1.
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
Question 1: In a PN-junction diode under reverse bias, the current primarily due to:
A) Diffusion of charge carriers
B) Drift of minority charge carriers
C) Recombination of electrons and holes
D) Thermal generation of electron-hole pairs
Answer: B) Drift of minority charge carriers
Question 2: The z-transform of a discrete-time signal is given by X(z) = 1 / (1 -
0.5z⁻¹). The region of convergence (ROC) is:
A) |z| > 0.5
B) |z| < 0.5
C) |z| ≥ 0.5
D) |z| ≤ 0.5
Answer: A) |z| > 0.5
Question 3: In a superheterodyne receiver, the intermediate frequency (IF) is
typically:
A) 455 kHz
B) 10.7 MHz
C) 1.5 MHz
D) Both A and B
Answer: D) Both A and B
Question 4: The impulse response of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system is h(t) =
e⁻²ᵗu(t). The system is:
A) Stable and causal
B) Unstable and causal
C) Stable and non-causal
D) Unstable and non-causal
Answer: A) Stable and causal
Question 5: In a common-emitter amplifier, the phase difference between the input
and output signals is:
A) 0 degrees
B) 45 degrees
C) 90 degrees
D) 180 degrees
Answer: D) 180 degrees
Question 6: The modulation index of an amplitude-modulated (AM) signal is defined
as the ratio of:
A) Carrier amplitude to message signal amplitude
B) Message signal amplitude to carrier amplitude
C) Carrier frequency to message signal frequency
D) Message signal frequency to carrier frequency
Answer: B) Message signal amplitude to carrier amplitude
Question 7: In digital communication, the Nyquist rate for a signal with a maximum
frequency component of 5 kHz is:
A) 5 kHz
B) 10 kHz
C) 15 kHz
D) 20 kHz
Answer: B) 10 kHz
Question 8: The primary advantage of using a differential amplifier in analog circuits
is:
A) High input impedance
B) Low output impedance
C) Common-mode noise rejection
D) Increased gain
Answer: C) Common-mode noise rejection
Question 9: In a microprocessor, the instruction 'NOP' stands for:
A) No Operation
B) New Operation
C) Next Operation
D) Null Operation
Answer: A) No Operation
Question 10: The primary function of a phase-locked loop (PLL) in communication
systems is to:
A) Demodulate frequency-modulated signals
B) Generate high-frequency signals
C) Amplify weak signals
D) Filter out noise
Answer: A) Demodulate frequency-modulated signals
Question 12: The primary function of a rectifier in power supplies is to:
A) Amplify signals
B) Convert AC to DC
C) Filter noise
D) Regulate voltage
Answer: B) Convert AC to DC
Question 13: The Bode plot is used to analyze:
A) Time-domain behavior
B) Frequency response
C) Stability of control systems
D) Signal power
Answer: B) Frequency response
Question 15: In a DC motor, the back EMF is:
A) Proportional to current
B) Proportional to speed
C) Inversely proportional to speed
D) Constant at all speeds
Answer: B) Proportional to speed
Question 16: The typical value of the noise figure (NF) for an ideal amplifier is:
A) 0 dB
B) 1 dB
C) 2 dB
D) 10 dB
Answer: A) 0 dB
Question 17: A transmission line is said to be lossless if:
A) The resistance and conductance are zero
B) The inductance and capacitance are infinite
C) The resistance is infinite
D) The capacitance is zero
Answer: A) The resistance and conductance are zero
Question 18: The efficiency of a Class A amplifier is approximately:
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 100%
Answer: B) 50%
Question 19: The primary advantage of using FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexing)
in communication is:
A) High data rates
B) Reduced bandwidth usage
C) Simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
D) Error correction
Answer: C) Simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
Question 20: In an 8085 microprocessor, the instruction MOV A, M performs:
A) Move data from memory to accumulator
B) Move data from accumulator to memory
C) Add memory data to accumulator
D) Subtract memory data from accumulator
Answer: A) Move data from memory to accumulator
Question 1: The ripple factor for a half-wave rectifier is approximately:
A) 0.482
B) 1.21
C) 0.707
D) 0.577
Answer: B) 1.21
Question 2: Which of the following antennas is best suited for satellite
communication?
