1.1 Past Paper Questions
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Describe what happens during the fetch-execute cycle.
Instructions are fetched from memory. The instructions are decoded. The decoded instructions are executed.
Complete the table by writing the name of two registers used in the fetch-execute cycle and the purpose of each register.
Program Counter (PC) stores the address of the next instruction. Memory Address Register (MAR) stores the address of the data or instruction to be fetched from or stored to memory.
Give three characteristics of a CPU that can affect its performance.
Clock speed. Number of cores. Cache size.
Explain the reasons why a Follow Me cruise control system is an example of an embedded system.
It has a single dedicated purpose. It is built into a larger machine like a car. It uses dedicated hardware and software.
Identify one other embedded system that could be found in a car and explain why this is an embedded system.
Example: Parking sensors. Explanation: It has a limited dedicated function and is built into the car with its own microprocessor.
Complete the table by writing the missing definition or name of each of the common CPU components and registers.
Program Counter (PC) stores the address of the next instruction. Control Unit (CU) controls the flow of data and decodes instructions. Memory Address Register (MAR) stores the address of the data to be fetched or stored. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) performs mathematical calculations and logical operations.
Tick one or more boxes in each row to identify which component(s) each statement describes.
Stores a single address: MAR and Program Counter. Stores frequently used instructions: Cache. It is a register: MAR MDR and Program Counter. Stores all currently running data and instructions: RAM.
Identify the name of one register not given in the table and describe its purpose.
Accumulator (ACC). It stores the results of calculations from the ALU.
Explain why a computer with a 3.2 GHz processor will usually run faster than one with a 1.2 GHz processor.
A higher clock speed means more fetch-execute cycles can be completed per second. Therefore more instructions can be processed per second.
Complete the paragraph about embedded systems using the words: functions larger washing machine lights.
Embedded systems have limited functions. They are often built into a larger machine. Two examples are a washing machine and automated lights in a car.
Using the specifications of two computers identify one reason why a computer with a lower clock speed but more cores might run a flight simulator faster.
It has more cores which allows it to process multiple instructions simultaneously.
Identify two other parts of a computer (not the CPU) that could improve its performance.
More RAM. A Solid State Drive (SSD) or faster secondary storage.
Explain one reason why the cache size affects the performance of the CPU.
A larger cache stores more frequently used instructions and data closer to the CPU. This is faster than fetching them from RAM so the CPU spends less time waiting.
Identify two events that take place during the fetch-execute cycle.
An instruction is fetched from memory. The instruction is decoded and then executed.