The correct answer is: A. COBOL
COBOL is a high-level programming language designed for business applications. It is one of the oldest programming languages still in use today. COBOL is a procedural language, which means that it focuses on the steps that need to be taken to complete a task. It is also a compiled language, which means that it is converted into machine code before it is run. This makes COBOL a relatively fast language to execute.
COBOL is widely used in the financial industry, as well as in other industries that require accurate and reliable data processing. It is also used in some government and military applications.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- FORTRAN is a high-level programming language that was originally developed for scientific and engineering applications. It is a compiled language, and it is still widely used in these fields today.
- PASCAL is a high-level programming language that was developed in the early 1970s. It is a structured language, which means that it emphasizes the use of modules and subroutines to organize code. Pascal is still used in some educational settings, but it is not as widely used as it once was.
- LISP is a high-level programming language that was developed in the early 1950s. It is a functional language, which means that it emphasizes the use of functions to represent data and operations. LISP is still used in some artificial intelligence applications, but it is not as widely used as it once was.
- None of the above is not a correct answer.