COMPUTER SYSTEMS & ARCHITECTURE
Comprehensive Examination & Study Guide (60 Q&A)
CORE CONCEPTS & LANGUAGES
1. What is machine code?
A) A language that uses mnemonics like ADD and B) A series of numbers written in binary that a
STA computer understands
C) A high-level programming language like Python D) A language that uses English-like words for
instructions
Correct Answer: B
2. Which of the following is an advantage of high-level languages over low-level languages?
A) They run faster than machine code B) They are easier to read, write, and maintain
C) They do not require translation D) They are specific to each processor architecture
Correct Answer: B
3. Assembly language uses which of the following to represent instructions?
A) Binary numbers only B) English sentences
C) Mnemonics (short abbreviations) D) Decimal numbers
Correct Answer: C
4. What is an instruction set?
A) A collection of high-level language statements B) The set of instructions that a processor
understands
C) A type of memory storage D) A debugging tool for programmers
Correct Answer: B
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TRANSLATORS (COMPILERS, INTERPRETERS, ASSEMBLERS)
5. Which type of translator converts source code into machine code all in one go?
A) Interpreter B) Assembler
C) Compiler D) Linker
Correct Answer: C
6. An interpreter translates source code:
A) All at once before execution B) One instruction at a time
C) Only after the entire program is written D) Into assembly language first
Correct Answer: B
7. Which translator creates one machine code instruction for each assembly instruction?
A) Compiler B) Interpreter
C) Assembler D) Linker
Correct Answer: C
8. What is a major disadvantage of interpreters?
A) They produce executable files that can be easily B) They run slowly because each instruction must be
modified translated before execution
C) They cannot detect errors D) They optimize code too much
Correct Answer: B
9. Which of the following is an advantage of compilers?
A) Errors can be spotted immediately as they occur B) Compiled programs run quickly
C) They translate code one line at a time D) They do not require re-compilation after changes
Correct Answer: B
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10. Source code compiled on one platform will not run on another because:
A) The source code is corrupted during compilation B) Machine code is specific to the processor's
architecture
C) Compilers are not available on all platforms D) High-level languages are platform-specific
Correct Answer: B
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
11. Von Neumann architecture is characterized by:
A) Separate memory for data and instructions B) A single read/write memory for both instructions
and data
C) No memory for data storage D) Parallel execution of multiple instructions
Correct Answer: B
12. In Harvard architecture:
A) Data and instructions are stored in the same B) Data and instructions are stored in separate
memory memory blocks
C) There is no memory for instructions D) Only data can be accessed by the CPU
Correct Answer: B
13. Which bus carries the address that points to the memory location being accessed?
A) Data bus B) Control bus
C) Address bus D) Power bus
Correct Answer: C
14. What is the main characteristic of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture?
A) Large number of complex instructions B) Simple instructions that execute in fewer cycles
C) Many addressing modes D) Large instruction decode units
Correct Answer: B
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15. Which of the following is a characteristic of CISC processors?
A) Large register sets B) Simple instruction formats
C) Many hundreds of different instructions D) Instructions that typically execute in one cycle
Correct Answer: C
16. What is an interrupt?
A) A software error that crashes the program B) A technique that diverts the processor to deal with
an event
C) A type of memory storage D) A method of translating high-level code
Correct Answer: B
17. In memory-mapped I/O:
A) I/O devices have a separate address space B) I/O devices exist within the same linear memory
space as memory devices
C) I/O devices cannot be accessed by the processor D) Special instructions are needed to access I/O
devices
Correct Answer: B
18. What is the function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)?
A) To store data permanently B) To perform arithmetic and logical operations on
data
C) To translate high-level code D) To manage input/output devices
Correct Answer: B
MEMORY AND STORAGE
19. What is a register?
A) A large, slow storage device B) A very fast computer memory used to store data/
instruction in-execution
C) A type of permanent storage D) An input/output device
Correct Answer: B
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20. Which memory is the fastest in a computer?
A) RAM B) ROM
C) Cache memory D) Hard disk
Correct Answer: C
21. What is the difference between RAM and ROM?
A) RAM is non-volatile, ROM is volatile B) RAM is volatile (loses contents without power),
ROM is non-volatile
C) RAM is slower than ROM D) RAM cannot be written to
Correct Answer: B
22. What is the purpose of cache memory?
A) To store data permanently B) To provide high-speed data access to the processor
C) To replace RAM entirely D) To store the operating system
Correct Answer: B
23. Which memory type requires continuous refreshing to maintain data?
A) SRAM B) DRAM
C) ROM D) Flash memory
Correct Answer: B
24. EEPROM stands for:
A) Extended Erasable Programmable Read-Only B) Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory Memory
C) Electronically Enabled Programmable ROM D) Enhanced Erasable PROM
Correct Answer: B
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MICRO-OPERATIONS AND REGISTERS
25. The transfer of new information into a register is referred to as:
A) Storing the register B) Loading the register
C) Reading the register D) Clearing the register
Correct Answer: B
26. Which register holds the address for the memory unit?
A) Accumulator B) MBR (Memory Buffer Register)
C) MAR (Memory Address Register) D) IR (Instruction Register)
Correct Answer: C
27. Which register points to the next instruction to be executed?
A) Program Counter (PC) B) Instruction Register (IR)
C) Accumulator D) Memory Buffer Register (MBR)
Correct Answer: A
28. What is a micro-operation?
A) A high-level programming instruction B) An elementary operation performed on data stored
in registers
C) A type of memory addressing D) A compiler optimization technique
Correct Answer: B
29. Which type of micro-operation transfers binary information from one register to another?
A) Arithmetic micro-operation B) Logic micro-operation
C) Register transfer micro-operation D) Shift micro-operation
Correct Answer: C
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30. In an arithmetic shift left operation, what happens to the sign bit?
