Mock 1

Question 1

Front

Answer 1

Back

Question 2

Program counter

Answer 2

Holds the address of the next instruction to be fetched.

Question 3

Current Instruction Register

Answer 3

Stores the instruction currently being executed and decoded.

Question 4

Memory Address Register (MAR)

Answer 4

Holds the relevant memory address to read from or write to.

Question 5

Memory Data Register (MDR)

Answer 5

Stores data being transferred to and from memory

Question 6

Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

Answer 6

Performs mathematical calculations and logical decisions.

Question 7

Accumulator

Answer 7

Temporary storage register in the ALU that holds data while being processed.

Question 8

RISC

Answer 8

Reduced Instruction Set Computer: simple instructions, one clock cycle each. Advantages: Allows pipelining, faster execution. Disadvantages: Compiler does more work

Question 9

CISC

Answer 9

Complex Instruction Set Computer: large instruction set to reduce lines of code. Advantages: Compiler does little work

Question 10

GPU

Answer 10

Graphics Processing Unit: dedicated graphics processor used to render images stored in graphics card RAM.

Question 11

Multi-core CPU

Answer 11

CPU containing more than one core to allow parallel processing.

Question 12

Factors affecting processor performance

Answer 12

Number of cores

Question 13

RAM

Answer 13

Random Access Memory: stores programs/data currently in use

Question 14

ROM

Answer 14

Read Only Memory: permanently stores essential instructions like BIOS.

Question 15

Functions of an operating system

Answer 15

User interface

Question 16

Memory management types

Answer 16

Paging: fixed-size pages, may be non-contiguous. Segmentation: logical segments of varying sizes.

Question 17

Virtual memory

Answer 17

Uses part of the hard disk as RAM

Question 18

Distributed operating system

Answer 18

Splits tasks over multiple computers

Question 19

Multitasking operating system

Answer 19

Allows a user to run multiple jobs at the same time.

Question 20

Multi-user operating system

Answer 20

Allows multiple users by allocating CPU slices using scheduling.

Question 21

Mobile operating system

Answer 21

Consists of a main interface OS + a real-time hardware-specific OS.

Question 22

Embedded operating system

Answer 22

OS on a chip, for specific functions on dedicated hardware.

Question 23

Real-time operating system

Answer 23

Processes data immediately as it arrives.

Question 24

Open-source software

Answer 24

Publicly available code that can be copied, changed, redistributed.

Question 25

Closed-source software

Answer 25

Proprietary software with access restricted by copyright licensing.

Question 26

Utility program

Answer 26

Performs housekeeping tasks like defrag, backup, virus checking, compression.

Question 27

Scheduling algorithms

Answer 27

Round robin

Question 28

Shortest remaining time

Answer 28

Chooses process with least time left.

Question 29

Shortest job first

Answer 29

Prioritises smallest tasks.

Question 30

Multi-level feedback queues

Answer 30

Prioritises short and I/O bound processes with multiple queues.

Question 31

Round Robin

Answer 31

FIFO with fixed time slices.

Question 32

First come first served

Answer 32

Jobs executed in the order they arrive.

Question 33

BIOS

Answer 33

Basic Input/Output System

Question 34

Device drivers

Answer 34

Allow OS to communicate with hardware peripherals.

Question 35

Virtual machines

Answer 35

Software imitation of computer systems

Question 36

Low-level language

Answer 36

Machine code or assembly

Question 37

High-level language

Answer 37

Easier for humans to read/write (e.g., Python).

Question 38

Interpreter

Answer 38

Executes high-level code line-by-line.

Question 39

Compiler

Answer 39

Translates whole high-level program into machine code.

Question 40

Assembler

Answer 40

Converts assembly into machine code.

Question 41

Stages of compilation

Answer 41

Lexical analysis → Syntax analysis → Code generation → Optimisation.