computer Arcitecture and organization Mock Exam 8 Mock Exam 8
University of Ilorin
Prepare thoroughly for your Computer Architecture and Organization exam with this comprehensive mock test. Tailored for 500 Level Computer Engineering students at the University of Ilorin, this exam covers essential topics including memory systems, DMA, CPU performance, operating systems, scheduling, pipelining, and virtualization. Test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement to ensure exam success.
About This Exam
Prepare thoroughly for your Computer Architecture and Organization exam with this comprehensive mock test. Tailored for 500 Level Computer Engineering students at the University of Ilorin, this exam covers essential topics including memory systems, DMA, CPU performance, operating systems, scheduling, pipelining, and virtualization. Test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement to ensure exam success.
Topics Covered
Exam Structure
- Question Formatmcq
- Total Questions43
- Estimated Duration65 minutes
- Difficulty LevelMedium
Learning Objectives
- •Understand semiconductor memory organization and types.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of computer hardware components, memory systems, CPU operations, and fundamental operating system concepts.
Sample Questions
Get a taste of what to expect in the full exam.
A program executes instructions. The processor has a clock rate of Hz. The average number of clock cycles per instruction (CPI) for this program on this processor is . Calculate the CPU time required to execute the program.
In an operating system, the kernel is the core component that runs at all times. If a hardware interrupt occurs, the control is transferred to an interrupt service routine. What is the role of the interrupt vector in this process?
The interrupt vector stores the current state of the CPU, including registers and the program counter.
The interrupt vector contains the addresses of all the interrupt service routines.
The interrupt vector is responsible for executing the interrupted instruction after the service routine completes.
The interrupt vector is used to determine if the interrupt is a hardware or software interrupt.
A processor uses a 4-stage pipeline: Fetch, Decode, Execute, and Write-back. If each instruction takes one clock cycle to complete in each stage, and instructions are independent, what is the minimum number of clock cycles required to execute 10 instructions using this pipeline? Assume the pipeline is initially empty and fully utilized after the first instruction enters the execute stage.
13
10
7
4
Consider a scenario where a system has multiple interrupt sources. The operating system needs to determine which interrupt has occurred to execute the correct service routine. What are the two primary mechanisms the operating system can use to identify the source of an interrupt?
Polling and Interrupt Vectoring
Interrupt Masking and Interrupt Prioritization
Direct Memory Access (DMA) and Programmed I/O (PIO)
Kernel Mode and User Mode
Consider the following processes with their arrival times and burst times: P1: Arrival Time = 0, Burst Time = 10ms P2: Arrival Time = 2ms, Burst Time = 2ms
If the CPU scheduling algorithm is Shortest Job First (SJF) and it is non-preemptive, calculate the average waiting time. Show your step-by-step calculation, including the Gantt chart.
4ms
8ms
10ms
2ms
In a tightly-coupled multiprocessor system, what is the primary advantage gained from having processors share access to a common memory, and what is a potential drawback that needs careful management?
Advantage: Increased throughput; Drawback: Cache coherency issues
Advantage: Reduced power consumption; Drawback: Increased bus traffic
Advantage: Simpler programming model; Drawback: Synchronization complexity
Advantage: Faster I/O operations; Drawback: Increased latency
In the context of operating systems, what is the fundamental difference between a process and a program?
A program is an active entity that needs resources to accomplish its task, while a process is a passive entity representing code and data.
A program is an active entity that needs resources to accomplish its task, while a process is a passive entity representing code and data.
A program is the code and data that can be executed, while a process is an instance of that program in execution, acting as an active entity.
A process is a collection of instructions that can be executed sequentially, while a program is a set of threads that can run concurrently.
A processor's clock rate is increased by 20%, and its CPI is decreased by approximately 7.24%. How does the CPU execution time for a fixed instruction count change? Assume the initial clock rate is and the initial CPI is .
Decreases by approximately 22.7%
Increases by approximately 22.7%
Decreases by approximately 10%
Increases by approximately 20%
Consider a processor with a clock rate of MHz. If a program requires clock cycles to execute, and the processor uses pipelining such that the effective CPI (Cycles Per Instruction) is , what is the total execution time of the program in seconds? Assume the number of instructions is .
A computer system uses a memory hierarchy. If a piece of data is found in the cache memory, what is the expected access time compared to accessing it directly from main memory (RAM)? Assume the data is not in the cache (a cache miss).
Accessing from cache will be significantly slower than accessing from main memory.
Accessing from cache will be slightly slower than accessing from main memory.
Accessing from cache will be significantly faster than accessing from main memory.
Accessing from cache will have approximately the same speed as accessing from main memory.
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How to Prepare
Key Preparation Tips
- Review lecture notes on memory organization, DMA, CPU performance, OS concepts, scheduling, pipelining, and virtualization.
Mistakes to Avoid
- •Misinterpreting the units or scale when calculating performance metrics (e.g., GHz, ns, ms).
Success Criteria
Achieving a high score on this mock exam indicates a strong grasp of Computer Architecture and Organization principles, preparing you effectively for your final examinations. Aim for accuracy and speed in your problem-solving.
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