a specified time

34) What is the function of the EEPROM in a microcontroller?

To store volatile data
To store non-volatile data
To process signals
To amplify signals
ANSWER: - To store non-volatile data

35) What is the purpose of using interrupts in a microcontroller?

To execute programs faster
To respond to external events quickly
To increase memory capacity
To lower power consumption
ANSWER: - To respond to external events quickly

36) Which of the following is a characteristic of RISC architecture?

Complex instruction set
Fewer instructions per cycle
More addressing modes
High power consumption
ANSWER: - Fewer instructions per cycle
37) What does the term "firmware" refer to?
Temporary software
Software that is closely tied to hardware
User applications
None of the above
ANSWER: - Software that is closely tied to hardware

38) What is the purpose of a logic analyzer in microcontroller debugging?

To measure voltage
To monitor logic signals
To generate clock signals
To convert analog to digital
ANSWER: - To monitor logic signals

39) Which type of device is used to program microcontrollers?

Soldering iron
Programmer
Oscilloscope
Multimeter
ANSWER: - Programmer

40) What does the term "bootloader" refer to in microcontroller context?

Temporary operating system
Code that loads the main firmware
A type of sensor
None of the above
ANSWER: - Code that loads the main firmware
41) What is the purpose of a reset pin in a microcontroller?
To turn on the microcontroller
To reset the microcontroller to its initial state
To program the microcontroller
To clear data
ANSWER: - To reset the microcontroller to its initial state

42) What does the term "state machine" refer to in microcontroller

programming?
A method of managing data
A model of computation
A type of memory
A hardware device
ANSWER: - A model of computation

43) Which of the following is an example of a microcontroller?

Intel i7
Raspberry Pi
Arduino Uno
NVIDIA GPU
ANSWER: - Arduino Uno

44) Which of the following is a commonly used debugger for microcontroller

development?
GDB
LLDB
Keil uVision
MPLAB X
ANSWER: - Keil uVision
45) Which of the following is a common microcontroller architecture?
Harvard Architecture
Von Neumann Architecture
Both A and B
None of the above
ANSWER: - Both A and B

46) Which of the following tools is essential for programming

microcontrollers?
Multimeter
Soldering iron
Programmer
Logic analyzer
ANSWER: - Programmer

47) What is the typical operating system used in embedded microcontroller

applications?
Windows
Linux
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
macOS
ANSWER: - Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)

48) Which of the following is NOT a component of a microcontroller?

CPU
RAM
ROM
Hard Disk
ANSWER: - Hard Disk
49) Which programming language is commonly used for microcontroller
programming?
Python
Assembly
Java
C/C++
ANSWER: - C/C++

50) What is the purpose of a timer in a microcontroller?

To count time
To create delays
To schedule tasks
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above

51) Which of the following is a common application of microcontrollers?

Robotics
Home automation
Medical devices
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above

52) Which communication protocol is commonly used for short-range wireless

communication?
I2C
SPI
UART
Bluetooth
ANSWER: - Bluetooth
53) What is the purpose of a shift register in a microcontroller?
To store data
To perform arithmetic operations
To convert data formats
To shift data
ANSWER: - To shift data

54) What is the main advantage of using a microcontroller over a

microprocessor?
Lower cost
Simplicity of programming
Built-in peripherals
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above

55) Which of the following microcontroller families is known for low power
consumption?
AVR
8051
PIC
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above

56) Which of the following microcontrollers is commonly used in home

automation systems?
Intel 8085
ARM Cortex-M
Microchip PIC
Both B and C
ANSWER: - Both B and C
57) What is the main advantage of using Flash memory in microcontrollers?
Faster access
Non-volatile storage
Low power consumption
Both B and C
ANSWER: - Both B and C

58) What is the main benefit of using a development board for microcontroller
projects?
Lower cost
Easy to use
Pre-installed software
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above

59) What is the typical size of a microcontroller's instruction set?

8-bit
16-bit
32-bit
Varies by architecture
ANSWER: - Varies by architecture

60) Which of the following protocols is used for digital sensor communication?
I2C
SPI
CAN
All of the above
ANSWER: - All of the above
61) The microcontroller is primarily used for:
Control systems
Data storage
Signal processing
Power regulation
ANSWER: - Control systems

62) The architecture of a microcontroller is based on:

Harvard architecture
Von Neumann architecture
Both Harvard and Von Neumann architectures
Modified Harvard architecture
ANSWER: - Harvard architecture

63) The 8051 microcontroller operates on:

5V supply
12V supply
3.3V supply
9V supply
ANSWER: - 5V supply

64) A microcontroller typically contains:

CPU, RAM, ROM
Only CPU
CPU and external memory only
CPU and ADC only
ANSWER: - CPU, RAM, ROM
65) The clock speed of the 8051 microcontroller is determined by:
Crystal oscillator
External clock source
Timer frequency
Internal clock generator
ANSWER: - Crystal oscillator

66) The purpose of a microcontroller's reset pin is:

To initialize all registers to zero
To stop the operation of the microcontroller
To enable interrupts
To power down the microcontroller
ANSWER: - To initialize all registers to zero

67) Which of the following is the main programming language used for
microcontrollers?
Assembly language
Python
C programming
Java
ANSWER: - Assembly language

68) The 8051 microcontroller uses:

8-bit data bus
16-bit data bus
32-bit data bus
64-bit data bus
ANSWER: - 8-bit data bus
69) The timer in the 8051 microcontroller is used to:
Generate delays
Control the output pins
Measure external frequency
Process input signals
ANSWER: - Generate delays

70) A microcontroller can be interfaced with a:

Keyboard, LCD, motor
Monitor, printer, scanner
High-speed network
Audio system
ANSWER: - Keyboard, LCD, motor

71) The memory available in 8051 is:

128 bytes of RAM
256 bytes of RAM
512 bytes of RAM
64 bytes of RAM
ANSWER: - 128 bytes of RAM

72) The 8051 microcontroller has how many interrupt lines?

