Past paper Questions Related to Hardware

1. Instructions are processed by a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer.

Complete the paragraph about fetching an instruction into the CPU to be processed. Use the terms
from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. You should only use a term once.

The program counter contains the ………… ………………… of the next instruction to be processed;
this is then sent to the …… ………………………........…………………………… using the address bus.
The address is then sent to the…………………………………………………………………………………
Once the address is received, the instruction stored at the location is sent to the………………………
… ……………………………………………………, using the………………………………………… bus.
The instruction is then sent to the …………… ………………………………………… that is built into the
……………………………………………………. [7]
2

Incorrect statement 1 .........................................

Corrected statement.......................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ .....................
.......................................................................................................................
Incorrect statement 2 .........................................
Corrected
statement .......................................................................................................... ......................................
..................................................................................................... ............................................................
........................................................................... [4]
3. The table contains names and descriptions of components in a central processing unit (CPU).
Complete the table by giving the missing component names and descriptions

Component name Description

sends signals to manage the flow of data

through the CPU

program counter

stores the address of the data that is about to

be fetched from random access memory
(RAM) into the CPU

transmits data between the RAM and the

CPU

accumulator

stores an instruction when it is being

decoded

4. The computer processes instructions using the fetch–decode–execute (FDE) cycle. Draw and
annotate a diagram to show the process of the fetch stage of the FDE cycle. [4]

5.. The CPU uses an instruction set to decode the instruction. State what is meant by an instruction
set. ................................................................................................................................................... ......
....................................................................................................................................... [1]

6. Describe what happens at the decode stage of the

cycle. ................................................................................................................................................... ...
................................................................................................................................................ .................
.................................................................................................................................. ...............................
.................................................................................................................... .............................................
...................................................................................................... ...........................................................
.................................................................................. [3]

7. Give one register in the CPU that is used in the execute stage of the
cycle. ............................................................................................................................................. [1]

8. A student has a computer that has a central processing unit (CPU). (a) Describe the role of the
CPU in the
computer. ................................................................................................................................................
... ................................................................................................................................................... ..........
......................................................................................................................................... ........................
..................................................................................................................... [2]

9. The CPU contains registers. State the purpose of a

register. ...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................ [1]

10. Give three registers that are built into the CPU.
1 ........................................................................................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................................
3 ........................................................................................................................................ [3]

11. One component in the CPU is the arithmetic logic unit (ALU). Describe the purpose of the
ALU. ................................................................................................................................................... ....
............................................................................................................................................... ..................
................................................................................................................................. ................................
................................................................................................................... ..............................................
..................................................................................................... ............................................................
................................................................................. [3]

12. The computer has a single core 3.5 GHz processor and an 8 kB cache. (i) State what is meant by
a 3.5 GHz
processor. ........................................................................................................................................... ....
................................................................................................................................. [1]

13. The CPU is changed to a dual-core 3.5 GHz processor. Explain how the number of cores affects
the performance of a
CPU. ........................................................................................................................................... ............
............................................................................................................................... ..................................
......................................................................................................... ........................................................
............................................................................. [2]

14. The amount of cache is increased to 64 kB. Explain how the amount of cache affects the
performance of a
computer. ........................................................................................................................................... ....
....................................................................................................................................... ..........................
................................................................................................................. ................................................
..................................................................................... [2]

15. The student wants to replace the CPU to increase the performance of the computer.
Explain why a different CPU can increase the
performance. ...........................................................................................................................................
........ ................................................................................................................................................... .....
.............................................................................................................................................. ...................
................................................................................................................................ .................................
.................................................................................................................. ...............................................
.................................................................................................... .............................................................
...................................................................................... ...........................................................................
.................................................................. [4]

16. The computer has both primary and secondary storage.

Random access memory (RAM) is one example of primary storage. Describe what is meant by
RAM. ........................................................................................................................................... ............
............................................................................................................................... ..................................
......................................................................................................... ........................................................
............................................................................. [2]

