IT Computer Architecture

Question 1

What is the primary function of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU?

Accepted Answer

Perform arithmetic and logical operations

Answer

Store program instructions

Answer

Control data flow between components

Answer

Manage input/output operations

Question 2

Which type of memory loses its contents when power is removed?

Accepted Answer

RAM

Answer

ROM

Answer

Flash memory

Answer

EEPROM

Question 3

During the fetch-decode-execute cycle, what happens in the 'decode' phase?

Accepted Answer

The control unit interprets the instruction's opcode

Answer

The CPU retrieves the instruction from memory

Answer

The ALU performs the required operation

Answer

The result is written back to a register

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of cache memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To reduce the speed gap between the CPU and main memory

Answer

To provide permanent data storage

Answer

To expand total addressable memory capacity

Answer

To store the operating system kernel

Question 5

Which bus in a computer system carries the memory location being accessed by the CPU?

Accepted Answer

Address bus

Answer

Data bus

Answer

Control bus

Answer

I/O bus

Question 6

What distinguishes RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) from CISC architecture?

Accepted Answer

RISC uses simple instructions that each execute in one clock cycle

Answer

RISC uses complex multi-cycle instructions

Answer

RISC supports more addressing modes than CISC

Answer

RISC requires more memory for program storage than CISC

Question 7

What is CPU pipelining?

Accepted Answer

Breaking instruction execution into concurrent stages so multiple instructions overlap

Answer

Storing multiple programs in memory simultaneously

Answer

Connecting multiple CPUs to work on a single task

Answer

Prefetching frequently used data near the processor