In basic computer terminology, a hard copy of a document refers to which form of that document?

Introduction / Context:
When working with documents on a computer, you will often hear the terms soft copy and hard copy. Understanding the difference between these two is essential for basic computer literacy. This question tests whether you know what is meant by a hard copy of a document and can distinguish it from digital forms stored on various storage devices, including pen drives, hard disks and floppy disks.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with documents created and edited on a computer.
• The term hard copy is used in contrast to soft copy.
• Several options mention different kinds of storage and formats.
• We assume you know what a printer does and what a printout is.

Concept / Approach:
Soft copy refers to the electronic version of data or a document that is displayed on a screen or stored as a file. Hard copy, by contrast, refers to a physical printed version on paper or another tangible medium. When a document is printed using a printer, the resulting sheets are called the hard copy. Saving a file to a pen drive, floppy disk or hard disk still keeps it as an electronic soft copy. Even a PDF file is still digital until it is printed. Therefore, the only option that correctly expresses the idea of a hard copy is a version printed on paper using a printer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Computer fundamentals textbooks and office documentation consistently define hard copy as the printed form of data, such as output produced by a printer on paper. They likewise define soft copy as the display on a screen or the electronic file stored inside the computer. Hardware such as pen drives and hard disks are described as storage devices for soft copies. Even when a document is saved as a PDF or any other file type, it remains a soft copy until printed. These consistent definitions in educational material confirm that a paper printout is what we mean by hard copy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A version stored on a USB pen drive: This is still a digital file, which is a soft copy, not a hard copy.
• A version that can be read from a floppy disk: Again, this describes electronic storage, not a printed output.
• A version stored on the internal hard disk: The hard disk keeps electronic data; it does not automatically produce physical copies.
• A version saved as a PDF file on the computer: A PDF is a digital format; it becomes a hard copy only when physically printed.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the word hard in hard copy with hard disk and think that anything stored on the hard disk must be a hard copy. This is incorrect. The words sound similar but have different meanings. Another mistake is to think that a PDF or other file type is more permanent and therefore a hard copy; in reality, permanence depends on physical printing, not file format. Always remember: soft copy is on screen or in files, hard copy is on paper or another physical medium after printing.

Final Answer:
A hard copy of a document is a version printed on paper using a printer.