A) Dipole antenna
B) Horn antenna
C) Yagi-Uda antenna
D) Parabolic dish
Answer: D) Parabolic dish
Question 3: A ring counter consisting of
n flip-flops will have a modulus of:
A) 2^n
B) n
C) n/2
D) 2n
Answer: B) n
Question 4: The sampling theorem states that a band-limited signal can be
reconstructed if it is sampled at a rate:
A) Equal to its highest frequency
B) Greater than its highest frequency
C) Twice its highest frequency
D) Four times its highest frequency
Answer: C) Twice its highest frequency
Question 5: In a communication system, the primary purpose of modulation is to:
A) Reduce noise
B) Increase signal strength
C) Facilitate transmission over long distances
D) Simplify circuit design
Answer: C) Facilitate transmission over long distances
Question 6: The V-I characteristic of a Zener diode shows that it operates in the
breakdown region:
A) In forward bias
B) In reverse bias
C) In zero bias
D) Only at high frequencies
Answer: B) In reverse bias
Question 7: In a MOSFET, the current conduction is due to:
A) Electrons only
B) Holes only
C) Both electrons and holes
D) Either electrons or holes, depending on the type
Answer: D) Either electrons or holes, depending on the type
Question 8: The open-loop gain of an operational amplifier is typically:
A) Low
B) Moderate
C) High
D) Unity
Answer: C) High
Question 9: In a synchronous counter, the main advantage over an asynchronous
counter is:
A) Simplicity
B) Speed
C) Cost
D) Size
Answer: B) Speed
Question 10: For an FM signal, the bandwidth can be calculated using:
A) Nyquist theorem
B) Carson's rule
C) Shannon's theorem
D) Hartley theorem
Answer: B) Carson's rule
Question 11: In digital circuits, a flip-flop is used as:
A) A counter
B) A memory element
C) A decoder
D) A multiplexer
Answer: B) A memory element
Question 12: The efficiency of a Class C amplifier is approximately:
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 90%
Answer: D) 90%
Question 13: Which type of oscillator is most commonly used for generating high-
frequency signals?
A) Wien bridge oscillator
B) Colpitts oscillator
C) Crystal oscillator
D) Hartley oscillator
Answer: C) Crystal oscillator
Question 14: The primary function of a Schmitt trigger is to:
A) Amplify signals
B) Filter noise
C) Provide hysteresis to eliminate noise
D) Reduce power consumption
Answer: C) Provide hysteresis to eliminate noise
Question 15: The binary equivalent of the decimal number 13.625 is:
A) 1101.101
B) 1100.110
C) 1011.101
D) 1110.010
Answer: A) 1101.101
Question 16: The modulation scheme most robust against noise is:
A) AM
B) FM
C) PM
D) SSB
Answer: B) FM
Question 17: The output impedance of an ideal operational amplifier is:
A) Infinite
B) Zero
C) Very high
D) Very low
Answer: B) Zero
Question 18: In a 4-bit ripple counter, the total number of states is:
A) 8
B) 10
C) 16
D) 32
Answer: C) 16
Question 19: The power spectral density of white noise is:
A) Zero at all frequencies
B) Constant at all frequencies
C) High at low frequencies
D) High at high frequencies
Answer: B) Constant at all frequencies
Question 20: The Nyquist criterion is used for:
A) Stability analysis
B) Filter design
C) Sampling rate determination
D) Noise reduction
Answer: C) Sampling rate determination
Question 1: The main advantage of using negative feedback in amplifiers is:
A) Increased bandwidth and stability
B) Increased gain
C) Reduced noise
D) Increased distortion
Answer: A) Increased bandwidth and stability
Question 2: In a JFET, the pinch-off voltage is:
A) The voltage at which the drain current becomes maximum
B) The voltage at which the channel is completely cut off
C) The gate voltage at which the device conducts
D) The voltage at which the gate current starts flowing
Answer: B) The voltage at which the channel is completely cut off
Question 3: The primary purpose of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is:
A) To amplify weak signals
B) To synchronize with the frequency of an input signal
C) To generate high-frequency signals
D) To act as a low-pass filter
Answer: B) To synchronize with the frequency of an input signal
Question 4: In an ideal transformer, the relationship between primary and secondary
voltage is determined by:
A) Core material
B) Turns ratio
C) Frequency of operation
D) Winding resistance
Answer: B) Turns ratio
Question 5: Which modulation technique is most bandwidth-efficient?
A) AM
B) FM
C) PM
D) SSB
Answer: D) SSB
Question 6: The purpose of using guard bands in FDM systems is to:
A) Increase data transmission rate
B) Reduce bandwidth usage
C) Prevent crosstalk between channels
D) Reduce transmission delay
Answer: C) Prevent crosstalk between channels
Question 7: In control systems, the steady-state error decreases when the system
type:
A) Increases
B) Decreases
C) Remains constant
D) Is zero
Answer: A) Increases
Question 9: The 8086 microprocessor is a:
A) 8-bit processor
B) 16-bit processor
C) 32-bit processor
D) 64-bit processor
Answer: B) 16-bit processor
Question 10: The resolution of a 12-bit ADC with a reference voltage of 5V is:
A) 1.22 mV
B) 2.44 mV
C) 5 mV
D) 10 mV
Answer: B) 2.44 mV
Question 11: In digital circuits, a decoder is used to:
A) Encode data
B) Decode binary data into its original form
C) Multiplex signals
D) Perform logical operations
Answer: B) Decode binary data into its original form
Question 12: The bandwidth of an FM signal depends on:
A) Modulating frequency and amplitude
B) Modulation index and modulating frequency
C) Carrier amplitude and modulating frequency
D) Carrier frequency and modulation index
Answer: B) Modulation index and modulating frequency
Question 13: Which device operates as a current-controlled switch?
