Question 1

System software is an intermediary between the assembly language and hardware components of the Von Neumann machine.

Accepted Answer

System software is an intermediary between the user and the hardware components of the Von Neumann machine.

Question 2

Machines that use the simplified approach to designing instruction sets are known as RISC machines.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. RISC stands for Reduced Instruction Set Computing, and RISC machines are designed to use a simplified instruction set to execute instructions more quickly and efficiently.

Question 3

The Von Neumann bottleneck is the phenomenon where sequential one-instruction-at-a-time computer models cannot handle large-scale problems.

Accepted Answer

The Von Neumann bottleneck refers to the limitation of the transfer of data between a computer's CPU and memory, resulting in slower performance when dealing with large amounts of data. This limitation affects sequential one-instruction-at-a-time computer models, which cannot handle large-scale problems efficiently.

Question 4

The ____ holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.
A) status register
B) program counter
C) condition register
D) instruction register

Accepted Answer

The program counter holds the address of the next instruction to be executed in the CPU. The status register is used for storing information about the CPU's state, the condition register holds information about the results of the most recent arithmetic or logical operation, and the instruction register holds the current instruction being executed. None of these registers hold the address of the next instruction to be executed, so B is the correct answer.

Question 5

The ____ are the devices that allow a computer system to communicate and interact with the outside world as well as store information.
A) registers
B) arithmetic/logic units
C) control units
D) input/output units

Accepted Answer

Input/output units, also known as I/O devices, are responsible for allowing a computer system to communicate with external devices and store information. Registers, arithmetic/logic units, and control units are all internal components of a computer that perform other functions such as processing data and controlling the flow of information within the computer system.

Question 6

To understand how computers process information, we must study computers as collections of ____ that perform tasks such as information processing, information storage, computation, and data transfer functional units.
A) data types
B) functional units
C) hardware
D) memory units

Accepted Answer

While all of the choices listed play a role in computer systems, the best choice is B, functional units. This is because computers are comprised of various functional units, such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, input/output devices, and storage devices, that work together to process information. These functional units are responsible for tasks such as computation, data transfer, and information storage.

Question 7

A(n) ____ handles the details of input/output and compensates for any speed differences between I/O devices and other parts of the computer.
A) cache
B) I/O register
C) decoder circuit
D) I/O controller

Accepted Answer

An I/O controller is a hardware device that manages communication between the computer's processor and its I/O devices. It handles the details of input/output and compensates for any speed differences between I/O devices and other parts of the computer.

Question 8

The ____ of a disk is the time needed to position the read/write head over the correct track.
A) latency
B) frequency
C) transfer speed
D) seek time

Accepted Answer

The seek time of a disk is the time needed for the read/write head to move to the correct track. Latency refers to the time it takes for the disk to rotate and for the read/write head to reach the correct sector on the track. Frequency refers to the rate at which data is transmitted, and transfer speed refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted in a given time period. Therefore, the correct answer is D, seek time.

Question 9

If a computer has a maximum of 2^N memory cells, then each address field in a machine language instruction must be ____ bits wide to enable us to address every cell. A) N B) 2N C) N² D) 2^N

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A) N. The notation 2 ^N represents 2 to the power of N, indicating that the computer can address 2^N memory cells. To address each of these cells individually, the address field must be N bits wide, as each bit can represent two states (0 or 1), and N bits can represent 2^N unique states or addresses.

Question 10

The ____ of a disk is the time for the beginning of the desired sector to rotate under the read/write head.
A) latency
B) transfer time
C) frequency
D) seek time

Accepted Answer

Latency is the time it takes for the beginning of the desired sector to rotate under the read/write head.

Question 11

How many bytes are in a gigabyte? A) 2¹⁰ B) 2²⁰ C) 2³⁰ D) 2¹⁰⁰

Accepted Answer

A gigabyte is equivalent to 2^30 bytes, which is 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Question 12

What are the four major components of the Von Neumann architecture?
A) input unit, output unit, central processing unit, memory
B) random access memory, data registers, cache memory, nonvolatile storage
C) central processing unit, arithmetic logic unit, control unit, input/output
D) memory, input/output, arithmetic logic unit, control unit

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the four major components of...

Question 13

Machine programming languages were designed to make programming less cumbersome, confusing, and error prone.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Machine programming languages were designed to make...

