WGU C952 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Register File - ANS state element with registers that can be R/W by supplying a register
number
machine language - ANS binary-coded instructions used by the computer
system software - ANS programs that allow computer's hardware & software to work
together
includes OS and utility programs
operating system - ANS software that controls the execution of computer programs
Assembly Language - ANS symbolic representations of machine code
IBM 360/91 - ANS Introduced dynamic detection of memory hazards, generalized forwarding,
and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANS Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte
in 2012 was $5 to $10.
frame buffering - ANS portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display
Datapath - ANS processor component that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANS processor component that commands the datapath, memory, and I/O devices
Integrated circuit - ANS aka chip - has millions of transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANS aka processor. The active part of the computer, which
contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers & other things
Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANS memory built as an integrated circuit, but faster
and lighter than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANS aka architecture.
abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level software that has info to write a
machine language program
Application binary interface (ABI) - ANS user instruction set plus the OS interfaces used by
application programmers
Volatile memory - ANS Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only with power.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Nonvolatile Memory - ANS memory that retains data w/o power.
DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANS aka hard disk.
nonvolatile secondary memory composed of rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording
material.
access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANS primary memory used to hold programs while they are running; has
DRAM
Secondary memory - ANS Nonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between
runs; has flash
Flash memory - ANS nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than DRAM
but more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANS uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANS multiprocessor
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Register File - ANS state element with registers that can be R/W by supplying a register
number
machine language - ANS binary-coded instructions used by the computer
system software - ANS programs that allow computer's hardware & software to work
together
includes OS and utility programs
operating system - ANS software that controls the execution of computer programs
Assembly Language - ANS symbolic representations of machine code
IBM 360/91 - ANS Introduced dynamic detection of memory hazards, generalized forwarding,
and reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) - ANS Memory built as an integrated circuit; it
provides random access to any location. Access times are 50 nanoseconds and cost per gigabyte
in 2012 was $5 to $10.
frame buffering - ANS portion of RAM containing a bitmap that drives a video display
Datapath - ANS processor component that performs arithmetic operations
Control - ANS processor component that commands the datapath, memory, and I/O devices
Integrated circuit - ANS aka chip - has millions of transistors.
Central processor unit (CPU) - ANS aka processor. The active part of the computer, which
contains the datapath and control and which adds numbers & other things
Static random access memory (SRAM) - ANS memory built as an integrated circuit, but faster
and lighter than DRAM.
Instruction set architecture - ANS aka architecture.
abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level software that has info to write a
machine language program
Application binary interface (ABI) - ANS user instruction set plus the OS interfaces used by
application programmers
Volatile memory - ANS Storage, such as DRAM, that retains data only with power.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Nonvolatile Memory - ANS memory that retains data w/o power.
DVD disk is nonvolatile.
Magnetic disk - ANS aka hard disk.
nonvolatile secondary memory composed of rotating platters coated with a magnetic recording
material.
access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
Main memory - ANS primary memory used to hold programs while they are running; has
DRAM
Secondary memory - ANS Nonvolatile memory used to store programs and data between
runs; has flash
Flash memory - ANS nonvolatile semiconductor memory. It is cheaper and slower than DRAM
but more expensive per bit and faster than magnetic disks. Access times are about 5 to 50
microseconds and cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.75 to $1.00.
Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) - ANS uniprocessor
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) - ANS multiprocessor
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
