UTSA IS 3003 Exam II Questions With
Correct Answers
Central processing unit (CPU) - ANSWER-the actual hardware that interprets and
executes the program (SW) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware
devices work together
Control Unit - ANSWER-interprets software instructions and literally tells the other
hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions
IT infrastructure - ANSWER-provides platform for supporting all information systems in
the business
Bit - ANSWER-a single 0 or 1, the smallest unit of data that a computer can process
Distributed processing configuration - ANSWER-processing power is distributed among
several locations; multiple computers are linked by a communications network for
processing
Client/Server computing - ANSWER-splits clients and servers
Client - ANSWER-user point of entry; request data from server
Server - ANSWER-store and process saved data
Two-tiered client/server architecture - ANSWER-uses two types of machines - a client
computer networked to a server computer
N-tier or Multitiered client/server architecture - ANSWER-Balances load of network over
several levels of servers (E.g. Web servers and application servers)
Byte - ANSWER-a group of 8 or 16 bits representing one natural language character
Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) - ANSWER-• all arithmetic operations (for example, addition
and subtraction)
• logical operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers)
• storage and retrieval operations
Registers - ANSWER-provide temporary storage where data resides while it is being
processed or manipulated
, L1 (Internal) Cache Memory - ANSWER-a small block of memory used by the
processors to store those instructions used most recently or most often
Machine Cycle Time - ANSWER-the time it takes to process one instruction (fetching,
decoding, retrieving, storing)
Clock Speed - ANSWER-the speed of the internal clock (system clock) that sets the
pace at which operations proceed; clock speed is measured in hertz (MHZ, GHZ)
Word length - ANSWER-the unit of data used by a particular processor design; the
number of bits that are handled as a unit by the processor: 32 bit vs. 64 bit
Bus - ANSWER-the link between devices connected to the computer
Bus width - ANSWER-the size of the pathway along which signals are sent from one
part of the computer to another
Centralized processing configuration - ANSWER-processing is done by one large
central computer
Decentralized processing configuration - ANSWER-each user, department, division has
its own computer for processing
Main memory - ANSWER-o Semi-conductor memory chips
o Consists of RAM, ROM (read only memory) and L2 Cache that is directly accessible
to the CPU
Secondary memory - ANSWER-o Nonvolatile
o Holds data when the computer is off or during course of a program's operation
o Serves as archival storage
o Various types
Random Access memory - ANSWER-the computer's primary working memory; used to
store program instructions & data that can be accessed directly by the CPU via the
processor's high-speed data bus
Cache memory - ANSWER-a type of high-speed memory that the CPU can access
more rapidly than main memory (RAM); used to store recently accessed or frequently
accessed data and instructions
L2 (External) cache - ANSWER-a separate chip that is located on the motherboard very
close to the CPU for easy access
Secondary memory/storage - ANSWER-consists of equipment designed to store large
volumes of data for long-term storage
Examples: USB, disc drives, SD cards
Correct Answers
Central processing unit (CPU) - ANSWER-the actual hardware that interprets and
executes the program (SW) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware
devices work together
Control Unit - ANSWER-interprets software instructions and literally tells the other
hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions
IT infrastructure - ANSWER-provides platform for supporting all information systems in
the business
Bit - ANSWER-a single 0 or 1, the smallest unit of data that a computer can process
Distributed processing configuration - ANSWER-processing power is distributed among
several locations; multiple computers are linked by a communications network for
processing
Client/Server computing - ANSWER-splits clients and servers
Client - ANSWER-user point of entry; request data from server
Server - ANSWER-store and process saved data
Two-tiered client/server architecture - ANSWER-uses two types of machines - a client
computer networked to a server computer
N-tier or Multitiered client/server architecture - ANSWER-Balances load of network over
several levels of servers (E.g. Web servers and application servers)
Byte - ANSWER-a group of 8 or 16 bits representing one natural language character
Arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) - ANSWER-• all arithmetic operations (for example, addition
and subtraction)
• logical operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers)
• storage and retrieval operations
Registers - ANSWER-provide temporary storage where data resides while it is being
processed or manipulated
, L1 (Internal) Cache Memory - ANSWER-a small block of memory used by the
processors to store those instructions used most recently or most often
Machine Cycle Time - ANSWER-the time it takes to process one instruction (fetching,
decoding, retrieving, storing)
Clock Speed - ANSWER-the speed of the internal clock (system clock) that sets the
pace at which operations proceed; clock speed is measured in hertz (MHZ, GHZ)
Word length - ANSWER-the unit of data used by a particular processor design; the
number of bits that are handled as a unit by the processor: 32 bit vs. 64 bit
Bus - ANSWER-the link between devices connected to the computer
Bus width - ANSWER-the size of the pathway along which signals are sent from one
part of the computer to another
Centralized processing configuration - ANSWER-processing is done by one large
central computer
Decentralized processing configuration - ANSWER-each user, department, division has
its own computer for processing
Main memory - ANSWER-o Semi-conductor memory chips
o Consists of RAM, ROM (read only memory) and L2 Cache that is directly accessible
to the CPU
Secondary memory - ANSWER-o Nonvolatile
o Holds data when the computer is off or during course of a program's operation
o Serves as archival storage
o Various types
Random Access memory - ANSWER-the computer's primary working memory; used to
store program instructions & data that can be accessed directly by the CPU via the
processor's high-speed data bus
Cache memory - ANSWER-a type of high-speed memory that the CPU can access
more rapidly than main memory (RAM); used to store recently accessed or frequently
accessed data and instructions
L2 (External) cache - ANSWER-a separate chip that is located on the motherboard very
close to the CPU for easy access
Secondary memory/storage - ANSWER-consists of equipment designed to store large
volumes of data for long-term storage
Examples: USB, disc drives, SD cards
