WGU D357 PRACTICE SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ machine language. Answer: The language made up of binary-
coded instructions that is used directly by the computer
◉ system software. Answer: The set of programs that enables a
computer's hardware devices and application software to work
together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
◉ operating system. Answer: (computer science) software that
controls the execution of computer programs and may provide
various services
◉ Assembly Language. Answer: Programming language that has the
same structure and set of commands as machine languages but
allows programmers to use symbolic representations of numeric
machine code.
◉ IBM 360/91. Answer: Introduced many new concepts, including
dynamic detection of memory hazards, generalized forwarding, and
reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
,The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with
the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as well as with several other
microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major
difference was that there was no commit unit, so once the
instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
◉ Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Answer: 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.
Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and
data of a program. In contrast to sequential access memories, such
as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter
what portion of the memory is read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
◉ frame buffering. Answer: A portion of RAM containing a bitmap
that drives a video display. It is a memory buffer containing a
complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer,
and the bit pattern per pixel is read out to the graphics display at the
,refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
◉ Datapath. Answer: The component of the processor that performs
arithmetic operations
◉ Control. Answer: The component of the processor that commands
the datapath, memory, and I/O devices according to the instructions
of the program.
◉ Integrated circuit. Answer: Also called a chip. A device combining
dozens to millions of transistors.
◉ Central processor unit (CPU). Answer: Also called processor. The
active part of the computer, which contains the datapath and control
and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices to
activate, and so on.
◉ Static random access memory (SRAM). Answer: Also memory
built as an integrated circuit, but faster and less dense than DRAM.
◉ Instruction set architecture. Answer: Also called architecture. An
abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level
software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
, machine language program that will run correctly, including
instructions, registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
◉ Application binary interface (ABI). Answer: The user portion of
the instruction set plus the operating system interfaces used by
application programmers. It defines a standard for binary portability
across computers.
◉ Volatile memory. Answer: Storage, such as DRAM, that retains
data only if it is receiving power.
◉ Nonvolatile Memory. Answer: A form of memory that retains data
even in the absence of a power source and that is used to store
programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
◉ Magnetic disk. Answer: Also called hard disk. A form of
nonvolatile secondary memory composed of rotating platters coated
with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating
mechanical devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and
cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
◉ Main memory. Answer: Also called primary memory. Memory
used to hold programs while they are running; typically consists of
DRAM in today's computers.
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ machine language. Answer: The language made up of binary-
coded instructions that is used directly by the computer
◉ system software. Answer: The set of programs that enables a
computer's hardware devices and application software to work
together; it includes the operating system and utility programs.
◉ operating system. Answer: (computer science) software that
controls the execution of computer programs and may provide
various services
◉ Assembly Language. Answer: Programming language that has the
same structure and set of commands as machine languages but
allows programmers to use symbolic representations of numeric
machine code.
◉ IBM 360/91. Answer: Introduced many new concepts, including
dynamic detection of memory hazards, generalized forwarding, and
reservation stations. Tomasulo's algorithm
,The internal organization of the 360/91 shares many features with
the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as well as with several other
microprocessors. One major difference was that there was no branch
prediction in the 360/91 and hence no speculation. Another major
difference was that there was no commit unit, so once the
instructions finished execution, they updated the registers.
◉ Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). Answer: 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.
Multiple DRAMs are used together to contain the instructions and
data of a program. In contrast to sequential access memories, such
as magnetic tapes, the RAM portion of the term DRAM means that
memory accesses take basically the same amount of time no matter
what portion of the memory is read.
Modern DRAMS consist of rows in each bank
◉ frame buffering. Answer: A portion of RAM containing a bitmap
that drives a video display. It is a memory buffer containing a
complete frame of data.
The image to be represented onscreen is stored in the frame buffer,
and the bit pattern per pixel is read out to the graphics display at the
,refresh rate. The animation below shows a frame buffer with a
simplified design of just 4 bits per pixel.
◉ Datapath. Answer: The component of the processor that performs
arithmetic operations
◉ Control. Answer: The component of the processor that commands
the datapath, memory, and I/O devices according to the instructions
of the program.
◉ Integrated circuit. Answer: Also called a chip. A device combining
dozens to millions of transistors.
◉ Central processor unit (CPU). Answer: Also called processor. The
active part of the computer, which contains the datapath and control
and which adds numbers, tests numbers, signals I/O devices to
activate, and so on.
◉ Static random access memory (SRAM). Answer: Also memory
built as an integrated circuit, but faster and less dense than DRAM.
◉ Instruction set architecture. Answer: Also called architecture. An
abstract interface between the hardware and the lowest-level
software that encompasses all the information necessary to write a
, machine language program that will run correctly, including
instructions, registers, memory access, I/O, and so on.
◉ Application binary interface (ABI). Answer: The user portion of
the instruction set plus the operating system interfaces used by
application programmers. It defines a standard for binary portability
across computers.
◉ Volatile memory. Answer: Storage, such as DRAM, that retains
data only if it is receiving power.
◉ Nonvolatile Memory. Answer: A form of memory that retains data
even in the absence of a power source and that is used to store
programs between runs. A DVD disk is nonvolatile.
◉ Magnetic disk. Answer: Also called hard disk. A form of
nonvolatile secondary memory composed of rotating platters coated
with a magnetic recording material. Because they are rotating
mechanical devices, access times are about 5 to 20 milliseconds and
cost per gigabyte in 2012 was $0.05 to $0.10
◉ Main memory. Answer: Also called primary memory. Memory
used to hold programs while they are running; typically consists of
DRAM in today's computers.
