COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND
ARCHITECTURE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
SCRIPT VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED APLUS
●● computer architecture
Answer: focuses on the structure and behavior of the computer system
and refers to the logical and abstract aspects of system implementation
as seen by the programmer; includes instruction sets and formats,
operation codes, data types, the number and types of registers,
addressing modes, main memory access methods, and various I/O
mechanisms; directly affects logical execution of programs; answers the
question "How do I design a computer?"
●● instruction set architecture
Answer: agreed-upon interface between all the software that runs on the
machine and the hardware that executes it
allows you to "talk" to the machine
●● Principle of equivalence of hardware and software
Answer: any task done by software can also be done using hardware,
and any operation performed directly by hardware can be done using
software
, ●● Bus
Answer: The paths, or lines, on the motherboard on which data,
instructions, and electrical power move from component to component.
●● datapath
Answer: combination of ALY, registers, and bus; most important because
it is responsible for running programs
●● CPU
Answer: central processing unit; holds the ALU and control unit
●● ALU
Answer: Arithmetic and Logic Unit - does all mathematical calculations
and makes all logical decisions
●● computer system
Answer: combination of hardware and software
●● system software
Answer: Consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations
of the computer and its devices.
ARCHITECTURE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
SCRIPT VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED APLUS
●● computer architecture
Answer: focuses on the structure and behavior of the computer system
and refers to the logical and abstract aspects of system implementation
as seen by the programmer; includes instruction sets and formats,
operation codes, data types, the number and types of registers,
addressing modes, main memory access methods, and various I/O
mechanisms; directly affects logical execution of programs; answers the
question "How do I design a computer?"
●● instruction set architecture
Answer: agreed-upon interface between all the software that runs on the
machine and the hardware that executes it
allows you to "talk" to the machine
●● Principle of equivalence of hardware and software
Answer: any task done by software can also be done using hardware,
and any operation performed directly by hardware can be done using
software
, ●● Bus
Answer: The paths, or lines, on the motherboard on which data,
instructions, and electrical power move from component to component.
●● datapath
Answer: combination of ALY, registers, and bus; most important because
it is responsible for running programs
●● CPU
Answer: central processing unit; holds the ALU and control unit
●● ALU
Answer: Arithmetic and Logic Unit - does all mathematical calculations
and makes all logical decisions
●● computer system
Answer: combination of hardware and software
●● system software
Answer: Consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations
of the computer and its devices.