IT221
Introduction to Computers
3.0 Credits
Midterm Exam Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
©2025
, Multiple Choice Questions (10 Questions)
1. Question:
Which computer architecture is characterized by using a single
unified memory to store both instructions and data, thereby leading
to the potential "Von Neumann bottleneck"?
- a. Harvard Architecture
- b. Von Neumann Architecture
- c. Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) Architecture
- d. Multicore Architecture
ANS:
b. Von Neumann Architecture
Rationale:
Von Neumann architecture uses one common memory for both
program instructions and data. This simplicity, however, can lead to
a bottleneck since the same bus is used for fetching both data and
instructions.
2. Question:
Which component stores the firmware that initializes hardware
during boot-up in most computers?
- a. RAM
- b. ROM
- c. Hard Disk Drive
- d. Cache Memory
ANS:
b. ROM
Rationale:
Read-Only Memory (ROM) contains the BIOS or UEFI firmware
that is executed during a computer’s startup process. This
nonvolatile memory is essential for hardware initialization.
3. Question:
©2025
, The control unit (CU) in a CPU is responsible for:
- a. Performing arithmetic and logical operations
- b. Storing temporary data for processing
- c. Directing the operation of the processor by fetching and
decoding instructions
- d. Managing direct memory access (DMA) transfers
ANS:
c. Directing the operation of the processor by fetching and
decoding instructions
Rationale:
The control unit coordinates the execution of instructions by
fetching them from memory, decoding them, and then directing
other components (like the ALU) to execute the operations.
4. Question:
Which type of memory is used as the primary memory for running
programs and is volatile in nature?
- a. ROM
- b. RAM
- c. Cache
- d. Hard Disk Drive
ANS:
b. RAM
Rationale:
Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile and is used to store
data and programs that are currently in use by the computer. Once
power is lost, its contents are erased.
5. Question:
ASCII stands for:
- a. American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- b. Advanced System Conversion for Indexed Information
- c. Automated Standard Communication for Internal Computing
- d. American Systematic Code for Interfaced Input
©2025
Introduction to Computers
3.0 Credits
Midterm Exam Review (Qns & Ans)
2025
©2025
, Multiple Choice Questions (10 Questions)
1. Question:
Which computer architecture is characterized by using a single
unified memory to store both instructions and data, thereby leading
to the potential "Von Neumann bottleneck"?
- a. Harvard Architecture
- b. Von Neumann Architecture
- c. Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) Architecture
- d. Multicore Architecture
ANS:
b. Von Neumann Architecture
Rationale:
Von Neumann architecture uses one common memory for both
program instructions and data. This simplicity, however, can lead to
a bottleneck since the same bus is used for fetching both data and
instructions.
2. Question:
Which component stores the firmware that initializes hardware
during boot-up in most computers?
- a. RAM
- b. ROM
- c. Hard Disk Drive
- d. Cache Memory
ANS:
b. ROM
Rationale:
Read-Only Memory (ROM) contains the BIOS or UEFI firmware
that is executed during a computer’s startup process. This
nonvolatile memory is essential for hardware initialization.
3. Question:
©2025
, The control unit (CU) in a CPU is responsible for:
- a. Performing arithmetic and logical operations
- b. Storing temporary data for processing
- c. Directing the operation of the processor by fetching and
decoding instructions
- d. Managing direct memory access (DMA) transfers
ANS:
c. Directing the operation of the processor by fetching and
decoding instructions
Rationale:
The control unit coordinates the execution of instructions by
fetching them from memory, decoding them, and then directing
other components (like the ALU) to execute the operations.
4. Question:
Which type of memory is used as the primary memory for running
programs and is volatile in nature?
- a. ROM
- b. RAM
- c. Cache
- d. Hard Disk Drive
ANS:
b. RAM
Rationale:
Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile and is used to store
data and programs that are currently in use by the computer. Once
power is lost, its contents are erased.
5. Question:
ASCII stands for:
- a. American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- b. Advanced System Conversion for Indexed Information
- c. Automated Standard Communication for Internal Computing
- d. American Systematic Code for Interfaced Input
©2025
