6 - Classification of Programming Languages

Question 1

What is the role of interpreter software during program execution?

Answer 1

Interpreter software is resident in memory while the application program is run and translates each statement to machine code line-by-line.

Question 2

What might prevent the successful use of a freeware assembler on a computer?

Answer 2

The processor architecture or hardware platform is different, as assembler software is processor/architecture specific.

Question 3

What is one key difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

Answer 3

A compiler produces object code, while an interpreter does not.

Compilers translate the entire source code at once, whereas interpreters do so line by line.

Question 4

How does the execution speed of object code compare to interpreted source code?

Answer 4

The object code produced by a compiler executes faster than interpreting the source code every time the program is run.

Question 5

What is intermediate code?

Answer 5

Intermediate code is not directly executable and is run by a virtual machine or compiled into an executable just before running.

Question 6

What are the first and second generations of programming languages?

Answer 6

First: Machine Code; Second: Assembly.

Question 7

What does it mean for a high-level language to be imperative?

Answer 7

An imperative language is one where the program is a sequence of instructions that are followed in order.

Question 8

Define a declarative language and provide an example.

Answer 8

A declarative language specifies what the problem to be solved is without detailing how to solve it. Examples include functional and logic programming languages.

Question 9

Why are JavaScript programs executed in a web browser interpreted rather than compiled?

Answer 9

Because the type of processor in the user’s computer cannot be predetermined; JavaScript needs to run on various devices with different processors.

Question 10

What is meant by the term low-level language?

Answer 10

A low-level language is close to the hardware and interacts directly with basic hardware tasks.

Question 11

Give one reason for the existence of many third-generation programming languages.

Answer 11

Languages are developed for specific problem types or to access specific data types.