Appendix A Hardware and Software Basics
1) Volatility is a protected memory space created by the CPU allowing the computer to create
virtual machines.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Virtualization is a protected memory space created by the CPU allowing the
computer to create virtual machines.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
2) Complex instruction set computer chips limits the number of instructions the CPU can execute
to increase processing speed.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Reduced instruction set computer (RISC. chips limit the number of instructions the
CPU can execute to increase processing speed.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
3) A computer is an electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory that can accept, manipulate, and store data.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: A computer is an electronic device operating under the control of instructions
stored in its own memory that can accept, manipulate, and store data.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
1
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written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
,4) The central processing unit (CPU) (or microprocessor) is the actual hardware that interprets
and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware
devices work together.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The central processing unit (CPU) (or microprocessor) is the actual hardware that
interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other
hardware devices work together.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
5) The arithmetic-logic unit includes instructions and literally tells the other hardware devices
what to do, based on the software instructions.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The control unit interprets software instructions and literally tells the other
hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
6) The control unit performs all arithmetic operations (for example, addition and subtraction) and
all logic operations.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) performs all arithmetic operations (for example,
addition and subtraction) and all logic operations.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
2
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
, 7) Gigahertz is the number of millions of CPU cycles per second.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Megahertz (MHz) is the number of millions of CPU cycles per second.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
8) Megahertz is the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Gigahertz (GHz) is the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
9) Complex instruction set computer (CISC) chips, which is a type of CPU that can recognize as
many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Complex instruction set computer (CISC) chips, which is a type of CPU that can
recognize as many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly.
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Topic: Six Major Categories of Hardware
Bloom's: Remember
Learning Outcome: A.1 Describe the six major categories of hardware and provide an example
of each.
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Gradable: automatic
3
Copyright 2019 © McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior
written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.