Computer Organization and
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What architecture is the basis for contemporary computer designs?
-
correct answer ✅The von Neumann architecture
What are the three key concepts of the von Neumann architecture?
-
correct answer ✅1. Data and instructions are stored in a single
read-write memory. 2. Memory contents are addressable by
location, regardless of data type. 3. Execution occurs sequentially
from one instruction to the next.
What is the role of the program counter (PC) in the instruction
cycle? -
correct answer ✅The PC holds the address of the next instruction
to be fetched.
What happens to the program counter after each instruction fetch?
-
correct answer ✅The program counter increments to point to the
next instruction.
,Computer Organization and
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What is the function of the instruction register (IR)? -
correct answer ✅The IR holds the fetched instruction that is
currently being executed.
What are the two main categories of actions performed by the
processor? -
correct answer ✅1. Data transfer between processor and memory
or I/O devices. 2. Data processing, including arithmetic and logic
operations.
What is the fetch-decode-execute cycle? -
correct answer ✅A sequence of steps that includes fetching the
next instruction, decoding it, and executing it, which is central to
computer operation.
What does the memory address register (MAR) do? -
correct answer ✅The MAR specifies the address in memory for the
next read or write operation.
, Computer Organization and
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What is the purpose of the memory buffer register (MBR)? -
correct answer ✅The MBR contains the data to be written into
memory or receives data read from memory.
What does the input/output address register (I/OAR) specify? -
correct answer ✅The I/OAR specifies a particular I/O device.
What is the function of the input/output buffer register (I/OBR)? -
correct answer ✅The I/OBR is used for the exchange of data
between an I/O module and the CPU.
What is the accumulator (AC) used for in a CPU? -
correct answer ✅The AC is used for temporary storage during
instruction execution.
What does an opcode represent in an instruction? -
correct answer ✅An opcode represents the operation to be
performed by the instruction.
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What architecture is the basis for contemporary computer designs?
-
correct answer ✅The von Neumann architecture
What are the three key concepts of the von Neumann architecture?
-
correct answer ✅1. Data and instructions are stored in a single
read-write memory. 2. Memory contents are addressable by
location, regardless of data type. 3. Execution occurs sequentially
from one instruction to the next.
What is the role of the program counter (PC) in the instruction
cycle? -
correct answer ✅The PC holds the address of the next instruction
to be fetched.
What happens to the program counter after each instruction fetch?
-
correct answer ✅The program counter increments to point to the
next instruction.
,Computer Organization and
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What is the function of the instruction register (IR)? -
correct answer ✅The IR holds the fetched instruction that is
currently being executed.
What are the two main categories of actions performed by the
processor? -
correct answer ✅1. Data transfer between processor and memory
or I/O devices. 2. Data processing, including arithmetic and logic
operations.
What is the fetch-decode-execute cycle? -
correct answer ✅A sequence of steps that includes fetching the
next instruction, decoding it, and executing it, which is central to
computer operation.
What does the memory address register (MAR) do? -
correct answer ✅The MAR specifies the address in memory for the
next read or write operation.
, Computer Organization and
Architecture: Key Concepts and
Components Exam Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
What is the purpose of the memory buffer register (MBR)? -
correct answer ✅The MBR contains the data to be written into
memory or receives data read from memory.
What does the input/output address register (I/OAR) specify? -
correct answer ✅The I/OAR specifies a particular I/O device.
What is the function of the input/output buffer register (I/OBR)? -
correct answer ✅The I/OBR is used for the exchange of data
between an I/O module and the CPU.
What is the accumulator (AC) used for in a CPU? -
correct answer ✅The AC is used for temporary storage during
instruction execution.
What does an opcode represent in an instruction? -
correct answer ✅An opcode represents the operation to be
performed by the instruction.