Question 14

The ____ of a disk is the time for the entire sector to pass under the read/write head and have its contents read into or written from memory.
A) latency
B) transfer time
C) frequency
D) seek time

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____ of a disk is the...

Question 15

Parallel processing enables researchers to easily and transparently access computer facilities without regard for their locations.

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing refers to the simultaneous execution of multiple processes to increase computational speed, but it does not inherently provide transparent access to computer facilities regardless of location. This is more related to distributed computing or cloud computing.

Question 16

The acronym ____ is frequently used to refer to the memory unit of a computer.
A) ROM
B) CD
C) MDR
D) RAM

Accepted Answer

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the memory unit of a computer where data is temporarily stored while the computer is running. It is frequently used to refer to immediate or volatile memory. ROM (Read-Only Memory) refers to non-volatile memory used to store permanent data, while CD (Compact Disc) refers to a type of optical disc used for data storage, and MDR is not a commonly used acronym in the context of computer memory.

Question 17

A(n) ____ is a high-speed memory unit.
A) MIMD
B) I/O controller
C) decoder
D) cache

Accepted Answer

A cache is a high-speed memory unit that stores frequently accessed data and instructions for quick access by the CPU.

Question 18

The ____ machine language instructions alter the normal sequential flow of control.
A) data transfer
B) arithmetic
C) branch
D) compare

Accepted Answer

Branch machine language instructions allow for jumps to different sections of code based on certain conditions, thus altering the normal sequential flow of control. Data transfer and arithmetic instructions only manipulate data, while compare instructions only compare data.

Question 19

It is the task of the ____ to fetch, decode, and execute instructions.
A) arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)
B) I/O controllers
C) memory
D) control unit

Accepted Answer

The control unit is responsible for fetching instructions from memory, decoding them and executing them. The arithmetic/logic unit performs arithmetic and logical operations on the data. The I/O controllers handle input/output operations. Memory stores data and instructions. Therefore, the best choice is D, control unit.

Question 20

A(n) ____ is a storage cell that holds the operands of an arithmetic operation and that, when the operation is complete, holds its result.
A) decoder
B) register
C) I/O controller
D) cache

Accepted Answer

A register is a type of hardware component that holds the operands of an arithmetic operation and the result of the operation once it is completed. Registers are used to store data that is being actively manipulated by the CPU, and they are designed to be very fast, which makes them ideal for use in operations that require high-speed processing. Decoders, I/O controllers, and caches are other types of hardware components, but they do not hold operands or results of arithmetic operations.

Quiz 5: Computer Systems Organization

System software is an intermediary between the assembly language and hardware components of the Von Neumann machine.

Machines that use the simplified approach to designing instruction sets are known as RISC machines.

The Von Neumann bottleneck is the phenomenon where sequential one-instruction-at-a-time computer models cannot handle large-scale problems.

The ____ holds the address of the next instruction to be executed.

The ____ are the devices that allow a computer system to communicate and interact with the outside world as well as store information.

To understand how computers process information, we must study computers as collections of ____ that perform tasks such as information processing, information storage, computation, and data transfer functional units.

A(n) ____ handles the details of input/output and compensates for any speed differences between I/O devices and other parts of the computer.

The ____ of a disk is the time needed to position the read/write head over the correct track.

If a computer has a maximum of 2N memory cells, then each address field in a machine language instruction must be ____ bits wide to enable us to address every cell.

The ____ of a disk is the time for the beginning of the desired sector to rotate under the read/write head.

How many bytes are in a gigabyte?

What are the four major components of the Von Neumann architecture?

Machine programming languages were designed to make programming less cumbersome, confusing, and error prone.

The ____ of a disk is the time for the entire sector to pass under the read/write head and have its contents read into or written from memory.

Parallel processing enables researchers to easily and transparently access computer facilities without regard for their locations.

The acronym ____ is frequently used to refer to the memory unit of a computer.

A(n) ____ is a high-speed memory unit.

The ____ machine language instructions alter the normal sequential flow of control.

It is the task of the ____ to fetch, decode, and execute instructions.

A(n) ____ is a storage cell that holds the operands of an arithmetic operation and that, when the operation is complete, holds its result.

If a computer has a maximum of 2^N memory cells, then each address field in a machine language instruction must be ____ bits wide to enable us to address every cell.