Grace Hopper

Question 1

Who is Grace Hopper?

Answer 1

Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and a U.S. Navy rear admiral known for pioneering work in computer programming and developing the first compiler.

Question 2

When and where was Grace Hopper born?

Answer 2

Grace Hopper was born on December 9, 1906, in New York City.

Question 3

What programming language is Grace Hopper best known for developing?

Answer 3

Grace Hopper is best known for her role in developing COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language).

Question 4

What is a compiler, and why was Grace Hopper’s work on it important?

Answer 4

A compiler translates human-readable code into machine code, making programming more accessible and efficient. Grace Hopper developed the first compiler, which revolutionized programming.

Question 5

What term did Grace Hopper popularize after finding an actual insect in a computer?

Answer 5

Grace Hopper popularized the term ‘debugging’ after finding a moth inside a Mark II computer.

Question 6

Which major war influenced Grace Hopper’s early career?

Answer 6

World War II, when she worked on the Mark I computer for the U.S. Navy.

Question 7

What was the Mark I, and how was Grace Hopper involved?

Answer 7

The Mark I was one of the earliest electromechanical computers, and Grace Hopper worked on it as part of the U.S. Navy’s war effort.

Question 8

What was one of Grace Hopper’s key contributions to modern software development?

Answer 8

She pioneered the use of machine-independent programming languages and helped develop COBOL, a widely used high-level programming language.

Question 9

What prestigious awards did Grace Hopper receive for her contributions to computer science?

Answer 9

Grace Hopper received the National Medal of Technology in 1991 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 2016.

Question 10

Which branch of the U.S. military did Grace Hopper serve in?

Answer 10

Grace Hopper served in the U.S. Navy.

Question 11

What rank did Grace Hopper achieve in the U.S. Navy?

Answer 11

Grace Hopper achieved the rank of rear admiral.

Question 12

What is the Grace Hopper Celebration?

Answer 12

The Grace Hopper Celebration is the largest annual conference for women in computing, named in her honor.

Question 13

How did Grace Hopper explain the concept of a nanosecond?

Answer 13

Grace Hopper carried around a wire 11.8 inches long to represent the distance light travels in one nanosecond.

Question 14

Why did Grace Hopper face challenges in convincing others about high-level programming languages?

Answer 14

Many early computer scientists preferred machine-level programming and were skeptical of the usefulness of higher-level languages.

Question 15

How old was Grace Hopper when she retired from the U.S. Navy?

Answer 15

Grace Hopper retired from the U.S. Navy at the age of 79.

Question 16

True or False: Grace Hopper worked in a male-dominated field but achieved great success.

Answer 16

True.

Question 17

Which computer language is still used today that Grace Hopper helped develop?

Answer 17

COBOL is still used in legacy business systems today.

Question 18

Which phrase is Grace Hopper known for that reflects her proactive attitude?

Answer 18

Grace Hopper is known for saying, ‘It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.’

Question 19

Fill in the blank: Grace Hopper earned a PhD in mathematics from _____.

Answer 19

Grace Hopper earned a PhD in mathematics from Yale University.

Question 20

What quirky item did Grace Hopper keep in her office to challenge conventional thinking?

Answer 20

Grace Hopper kept a clock that ran counterclockwise in her office.

Question 21

How did Grace Hopper’s work on compilers influence programming?

Answer 21

Her work on compilers made programming languages more accessible and user-friendly, allowing for faster and more efficient software development.