Computer Science (9-1)

1.1 – Systems architecture

Practice Questions
Antony Gallagher
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Candidate Candidate

forename surname

Centre number Candidate number

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Geography a Quality of extended response question is marked with an asterisk, while a pencil is used for questions in
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• The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
• The total number of marks for this paper is 45.
• The total number of marks may take into account some 'either/or' question choices.

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 1 Identify four events that take place during the fetch-execute cycle.

[4]
2 Identify two events that take place during the fetch-execute cycle.

[2]
3 Here are some statements about the CPU of a computer.
Tick one box in each row to show whether each of the following statements is true or false.

Statement True False

CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.
The CPU fetches and decodes instructions.
The speed of a CPU is usually measured in GigaHertz
(GHz).
If a CPU has many cores, this slows down the computer.
The hard disk drive is part of the CPU.
[5]

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 4 A CPU has a clock speed of 3.8 GHz. etc.
Describe what is meant by a clock speed of 3.8 GHz.

[2]

5 Draw one line from each part of the processor to its correct definition.

[4]

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 6 Quinn's current computer specification is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

Describe the benefits of a dual core processor over a single core processor.

[2]

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 7(a) Alicia has designed a computer using Von Neumann architecture.

Describe the purpose of two registers that are used by Von Neumann architecture.

[4]
(b) Alicia says:
“My computer has a quad-core processor, so it will run twice as fast as a computer with a dual-core processor”.

Explain why this statement is not always true.

[3]

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 8 Ann wants to purchase a new computer and is looking at two models. The specification of the CPU in each
computer is shown in Fig. 1.

When running a 3D flight simulator, Computer 1 is likely to run faster than Computer 2.

Using the information in Fig. 1, identify one reason for this.

[1]

9 The following paragraph describes embedded systems.

Complete the paragraph by selecting terms from the list and writing them in the correct places. Not all terms are
used.

actuator applications change functions laptop larger

lights microprocessor processor range smaller washing machine

Embedded systems have limited ........................................................ They are often

built into a ........................................................ machine. Two examples of embedded

systems are a ........................................................ and automated

........................................................ in a car.
[4]

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 10 Xander’s tablet computer comes with system software, including an operating system and utility system
software.

Xander also has a smart watch.

(i) Tick (✓) one box to show whether the smart watch or the laptop is an example of an embedded system.

Is an example of an embedded system

Smart watch
Laptop
[1]

(ii) Justify your choice to part (i).

[2]

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 11(a) Dipesh is thinking of buying a tablet computer to replace his old desktop computer.

Describe how the CPU and RAM work together to enable the tablet computer to operate.

[3]
(b) The tablet computer also uses cache memory. Describe the purpose of cache memory.

[2]

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 12

(i) The table has five components of a computer, and four statements.

Tick (✓) one or more boxes in each row to identify which component(s) each statement describes.

Statement MAR MDR Cache Program RAM

Counter
It stores a single address

It stores frequently used instructions

It is a register

It stores all currently running data and instructions

[4]

(ii) Identify the name of one register not given in part (i) and describe its purpose.

Register

Purpose

[2]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

1 An instruction is fetched from memory 4 1 mark is to be awarded for each correct

The instruction is then decoded answer to a maximum of 4 marks.
The decoded instruction is then
executed so that the CPU performs
continuously
The process is repeated
The program counter is incremented
The instruction is transferred to the
MDR
The address of the instruction to be
fetched is placed in the MAR

Total 4

2 An instruction is fetched from memory 2 1 mark to be awarded for each correct

The instruction is then decoded (AO1 1a) answer to a maximum of 2 marks.
The decoded instruction is then
executed so that the CPU performs
continuously
The process is repeated
The program counter is incremented
The instruction is transferred to the
MDR
The address of the instruction to be
fetched is placed in the MAR

Total 2

3 Statement True Fals 5 ?Examiner's Comments??

e
This question was generally well
CPU stands for Central ?
answered.
Processing Unit
The CPU fetches and ?
decodes instructions
The speed of a CPU is ?
usually measured in
GigaHertz (GHz)
If a CPU has many cores, ?
this slows down the
computer
The hard disk drive is part of ?
the CPU
One mark per row

Total 5

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

4 1 mark per bullet to max 2 2 Do not award: how fast the computer is //
AO1 1b speed of CPU
The number of FDE cycles run per (1)
given time/second AO2 1a 3.8 = 3,800,000,000
// the frequency that the clock ‘ticks’ (1)
3.8 billion cycles/instructions …
…per second
Examiner’s Comments

This question was answered well with

many candidates able to demonstrate an
understanding of the clock speed of a
computer. Fewer candidates correctly
translated the 3.8 GHz into the correct
number of instructions/FDE cycles
performed. Less able candidates did not
identify an appropriate time frame, for
example ‘the number of instructions it can
process’ has a different meaning to ‘the
number of instructions it can process per
second’. Another common misconception
was it is the number of instructions it can
perform at a time, a processor can only
perform one instruction at a time.

