OCR J277 - 1.1 Systems architecture

The CPU is:

• Control processing unit

• Centralised process unit

• Central process unified

• Central processing unit

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Central processing unit' (CPU), which is the primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside. The other options are incorrect variations of this term.

The processor:

• Carries out instructions

• Is main memory

• Is secondary storage

• Is an input device

Answer explanation

The processor is responsible for executing instructions from programs, making it the core component that performs calculations and tasks. It is not memory, storage, or an input device.

The main computer components are:

• Input/Output/CPU/Main memory

• CPU/Main memory/Secondary storage

• Input/Output/CPU/Main memory/Secondary storage

• CPU/Main memory/Secondary storage

Answer explanation

The main computer components include Input/Output devices, the CPU, Main memory, and Secondary storage. This choice encompasses all essential parts, making it the correct answer.

This is a secondary storage:

• CPU

• GPU

• USB

• RAM

Answer explanation

A USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a type of secondary storage used for data transfer and storage, unlike CPU and RAM, which are primary components for processing and temporary data storage.

Processor doesn’t do the following:

• Process data

• Execute instructions

• Execute data

• Operate in Hz

Answer explanation

The processor processes data and executes instructions, but it does not execute data. It operates in Hz to indicate speed, but executing data is not a function of the processor.

The part of a processor in which instructions are executed is known as:

• Core

• Centre

• Execution

• Instruction centre

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Core' because it refers to the part of a processor where instructions are executed. Other options like 'Centre', 'Execution', and 'Instruction centre' do not specifically denote this function.

What acts as an intermediary between the processor and the main memory?

• Bus

• User

• Cache

• Clock

Answer explanation

The cache acts as an intermediary between the processor and the main memory by storing frequently accessed data, allowing for faster data retrieval and improved performance compared to accessing the main memory directly.

What is held in cache?

• All the programming instructions

• Commonly used instructions and data

• Instructions that have been processed

• Data that hasn’t been used for a long time

Answer explanation

Cache stores commonly used instructions and data to speed up processing. This allows for quicker access compared to fetching from slower memory, making it efficient for frequently accessed information.

This would perform an operation such as 5+8:

• Arithmetic Logic Unit

• Accumulator

• Cache

• Control Unit

Answer explanation

The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is responsible for performing mathematical operations like addition. In this case, it executes the operation 5 + 8, making it the correct choice.

What is held in ROM?

• Data currently in use

• Bootstrap loader

• Instructions frequently used

• Operating System

Answer explanation

The bootstrap loader is a critical program stored in ROM that initializes the system and loads the operating system into memory. Other options like data in use or frequently used instructions are not stored in ROM.