Parallel and Distributed Computing MCQs

A) To increase the speed of computations
B) To reduce power consumption
C) To simplify programming
D) To minimize data transfer

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2. Which of the following is a parallel computing model?

A) Task parallelism
B) Data parallelism
C) Pipeline parallelism
D) All of the above

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3. In distributed computing, what does “latency” refer to?

A) The speed of data transfer
B) The delay before a transfer of data begins
C) The bandwidth of the connection
D) The reliability of data transmission

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4. What is a common example of parallel processing hardware?

A) Microcontrollers
B) GPUs (Graphics Processing Units)
C) Hard drives
D) Network routers

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5. What is Amdahl’s Law primarily concerned with?

A) The maximum improvement of a system
B) The efficiency of algorithms
C) The cost of hardware
D) The speed of networks

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6. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of distributed computing?

A) Improved fault tolerance
B) Increased processing power
C) Reduced data redundancy
D) Greater resource sharing

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7. What is the main function of a load balancer in a distributed system?

A) To increase data storage capacity
B) To distribute workloads across multiple resources
C) To manage network security
D) To enhance data redundancy

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8. Which programming model is commonly used for parallel computing?

A) Object-oriented programming
B) Functional programming
C) Message passing
D) Procedural programming

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9. In the context of parallel computing, what does “scalability” refer to?

A) The ability to increase hardware without changing the software
B) The ability to run on multiple types of hardware
C) The ability to handle increasing workloads by adding resources
D) The ability to maintain performance under heavy load

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10. What is a distributed file system?

A) A file system that operates on a single computer
B) A system that allows multiple users to access files from different locations
C) A system that encrypts files for security
D) A backup solution for data recovery

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11. Which of the following algorithms is often used in parallel computing?

A) Merge Sort
B) Depth-first Search
C) Dijkstra’s Algorithm
D) All of the above

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12. In distributed systems, what is a “node”?

A) A data packet
B) A point of connection in a network
C) A type of algorithm
D) A software application

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13. What is “synchronous communication” in the context of distributed systems?

A) Communication that occurs simultaneously
B) Communication that can happen at any time
C) Communication that requires a response
D) Communication that does not require a network connection

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14. Which of the following is a type of parallel architecture?

A) Shared memory
B) Distributed memory
C) Hybrid
D) All of the above

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15. What is the main purpose of inter process communication (IPC) in parallel computing?

A) To improve system security
B) To allow processes to communicate and synchronize
C) To enhance data redundancy
D) To manage network traffic

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16. Which term describes the situation where processes are waiting indefinitely for a resource?

A) Starvation
B) Deadlock
C) Race condition
D) Bottleneck

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17. What is the role of middleware in distributed systems?

A) To manage hardware resources
B) To facilitate communication and data management between applications
C) To provide security features
D) To monitor network performance

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18. In parallel computing, what is meant by “granularity”?

A) The size of the data packets
B) The level of detail in a computation
C) The size of tasks in a parallel algorithm
D) The speed of processing

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19. What type of problem is best suited for parallel computing?

A) I/O bound problems
B) Problems with high data dependency
C) Problems that can be divided into independent subproblems
D) Problems requiring complex data structures

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20. Which of the following protocols is commonly used in distributed systems for communication?

A) HTTP
B) FTP
C) RPC (Remote Procedure Call)
D) All of the above

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21. What is the primary challenge of programming in parallel computing environments?

A) Ensuring compatibility with all hardware
B) Managing data dependencies and synchronization
C) Writing more lines of code
D) Maintaining backward compatibility

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22. What does the term “fault tolerance” mean in distributed computing?

A) The ability to recover from hardware failures
B) The ability to handle a fixed number of errors
C) The ability to detect and eliminate errors
D) The ability to maintain performance without errors

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23. Which of the following is a characteristic of shared memory systems?

A) Each process has its own memory space
B) All processes share a common memory space
C) Communication is done through message passing
D) They are limited to single-node architectures

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24. What is a “worker node” in a distributed computing environment?

A) A node that manages the network
B) A node that performs computations
C) A node that stores data
D) A node that provides security

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25. What does the “MapReduce” programming model do?

A) Distributes tasks among multiple nodes
B) Combines data processing with storage
C) Splits large data sets into smaller tasks and processes them in parallel
D) All of the above

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26. What is “load shedding” in the context of distributed computing?