Total 2

5 1 mark per correct line from component to 4 Any 2 lines from 1 component = 0 mark
definition

Total 4

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

6 2 from 2 MUST have given splitting tasks, or multi-

tasking to allow speed
Tasks can split between the
processors…
…tasks / processes / software / can be
processed faster Faster can only be given a mark if the first
…more processes completed per bullet(s) have been given.
second
Examiner's Comments

Allows multitasking // This question was answered fairly well,

Run more than one process / task / candidates were able to express that two
instruction / data at a time / per clock processes could be carried out at once,
cycle… and they then often got a second mark for
… tasks / processes / software / can be identifying that this made it faster. Some
processed faster candidates could not clearly express what
…more processes completed per was being processed, or simply stated that
second it was faster which was insufficient as the
actual processes are not carried out faster,
it is faster because it is completing two
processes at the same time.

Total 2

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

7 a 1 mark per bullet to max 2 per register 4 MAR stores address is not enough for
AO1 1a description
MAR // memory address register (2) MDR stores the data is not enough for
Stores the address/location where data AO1 1b description
will be read/written/accessed/fetched (2)
// address/location of data/instruction Allow:
being processed
// address/location of data/instruction Current instruction register // IR
next to be processed Stores the instruction currently being
processed
MDR // memory data register
Stores the data/instruction that is Accept MBR // Memory buffer register for
fetched/read from memory MDR
// stores the data that is to be written to
memory
// stores the data/instruction from the
address in the MAR
// data/instruction next to be processed

Program counter
Stores the address/location of the next
instruction to be run
// stores the address/location of the
current instruction being run

Accumulator
Stores the result of
manipulation/process/calculation

Examiner’s Comments

Many candidates were able to accurately

name two registers. The more able were
able to accurately describe the purpose of
these registers. Some candidates were not
specific enough in their responses to gain
the descriptive marks, or repeated the
name of a register without the purpose,
e.g. ‘The memory address register stores
the address of the data’.

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

b 1 mark per bullet to max 3 3 Allow marks for other components that
e.g. AO1 1b could affect the speed e.g. secondary
(1) storage access speed, onboard GPU.
Software may be designed to run on 1 AO2 2b Award description of concurrent
core and not multiple cores (2) processing.
// depends on the task(s)
…some tasks cannot be split across
cores
Clock speed also affects speed
// dual core may have a faster clock
speed
// quad-core may have slower clock
speed
…so one task may be run faster/slower
RAM size also affects speed
// Quad-core may have less RAM
// amount of VM being used
Cache size also affects speed
// Quad-core may have less cache

Examiner’s Comments

Most candidates were able to identify other

features that could also have an impact on
the speed of the computer such as the
processor speed, amount of RAM etc. The
more able candidates were also able to
identify that the tasks being performed will
also impact on the speed, for example how
software may not be optimised for quad-
core, or that a process may have to wait for
a different process to finish execution
before it can be processed.

Total 7

8 It has more cores. 1 Although Computer 1 has a lower clock

speed than the CPU in Computer 2 it has
more cores, which means that it can be
faster than Computer 2.

Any answer relating to splitting a program

into processes that be carried out
consecutively will be accepted.

Total 1

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

9 1 mark for each completed term 4

Embedded systems have limited functions.

They are

often built into a larger machine. Two

examples of

embedded systems are a washing

machine and

automated lights in a car.

Total 4

10 i Smart watch 1 CAO

AO2 1a
(1) Examiner’s Comments
This question was answered correctly by
the majority of candidates who were able
to identify that a smart watch is an example
of an embedded system.

ii 1 mark per bullet for justification to max 2 2 Answers must be applied to scenario.
AO2 1b Do not award generic definitions.
A smart watch is not a general-purpose (2)
computer Allow opposite reasons for why a
… which means the smart watch has laptop is not an embedded system but
one/limited/specific/dedicated do not allow repeated points.
function(s)
Smart watch has a microprocessor Examiner’s Comments
… on a single circuit board Candidates were able to gain marks for
It is a computer system that is built explaining why a smart watch is an
within the watch embedded system or why a laptop is not or
Runs firmware a combination of the two.
Smart watch has built-in OS // difficult
to change/manipulate the OS/function The most common answers referred to the
Smart watch has few components all limited features of a smart watch, while a
essential to its purpose laptop is a general-purpose computer that
Smart watch has specific hardware can perform any number of tasks.
required to function i.e.
speaker/headphones Some candidates gave a generic definition
of an embedded system which was
insufficient because the question required
candidates to apply their knowledge to the
scenario.

Total 3

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

11 a Instructions / programs(currently 3 If the candidate has described the

running) / data are stored in the RAM… functions of RAM and the CPU separately,
these are fetched from the RAM by the only award the 2nd bullet if it is clearly
CPU / Processor stated that instructions are fetched from
… where the instructions are executed RAM.
/ instructions are processed / data is
processed Mention of the fetch – execute cycle in the
CPU is enough to award bullet 3.

b To store instructions / data that is 2

frequently used / previously used / next
to be used
Data does not need to be fetched from
RAM
Speeds up access

Total 5

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 Mark Scheme

Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

12 i 1 mark for correct ticks and gaps on each 4 If extra ticks on each row, 0 marks for that
row row

Statement MAR MDR Cach Progr RA

e am C M
ounte
r
It stores a ✓ ✓
single
address
It stores ✓
frequently
used
instruction
s
It is a ✓ ✓ ✓
register
It stores all ✓
currently
running
data and
instruction
s

ii 1 mark for register e.g. accumulator 2

1 mark for description e.g. stores the result
of arithmetic operations

Total 6

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