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3.1 Computer Architecture

Question Paper

Course CIE IGCSE Computer Science

Section 3. Hardware
Topic 3.1 Computer Architecture
Difficulty Medium

Time allowed: 30

Score: /21

Percentage: /100

Page 1 of 6

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Question 1a
A computer has a Von Neumann architechure.
a)
Circle three components that are part of the central processing unit (CPU) in this computer.
memory address
accumulator (ACC) hard disk drive (HDD)
register (MAR)
program counter random access
(PC) memory (RAM)
read-only memory (ROM) sensor sold state drive (SSD)

[3]
[3 marks]

Question 1b
b)
Describe the purpose of the control unit (CU) within this computer.
[2]
[2 marks]

Page 2 of 6

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Question 1c
c)
The computer has a single core CPU.

i)
State one purpose of a core in a CPU.
[1]
ii)
The computer is upgraded to a dual core CPU.

Explain how the upgrade can affect the performance of the computer.
[2]
[3 marks]

Page 3 of 6

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Question 2
A Von Neumann model for a computer system contains several integrated circuits (IC).

The computer has a central processing unit (CPU).

i)
Identify the bus that carries signals around the CPU to control the components
[1]
ii)
Identify the register built into the arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
. [1]
iii)
Four statements about a Von Neumann model for a computer system are shown.
Tick (✓) to show if each statement is True or False.

True False
Statement
(✓) (✓)
Data and instructions are stored in the
same memory unit
The control unit manages operations
within the CPU
Data and instructions can be fetched
into the CPU at the same time
The control unit is responsible for
decoding an instruction
[4]
[6 marks]

Page 4 of 6

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Question 3a
Paige has a computer that has a central processing unit (CPU) based on the Von Neumann model for a computer system.
a)
Identify the component within the CPU that controls the flow of data.
[1]
[1 mark]

Question 3b
b)
Identify the component within the CPU where calculations are carried out
[1]
[1 mark]

Question 3c
c)
Identify the component within the CPU that stores the address of the next instruction to be processed.
[1]
[1 mark]

Question 3d
d)
Identify the register within the CPU that holds an instruction that has been fetched from memory
. [1]
[1 mark]

Page 5 of 6

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Question 3e
e)
Identify the register within the CPU that holds data that has been fetched from memory.
[1]
[1 mark]

Question 4
A digital alarm clock is controlled by a microprocessor. It uses the 24-hour clock system (i.e. 6 pm is 18:00).
Each digit in a typical display is represented by a 4-digit binary code.
For example:

The clock alarm has been set at 08:00.

Describe the actions of the microprocessor which enable the alarm to sound at 08:00.
[2]
[2 marks]

Page 6 of 6

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