Technology · Unit 6

Computer Hardware

The physical parts that make a computer work

The parts of a computer divide by function: something to compute, something to hold what is being worked on, something to keep it when the power goes, and ways in and out.

The unit covers the CPU, memory, storage, the motherboard and components, and input and output devices.

This unit breaks down into 23 short steps and 118 questions, starting at difficulty 1 and building to 5. Below you can see exactly what it covers, how the path is structured, and worked examples with explanations.

Steps: 23
Questions: 118
Difficulty: 1-5

What this unit covers

Memory (RAM)
Input and Output Devices
Motherboard and Components
The CPU
Storage

Where this fits

Follows Meet the Computer.

Where people slip

RAM and storage are both called memory and are not the same. RAM is fast and empties when power is lost; storage is slower and keeps its contents.

How the unit is structured

Computer Hardware runs as 23 short steps that unlock in order. 17 are practice rounds and 6 are challenge rounds that pull together everything before them. Questions start at difficulty 1 and climb to 5 as you progress.

Step 1 · easierStep 23 · harder

Challenge rounds

Example questions

30 real questions from this unit, with the answer and the reason behind it, grouped by what they practise. There are 118 in the unit altogether.

Input and Output Devices

Guess the numberLevel 1
1. How many main buttons does a standard computer mouse usually have on top (left and right)?
Answer: 2 buttons
A standard mouse has two main buttons, left and right, often with a scroll wheel between them.
Fill the blankLevel 2
2. A device that sends information INTO the computer, like a keyboard, is called an ____ device.
- inputcorrect
- output
- storage
- memory
Input devices carry information into the computer.
Odd one outLevel 2
3. Three of these are output devices. Which one does NOT belong?
- Keyboardcorrect
- Monitor
- Speaker
- Printer
A keyboard is an input device, while monitors, speakers and printers are outputs.
Sort into groupsLevel 2
4. Sort each device as an Input device or an Output device.
Answer: Keyboard = Input; Microphone = Input; Monitor = Output; Speaker = Output; Printer = Output
Keyboards, mice and microphones send data in; monitors, speakers and printers send data out.
Choose all that applyLevel 3
5. Which of these are OUTPUT devices? Select all that apply.
- Monitorcorrect
- Speakercorrect
- Printercorrect
- Scanner
- Microphone
Monitors, speakers and printers all send information out of the computer.
Multiple choiceLevel 4
6. What is a device driver?
- Software that lets the operating system control a hardware devicecorrect
- A person who repairs computers
- A type of storage disk
- A cable that carries power
A driver is software that lets the operating system control a specific piece of hardware.

Memory (RAM)

True or falseLevel 2
7. Having more RAM usually lets a computer run more programs smoothly at the same time.
Answer: True
True, more RAM gives the computer more room to hold the programs it is using.
Type the answerLevel 2
8. What word means memory whose contents disappear when the power is turned off?
Answer: volatile
Volatile memory, like RAM, loses its contents when the power is off.
Fill the blankLevel 3
9. The amount of RAM in a computer is usually measured in ____, such as 8 or 16 of them.
- gigabytescorrect
- pixels
- hertz
- volts
RAM is commonly measured in gigabytes, like 8 GB or 16 GB.
Multiple choiceLevel 3
10. Why does a program need to be loaded from storage into RAM before it runs?
- Because the CPU can use RAM much faster than storagecorrect
- Because storage cannot hold programs
- Because RAM keeps files forever
- Because RAM is where the screen is
The CPU works with RAM much faster than with storage, so programs are copied into RAM to run quickly.
Odd one outLevel 3
11. Three of these are kinds of fast memory. Which one is long-term storage instead?
- Hard drivecorrect
- RAM
- CPU cache
- CPU registers
A hard drive is long-term storage; RAM, cache and registers are fast memory.
Choose all that applyLevel 5
12. Which statements about RAM are correct? Select all that apply.
- It is volatile and loses data when powered offcorrect
- It is faster for the CPU to reach than a hard drivecorrect
- More of it can help run many programs at oncecorrect
- It keeps your files safe after shutdown
- It is where the CPU stores data forever
RAM is volatile and fast, and adding more can help with many open programs; it does not keep files after power off.

