COS2621- Computer Organisation exam pack memos

Contents
MAY JUNE 2016 EXAM PACK .................................................................................................................. 1
OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2016 .................................................................................................................. 10
MAY JUNE 2017..................................................................................................................................... 16
OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2017 .................................................................................................................. 25
OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2018 SECOND PAPER ........................................................................................ 36
MAY JUNE 2019 SOLUTIONS ................................................................................................................. 44
ADDITIONAL STUDY NOTES................................................................................................................... 53




MAY JUNE 2016 EXAM PACK
Question 1: General Knowledge [30]

a) Suppose a machine has 12 registers. How many bits must be reserved in the machine code
instruction order to address any of these twelve registers?
1. 20
2. 12
3. 8
4. 6
5. 4

b) Which number will be stored in the AX register if we key in the following instruction (exactly as it
is) and assemble it by using (i) NASM, and (ii) DEBUG?
mov ax, 0024
1. (i) AX = (0024)16 (ii) AX = (0024)16
2. (i) AX = (0024)10 (ii) AX = (0024)10
3. (i) AX = (0024)16 (ii) AX = (0024)10
4. (i) AX = (0024)10 (ii) AX = (0024)16
5. None of the above

c) Which one of the following instructions would you use if you want to branch to the label TEST if
the sign flag is set?
1. JN TEST
2. JZ TEST
3. JS TEST
4. JNS TEST
5. JNP TEST

d) A ____ contains electronics for exchanging data, control, and status signals with an I/O module
1

, plus the electronics for controlling the disk read/write mechanism.
1. flash drive
2. disk drive
3. CD drive
4. temporary memory
5. magnetic drive

e) The major functions or requirements for an I/O module fall into the following categories except
____.
1. error detection
2. processor communication
3. device communication
4. error control
5. data buffering

f) Two addresses are dedicated to keyboard input from a particular terminal. Address 516 refers to
the data register and address 517 refers to the ____.
1. memory
2. status register
3. isolated I/O
4. input register
5. output register

g) Which of the following are characteristics of Blu-ray DVDs?
a. It can store more than 20GB per side
b. It has slightly more storage density as normal DVDs
c. It uses a short wave-length 405nm laser
d. It uses a red-blue laser
e. There are two versions available: ready-only (BD-ROM) and recordable many (BD-M)
1. only a and c
2. only a, b and d
3. only a and e
4. a, b, c and d
5. only b and d

h) Suppose a machine has seven (7) general purpose 32-bit registers. How many bits must be
reserved to the machine code instruction in order to address any one of these seven registers?
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5

i) Calculate (3A69)16 + (B2E1)16

2