Operating system concepts

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What is the term for a situation where the data required for an operation is unavailable?

Stock
Data hazard (correct)
Deadlock
Structural hazard

How are fetch and execution cycles interleaved in a processor?

Special unit (correct)
Modification in processor architecture
Control unit
Clock

Which page replacement algorithm replaces the block that has not been referenced for the longest time?

Both LRU and ORF
ORF
LRU (correct)
Direct

Which page replacement algorithm removes the most recently used page first?

MRU (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the LRU algorithm, when a block is referenced (a hit occurs), how is its counter and the counters of other blocks updated?

The referenced block's counter is set to '0,' and the counters of the previous blocks are incremented by one; others remain the same. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A CPU is fetching data from memory. Which register is primarily responsible for holding the memory address being accessed?

Memory Address Register (MAR) (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of CPU operation, what is the significance of a 'flag bit' within the status register?

It indicates specific conditions that arise during program execution, such as overflow or zero results. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following registers directly facilitates the transfer of data between the CPU and secondary storage devices like hard drives?

Memory Data Register (MDR) (A) Signup and view all the answers

Among the options provided, which is least likely to be categorized as a peripheral device connected to a computer system?

Central Processing Unit (CPU) (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which data transfer technique allows devices to directly access system memory without involving the CPU, thus improving data transfer rates?

DMA (Direct Memory Access) (A) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes John Von Neumann's contribution to computer architecture from earlier designs?

He introduced the concept of stored-program architecture. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is least directly involved in the immediate processing of data within a computer system?

Keyboard (C) Signup and view all the answers

A program exhibits slow performance due to frequent data access. Which memory type upgrade would most effectively address this issue?

Adding Cache memory (A) Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) from other computer components?

It performs mathematical and logical operations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why might a programmer choose to represent data in hexadecimal format rather than decimal format?

Hexadecimal directly represents binary data more compactly. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does cache memory improve overall system performance?

By temporarily storing frequently accessed data for faster retrieval. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the address bus unidirectional?

To ensure only the CPU can specify the memory location. (D) Signup and view all the answers

A system requires a component to retain a single bit of information. Which logic circuit is most appropriate for this purpose?

Flip-Flop (D) Signup and view all the answers

In memory-mapped I/O, how do I/O devices interact with the system's memory?

I/O devices and memory share the same address space. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common BUS structure used for connecting I/O devices to a computer system?

Single BUS structure, where all devices share a single communication pathway. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does a system typically signal a read or write operation involving I/O devices on a shared BUS?

By sending a special control signal along the BUS, distinct from address and data lines, to initiate the process. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which I/O access method requires the processor to continuously check the status flags of I/O devices?

Program-controlled I/O (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism allows an I/O device to alert the processor when it is ready for data transfer?

Interrupts (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which I/O transfer method typically offers the highest data transfer speeds?

DMA (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the IEEE 754 32-bit floating-point standard, how many bits are allocated for the mantissa (also known as significand) of the fractional part?

23 (D) Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the component of a floating-point number that consists of the sign followed by the string of significant digits?

Mantissa (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT typically involved in the design of a basic multiplier?

Flip flops (A) Signup and view all the answers

In a typical multiplication operation within a computer's arithmetic logic unit (ALU), where is the multiplier primarily stored during the calculation?

Shift register (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which unit is responsible for orchestrating the step-by-step operations within a multiplier circuit?

Controller (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which digital component is employed to selectively pass the multiplicand and control signals to the n-bit adder in a multiplier circuit?

MUX (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of bit-pair recording, how are the bits '1 & 1' typically recorded?

+1 (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym CSA stand for in computer architecture?

Carry Save Addition (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which computer architecture paradigm is characterized by its focus on reducing the number of clock cycles per instruction, thereby decreasing overall execution time?

RISC (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal both CISC and RISC architectures aim to minimize?

Time delay (B) Signup and view all the answers

A newly loaded instruction that is the destination of a branch or jump is known as a:

Branch target (B) Signup and view all the answers

The condition flag 'Z' is set to 1 to indicate:

The result is zero. (B) Signup and view all the answers

The stack frame for each subroutine is typically present in the:

Processor Stack (A) Signup and view all the answers

The primary advantage of using a single bus structure in a computer system is:

Cost-effective connectivity and ease of attaching peripheral devices (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are most commonly used to address differences in data transfer speeds among various devices?

Buffer registers (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which bus is commonly used to connect a monitor to the CPU in a computer system?

PCI bus (D) Signup and view all the answers

In a multiple bus organization, where are registers typically placed?

Register file (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of a multiple bus organization compared to a single bus?

Reduction in the number of cycles for execution (A) Signup and view all the answers

John Von Neumann

Considered the father of modern computer architecture, he conceptualized the stored-program computer.

CPU

The central processing unit, which executes instructions.