WGU C952 Computer Architecture Objective Assessment |
100 Realistic Practice Questions with Bold Italic Answers &
Italic Explanations | Latest 2026 Edition | Guaranteed Pass |
instant pdf download
C952 Computer Architecture OA Prep
Domain 1: Computer Abstractions & Technology (Questions 1–15)
Q1. Which of the following is NOT one of the five classic components of a computer?
A) Datapath
B) Control
C) Cache controller
D) Memory
Answer: C
Explanation: The five classic components are Datapath, Control, Memory, Input, and
Output. Cache controller is a subcomponent of the memory hierarchy, not one of the
five primary components.
Q2. The instruction set architecture (ISA) serves as the:
A) physical layout of transistors
B) contract between hardware and lowest-level software
C) internal organization of the ALU
D) power management unit
Answer: B
Explanation: The ISA is the abstract interface that separates machine language from
implementation details. It defines the instructions, registers, and memory model that
software can rely upon regardless of the specific hardware implementation.
,Q3. A server is best described as:
A) a personal computer for office tasks
B) a computer running larger programs for multiple users, often accessed via a network
C) a specialized embedded system
D) a supercomputer for weather modeling
Answer: B
Explanation: Servers are network-connected computers designed to provide services
(database, web hosting, large computations) to many simultaneous users, typically
with higher reliability and throughput than personal computers.
Q4. Moore's Law states that integrated circuit resources double approximately every:
A) 6 months
B) 12–15 months
C) 18–24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Explanation: Gordon Moore observed in 1965 that transistor density on integrated
circuits doubles every 18–24 months. This drove exponential performance growth for
decades, though physical limits are now slowing this trend.
Q5. Which of the following is an example of systems software?
A) Web browser
B) Video game
C) Compiler
D) Spreadsheet
Answer: C
Explanation: Systems software provides fundamental services for other software to
run. Compilers, operating systems, assemblers, and loaders are systems software.
Web browsers, games, and spreadsheets are application software.
,Q6. The principle "Make the common case fast" means:
A) optimize all cases equally
B) enhance performance for frequently occurring operations
C) focus only on rare, complex operations
D) ignore common operations
Answer: B
Explanation: This is a foundational design principle in computer architecture.
Improving the performance of operations that occur most frequently yields the
largest overall system benefit, even if rare operations become slightly slower.
Q7. Which of the following is an embedded computer?
A) Desktop PC
B) Smartphone
C) Microwave controller
D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Explanation: Embedded computers are specialized computing devices embedded
within larger systems. Both smartphones and microwave controllers contain
embedded processors. Desktop PCs are general-purpose computers.
Q8. The hardware/software interface is primarily defined by:
A) the clock speed
B) the ISA
C) the cache size
D) the power supply
Answer: B
Explanation: The ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) defines exactly what instructions
the processor can execute, how memory is addressed, and what registers exist. This
forms the boundary where software meets hardware.
, Q9. Which of the following is a typical use of a supercomputer?
A) Word processing
B) Scientific simulation and weather forecasting
C) Web browsing
D) File storage
Answer: B
Explanation: Supercomputers are used for massively parallel scientific and
engineering computations such as climate modeling, molecular dynamics,
astrophysics simulations, and cryptographic analysis.
Q10. What is the primary role of an assembler?
A) Convert high-level language to machine code
B) Convert assembly language to machine code
C) Manage memory allocation
D) Schedule processes
Answer: B
Explanation: An assembler translates human-readable assembly language (using
mnemonics like ADD, SUB, LDUR) into binary machine language that the processor
can execute directly.
Q11. Which of the following is true about volatile memory?
A) It retains data when power is removed
B) It loses data when power is removed
C) It is only used for long-term storage
D) It is slower than non-volatile memory
Answer: B
Explanation: Volatile memory such as DRAM and SRAM loses all stored data when
electrical power is interrupted. This is why computers need non-volatile storage
(SSD, HDD) for permanent data retention.
