Assembly language was used in  ___________ generation of computers.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) second

Explanation:

Assembly language was used in the second generation of computers. This generation of computers, which emerged in the 1950s to early 1960s, marked the transition from machine language to assembly language. Assembly language was a step forward as it allowed programmers to write programs using mnemonic codes instead of binary machine code, making programming more efficient and less error-prone.

Information Booster:

• The second generation of computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes, making computers smaller, faster, and more reliable.
• Assembly language was used in conjunction with machine language and directly mapped to machine instructions.
• Programmers could write more complex programs using symbols and codes, which were translated into machine-readable code by an assembler.
• Computers of this generation included models like the IBM 1401 and the UNIVAC II.
• The transition from first generation (which used vacuum tubes and machine language) to the second generation allowed for improvements in speed, size, and efficiency.

Additional Information:

• First generation computers used machine language directly and relied on vacuum tubes for processing.
• Third generation computers used integrated circuits (ICs) and higher-level programming languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL.
• Fourth generation computers are characterized by the use of microprocessors, and high-level programming languages such as C became prominent.