Given below are two statements:

Statement I: Shareware is a software that the users can try out for a trial period only, before being charged.

Statement II: Freeware is a software that the users can download free of charge, but they cannot modify the source code in any way.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below

The correct answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Let us analyze each statement carefully to understand why both of them are accurate.

Understanding Statement I — Shareware:

Statement I says: "Shareware is a software that the users can try out for a trial period only, before being charged."

This is true. Shareware is a well-known software distribution model where the developer allows users to access and use the software for free, but only for a limited trial period (for example, 7, 14, or 30 days). The key characteristics of shareware are:

• The user does not need to pay upfront to start using it.
• After the trial period expires, the user is either prompted to purchase a license or the software stops working (or certain features get locked).
• It is essentially a "try before you buy" model, designed to let users evaluate the software before committing to a purchase.

Classic examples of shareware include older versions of WinZip and WinRAR, which allowed full functionality for a trial period and then asked users to pay for continued use. So Statement I correctly and completely describes the concept of Shareware.

Understanding Statement II — Freeware:

Statement II says: "Freeware is a software that the users can download free of charge, but they cannot modify the source code in any way."

This is true. Freeware is a software that is made available to users at no monetary cost �� meaning it can be downloaded and used completely for free, with no trial period limitations. However, the crucial distinction is:

• Freeware is not the same as Open Source software.
• In freeware, the source code is NOT provided to the end user. The developer retains full copyright over the code.
• Because the source code is not accessible, users cannot modify, alter, or redistribute the software in any form.
• Users only receive the compiled, executable version of the program.

Well-known examples of freeware include Adobe Acrobat Reader, Skype (historically), and many antivirus tools. These are free to download and use, but you cannot look into or change their underlying source code. This perfectly matches what Statement II describes.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• Option 2 (Both are false) is wrong because, as shown above, both definitions are accurate and standard.
• Option 3 (Statement I true, II false) is wrong because Statement II is also true.
• Option 4 (Statement I false, II true) is wrong because Statement I is also true.

Conclusion:

Both statements correctly capture the standard, widely accepted definitions used in computer science and software licensing:

• Shareware = Free to try for a limited trial period → pay to continue using.
• Freeware = Free to download and use forever → but source code cannot be modified.

Therefore, Both Statement I and Statement II are true is the correct answer.