Pulse Modulation — Multiple Choice Questions

1. Pulse modulation transmits signals in the form of:

A. Continuous waves
B. Sinusoidal waves
C. Pulses
D. Digital bits

2. Which of the following is not a type of analog pulse modulation?

A. Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)
B. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
C. Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)
D. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

3. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) belongs to what category of modulation?

A. Analog Pulse Modulation
B. Digital Pulse Modulation
C. Frequency Modulation
D. Amplitude Modulation

4. In Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), the amplitude of the pulse is proportional to:
A. The frequency of the signal
B. The amplitude of the signal at the sampling instant
C. The width of the pulse
D. The noise level

5. The process of taking samples of an analog signal at regular intervals is known as:
A. Encoding
B. Quantization
C. Sampling
D. Demodulation
✅ Answer: C

6. According to the sampling theorem, the sampling rate must be at least:

A. Half the signal frequency
B. Equal to the signal frequency
C. Twice the signal frequency
D. Thrice the signal frequency
✅ Answer: C
7. In Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), the parameter that varies with the analog signal is:
A. Amplitude
B. Frequency
C. Position
D. Width
✅ Answer: D

8. In PWM, the amplitude of the pulses is:

A. Constant
B. Variable
C. Proportional to time
D. Random
✅ Answer: A

9. Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) has:

A. Fixed amplitude and variable width
B. Fixed width and variable amplitude
C. Fixed amplitude and width, but variable position
D. Variable amplitude and variable position
✅ Answer: C

10. PPM can be derived from which other modulation type?

A. PAM
B. PWM
C. PCM
D. DM
✅ Answer: B

11. PCM converts an analog signal into:

A. A frequency-modulated signal
B. A binary code
C. A series of amplitudes
D. A continuous waveform
✅ Answer: B

12. PCM was invented by:

A. Claude Shannon
B. Alex H. Reeves
C. Thomas Edison
D. John Bardeen
✅ Answer: B

13. PCM was invented in which year?

A. 1927
B. 1937
C. 1947
D. 1957
✅ Answer: B

14. The process of dividing the maximum value of an analog signal into fixed levels is called:
A. Sampling
B. Quantization
C. Encoding
D. Decoding
✅ Answer: B

15. The number of pulses per second in a sampling process is called:

A. Bit rate
B. Sampling rate
C. Quantization level
D. Modulation index
✅ Answer: B

16. Bit rate is given by:

A. Sampling rate × Frequency
B. Sampling rate × Number of bits per sample
C. Sampling rate ÷ Bandwidth
D. Quantization levels ÷ Time
✅ Answer: B

17. The Nyquist sampling theorem states:

A. fs ≥ 2fa
B. fs ≤ 2fa
C. fs = fa
D. fs = fa / 2
✅ Answer: A
18. The bandwidth of a PCM signal depends on:
A. Input signal frequency only
B. Bit rate and pulse shape
C. Sampling frequency alone
D. Quantization error
✅ Answer: B

19. The formula for bit rate (fb) is:

A. fb = fs / n
B. fb = n × fs
C. fb = fs + n
D. fb = n / fs
✅ Answer: B

20. The minimum bandwidth of a PCM signal is given by:

A. fb
B. fb/2
C. n × fs
D. 2fs
✅ Answer: B

21. The unitless ratio of the largest to smallest magnitude a system can decode is called:
A. Quantization noise
B. Dynamic range
C. Bit rate
D. Sampling rate
✅ Answer: B

22. The mathematical relationship between dynamic range and number of bits is:
A. 2n – 1 = DR
B. DR = 2n + 1
C. n = 2DR
D. DR = n / 2
✅ Answer: A

23. Increasing the number of quantization levels in PCM will:

A. Decrease the bandwidth requirement
B. Increase the bandwidth requirement
C. Have no effect
D. Reduce signal quality
✅ Answer: B

24. The probability of error in PCM can be reduced by:

A. Lowering bit rate
B. Using coding techniques
C. Increasing quantization levels only
D. Reducing sampling rate
✅ Answer: B

25. Which advantage does PCM have over analog systems?

A. Lower cost of transmission
B. Higher noise performance and signal regeneration
C. Simpler circuitry
D. Smaller bandwidth
✅ Answer: B

MULTIPLEXING – Multiple Choice Questions

Part I: Basic Concepts

1. What is multiplexing?
a) A method of encrypting data
b) A set of techniques allowing multiple signals to share a single link
c) A process of amplifying weak signals
d) A method for increasing signal bandwidth

2. In multiplexing, the term link refers to:

a) The physical path
b) The data signal
c) The bandwidth
d) The network layer

3. The term channel in multiplexing refers to:

a) The total bandwidth
b) A portion of a link carrying one transmission
c) The modulation frequency
d) The digital signal frame
Part II: Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

4. FDM is mainly used for:

a) Analog signals
b) Digital signals
c) Optical signals
d) Error detection

5. In FDM, the total link bandwidth must be:

a) Equal to one signal’s bandwidth
b) Smaller than combined signal bandwidths
c) Greater than combined signal bandwidths
d) Independent of signal bandwidths