A) Distributing workloads evenly among nodes
B) Ignoring less critical tasks to reduce load on the system
C) Balancing the load in a network
D) Increasing the resources of a node

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27. Which of the following is an example of a distributed computing platform?

A) Amazon Web Services (AWS)
B) Google Cloud Platform
C) Microsoft Azure
D) All of the above

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28. What is “data locality” in distributed computing?

A) Storing data far from where it is processed
B) Keeping data near the computation to reduce latency
C) Distributing data evenly across all nodes
D) None of the above

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29. In parallel computing, what is a “task queue”?

A) A list of tasks that need to be executed
B) A method of scheduling tasks
C) A data structure used for communication
D) All of the above

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30. What is the purpose of a “scheduling algorithm” in parallel computing?

A) To manage memory resources
B) To allocate tasks to available resources
C) To optimize data transfer rates
D) To ensure data redundancy

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31. In the context of distributed systems, what does “replication” refer to?

A) Duplicating data across multiple nodes for reliability
B) Creating multiple versions of an application
C) Storing data in different formats
D) Compressing data for storage

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32. What is a “cluster” in distributed computing?

A) A single powerful computer
B) A group of connected computers working together
C) A software application for managing resources
D) A data storage solution

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33. Which of the following describes “event-driven programming”?

A) The program responds to events or changes in state
B) The program runs in a continuous loop
C) The program executes a predetermined sequence of operations
D) The program ignores user input

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34. What is the significance of “barrier synchronization” in parallel computing?

A) It prevents race conditions
B) It ensures all processes reach a certain point before proceeding
C) It optimizes data transfer
D) It reduces computational errors

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35. What does the term “interoperability” mean in distributed systems?

A) The ability of different systems to communicate and work together
B) The ability to store data in multiple formats
C) The ability to transfer files between systems
D) The ability to replicate data

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36. In parallel processing, what does “task partitioning” refer to?

A) Dividing a task into smaller sub-tasks for parallel execution
B) Allocating memory to processes
C) Assigning priorities to tasks
D) Combining results from different tasks

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37. Which of the following is a common challenge in distributed computing?

A) Scalability
B) Network latency
C) Data consistency
D) All of the above

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38. What does “sharding” mean in database management?

A) Splitting a database into smaller, manageable pieces
B) Backing up data for recovery
C) Encrypting sensitive data
D) Merging multiple databases into one

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39. Which of the following best describes a “peer-to-peer” network?

A) A centralized server controls all communication
B) All nodes have equal privileges and can communicate directly
C) It requires a client-server architecture
D) It is limited to small networks

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40. What is a “distributed database”?

A) A database that resides on a single server
B) A database spread across multiple locations and connected by a network
C) A backup solution for databases
D) A database that stores data in different formats

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41. What does “data consistency” refer to in distributed systems?

A) Ensuring that all copies of data are the same across all nodes
B) Maintaining data integrity during transfers
C) The ability to query data without errors
D) Reducing data duplication

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42. Which of the following is a common method for ensuring fault tolerance in distributed systems?

A) Replication of data
B) Increasing bandwidth
C) Using centralized control
D) Ignoring errors

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43. What is the “client-server” model in distributed computing?

A) A model where one or more clients request services from a central server
B) A model where all nodes communicate directly
C) A model limited to single-user applications
D) A model that requires high bandwidth

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44. What is “message passing” in parallel computing?

A) A method of transferring data between processes
B) A technique for synchronizing tasks
C) A way to increase processing speed
D) A type of encryption

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45. Which of the following is an example of a parallel computing framework?

A) TensorFlow
B) Hadoop
C) Apache Spark
D) All of the above

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46. What is the purpose of “deadlock detection”?

A) To monitor network traffic
B) To identify and resolve deadlocks in a system
C) To optimize resource allocation
D) To ensure data security

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47. What does “throughput” refer to in distributed systems?

A) The amount of data processed in a given time
B) The speed of individual processes
C) The reliability of data transmission
D) The latency of network connections

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48. Which of the following can be a bottleneck in distributed computing?

A) Network latency
B) Insufficient memory
C) CPU limitations
D) All of the above

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49. What is “serialization” in the context of distributed systems?

A) The process of converting data into a format suitable for transmission
B) The process of combining multiple data streams
C) The method of ensuring data consistency
D) The technique of compressing data

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50. In parallel computing, what is a “barrier”?

