Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

1.1 Hardware and software

1. What is hardware?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Identify the following internal hardware devices (processor, motherboard, Random Access Memory,
Read-Only Memory, video cards, sound cards and internal hard disk drives)

3. Identify the following external hardware devices (monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, hard discs) as
input or output or storage devices.

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Type: Type: Type: Type:

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Type: Type: Type: Type:

Provided by A.Aristotelous 1
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Type: Type: Type: Type:

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Type: Type: Type: Type:

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Type: Type: Type: Type:

4. What is software?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Describe the main difference between hardware and software.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. What are the two types of software.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Provided by A.Aristotelous 2
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

7. Write definition for the following terms:

(a) Compiler

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Linkers

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(c) Device Driver

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Utilities

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Tick whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

True False

RAM is not volatile.

ROM is used to store the BIOS of a computer.

The data in ROM is easier to change than that in RAM.

RAM is used to store the data the user is currently working on.

9. Tick whether the following uses are more suitable for ROM or RAM.

ROM RAM

Storing data that the user is currently working on.

Storing the system BIOS.

Storing program instructions for computer games.

10. Describe 3 internal computer hardware apart from RAM and ROM
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Provided by A.Aristotelous 3
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

1.2 Main Components of a computer system

1. What is a CPU?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. What are the two components that make up a CPU?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What are the three differences between RAM and ROM?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What are the differences between HDD and SSD hard drives?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Above each object fill in the device name and indicate if they are input, output or storage.

Provided by A.Aristotelous 4
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

1.3 Operating Systems

1. What is CLI?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. What is GUI?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What are the main differences between CLI and GUI?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What does WIMP stand for?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Who uses CLI and why?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Who uses GUI and why?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1.4 Types of computer

1. Identify the following types of computers (tablets, pc, smartwatch, mainframe, smartphone, laptop,
netbook) and their usage.

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Use: Use: Use: Use:

Provided by A.Aristotelous 5
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

Name: Name: Name: Name:

Use: Use: Use: Use:

2. What are four differences between desktop computers and laptops?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Which devices can be used to receive network phone calls over telephone line system (refer to
question 1)?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Which devices have GPS functionality?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1.5 Impact of emerging technologies

1. Describe the following terms:

(a) Artificial Intelligence (AI) biometrics

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(b) Vision enhancement

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Provided by A.Aristotelous 6
Section 1: Types and components of computer systems Date: ___/___/___

(c) Robotics
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(d) Quantum cryptography

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(e) Computer-assisted translation (CAT)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(f) 3-D and holographic imaging

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(g) Virtual reality

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Provided by A.Aristotelous 7