Computer Hardware – System architecture, processor, memory types Quiz - ICSE Class 11 Computer Science
Free practice quiz: Computer Hardware – System architecture, processor, memory types (ICSE Class 11 Computer Science). 52 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. Play online, no sign-up needed.
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Which component of a CPU is primarily responsible for executing instructions by performing arithmetic and logical operations?
- Control Unit
- Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
- Registers
- Cache Memory
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Answer: B. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is a fundamental part of the CPU that carries out all arithmetic operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical operations (like AND, OR, NOT, XOR). The Control Unit manages the flow of data and instructions, while registers are small, high-speed storage locations within the CPU, and cache memory is a type of memory that stores frequently accessed data.
What is the key difference between synchronous and asynchronous memory?
- Synchronous memory is faster than asynchronous memory.
- Synchronous memory is volatile, while asynchronous memory is not.
- Synchronous memory operates in lockstep with the system clock, while asynchronous memory does not.
- Asynchronous memory requires fewer pins on the interface.
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Answer: C. Synchronous memory operates in lockstep with the system clock, while asynchronous memory does not.
Synchronous memory (like SDRAM) uses the system clock to time its data transfers, allowing for predictable and faster operation. Asynchronous memory (like older DRAM or SRAM) does not rely on a system clock for data transfer timing; instead, it uses control signals to indicate when data is ready. While synchronous memory is generally faster, this is a consequence of its clock synchronization, not the defining difference. Volatility and pin count are not the primary distinguishing factors.
What is the role of the System Bus?
- To manage the graphical display output
- To facilitate communication between CPU, memory, and peripherals
- To perform floating-point calculations
- To store the operating system files
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Answer: B. To facilitate communication between CPU, memory, and peripherals
The System Bus is a collective term for the buses that connect the major components of a computer. It typically consists of the data bus, address bus, and control bus, enabling information exchange between the CPU, memory, and I/O devices. Graphics output is handled by the GPU, calculations by the ALU, and OS files are stored on secondary storage.
What is the purpose of the Accumulator register in a CPU?
- To hold the memory address of the next instruction.
- To store the results of arithmetic and logic operations.
- To temporarily hold data being transferred between memory and CPU.
- To manage the data bus.
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Answer: B. To store the results of arithmetic and logic operations.
The Accumulator is a special register within the CPU that holds the operands for arithmetic and logic operations and stores the results of these operations. The Program Counter holds the address of the next instruction. General registers might hold temporary data, and the Memory Buffer Register (MBR) holds data being transferred.
What is the concept of 'instruction-level parallelism' (ILP)?
- The ability of a CPU to execute multiple instructions from different programs simultaneously.
- The ability of a CPU to execute multiple instructions from the same program simultaneously.
- The process of converting high-level code into machine code.
- The management of data flow between CPU and memory.
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Answer: B. The ability of a CPU to execute multiple instructions from the same program simultaneously.
Instruction-level parallelism (ILP) refers to the degree to which the machine instructions of a computer program can be executed in parallel. Techniques like pipelining, superscalar execution, and out-of-order execution are used to exploit ILP within a single program.