Computer Systems questions

By Interwoven Maths

Computer Systems question collection

Review Computer Systems questions for Computer Science, with correct answers shown and coverage across CPU components and fetch-execute cycle; memory and storage; hardware and software.

Back to Computer Systems practice Back to Computer Science

Question 1

What does CPU stand for?
  1. Central Processing Unit
  2. Central Program Unit
  3. Computer Processing Utility
  4. Core Processing Unit

Question 2

Which CPU part controls instruction flow?
  1. Control Unit
  2. Arithmetic Logic Unit
  3. Cache
  4. Register file

Question 3

Which CPU part performs calculations and logic tests?
  1. ALU
  2. Control Unit
  3. ROM
  4. Bus

Question 4

Which description matches cache memory?
  1. Small, fast CPU memory
  2. Large, volatile main memory
  3. Permanent, read-only startup memory
  4. Long-term magnetic file storage

Question 5

Which description matches CPU registers?
  1. Tiny, ultra-fast CPU storage
  2. Large, volatile main memory
  3. Permanent, read-only startup memory
  4. Long-term external file storage

Question 6

What unit is CPU clock speed usually measured in?
  1. GHz
  2. GB
  3. ms
  4. dpi

Question 7

What does clock speed measure?
  1. Cycles per second
  2. Programs installed
  3. Bytes in RAM
  4. Processor cores

Question 8

What is a CPU core?
  1. An independent processing unit
  2. A temporary storage register
  3. A small block of cache memory
  4. A path carrying data signals

Question 9

What does FDE stand for?
  1. Fetch, Decode, Execute
  2. Fetch, Delete, Execute
  3. Find, Decode, Execute
  4. Fetch, Decode, Exit

Question 10

What is RAM?
  1. Volatile memory
  2. Optical storage
  3. Non-volatile firmware memory
  4. External backup media

Question 11

What is ROM?
  1. Non-volatile memory
  2. Temporary memory
  3. A type of CPU cache
  4. A cloud storage service

Question 12

What does virtual memory use?
  1. Secondary storage as extra RAM
  2. ROM as extra cache
  3. GPU memory as hard drive space
  4. Cloud storage as BIOS memory

Question 13

Compared with an HDD, what is usually true of an SSD?
  1. Faster
  2. Slower
  3. More fragile
  4. Louder in operation

Question 14

Which is optical storage?
  1. DVD
  2. SSD
  3. USB flash drive
  4. Magnetic tape

Question 15

Which is magnetic storage?
  1. Hard disk drive
  2. DVD-ROM
  3. SD card
  4. Blu-ray disc

Question 16

Which is solid-state storage?
  1. USB flash drive
  2. CD-ROM
  3. Hard disk drive
  4. Magnetic tape reel

Question 17

What is an embedded system?
  1. A computer built into a larger device
  2. A general-purpose computer for many applications
  3. A remote computer providing network services
  4. A virtual computer running in software

Question 18

Why is secondary storage needed?
  1. To keep data when power is off
  2. To increase the CPU clock speed
  3. To execute instructions in the ALU
  4. To hold the next instruction address

Question 19

Which is utility software?
  1. Antivirus
  2. Spreadsheet
  3. Web browser quiz
  4. Presentation editor

Question 20

What problem can virtual memory help with?
  1. Running out of RAM
  2. Low internet bandwidth
  3. A dead CMOS battery
  4. Insufficient CPU cores

Question 21

What does the program counter hold?
  1. The address of the next instruction
  2. The instruction currently being decoded
  3. The result of the latest calculation
  4. The data moving to secondary storage

Question 22

What does the accumulator store?
  1. Intermediate results from the ALU
  2. The address of the next instruction
  3. The instruction currently being decoded
  4. Files waiting for secondary storage

Question 23

What happens in the fetch stage?
  1. An instruction is retrieved from memory
  2. An instruction is interpreted by the control unit
  3. An operation is carried out by the CPU
  4. A result is written back to a register

Question 24

What is embedded software?
  1. Software controlling a dedicated device
  2. A word processor on a laptop
  3. A database query
  4. A web browser extension

Question 25

What does a device driver do?
  1. Lets the operating system communicate with hardware
  2. Protects the computer from malicious software
  3. Allocates CPU time to running processes
  4. Translates high-level source code into machine code

Question 26

Which of these is software?
  1. An operating system
  2. A keyboard
  3. A hard disk
  4. A processor

Question 27

Which gate outputs 1 only when both inputs are 1?
  1. AND
  2. OR
  3. NOT
  4. XOR

Question 28

What does a truth table list?
  1. Every input combination and its output
  2. The speed of a circuit
  3. The cost of components
  4. The order of instructions

Question 29

In a logic circuit, what does one gate’s output become?
  1. An input to the next gate
  2. A separate circuit
  3. The power supply
  4. A truth table

Question 30

Which of these is application software?
  1. A word processor
  2. An operating system
  3. A device driver
  4. A disk defragmenter

Question 31

Which is closest to the instructions a processor runs?
  1. Machine code
  2. A high-level language
  3. Pseudocode
  4. A flowchart

Question 32

How does an interpreter run a program?
  1. One line at a time
  2. All at once, before running
  3. Only after the program ends
  4. Only on a remote server

Question 33

Which editor feature colours language keywords as you type?
  1. Syntax highlighting
  2. A breakpoint
  3. A watch window
  4. Auto-indent

Question 34

In the stored program concept, where are instructions held?
  1. In main memory
  2. In the ALU
  3. In the control unit
  4. On the display

About this topic

Review Computer Systems questions for Computer Science, with correct answers shown and coverage across CPU components and fetch-execute cycle; memory and storage; hardware and software.

This topic covers

Example question types