Fundamentals of Computer Organisation & Architecture

Question 1

What is the role of the Processor

Answer 1

To execute program instructions in order
to run applications

Question 2

Name two types of main memory

Answer 2

1. Random access memory (RAM)
2. Read only memory (ROM)

Question 3

Which is usually faster: main memory or secondary
storage?

Answer 3

Main memory

Question 4

Name two types of information that may be held in
main memory

Answer 4

1. Program instructions
2. Frequently used data

Question 5

What is meant by a bus?

Answer 5

A series of parallel wires that connects
internal components of a computer

Question 6

Which bus is used to transport memory addresses?

Answer 6

Address bus

Question 7

Which bus is used to send information to and from
different components?

Answer 7

Data bus

Question 8

An address bus is formed from 8 parallel wires. How
many addressable memory locations does the
address bus allow?

Answer 8

256
2^8 = 256

Question 9

What effect does increasing the width of the data
bus have?

Answer 9

Increases the volume of data that can be
transferred at any one time.

Question 10

What is the role of the control bus?

Answer 10

Carries control signals, including the
system clock, that regulate the operation
of the computer system

Question 11

What name is given to hardware that controls the
communication of data between the processor and
external hardware devices

Answer 11

I/O Controllers

Question 12

Which type of architecture is shown in
the diagram: Harvard or von Neumann?

Main Memory(Instructions) — Processor — Main Memory(Data)

Answer 12

Harvard

Question 13

Which type of architecture is extensively used in
embedded systems: Harvard or von Neumann?

Answer 13

Harvard

Question 14

In which type of architecture are instructions and
data stored in the same memory: Harvard or von
Neumann?

Answer 14

Von Neumann

Question 15

Which type of architecture is used in
general-purpose computer systems: Harvard or von
Neumann?

Answer 15

Von Neumann

Question 16

What is meant by the stored program concept?

Answer 16

Machine code instructions stored in main
memory are fetched and executed
serially by a processor that performs
arithmetic and logical operations

Question 17

What is the advantage of using the stored program
concept?

Answer 17

Allows one computer to run several
different programs

Question 18

When using the stored program concept, what two
things could the contents of a memory location be
interpreted as?

Answer 18

1. Instructions
2. Data

Question 19

Name the two architectures on which stored program
computers can be based

Answer 19

1. Harvard architecture
2. von Neumann architecture

Question 20

Which type of register is the status register: general
purpose or special purpose?

Answer 20

Special purpose

Question 21

Which of the following is not found within
a processor?
A: Control unit
B: Main memory
C: Buses

Answer 21

B

Question 22

What effect does increasing the width of
the address bus have?

Answer 22

Increases the computer’s amount of
addressable memory

Question 23

Which register holds the instruction that is currently
being executed by the processor?

Answer 23

CIR
Current Instruction Register

Question 24

What is Cache

Answer 24

A small portion of fast memory used to
store frequently used information in the
processor.

Question 25

What name is given to small storage locations used
to hold data temporarily in the processor?

Answer 25

Registers

Question 26

What is meant by STR R3, 38?

Answer 26

Store the value that is in register 3 into
memory location 38.

Question 27

Which register holds the contents of a memory
location that has been read from or data that is to be
stored?

Answer 27

Memory Buffer Register

Question 28

Which part of a computer’s processor generates
signals at a regular frequency?

Answer 28

Clock

Question 29

Name the three stages of the fetch-execute cycle

Answer 29

Fetch, decode, execute

Question 30

What name is given to the data to be used in an
instruction: opcode or operand?

Answer 30

Operand

Question 31

Form an assembly language instruction that would
mean: “Add the value in register 4 to the value in
register 5 and store the result in register 3”

Answer 31

ADD R3, R4, R5

Question 32

In which stage of the fetch-execute cycle is the
program counter incremented?

Answer 32

Fetch

Question 33

Between which two stages of the fetch-execute cycle
is the status register checked?

Answer 33

Execute and fetch

Question 34

What name is given to the group of instructions that
a processor can carry out?

Answer 34

Instruction set

Question 35

In which addressing mode does the value specified
by an operand signify a memory address?

Answer 35

Direct addressing

Question 36

In which stage of the fetch-execute cycle is an
instruction broken into opcode and operands?

Answer 36

Decode

Question 37

What name is given to a signal sent to the processor
by another part of the computer requesting the
attention of the processor?

Answer 37

Interrupt