5
2
8
4
ANSWER: - 5
73) In a microcontroller, the I/O pins are used for:
Digital input and output
Analog input and output
Only power management
Only signal transmission
ANSWER: - Digital input and output

74) The function of the ALE pin in the 8051 is to:

Latch address for external memory
Latch data for external memory
Enable external interrupt
Disable the internal oscillator
ANSWER: - Latch address for external memory

75) The 8051 microcontroller is designed for:

Embedded systems
Personal computers
Networking devices
Servers
ANSWER: - Embedded systems

76) The serial communication in the 8051 microcontroller is:

Full-duplex
Half-duplex
Simplex
Both simplex and half-duplex
ANSWER: - Full-duplex
77) The P0 pin in the 8051 microcontroller is:
Open drain
Output only
Input-only
Bidirectional
ANSWER: - Open drain

78) The power consumption of a microcontroller can be minimized by:

Using low-frequency clock
Increasing supply voltage
Decreasing the number of I/O pins
Using higher memory size
ANSWER: - Using low-frequency clock

79) Which of the following devices can be controlled by a microcontroller?

Motors and LEDs
Only motors
Only LEDs
Printers and monitors
ANSWER: - Motors and LEDs

80) The 8051 microcontroller has how many 8-bit general-purpose registers?
4
2
6
8
ANSWER: - 4
81) Which instruction is used to initialize a register to zero in 8051?
CLR
MOV
ADD
SUB
ANSWER: - CLR

82) Which of the following is used to generate an interrupt in a

microcontroller?
External pin signals
Internal clock signal
Power-up signal
Software instructions
ANSWER: - External pin signals

83) The microcontroller's CPU is responsible for:

Executing instructions
Storing data
Managing external devices
Regulating power supply
ANSWER: - Executing instructions

84) A microcontroller can interface with an LCD screen by using:

GPIO pins
PWM pins
I2C communication
UART communication
ANSWER: - GPIO pins
85) The 8051 microcontroller has how many 16-bit timers?
2
1
4
3
ANSWER: - 2

86) Which of the following is used to change the state of a pin on a

microcontroller?
GPIO pin
Interrupt pin
Timer pin
Reset pin
ANSWER: - GPIO pin

87) The microcontroller’s memory can be classified as:

ROM, RAM, EEPROM
ROM, RAM, Cache
ROM, RAM, Hard Disk
RAM, Cache, Flash
ANSWER: - ROM, RAM, EEPROM

88) The port used for serial communication in the 8051 is:
Serial port
Parallel port
USB port
I2C port
ANSWER: - Serial port
89) Which of the following devices does NOT typically interface with a
microcontroller?
High-speed processor
Sensors
Displays
Motors
ANSWER: - Sensors

90) The 8051 microcontroller can be programmed using:

High-level language only
Assembly and C language
Only assembly language
Python
ANSWER: - Assembly and C language

91) The ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) in a microcontroller is used for:

Converting analog signals to digital
Storing data
Transmitting data
Measuring voltage
ANSWER: - Storing data

92) The microcontroller’s oscillator is used to:

Provide a clock signal for the system
Power up the system
Handle I/O operations
Manage data storage
ANSWER: - Power up the system
93) In microcontroller programming, a MOV instruction is used to:
Move data between registers
Compare values in memory
Transfer data from memory to I/O
Perform arithmetic operations
ANSWER: - Compare values in memory

94) The instruction used to jump to a specific address in microcontroller

programming is:
JMP
MOV
SUB
ADD
ANSWER: - MOV

95) The SPI interface in a microcontroller is used to:

Transfer data between microcontrollers
Interface with external displays
Generate PWM signals
Interface with serial devices
ANSWER: - Interface with external displays

96) The working principle of an I2C bus in a microcontroller is:

Two-wire communication
Single-wire communication
Four-wire communication
Point-to-point communication
ANSWER: - Single-wire communication
97) Which instruction is used to set a flag in 8051?
SETB
CLR
MOV
ADD
ANSWER: - CLR

98) The 8051 microcontroller is generally used in:

Small embedded systems
High-performance computing systems
Desktop computers
Personal devices
ANSWER: - High-performance computing systems

99) A PWM signal is used in a microcontroller for:

Controlling motor speed
Displaying text on a screen
Sending data through serial communication
Generating a clock signal
ANSWER: - Displaying text on a screen

100) The output of a microcontroller can be connected to:

LEDs and actuators
Only LEDs
Only actuators
Only sensors
ANSWER: - Only LEDs