Final answer:
Each number (1GL, 2GL, 3GL, and 4GL) corresponds to a different generation of programming languages, from machine language to declarative languages like SQL. The correct option that matches each generation is A. Machine, Assembly, Procedural, Declarative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms 1GL, 2GL, 3GL, and 4GL refer to different generations of programming languages used in computer science. Among the provided options, the best match for each generation is:
- 1GL: Machine Language - The most basic form of programming language, which is directly executed by the hardware.
- 2GL: Assembly Language - A low-level programming language that is slightly more abstract than machine language and uses mnemonic codes or symbols to represent machine-level instructions.
- 3GL: High-level procedural languages like C and Java - These languages allow programmers to write instructions in a format that is easier to understand and closer to human language.
- 4GL: Declarative languages like SQL - These programming languages focus on the 'what' rather than the 'how,' allowing users to specify the result they want without detailing the steps for achieving that result.
These generations represent the evolution of programming languages from specific machine instructions to more abstract, human-readable codes.