6. Guard bands in FDM are used to:

a) Reduce bandwidth usage
b) Prevent interference between channels
c) Increase data rate
d) Synchronize frames

7. In an FDM system with five 100 kHz channels and 10 kHz guard bands, what is the minimum link
bandwidth?
a) 500 kHz
b) 520 kHz
c) 540 kHz
d) 560 kHz

8. The demultiplexing process in FDM uses:

a) Filters
b) Time slots
c) Frames
d) Modems

9. The Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) allows how many channels if each band of 25 MHz
is divided into 30 kHz channels?
a) 500
b) 832
c) 900
d) 1000

Part III: Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

10. WDM is an analog multiplexing technique used for:

a) Coaxial cable signals
b) Fiber optic communication
 c) Microwave transmission
d) Satellite channels

11. WDM uses which component for combining and separating optical signals?
a) Filters
b) Prisms
c) Amplifiers
d) Oscillators

12. The main advantage of WDM is:

a) Reduced cost of copper cables
b) High data rate transmission over optical fiber
c) Simpler modulation techniques
d) Compatibility with radio systems

Part IV: Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

13. TDM is primarily used for:

a) Analog signals
b) Digital signals
c) Optical pulses only
d) Modulated radio waves

14. In TDM, data from each source is transmitted in:

a) Frequency bands
b) Time slots
c) Guard channels
d) Signal frames

15. If four 1 Kbps connections are multiplexed, what is the data rate of the link?
a) 1 Kbps
b) 2 Kbps
c) 3 Kbps
d) 4 Kbps

16. In TDM, the duration of each time slot is:

a) Longer than the original bit duration
b) Equal to the bit duration of the link
c) The original bit duration divided by the number of channels
d) Irrelevant to the frame rate

17. Synchronizing bits in TDM are used to:

a) Identify the start of a frame
b) Increase bandwidth
c) Avoid noise
d) Allocate frequencies
 18. If each source generates 250 characters/s and one sync bit is added per frame, each frame has
how many bits if each character = 8 bits and 4 sources exist?
a) 8 bits
b) 16 bits
c) 33 bits
d) 32 bits

19. The data rate of the link in the previous question is:
a) 8000 bps
b) 8250 bps
c) 250 bps
d) 33 bps

20. In a TDM system, if one channel has 100 Kbps and another has 200 Kbps, the bit rate of the link
is:
a) 200 Kbps
b) 100 Kbps
c) 300 Kbps
d) 400 Kbps

Part V: Hierarchies and Applications

21. The DS-1 (T-1) line has a data rate of:

a) 1.544 Mbps
b) 6.312 Mbps
c) 44.736 Mbps
d) 274.176 Mbps

22. A DS-3 (T-3) line can carry how many voice channels?
a) 24
b) 96
c) 672
d) 4032

23. The European E-1 line provides:

a) 2.048 Mbps for 30 channels
b) 1.544 Mbps for 24 channels
c) 8.448 Mbps for 120 channels
d) 34.368 Mbps for 480 channels

24. Which of the following correctly describes Inverse TDM?

a) Dividing one high-speed line into several low-speed links
b) Combining several low-speed lines into one high-speed link
c) Modulating multiple signals into optical form
d) Adding guard bands to avoid interference
 25. The main advantage of multiplexing is:
a) Reducing the number of transmission errors
b) Efficient use of bandwidth by sharing one link among multiple signals
c) Increasing signal frequency
d) Reducing noise levels in transmission

🧩 Answer Key – Multiplexing Quiz

No. Question Topic Correct Answer

b) A set of techniques allowing multiple signals to share a

1 Definition of multiplexing
single link

2 Meaning of link a) The physical path

3 Meaning of channel b) A portion of a link carrying one transmission

4 FDM used for a) Analog signals

5 Bandwidth relation in FDM c) Greater than combined signal bandwidths

6 Purpose of guard bands b) Prevent interference between channels

Bandwidth computation (FDM

7 c) 540 kHz
example)

8 Demultiplexing in FDM uses a) Filters

9 AMPS number of channels b) 832

10 WDM used for b) Fiber optic communication

11 WDM components b) Prisms

12 WDM advantage b) High data rate transmission over optical fiber

13 TDM used for b) Digital signals

14 Transmission method in TDM b) Time slots

15 Data rate for 4 × 1 Kbps d) 4 Kbps

16 Duration of time slot c) The original bit duration divided by the number of channels

17 Role of sync bits a) Identify the start of a frame

18 Bits per frame (Example 8) c) 33 bits

19 Data rate of link (Example 8) b) 8250 bps

No. Question Topic Correct Answer

Bit rate for 100 Kbps + 200 Kbps

20 c) 300 Kbps
channels

21 DS-1 / T-1 line rate a) 1.544 Mbps

22 DS-3 / T-3 voice channels c) 672

23 E-1 line rate and channels a) 2.048 Mbps for 30 channels

24 Inverse TDM definition b) Combining several low-speed lines into one high-speed link

b) Efficient use of bandwidth by sharing one link among

25 Main advantage of multiplexing
multiple signals