17. Explain why a computer needs

RAM. ................................................................................................................................................... ....
............................................................................................................................................... ..................
................................................................................................................................. ................................
................................................................................................................... ..............................................
..................................................................................................... ............................................................
................................................................................. [3]

18. Read only memory (ROM) is another example of primary storage. ROM often stores the start-up
instructions for a computer. Identify one other item of data that is commonly stored in
ROM. ........................................................................................................................................... ...........
.......................................................................................................................... [1]

19. Some computers make use of virtual memory. State the purpose of virtual
memory. ........................................................................................................................................... ......
............................................................................................................................... [1]

20. The table contains statements about types of secondary storage. Complete the table by writing
the correct type of secondary storage for each statement

Type of secondary storage Statement

Pits and lands are created on a reflective
surface.
NAND or NOR technology is used
Platters are spun that are divided into
tracks and sectors.
Electromagnets are used to read and
write data.
Transistors are used as control gates and
floating gates
A red or blue laser is used to read and
write data.

21. A computer uses both random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM).
Tick one box to show which statement is correct about RAM. [1]
22. ROM is a type of primary storage. State the characteristic of ROM that makes it a type of primary
storage. ...................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................. [1]

23. A company uses both solid-state and optical secondary storage. Explain why a computer needs
secondary
storage. ...................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................... ..............
..................................................................................................................................... ............................
................................................................................................................. [2]

24. Describe three differences between solid-state and optical storage.

1 ................................................................................................................................................ .............
...................................................................................................................................... ...........................
........................................................................................................................ .........................................
..........................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................ .............
...................................................................................................................................... ...........................
........................................................................................................................ .........................................
..........................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................ .............
...................................................................................................................................... ...........................
........................................................................................................................ .........................................
.......................................................................................................... [6]

25. One type of secondary storage is optical. Circle three examples of optical storage.

26. A sensor is an input device that is used to capture data from its surrounding environment.
Circle three other input devices.
27. A student has a smartwatch. The smartwatch has built-in input and output devices. Identify two
input devices that can be built into the smartwatch.
1 ................................................................................................................................................
2 ................................................................................................................................................[2]
28. Identify one output device that can be built into the
smartwatch. .............................................................................................................................................
...... [1]

29. The smartwatch only displays the time and text messages. A student incorrectly describes this
smartwatch as a general-purpose computer. Explain why the student’s description is
incorrect. ..................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................... ............
....................................................................................................................................... ..........................
................................................................................................................... [2]

30. A computer has both a media access control (MAC) address and an internet protocol (IP)
address.

Tick one box to show which of the statements is correct about the MAC address.

[1]
31. An IP address can have an IPv4 or IPv6 format.
Give an example of an IP address that has an IPv4
format. ..................................................................................................................................... [1]

Give two characteristics of the IPv6 format.

1 ........................................................................................................................................ .....................
......................................................................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................................ .....................
...................................................................................................................... [2]

32. The smartwatch uses a text message application that receives data from cloud storage.

Describe what is meant by cloud

storage. ........................................................................................................................................... .......
.................................................................................................................................... .............................
.............................................................................................................. ...................................................
.................................................................................. [2]

33. Explain two benefits of the application using cloud storage.

1 ........................................................................................................................................ .....................
...................................................................................................................... ...........................................
................................................................................................ .................................................................
..........................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................................ .....................
...................................................................................................................... ...........................................
................................................................................................ .................................................................
.......................................................................[4]
34. The table contains different types of sensors and a use for each. Complete the table by giving a
suitable use for each type of sensor. The first one has been done for you.

type of sensor Use

acoustic to monitor whether a water pipe has cracked and is leaking and dripping onto
the floor

Temperature
Humidity
Infra-red
 Magnetic field

35. A barcode scanning system uses a check digit to check for errors in data on input.
Explain how the barcode scanning system operates to check for
errors. ................................................................................................................................................... ..
................................................................................................................................................. ................
................................................................................................................................... ..............................
..................................................................................................................... ............................................
....................................................................................................... ..........................................................
......................................................................................... ........................................................................
........................................................................... ......................................................................................
....................................................... [4]