A) BJT
B) MOSFET
C) SCR
D) UJT
Answer: C) SCR
Question 14: A counter that resets itself after counting up to a predetermined
number is called:
A) Ripple counter
B) Ring counter
C) Modulus counter
D) Shift counter
Answer: C) Modulus counter
Question 15: The primary purpose of an optical isolator in circuits is to:
A) Isolate signal grounds
B) Increase signal strength
C) Protect the system from high voltages
D) Enhance modulation index
Answer: C) Protect the system from high voltages
Question 16: The primary function of a DAC is to:
A) Convert analog signals to digital
B) Convert digital signals to analog
C) Amplify digital signals
D) Generate square waves
Answer: B) Convert digital signals to analog
Question 17: The frequency of a clock signal in a flip-flop-based counter is:
A) Divided by the modulus
B) Multiplied by the modulus
C) Equal to the input clock frequency
D) Doubled compared to the input
Answer: A) Divided by the modulus
Question 18: A superheterodyne receiver primarily uses:
A) Low-pass filtering
B) Frequency conversion
C) Time-division multiplexing
D) Direct modulation
Answer: B) Frequency conversion
Question 19: A good voltage regulator should have:
A) High output impedance
B) Low output impedance
C) High load regulation
D) High power dissipation
Answer: B) Low output impedance
Question 20: In digital signal processing, the Z-transform is used for:
A) Continuous-time analysis
B) Frequency domain analysis
C) Discrete-time analysis
D) Noise reduction
Answer: C) Discrete-time analysis
Question 1: In an RC circuit, the phase difference between voltage and current at
the critical frequency is:
A) 0°
B) 45°
C) 90°
D) 180°
Answer: B) 45°
Question 2: A signal with a bandwidth of 10 kHz is sampled at 15 kHz. According to
the Nyquist criterion, this sampling rate:
A) Is adequate
B) Is insufficient
C) Leads to aliasing
D) Should be reduced
Answer: A) Is adequate
Question 3: Which logic gate is called a universal gate?
A) AND
B) OR
C) NOR
D) XOR
Answer: C) NOR
Question 4: In a DC motor, the back EMF:
A) Opposes the supply voltage
B) Is in phase with the supply voltage
C) Aids the supply voltage
D) Is independent of the speed of the motor
Answer: A) Opposes the supply voltage
Question 5: Which of the following is not an amplitude modulation scheme?
A) DSB-SC
B) SSB
C) VSB
D) FSK
Answer: D) FSK
Question 6: For a parallel RLC circuit at resonance:
A) Impedance is maximum
B) Impedance is minimum
C) Current is maximum
D) Voltage across inductor and capacitor are equal but opposite
Answer: A) Impedance is maximum
Question 7: The number of flip-flops required to construct a MOD-16 counter is:
A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16
Answer: B) 4
Question 8: In a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), the base is:
A) Heavily doped
B) Lightly doped
C) Moderately doped
D) Undoped
Answer: B) Lightly doped
Question 9: An operational amplifier with a very high input impedance and very low
output impedance is called:
A) A power amplifier
B) A buffer amplifier
C) A differential amplifier
D) A comparator
Answer: B) A buffer amplifier
Question 10: A system with gain margin greater than 1 and phase margin greater
than 0 is:
A) Stable
B) Unstable
C) Critically stable
D) Marginally stable
Answer: A) Stable
Question 11: The modulation index of an AM signal is 0.8. The total power is 100W.
The carrier power is:
A) 50W
B) 64W
C) 80W
D) 92W
Answer: C) 80W
Question 12: In a PID controller, the integral action is primarily used to:
A) Increase stability
B) Eliminate steady-state error
C) Decrease response time
D) Increase overshoot
Answer: B) Eliminate steady-state error
Question 13: Which of the following is not an advantage of digital communication?
A) Noise immunity
B) Signal regeneration
C) High bandwidth requirement
D) Security
Answer: C) High bandwidth requirement
Question 14: The Fourier transform of a sinc function is:
A) A delta function
B) A square pulse
C) A Gaussian function
D) An exponential function
Answer: B) A square pulse
Question 15: A PN junction diode conducts current when:
A) Reverse-biased
B) Forward-biased
C) Unbiased
D) In breakdown
Answer: B) Forward-biased
Question 16: Which modulation technique is used in TV broadcasting?