A) It is changed to 0 B) It is changed to 1
C) It remains unchanged D) It is shifted out of the register
Correct Answer: C
PARAMETER PASSING MECHANISMS
31. In call by value parameter passing:
A) The function receives the address of the argument B) The function receives a copy of the argument's
value
C) The argument is re-evaluated each time it is used D) The function can modify the original argument
Correct Answer: B
32. Which parameter passing method allows a procedure to change the value of the actual parameter?
A) Call by value B) Call by reference
C) Call by name D) Call by result
Correct Answer: B
33. In call by name parameter passing:
A) The argument is evaluated before the function is B) The actual parameter is re-evaluated each time it is
called required
C) A copy of the argument is passed D) The function cannot access the parameter
Correct Answer: B
34. What is an advantage of call by reference?
A) It prevents the function from modifying the B) It is faster for large data structures as no copying is
argument needed
C) It guarantees the argument won't be changed D) It works only with simple data types
Correct Answer: B
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BLOCK-STRUCTURED LANGUAGES
35. In block-structured languages, variables declared at the head of a block are:
A) Visible only within that block B) Visible throughout the block and any nested blocks
C) Visible only in nested blocks D) Not visible anywhere
Correct Answer: B
36. What is meant by "nested scopes" in programming?
A) Variables can only be declared at the top of a B) Declarations in outer blocks are visible in inner
program blocks unless overridden
C) All variables are global D) Variables cannot have the same name
Correct Answer: B
NUMBER SYSTEMS AND DATA REPRESENTATION
37. What is the binary equivalent of decimal 25?
A) 11001 B) 10011
C) 11100 D) 10101
Correct Answer: A (25₁₀ = 11001₂)
38. What is the decimal equivalent of binary 11011?
A) 23 B) 27
C) 29 D) 31
Correct Answer: B (16 + 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 27)
39. How many bits are in a byte?
A) 4 B) 8
C) 16 D) 32
Correct Answer: B
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40. What is the octal equivalent of binary 110111001001?
A) 6711 B) 6718
C) 6701 D) 6611
Correct Answer: A (110 111 001 001 = 6711₈)
41. What is the hexadecimal equivalent of decimal 378?
A) 17A B) 17B
C) 18A D) 19A
Correct Answer: A (378₁₀ = 17A₁₆)
42. What is the 1's complement of binary 1001?
A) 1001 B) 0110
C) 0111 D) 1100
Correct Answer: B (1001 → 0110)
43. What is the 2's complement of binary 1010?
A) 0101 B) 0110
C) 1010 D) 0100
Correct Answer: B (1's comp = 0101, +1 = 0110)
44. ASCII is a code that represents characters using how many bits in its standard form?
A) 4 bits B) 7 bits
C) 8 bits D) 16 bits
Correct Answer: B
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45. How many characters can be represented using a 7-bit ASCII code?
A) 64 B) 128
C) 256 D) 512
Correct Answer: B (2⁷ = 128)
46. Which coding scheme uses two bytes (16 bits) to represent one character?
A) ASCII B) EBCDIC
C) Unicode D) Binary
Correct Answer: C
DMA AND I/O MECHANISMS
47. DMA stands for:
A) Direct Memory Access B) Digital Memory Allocation
C) Direct Module Access D) Data Management Architecture
Correct Answer: A
48. What is the advantage of using DMA for data transfer?
A) The processor is continuously involved in the B) Data is transferred without continuous involvement
transfer of the processor
C) It uses less memory D) It is only used for small data transfers
Correct Answer: B
49. Which type of I/O method involves the processor continuously checking a device's status?
A) Interrupt-driven I/O B) DMA
C) Polling (Programmed I/O) D) Vectored interrupts
Correct Answer: C
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50. In vectored interrupts:
A) The processor polls all devices to find the interrupt B) The interrupting device provides the interrupt vector
source
C) All interrupts have the same priority D) Software determines the interrupt source
Correct Answer: B
PROCESSOR ADVANCED OPERATIONS
51. What is the function of the Program Counter (PC)?
A) To store the current data being processed B) To point to the next instruction to be executed
C) To hold the result of arithmetic operations D) To store the memory address of data
Correct Answer: B
52. Which of the following is true about Von Neumann architecture?
A) There is a real difference between data and B) Data and instructions share the same memory
instructions
C) Instructions are stored separately from data D) Data has inherent meaning
Correct Answer: B
53. What is an interrupt service routine (ISR)?
A) A program that translates high-level code B) A program that services the interrupting device
C) A type of memory management routine D) A routine that starts the operating system
Correct Answer: B
54. What is the return instruction for an interrupt service routine?
A) RETURN B) RET
C) Return from Interrupt (RTI) D) JMP
Correct Answer: C
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55. In a shared-memory MIMD system:
A) Each processor has its own private memory only B) Processors share access to a large global memory
C) Processors cannot communicate with each other D) Only one processor can execute at a time
Correct Answer: B
56. Which type of memory is used for holding system parameters that must be retained during power-
off?
A) DRAM B) SRAM
C) EEPROM D) Cache memory
Correct Answer: C
57. What is the advantage of Harvard architecture over Von Neumann?
A) Single memory space for data and instructions B) Concurrent instruction and data fetches possible
C) Simpler processor design D) No need for separate buses
Correct Answer: B
58. Which of the following is an example of a high-level language?
A) Machine code B) Assembly language
C) Python D) Binary
Correct Answer: C
59. In assembly language, what does the mnemonic "STA" typically stand for?
A) Start B) Store
C) Status D) Static
Correct Answer: B
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60. The width of a bus refers to:
A) The physical size of the bus B) The number of signal lines dedicated to transferring
information
C) The speed of the bus D) The type of information transferred
Correct Answer: B
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