Which statement best describes a high level programming language?

Which statement best describes a high level programming language?

• A. A language that maps directly to processor instructions.
• B. A programming language that hides the details of how the computer hardware solves a problem and is therefore easier for a programmer to use.
• C. A language used for statistical computing.
• D. A language limited to assembly translation.

Answer: (B)

High-level programming languages let you focus on solving a problem rather than managing the computer’s hardware. They provide abstractions like variables, control structures, functions, and libraries, so you can express algorithms in a way that’s easier to read and write. The compiler or interpreter handles translating your code into machine instructions and can run on different hardware without you changing the code, which is why these languages feel easy to use and portable. In contrast, languages that map directly to processor instructions require you to manage hardware details such as memory addresses and registers, which is characteristic of low-level programming. A language described as being used only for translating to assembly still implies close hardware interaction, not the broader abstraction level typical of high-level languages. And a language specialized for a domain like statistics doesn’t define what makes a language high level—many high-level languages are used for statistics too, but the defining trait is the abstraction from hardware, not the domain they serve. So the statement that a high-level language hides hardware details and is easier for a programmer to use captures the essence of what makes it high-level.

High-level programming languages let you focus on solving a problem rather than managing the computer’s hardware. They provide abstractions like variables, control structures, functions, and libraries, so you can express algorithms in a way that’s easier to read and write. The compiler or interpreter handles translating your code into machine instructions and can run on different hardware without you changing the code, which is why these languages feel easy to use and portable.

In contrast, languages that map directly to processor instructions require you to manage hardware details such as memory addresses and registers, which is characteristic of low-level programming. A language described as being used only for translating to assembly still implies close hardware interaction, not the broader abstraction level typical of high-level languages. And a language specialized for a domain like statistics doesn’t define what makes a language high level—many high-level languages are used for statistics too, but the defining trait is the abstraction from hardware, not the domain they serve.

So the statement that a high-level language hides hardware details and is easier for a programmer to use captures the essence of what makes it high-level.