A) A point at which all processes must stop until a condition is met
B) A method for encrypting data
C) A type of synchronization
D) A way to allocate resources

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51. What is the main function of a “scheduler” in a parallel processing system?

A) To monitor system performance
B) To allocate tasks to processing units
C) To manage data storage
D) To ensure security

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52. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of distributed systems?

A) High availability
B) Single point of failure
C) Scalability
D) Resource sharing

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53. What does “event sourcing” involve in distributed systems?

A) Storing the state of an application as a sequence of events
B) Collecting user data for analysis
C) Creating backups of data
D) None of the above

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54. What is the purpose of a “task manager” in parallel computing?

A) To prioritize tasks for execution
B) To allocate memory
C) To handle user input
D) To manage system resources

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55. What does “horizontal scaling” mean?

A) Adding more resources to a single node
B) Increasing the number of nodes in a system
C) Improving processing speed
D) Reducing latency

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56. Which of the following is a common data storage model in distributed computing?

A) Key-Value Store
B) Document Store
C) Column-family Store
D) All of the above

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57. What is “concurrency” in the context of parallel computing?

A) The ability to execute multiple tasks simultaneously
B) The ability to run tasks in sequence
C) The process of managing resources
D) The ability to synchronize tasks

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58. What is the purpose of a “network protocol” in distributed systems?

A) To define the rules for data communication
B) To manage user permissions
C) To store data securely
D) To optimize processing speed

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59. What is “virtualization” in computing?

A) The creation of virtual instances of hardware or software
B) The process of combining data from multiple sources
C) The method of compressing data
D) The technique of encrypting data

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60. In parallel computing, what is a “task graph”?

A) A visual representation of tasks and their dependencies
B) A list of tasks to be completed
C) A method of organizing data
D) A type of algorithm

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61. What is the main advantage of using a “microservices” architecture?

A) Enhanced security
B) Scalability and flexibility in deploying services
C) Simplicity of design
D) Reduced development time

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62. What does “resource contention” refer to?

A) Competition between processes for the same resources
B) The efficient allocation of resources
C) The process of reducing resource usage
D) None of the above

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63. In distributed systems, what is “data sharding”?

A) Partitioning data across multiple servers
B) Backing up data
C) Encrypting sensitive information
D) Merging databases

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64. What does the term “big data” refer to?

A) Large volumes of data that can be processed using traditional methods
B) Data that is structured and easily managed
C) Extremely large and complex data sets that require specialized processing
D) None of the above

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65. Which of the following tools is commonly used for big data processing?

A) Hadoop
B) Microsoft Excel
C) MySQL
D) Adobe Photoshop

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66. What is “cloud computing”?

A) Using remote servers to store, manage, and process data
B) Hosting applications on local servers
C) Running applications on individual computers
D) None of the above

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67. What is the main advantage of using a content delivery network (CDN)?

A) Faster access to content by distributing it across multiple locations
B) Increased storage capacity
C) Enhanced security measures
D) Simplified network management

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68. What does “CAP theorem” state?

A) It is impossible for a distributed data store to simultaneously provide all three of the following: consistency, availability, and partition tolerance.
B) It describes the performance limits of a database.
C) It focuses on data redundancy.
D) It outlines the methods for data encryption.

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69. What is a “data lake”?

A) A centralized repository for structured data only
B) A storage system that holds vast amounts of raw data in its native format until it is needed
C) A database that stores only unstructured data
D) A backup system for data recovery

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70. In distributed systems, what does “consensus” refer to?

A) The agreement between multiple nodes on the state of the system
B) The decision-making process in centralized systems
C) The process of allocating tasks
D) The method of data replication

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71. What is “event-driven architecture”?

A) A software architecture pattern promoting the production, detection, consumption of, and reaction to events.
B) An architecture focused on processing data in batches.
C) An architecture that relies solely on user input.
D) None of the above.

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72. What is a “singleton” in distributed systems?

A) A design pattern ensuring only one instance of a class exists
B) A type of database
C) A method of data encryption
D) A network protocol

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73. What is “data governance”?

A) The management of data availability, usability, integrity, and security
B) The process of creating data backups
C) The method of transferring data
D) The procedure for cleaning data

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74. In the context of distributed systems, what does “eventual consistency” mean?

