Revision – Computers

1) Computers are made up of both hardware and software components.

a) Computers use a three-step computational model.
Complete the diagram with the names of the three steps.

input process output

b) What are the two items that can be reside in memory of a stored program concept.
Data instructions
....................................................................................................................................................
Program instructions
....................................................................................................................................................
c) Complete the below table by selecting the correct component which is responsible for the
activities given
The Hardware components responsible for controlling the  Central processing unit
fetch decode execute cycle.
 Cache
A Component within the CPU used to store temporary  Cache Memory
data, instructions, and memory addresses
 Registers
A Component that holds the memory address of the next  Instruction Register
instruction to be fetched
 Program Counter
Generates series of electronic pulses which synchronizes  Synchronizer
the activities of the CPU
 Clock
Coordinates the activities of the CPU, fetches instructions  Clock
from memory, decodes them, and controls the execution
 Coordinator
of these instructions.
 Control Unit
d) State what is ALU and Describe its function
ALU is the Arithmetic Logic Unit. It is responsible for conducting all the
....................................................................................................................................................
arithmetic and logical processes in a central processing unit.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
e) Computers are using virtual memory. Explain what is virtual memory
Virtual memory is when a part of the computer, for example hard drive, acts as
....................................................................................................................................................
part of the main memory of the system. This can help especially when the main
....................................................................................................................................................
memory is out of space to hold more tasks.
....................................................................................................................................................
f) Disk formatting program is an example of a type of software Identify the type
 Security software  Application Software  System Software
g) Optical storage drives are uses CDs to store data. A laser beam is used to read the pits and
lands on the surface of the CD
Describe how data is stored on a HDD.
....................................................................................................................................................
Magnetic storage
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

mimarshad@gmail.com Page |1
 Revision – Computers

h) Complete the below table by writing the correct component described in the first column
Description Component
Small, high-speed memory located inside or very close to the Central
Processing Unit in a computer. Store copies of frequently used data Cache
and instructions to speed up processing.
A Memory in a computer that is used to store data and instructions RAM
that are currently being processed by the CPU and it is a volatile.
A Small, high-speed storage locations inside the CPU that are used
to store temporary data, instructions, and memory addresses. Register

i) Von Neumann developed the stored program concept.

Describe the stored program concept
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
j) Explain the fetch-decode-execute cycle of the CPU.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
k) Name two registers that used in the above fetch decode execute cycle.
MAR (Memory address register) and MBR (Memory buffer register)
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
l) Describe the role of the address bus and data bus during the fetch part of the cycle.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
m) Identify the component that holds a program that is currently being executed
 ALU  RAM  Hard drive  Control Unit

mimarshad@gmail.com Page |2
 Revision – Computers

n) The central processing unit (CPU) and other hardware components work together with the
operating system to run programs and store data.
Below is a partially completed diagram showing the hardware components used in the fetch-
decode-execute cycle.
The function of the I/O controller is to manage communication between the CPU and
input/output devices.
Complete the diagram by:
• labelling the buses
• adding directional arrows to the dotted lines to show the flow of communication.

o) Complete the table to show the effect on a computer system of making below changes
Change Made Effect

Increasing the width

of the data bus

Increasing the width

of the address bus

Increasing the size of

the RAM

Increasing the size of

the Cache memory

Increasing the clock

cycle of the CPU

Increasing the
capacity of
secondary storage

mimarshad@gmail.com Pag e |3
 Revision – Computers

p) Identify the computational model describes in below table.

Description Computational
Model
Program instructions are executed by multiple agents working together Multi agent
Program instructions are executed in simultaneously by different cores Parallel

Program instructions are executed one after another Sequential

q) State what is meant by program instruction.

A program instruction is a command that directs a computer to perform a particular task
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
r) State what is meant by memory address.
Refers to a specific location in the computer's memory.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
s) Give two drawback of having a higher clock speed.
More energy consumed
....................................................................................................................................................
Some components may not be able to keep up with a higher clock speed.
....................................................................................................................................................
t) Programmers usually write programs in low-level and high-level languages.
Give each one scenarios where programmers use low-level and high-level languages.
Operating system
Low-level languages: .................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
Application
High-level languages: ................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
u) State the purpose of an assembler.
Converts low level programming languages to machine code.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
v) Compare four features of high-level and low-level programming languages.
....................................................................................................................................................
High level programming languages are easy to read for humans compared to low level.
....................................................................................................................................................
Machine/Computer can easily understand low level programming languages compared to
....................................................................................................................................................
high level.
....................................................................................................................................................
Low level programming languages are more memory efficient compared to high level.
....................................................................................................................................................
Easy to debug high level programming languages compared to low level.
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................

mimarshad@gmail.com Page |4