Motherboard and Components

Multiple choiceLevel 2
13. What is the name for the slots on a motherboard where RAM sticks are inserted?
- Memory slotscorrect
- Speakers
- Fans
- Pixels
RAM sticks slide into memory slots on the motherboard.
Odd one outLevel 2
14. Three of these are physical hardware parts. Which one is NOT a physical part?
- Websitecorrect
- Motherboard
- CPU
- Hard drive
A website is not a physical part; the others are real pieces of hardware.
Choose all that applyLevel 3
15. Which of these usually connect to or sit on the motherboard? Select all that apply.
- CPUcorrect
- RAMcorrect
- Graphics cardcorrect
- The wall socket
- A paper printout
The CPU, RAM and graphics card all plug into the motherboard; the wall socket does not.
Fill the blankLevel 3
16. A separate card that helps a computer draw fast, detailed images for games is a ____ card.
- graphicscorrect
- sound
- memory
- network
A graphics card handles heavy image and video work for games and design.
Put in orderLevel 3
17. Order these steps of turning on a computer from first to last.
Answer: Power reaches the motherboard -> The CPU starts running -> The operating system loads -> The desktop appears
Power reaches the motherboard, the CPU starts, the operating system loads, then the desktop appears.
Match the pairsLevel 4
18. Match each component to its main role.
Answer: CPU = Processes instructions; RAM = Holds active data; GPU = Draws images; Power supply unit = Provides electricity
The CPU processes, RAM holds active data, the GPU draws images, and the PSU supplies power.

Storage

Multiple choiceLevel 1
19. Which part keeps your files even after the computer is turned off?
- Storage, such as a hard drive or SSD
- RAM
- The CPU
- The mouse
Storage such as a hard drive or SSD keeps your files when the power is off.
Choose all that applyLevel 2
20. Which of these keep their data when the computer is turned off? Select all that apply.
- Hard drivecorrect
- SSDcorrect
- USB flash drivecorrect
- RAM
Hard drives, SSDs and USB flash drives all keep data with the power off; RAM does not.
Fill the blankLevel 2
21. One thousand and twenty-four gigabytes is roughly equal to one ____.
- terabytecorrect
- kilobyte
- megabyte
- byte
About 1024 gigabytes make one terabyte, the next larger unit of storage.
Odd one outLevel 2
22. Three of these can store files. Which one is used only to display them?
- Monitorcorrect
- SD card
- External hard drive
- USB flash drive
A monitor only shows files; the others can store them.
Put in orderLevel 2
23. Put these data sizes in order from smallest to largest.
Answer: Kilobyte -> Megabyte -> Gigabyte -> Terabyte
A kilobyte is smallest, then megabyte, gigabyte, and a terabyte is largest.
Guess the numberLevel 3
24. How many bits make up one byte?
Answer: 8 bits
One byte is made of eight bits, enough to represent one character of text.

The CPU

Multiple choiceLevel 1
25. What does the abbreviation CPU stand for?
- Central Processing Unitcorrect
- Computer Power Unit
- Central Program Utility
- Core Picture Uploader
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, the chip that does the computer's thinking.
Odd one outLevel 2
26. Three of these are jobs the CPU does. Which one is NOT a job of the CPU?
- Keeping your photos forevercorrect
- Doing calculations
- Following program instructions
- Processing data
Keeping your photos forever is the job of storage, not the CPU.
Fill the blankLevel 3
27. The number of instructions a CPU can run each second is set by its clock ____, measured in gigahertz.
- speedcorrect
- color
- weight
- cable
Clock speed, given in gigahertz, tells you how fast the CPU cycles through instructions.
True or falseLevel 3
28. A CPU understands programs directly in everyday English sentences.
Answer: False
False, a CPU works with simple binary instructions, not everyday English.
Put in orderLevel 4
29. Order the memory levels from fastest and smallest to slowest and largest.
Answer: CPU registers -> CPU cache -> RAM -> Storage drive
Registers are fastest, then cache, then RAM, and storage is the slowest but largest.
Type the answerLevel 4
30. What three-letter abbreviation names the CPU part that performs math and logic, standing for Arithmetic Logic Unit?
Answer: ALU
The ALU, or Arithmetic Logic Unit, carries out the CPU's calculations and logic.

Where these questions come from. Each unit starts as a plan of the concepts it should cover and the difficulty it should span. Questions are written against that plan with AI assistance, then checked by a validator that rejects anything without a single defensible answer, an explanation, or plausible wrong options. How we write questions sets out the whole process, and corrections are fixed in the bank and reach the site and the app the same day.

How you practise

This unit mixes 10 different question formats, so you are recalling and applying rather than recognising the same layout every time.

Choose all that apply
Fill the blank
Guess the number
Match the pairs
Multiple choice
Odd one out
Put in order
Sort into groups
True or false
Type the answer

Practise Computer Hardware

118 questions across 23 steps. Start with step one and crawl at your own pace.

Play this unit

Read about Computer Hardware

Explainers from our blog on what this unit covers. Each one ends with real questions from the bank.

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