Practice IB Computer Science (CS) Topic 2. Computer Organization with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 2. Computer Organization and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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The Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is a fundamental component of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations. It is crucial for executing instructions in a computer system.
Define the role of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a computer system.
Explain how the ALU interacts with other components of the CPU during instruction execution.
Describe how an ALU can be designed to handle both integer and floating-point arithmetic operations.
An 8-bit accumulator in a central processing unit (CPU) holds the bit pattern .
Calculate the unsigned denary (base 10) value of the data currently stored in this register, showing your working.
A programmer is debugging a system and observes that a memory address is represented in the instruction set as the hexadecimal value .
Determine the 8-bit binary string that the address bus will carry to locate this memory address, showing your working.
In modern computer systems, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) plays a critical role in executing instructions and managing data flow between various components. Understanding the architecture and operation of the CPU is essential for optimizing system performance.
Explain the role of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) within the CPU.
Describe how the CPU uses the control unit to manage the execution of instructions.
Discuss the significance of cache memory in CPU architecture and how it improves performance.
An oil and gas company has a networked computer system for use by their employees in the Head Office. The company also uses a computer control system to monitor an oil/gas pipeline: flow and pressure sensors collect data, the processor checks the readings against safe limits, and output transducers (for example, alarms or valve actuators) are activated when necessary.
Identify one hardware security measure that will ensure that confidential data from the Head Office cannot be accessed.
Identify one software security measure that will ensure that confidential data from the Head Office cannot be accessed.
Identify one network security measure.
Explain the environmental benefit of using a computer control system to monitor the pipeline.
Explain the relationship between sensors, output transducers and processor in this situation.
Construct a system flowchart to represent the pipeline monitoring process described above.
Computer organization is a fundamental aspect of computer science that deals with the structure and behavior of a computer system. It involves understanding the components that make up a computer, including the CPU, memory, and input/output systems, and how they interact to perform tasks.
Explain the role of the control unit within the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and how it interacts with other components of the computer system.
Describe the function of registers in a CPU and explain why they are crucial for the execution of instructions.
Compare and contrast RAM and cache memory in terms of their role and performance in a computer system.
Outline the process of instruction pipelining in a CPU and discuss its advantages.
Discuss the impact of bus architecture on the performance of a computer system.