Basics of microcontrollers and microprocessors MCQs December 24, 2025November 20, 2024 by u930973931_answers 20 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/20 Subscribe 1. What is the primary difference between a microprocessor and a microcontroller? (A) A microcontroller contains a CPU, memory, and peripherals on a single chip, while a microprocessor usually only has a CPU (B) A microprocessor has more I/O ports than a microcontroller (C) A microcontroller is more powerful than a microprocessor (D) A microprocessor is designed for embedded systems, while a microcontroller is not 2. Which of the following is an example of a microcontroller? (A) Intel 8086 (B) ARM Cortex-M (C) AMD Ryzen (D) Intel Core i7 3. Which component is typically found in a microcontroller but not in a microprocessor? (A) CPU (B) Peripherals like ADC, timers, and I/O ports (C) RAM (D) Cache memory 4. The CPU in a microcontroller is responsible for: (A) Providing power to the system (B) Connecting to external devices (C) Storing data (D) Executing instructions and controlling other components 5. What is the primary function of the ROM (Read-Only Memory) in a microcontroller? (A) Temporarily stores data during processing (B) Allows external devices to communicate (C) Provides high-speed data storage (D) Stores the program code permanently 6. Which of the following is commonly used as the programming memory in a microcontroller? (A) Flash memory (B) EEPROM (C) ROM (D) RAM 7. Which language is most commonly used for programming microcontrollers? (A) Java (B) Python (C) C/C++ (D) Assembly language 8. In a microcontroller, the I/O ports are used for: (A) Managing the clock speed (B) Storing data permanently (C) Power supply distribution (D) Communication between external devices 9. Which of the following protocols is commonly used for communication in microcontroller-based systems? (A) HTTP (B) FTP (C) UART/USART (D) SMTP 10. What is an Interrupt in the context of a microcontroller? (A) A function used to reset the microcontroller (B) A signal that temporarily stops the microcontroller’s normal operation to handle urgent tasks (C) A type of memory used for fast access (D) A communication interface for data transfer 11. Which of the following is a common application of microcontrollers? (A) Desktop computers (B) Cloud storage management (C) Embedded systems like home automation, robotics, and automotive control (D) High-performance gaming systems 12. Which of the following would typically use a microprocessor instead of a microcontroller? (A) Digital thermometer (B) Personal computer (C) Air conditioning system (D) Washing machine controller 13. What is the function of the Timer in a microcontroller? (A) To control the clock speed of the processor (B) To store the program code (C) To execute tasks at predefined time intervals (D) To provide power to external components 14. What is ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) used for in a microcontroller? (A) Converting digital signals to analog (B) Storing data temporarily (C) Converting analog signals to digital signals (D) Powering the microcontroller 15. Which of the following microcontroller architectures is most commonly used in modern embedded systems? (A) Intel 8086 architecture (B) Zilog Z80 architecture (C) ARM Cortex architecture (D) IBM PowerPC architecture 16. Why do microcontrollers typically have lower power consumption compared to microprocessors? (A) They are less powerful (B) They do not require any external memory (C) They use slower processing speeds (D) They integrate multiple functions on a single chip, reducing the need for external components 17. In which mode does a microcontroller typically consume the least amount of power? (A) Sleep or idle mode (B) Normal operating mode (C) Active mode (D) Interrupt-driven mode 18. What is a typical application of a microcontroller in a wireless system? (A) Power supply management (B) Controlling LED displays (C) Managing communication protocols in IoT devices (D) Running operating systems 19. Which of the following is a feature found in advanced microcontrollers for real-time control? (A) Low latency (B) High clock speed (C) Large memory (D) Complex operating systems 20. Which of the following microcontroller peripherals is responsible for controlling motor speed? (A) I2C (B) PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) (C) UART (D) SPI