What was magnetic tape used for in early computers?

Correct answer: For storing data

The governing concept is the history of secondary storage. Magnetic tape records information by magnetizing portions of a coated strip, so it was used to store programs and data for later retrieval. It was relatively inexpensive and could hold substantial amounts of sequential data, although access was slower than with random-access disks because the tape generally had to move to the required position. Therefore option A is correct. A monitor is a display device, not a tape application, so option B is unrelated. Options C and D confuse storage technology with the construction of a pointing device or the display of colors.