Which of the following is a secondary storage device?

2026

Which of the following is a secondary storage device?

Answer: B. Hard DiskConcept: A computer's storage hierarchy is organized by proximity, speed, capacity, and persistence. Primary or internal memory supports immediate CPU work,…

  1. A.

    Cache

  2. B.

    Hard Disk

  3. C.

    Register

  4. D.

    ROM

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Correct answer: B

Concept: A computer's storage hierarchy is organized by proximity, speed, capacity, and persistence. Primary or internal memory supports immediate CPU work, whereas secondary storage retains larger amounts of data for long-term use even when power is removed.

Application: A hard disk is a non-volatile mass-storage device: it records files and programs on magnetic platters and preserves them across power cycles.

Contrast:

  • Cache is fast CPU-adjacent memory for recently used data; it is part of the working memory hierarchy, not a long-term mass-storage device.

  • Register is storage inside the CPU for operands, addresses, and control state needed immediately.

  • ROM is non-volatile semiconductor memory used mainly for firmware or fixed startup instructions; in the standard memory hierarchy used by this question, it is internal memory rather than a secondary storage device.

Cross-check: IBM's storage hierarchy lists CPU registers and caches above RAM and disk, while its secondary-storage overview includes hard disk drives. This places a hard disk on the persistent, high-capacity side of the hierarchy.

Result: Therefore, the secondary storage device among the offered values is Hard Disk.

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