SEMI-FINAL EXAMINATION

A. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

1. What is Memory address registers(MAR)?

B. MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is a micro-operation in computer organization?
a) It refers to a single operation executed by the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit).
b) It represents a small set of operations performed on data stored in registers.
c) It is a complex instruction that involves multiple steps in the CPU.
d) It is a high-level instruction executed directly by the CPU.
2. Which of the following is NOT a type of micro-operation?
a) Transfer micro-operation
b) Arithmetic micro-operation
c) Conditional micro-operation
d) Logic micro-operation
3. What is the purpose of a transfer micro-operation?
a) To perform arithmetic calculations.
b) To transfer data between registers or between a register and memory.
c) To execute conditional branches.
d) To perform logical operations.
4. Which component of the CPU controls the execution of micro-operations?
a) ALU
b) Control Unit
c) Memory Unit
d) Input/Output Unit
5. How are micro-operations typically classified?
a) By their size in bits.
b) By their execution time.
c) By their function or operation type.
d) By their impact on memory.
6. In a micro-operation, what does the term "micro" refer to?
a) The size of the data being operated on.
b) The duration of the operation.
c) The fact that it operates at the level of individual bits or groups of bits.
d) The complexity of the operation.
7. Which of the following is NOT an example of a micro-operation?
a) Incrementing the value of a register.
b) Adding two numbers stored in registers.
c) Storing a result in memory.
d) Loading data from memory into a register.
8. Which stage of instruction execution involves micro-operations directly?
a) Fetch
 b) Decode
c) Execute
d) Write-back
9. What is the primary advantage of using micro-operations in CPU design?
a) They simplify the overall architecture of the CPU.
b) They allow for complex operations to be executed in a single clock cycle.
c) They provide a way to break down complex instructions into simpler, more manageable steps.
d) They reduce the need for memory accesses during instruction execution.
10. What does ISA stand for in computer science?
a) Instruction Set Architecture
b) Internal System Architecture
c) Integrated Software Architecture
d) Instructional System Automation
11. What is the primary function of the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)?
e) It defines the interface between the hardware and the software.
f) It specifies the design of the CPU cache.
g) It determines the layout of the motherboard.
h) It governs the organization of the CPU registers.
12. Which of the following is NOT a component of microarchitecture?
i) Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
j) Control Unit
k) Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
l) Registers
13. Which level of design is concerned with the arrangement and interaction of functional units such as
ALU, registers, and control units?
m) Instruction Set Architecture
n) Microarchitecture
o) Firmware Design
p) Hardware Description Language
14. True or False: Microarchitecture refers to the low-level design decisions of a computer system, including
how individual instructions are executed.
15. Which of the following is an example of a microarchitectural feature?
q) Instruction Set
r) Cache Size
s) Opcode Format
t) Number of Registers
16. What is the purpose of the Control Unit in microarchitecture?
u) It performs arithmetic and logic operations.
v) It stores temporary data during instruction execution.
w) It manages the flow of data between different components of the CPU.
x) It interprets and executes instructions fetched from memory.
17. Which stage of the instruction execution cycle is primarily managed by microarchitecture?
y) Fetch
z) Decode
aa) Execute
bb) Write-back
18. Which term describes the design principle where multiple simpler instructions are combined into a more
complex operation by the microarchitecture?
cc) Pipelining
dd) Superscalar Execution
ee) Instruction Fusion
ff) Speculative Execution
19. Which of the following is an example of an instruction set architecture?
gg) x86
hh) AMD64
ii) ARM
jj) All of the above
20. What is the primary function of the control unit in a computer's CPU?
a) To perform arithmetic and logic operations
b) To manage the flow of data between different components of the CPU
c) To store temporary data during instruction execution
d) To interpret and execute instructions fetched from memory
21. What distinguishes a hardwired control unit from a micro-programmed control unit?
e) Hardwired control units use software to control the CPU, while micro-programmed control units
use hardware.
f) Hardwired control units are simpler and faster, while micro-programmed control units are more
flexible and easier to modify.
g) Hardwired control units are more expensive to implement, while micro-programmed control
units are cheaper.
h) Hardwired control units are used in modern CPUs, while micro-programmed control units are
obsolete.
22. In a hardwired control unit, how are control signals generated?
i) Through a sequence of microinstructions stored in memory
j) By using a fixed set of logic gates and flip-flops
k) By executing machine language instructions
l) By using a microcode interpreter
23. What is microcode?
m) Low-level programming language used to write device drivers
n) A type of cache memory used in modern CPUs
o) A set of instructions stored in ROM that control the CPU's operations
p) The code executed by microprocessors in embedded systems
24. True or False: In a micro-programmed control unit, each instruction is directly implemented using
combinational logic.
25. Which of the following statements best describes the advantage of a micro-programmed control unit?
q) It allows for faster execution of instructions.
r) It simplifies the design process of the CPU.
s) It provides greater flexibility for implementing complex instructions.
t) It requires fewer transistors compared to a hardwired control unit.
26. What is the main disadvantage of a hardwired control unit compared to a micro-programmed control
unit?
u) Hardwired control units are slower.
v) Hardwired control units are more complex to design and modify.
w) Hardwired control units consume more power.
x) Hardwired control units are less reliable.
27. Which type of control unit is commonly found in modern CPUs?
y) Hardwired control unit
z) Micro-programmed control unit
aa) Hybrid control unit
bb) Programmable control unit
28. What is the role of the control store in a micro-programmed control unit?
cc) It stores the microcode instructions.
dd) It stores the program counter.
ee) It stores the cache memory.
ff) It stores the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) operations.
29. Which factor is crucial in determining whether a hardwired or micro-programmed control unit is used in
a CPU design?
gg) Clock speed
hh) Cost
ii) Instruction set architecture
jj) Cache size