Exam-style question
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Explain why assembly language is classified as low-level rather than high-level, and describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using assembly language instead of a high-level language.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Assembly language is classified as low-level because its symbolic instructions are closely related to machine-code instructions and provide little abstraction from the processor's operations.
- An advantage is that it can give the programmer close control over the instructions being carried out.
- A disadvantage is that it is usually more difficult and time-consuming for people to write, understand and maintain than a high-level language.
Explanation
Why this works
The answer links assembly language to machine code, which establishes its low-level classification. It also provides a valid comparison with high-level languages by stating one benefit and one drawback.
Common mistake
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