100 Realistic Practice Questions with Bold Italic Answers &
Italic Explanations | Latest 2026 Edition | Guaranteed Pass |
instant pdf download
C952 Computer Architecture OA Prep
Domain 1: Computer Abstractions & Technology (Questions 1–15)
Q1. Which of the following is NOT one of the five classic components of a computer?
A) Datapath
B) Control
C) Cache controller
D) Memory
Answer: C
Explanation: The five classic components are Datapath, Control, Memory, Input, and
Output. Cache controller is a subcomponent of the memory hierarchy, not one of the
five primary components.
Q2. The instruction set architecture (ISA) serves as the:
A) physical layout of transistors
B) contract between hardware and lowest-level software
C) internal organization of the ALU
D) power management unit
Answer: B
Explanation: The ISA is the abstract interface that separates machine language from
implementation details. It defines the instructions, registers, and memory model that
software can rely upon regardless of the specific hardware implementation.
,Q3. A server is best described as:
A) a personal computer for office tasks
B) a computer running larger programs for multiple users, often accessed via a network
C) a specialized embedded system
D) a supercomputer for weather modeling
Answer: B
Explanation: Servers are network-connected computers designed to provide services
(database, web hosting, large computations) to many simultaneous users, typically
with higher reliability and throughput than personal computers.
Q4. Moore's Law states that integrated circuit resources double approximately every:
A) 6 months
B) 12–15 months
C) 18–24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Explanation: Gordon Moore observed in 1965 that transistor density on integrated
circuits doubles every 18–24 months. This drove exponential performance growth for
decades, though physical limits are now slowing this trend.
Q5. Which of the following is an example of systems software?
A) Web browser
B) Video game
C) Compiler
D) Spreadsheet
Answer: C
Explanation: Systems software provides fundamental services for other software to
run. Compilers, operating systems, assemblers, and loaders are systems software.
Web browsers, games, and spreadsheets are application software.
,Q6. The principle "Make the common case fast" means:
A) optimize all cases equally
B) enhance performance for frequently occurring operations
C) focus only on rare, complex operations
D) ignore common operations
Answer: B
Explanation: This is a foundational design principle in computer architecture.
Improving the performance of operations that occur most frequently yields the
largest overall system benefit, even if rare operations become slightly slower.
Q7. Which of the following is an embedded computer?
A) Desktop PC
B) Smartphone
C) Microwave controller
D) Both B and C
Answer: D
Explanation: Embedded computers are specialized computing devices embedded
within larger systems. Both smartphones and microwave controllers contain
embedded processors. Desktop PCs are general-purpose computers.
Q8. The hardware/software interface is primarily defined by:
A) the clock speed
B) the ISA
C) the cache size
D) the power supply
Answer: B
Explanation: The ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) defines exactly what instructions
the processor can execute, how memory is addressed, and what registers exist. This
forms the boundary where software meets hardware.
, Q9. Which of the following is a typical use of a supercomputer?
A) Word processing
B) Scientific simulation and weather forecasting
C) Web browsing
D) File storage
Answer: B
Explanation: Supercomputers are used for massively parallel scientific and
engineering computations such as climate modeling, molecular dynamics,
astrophysics simulations, and cryptographic analysis.
Q10. What is the primary role of an assembler?
A) Convert high-level language to machine code
B) Convert assembly language to machine code
C) Manage memory allocation
D) Schedule processes
Answer: B
Explanation: An assembler translates human-readable assembly language (using
mnemonics like ADD, SUB, LDUR) into binary machine language that the processor
can execute directly.
Q11. Which of the following is true about volatile memory?
A) It retains data when power is removed
B) It loses data when power is removed
C) It is only used for long-term storage
D) It is slower than non-volatile memory
Answer: B
Explanation: Volatile memory such as DRAM and SRAM loses all stored data when
electrical power is interrupted. This is why computers need non-volatile storage
(SSD, HDD) for permanent data retention.