A) AM for video and FM for audio
B) FM for video and AM for audio
C) Only AM
D) Only FM
Answer: A) AM for video and FM for audio
Question 17: A square wave is rich in:
A) Odd harmonics only
B) Even harmonics only
C) Both odd and even harmonics
D) No harmonics
Answer: A) Odd harmonics only
Question 18: The input resistance of a common emitter amplifier is:
A) High
B) Low
C) Infinite
D) Zero
Answer: B) Low
Question 19: In a microprocessor, the program counter holds the:
A) Address of the next instruction
B) Address of the current instruction
C) Data being processed
D) Status of the processor
Answer: A) Address of the next instruction
Question 20: In a 3-phase induction motor, the slip at synchronous speed is:
A) Zero
B) Unity
C) Negative
D) Infinite
Answer: A) Zero
Question 1: A Zener diode is primarily used in:
A) Signal amplification
B) Voltage regulation
C) Rectification
D) Oscillation generation
Answer: B) Voltage regulation
Question 2: The efficiency of a class B amplifier is:
A) 25%
B) 50%
C) 78.5%
D) 100%
Answer: C) 78.5%
Question 3: In FM, the modulation index is defined as:
A) The ratio of carrier amplitude to modulating frequency
B) The ratio of frequency deviation to modulating frequency
C) The ratio of modulating amplitude to carrier frequency
D) The ratio of modulating amplitude to carrier amplitude
Answer: B) The ratio of frequency deviation to modulating frequency
Question 4: In an RLC series circuit at resonance:
A) Impedance is minimum
B) Current is maximum
C) Voltage across inductor and capacitor are equal but opposite
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Question 5: The primary function of a rectifier is to:
A) Convert DC to AC
B) Convert AC to DC
C) Amplify a signal
D) Filter a signal
Answer: B) Convert AC to DC
Question 6: The open-loop gain of an ideal operational amplifier is:
A) Zero
B) Unity
C) Finite
D) Infinite
Answer: D) Infinite
Question 7: In a 3-phase power system, the neutral wire is used to:
A) Reduce losses
B) Maintain system voltage stability
C) Protect equipment from overcurrent
D) Balance phase currents
Answer: D) Balance phase currents
Question 8: The ripple factor of a full-wave rectifier is approximately:
A) 0.482
B) 0.707
C) 1.21
D) 2.2
Answer: A) 0.482
Question 9: In digital communication, the Shannon-Hartley theorem relates to:
A) Channel capacity
B) Signal power
C) Noise power
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Question 10: The function of an antenna in communication systems is to:
A) Generate modulated signals
B) Transmit and receive electromagnetic waves
C) Amplify RF signals
D) Demodulate received signals
Answer: B) Transmit and receive electromagnetic waves
Question 11: In a thyristor, the holding current is:
A) The current below which the thyristor switches off
B) The current at which the thyristor starts conducting
C) The minimum current to keep the thyristor on
D) The gate current required to turn on the thyristor
Answer: C) The minimum current to keep the thyristor on
Question 12: The bandwidth of an AM signal is:
A) Equal to the carrier frequency
B) Double the modulating frequency
C) Twice the carrier frequency
D) Twice the sum of carrier and modulating frequencies
Answer: B) Double the modulating frequency
Question 13: In a capacitor, the capacitive reactance Xc is inversely proportional to:
A) Frequency
B) Capacitance
C) Voltage
D) Both A and B
Answer: D) Both A and B
Question 14: In microprocessors, the ALU performs:
A) Arithmetic and logic operations
B) Memory management
C) Input-output operations
D) All of the above
Answer: A) Arithmetic and logic operations
Question 16: A common use of photodiodes is in:
A) Amplification
B) Light detection
C) Voltage regulation
D) Frequency modulation
Answer: B) Light detection
Question 17: In a control system, if the open-loop transfer function has poles on the
right-hand side of the s-plane, the system is:
A) Stable
B) Unstable
C) Marginally stable
D) Critically stable
Answer: B) Unstable
Question 18: The 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface has:
A) 2 ports
B) 3 ports
C) 4 ports
D) 5 ports
Answer: B) 3 ports
Question 19: A NAND gate is equivalent to:
A) AND gate followed by NOT gate
B) OR gate followed by NOT gate
C) XOR gate followed by NOT gate
D) NOR gate followed by NOT gate
Answer: A) AND gate followed by NOT gate
Question 20: A shift register is used for:
A) Arithmetic operations
B) Data storage
C) Serial-to-parallel conversion
D) None of the above
Answer: C) Serial-to-parallel conversion
