Computer Memory Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does RAM primarily allow a computer to do?

Store data permanently for long-term access

Run the computer's start-up diagnostics

Access data quickly for active processes (correct)

Provide instructions for hardware components

Which of the following is commonly stored in ROM besides start-up instructions?

Temporary program data

Operating system files

Firmware for hardware devices (correct)

User preferences and settings

What is the main purpose of virtual memory in a computer system?

To enhance the speed of the CPU operations

To store backup copies of files

To maintain a log of system activities

To extend the amount of RAM available for applications (correct)

Which of these functions is NOT typically associated with an operating system?

Compiling programming languages Signup and view all the answers

How does RAM differ from ROM in terms of data retention?

RAM is volatile, while ROM is non-volatile Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of using a self-driving tractor for farming?

It can malfunction, leading to delays in sowing and harvesting. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT typically a component of an expert system?

Sensor array Signup and view all the answers

How does the self-driving tractor communicate data to the farmer’s computer?

By utilizing an echo check for data transmission. Signup and view all the answers

Which component of an expert system is responsible for applying logical rules to the knowledge base?

Inference engine Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about self-driving tractors in farming?

They can operate without any human supervision. Signup and view all the answers

What is the value of bit 3 in byte 4?

1 Signup and view all the answers

How many bytes have a '1' value in bit 1?

4 Signup and view all the answers

Which byte has a '0' in bit 6?

Byte 3 Signup and view all the answers

What value is represented by bit 5 in byte 6?

1 Signup and view all the answers

Which byte has the highest number of '1' bits?

Byte 6 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the self-driving tractor in relation to the farmer’s computer during echo check processes?

To autonomously execute pre-programmed agricultural tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What does the completion of the parity byte ensure during data transmission?

It detects transmission errors in the byte. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of data transmission, what is the purpose of using odd parity?

To validate that the total number of 1s in the data is odd. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a drawback of self-driving tractors when integrated with farmer’s technology?

They can operate independently, increasing the risk of accidents. Signup and view all the answers

How might the farmer's computer assist in the echo check process with the self-driving tractor?

By providing real-time updates on tractor performance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason computers use binary to represent data?

Computers are made of switches and gates that can only be on or off. Signup and view all the answers

Which character's ASCII denary number is being asked for when identifying 'Q'?

81 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT true about binary representation in computers?

Binary can be understood by humans easily. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ASCII denary number for the character ‘N’?

78 Signup and view all the answers

How many digits are used in binary representation?

2 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes a feature of binary data?

Binary data processing can be faster due to simple on/off states. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of data representation, what does ASCII stand for?

American Standard Code for Information Interchange Signup and view all the answers

What must not be used when answering questions in this exam?

Erasable pens Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of performing a right shift of four places on a positive binary integer?

It divides the integer by 16. Signup and view all the answers

When a binary integer is right-shifted, which of the following occurs?

The value of the integer is halved. Signup and view all the answers

In binary arithmetic, what does a right logical shift of four do in terms of data representation?

It shifts bits to the right and fills empty positions with zeros. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the least significant bits (LSBs) of a positive binary integer when it is right shifted four places?

They are discarded entirely. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the right shift operation significant in binary arithmetic?

It allows for easy multiplication by powers of two. Signup and view all the answers

If a positive binary integer is represented as $1100_2$ (which is 12 in decimal), what will it represent after a right shift of four places?

0 Signup and view all the answers

After performing a right logical shift on a binary integer, how is the resultant integer expressed in binary form?

By shifting bits to the right and padding with zeros. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does a logical shift have if applied to a negative binary integer?

It behaves the same as with positive integers, filling with zeros. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Computer Science Paper 1 - Computer Systems

Examination paper details:
- Paper: 1 Computer Systems
- Exam code: 0478/12
- February/March 2024
- Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Total marks: 75
- Instructions include using a black or dark blue pen, writing your details, and not using calculators
Data Representation (Binary):
- Computers use binary (1s and 0s) to represent data.
- Computers have switches and gates that are either on or off, which corresponds to 1 and 0.
- ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
- The ASCII denary number for 'N' is 78.
- Students need to find the ASCII denary number for 'Q' (Answer: 81)
Data Types - Character Representation:
- Explain how the word 'RED' is represented using a character set.
- 'RED' would be represented sequentially by codes from the character set (ASCII).
Sound Recording:
- Higher sampling resolution leads to a more accurate sound recording. This means more samples per second of audio are stored, allowing the recording to represent the exact nature of the recorded sound accurately.
- Other ways to improve sound recording accuracy include better microphones, better recording quality, lower noise, and better sampling techniques.
- Different ways to improve sound quality include better microphones or other techniques.
CPU Registers:
- The CPU has registers such as the program counter (PC), memory address register (MAR), memory data register (MDR), accumulator (ACC), and current instruction register (CIR).
- PC stores address of next instruction.
- MAR stores instruction of running program.
- MDR stores data passed from PC.
- ACC stores calculation result.
- CIR stores currently exectued instruction.
- Two incorrect statements about CPU registers are provided, which need to be identified and corrected.
CPU Performance:
- A 3.5 GHz processor means the CPU can execute 3.5 billion cycles per second (cycles per second).
- The number of cores affects the performance of the CPU. More cores allow for more instructions to be executed in parallel, leading to faster processing.
- The amount of cache affects the performance of a computer because a larger cache means that more commonly-used/requested data is readily available, which reduces transfer time between different storage locations, resulting in faster retrieval of data and quicker instructions.
Primary Storage (RAM):
- RAM (Random Access Memory) is a primary storage location.
- It stores data that's currently being used by the computer.
- When the power is switched off, the data in RAM is lost.
Primary Storage (ROM):
- ROM (Read-Only Memory) stores instructions for booting up a computer.
- Other data regularly stored in ROM includes BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) programs.
Virtual Memory:
- Virtual memory is used to manage memory when RAM is full.
- The purpose of virtual memory is to increase the available memory that can be used by the computer, even without having significantly more physical RAM than what's required in a given situation.
Operating System (OS):
- The operating system (OS) functions include managing memory, managing peripherals, allowing application software to run on a computer, handling interrupts.
- The OS handles interrupts to manage different actions and processes. Interrupts are events that need immediate attention from the OS.
- An example of an interrupt is a key press.
Webpage Display (URLs):
- A diagram annotated to show the process of entering a URL until the webpage is displayed on the user’s screen needs to be drawn.
Digital Currency (Blockchains, Encryption):
- Blockchains are digital ledgers containing information about transactions.
- Encryption keeps data secure during transmission.
Error Checking (Parity):
- Parity bit checking is a method used to check for errors in data transmission.
- A parity byte is added to the transmitted data to indicate even or odd parity.
Data Transfer on the Internet:
- Data is encrypted to keep data secure when transmitted over the internet.
- Data is transmitted through packet switching, where data is divided into packets.
- Packets include information in a header that's used for routing.
- Routers route packets based on information in the header.
Number Systems:
- Converting between denary, binary, and hexadecimal number systems.
Two's Complement:
- Two's complement integers represent positive and negative numbers.
Logical Shifts on Binary Integers:
- Logical right shift of four places on a binary integer reduces the integer by 2⁴ (16).

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Description

Test your knowledge of computer memory concepts including RAM and ROM. This quiz explores definitions, purposes, and differences between various types of memory in computer systems. Discover how these elements contribute to overall computer functionality.