A) All nodes will eventually reflect the same data state
B) Data will always be immediately consistent across nodes
C) Only one node can modify data at a time
D) None of the above

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75. What is a “task scheduler”?

A) A tool that automatically manages the execution of tasks
B) A method for prioritizing tasks
C) A program that monitors network traffic
D) A tool for data analysis

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76. What is “asynchronous communication”?

A) Communication where processes do not need to wait for each other
B) Communication that occurs simultaneously
C) Communication requiring immediate response
D) Communication that can only happen in sequence

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77. Which of the following is a benefit of using microservices?

A) Reduced complexity in deployments
B) Improved fault isolation
C) Faster deployment cycles
D) All of the above

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78. What does “network partition” refer to in distributed systems?

A) A situation where communication between nodes is interrupted
B) The division of network resources
C) A method of enhancing security
D) None of the above

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79. What is “graph processing” in the context of parallel computing?

A) Processing data that is represented in graph structures
B) Analyzing trends in large datasets
C) Creating visual representations of data
D) None of the above

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80. What is the primary function of a “database administrator” (DBA)?

A) To design and manage databases
B) To ensure data security
C) To optimize query performance
D) All of the above

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81. What is the “message queue” used for in distributed systems?

A) To store messages that are waiting to be processed
B) To manage user requests
C) To distribute files
D) To secure data

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82. What does “service discovery” refer to in microservices architecture?

A) The process of locating services in a distributed environment
B) The method of creating new services
C) The ability to replicate services
D) None of the above

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83. Which of the following is an advantage of using cloud services?

A) Elastic scalability
B) High upfront costs
C) Limited accessibility
D) None of the above

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84. What does “containerization” refer to in cloud computing?

A) Packaging an application and its dependencies into a single unit
B) Storing data in containers
C) Running applications on virtual machines
D) None of the above

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85. In distributed computing, what is “network latency”?

A) The delay in data transmission over the network
B) The speed of data transfer
C) The capacity of the network
D) The security of the network

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86. What is a “distributed ledger”?

A) A database that is shared and synchronized across multiple sites
B) A method of securing data
C) A data backup solution
D) A centralized database

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87. What is “load balancing”?

A) The process of distributing workloads across multiple resources to ensure optimal resource use
B) The technique of minimizing data storage
C) The method of securing data
D) The ability to increase memory capacity

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88. What does “elasticity” in cloud computing refer to?

A) The ability to scale resources up or down according to demand
B) The capability to compress data
C) The method of securing applications
D) The speed of data transfer

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89. Which of the following describes “big O notation”?

A) A method for describing the performance of an algorithm
B) A tool for managing databases
C) A way to measure data storage capacity
D) None of the above

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90. What does “hot swapping” refer to in computing?

A) Replacing components without shutting down the system
B) Running multiple applications simultaneously
C) Upgrading software without user input
D) None of the above

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91. What is a “virtual private cloud” (VPC)?

A) A private cloud environment within a public cloud
B) A separate server for each user
C) A method of encrypting data
D) A type of public cloud

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92. What is the primary purpose of “data encryption”?

A) To protect sensitive information from unauthorized access
B) To increase data storage capacity
C) To speed up data transfer
D) None of the above

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93. What is “data mining”?

A) The process of discovering patterns in large data sets
B) The method of backing up data
C) The analysis of structured data only
D) None of the above

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94. Which of the following is a distributed database system?

A) MySQL
B) Cassandra
C) SQLite
D) Oracle

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95. What does “API” stand for in computing?

A) Application Programming Interface
B) Automated Program Integration
C) Application Process Interference
D) None of the above

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96. What is the primary purpose of “data replication”?

A) To ensure data availability and reliability across multiple nodes
B) To compress data for storage
C) To increase processing speed
D) None of the above

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97. What does “grid computing” refer to?

A) The use of a network of computers to work on a task simultaneously
B) The centralized processing of data
C) The storage of data in grid patterns
D) None of the above

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98. Which of the following best describes “real-time processing”?

A) Processing data as it becomes available
B) Processing data in batches
C) Delayed processing of data
D) None of the above

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99. What is the purpose of a “performance monitoring tool”?

A) To track the performance and health of systems
B) To manage user access
C) To back up data
D) None of the above

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100. In distributed systems, what does “resource allocation” involve?

A) Assigning resources to various processes or tasks
B) Distributing tasks to nodes
C) Monitoring network traffic
D) None of the above

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