on Chapters 1 thru 4

1.   What is a register?

A.   a part of the processor that performs an operation.

B.   a part of the processor that keeps a log of operations.

C.   the part of the operating system that oversees what programs are selected for execution.

D.   a part of the processor that holds a bit pattern.

2.   What is a bit?

A.   A bit is a single binary value.

B.   A bit is a collection of several bytes.

C.   A bit is a single character stored in main memory.

D.   A bit is a small unit of computer time.

3.   Which of the following is NOT an advantage of building computers out of binary devices?

A.   Binary devices are simple and easy to build.

B.   Binary signals are unambiguous.

C.   Binary devices are much faster than decimal devices.

D.   Patterns of bits can be used to represent anything symbolic.

4.   Can Japanese writing be represented in a computer?

A.   No - only English and English-like languages can be represented.

B.   No - only languages with an alphabet can be represented.

C.   Yes - but a special processor chip is needed.

D.   Yes - it is symbolic, and anything symbolic can be represented.

5.   Can English writing be represented with analog signals?

A.   No - only binary signals can represent symbolic data.

B.   No - it is not symbolic.

C.   No - analog signals don't represent anything.

D.   Yes - just read out loud into a microphone.

6.   How many patterns can be formed with TWO bits?

A.   1

B.   2

C.   4

D.   8

7.   How many patterns can be formed from N bits?

A.   N

B.   N²

C.   2^N

D.   N^N

8.   What is the name for the bit pattern 1100 0101 ?

A.   0xA5

B.   0xD6

C.   0xC5

D.   0x12

9.   Say that you read that a particular computer "uses hexadecimal". What is being described?

A.   the fundamental hardware of the processor chip.

B.   a convention used in written documentation of the computer.

C.   the type of arithmetic carried out by the computer.

D.   the type of signals used on the computer's bus.

10.   How is the illusion of a full address space maintained on a modern computer?

A.   Addresses on the system bus are divided between disk storage and RAM memory.

B.   The operating system, with the help of special electronics, uses both physical memory and disk storage to implement the address space.

C.   Most programs use far less than the full address space, so they don't notice that only part of it is there.

D.   The processor divides time into very small slices and changes the contents of memory after each slice.