Fundamentals of Computer Systems

• What type of system software is used by programmers to simplify the process of application development?

  Libraries
• What is a webcam: hardware or software?

  Hardware
• Under which category of software is the operating system classed?

  System software
• Under which category of software is a web browser classed?

  Application software
• Define software


  Program code - Sequences of instructions which are executed in order to perform a task.
• What is the role of system software?

  To operate, control and maintain the computer and its components.
• What is a word processor: hardware or software?

  Software
• Define hardware


  The physical components of a computer system.
• Why is an operating system said to provide a virtual machine?

  The operating system hides the true complexity of the computer from the user.
• Under which category of software is a compiler classed?

  Translators
• Which type of programming language is this?

  01010101

  11010110

  01001011

  10110110

  Machine code
• Which are processor specific: low-level languages or high-level languages?

  Low-level languages
• Which type of language uses mnemonics in instructions?

  Assembly language
• Which type of languages must be translated into machine code with a compiler or interpreter before execution?

  High-level languages
• Which type of language uses only the binary values 1 and 0 in instructions?

  Machine code
• Which type of language supports built-in functions?

  High-level languages
• Which type of programming language is this?

  STR R4, #45

  ADD R1, R2, 3

  MOV R2, R1

  HALT

  Assembly language
• Which type of language specifies how the computer should complete a task, rather than what a computer should do?

  Imperative high-level language
• Are high-level languages platform specific?

  No
• What type of translator can be used to translate assembly language into machine code?


  Assemblers
• Which two types of translator can be used to translate high-level languages into machine code?


  Compiler, Interpreter
• Which type of translator translates high-level languages into machine code line by line?

  Interpreter
• Which type of translator translates high-level languages into machine code in one go?


  Compiler
• Which type of translator requires the source code to be present when the program is executed?

  Interpreter
• Which type of translator has procedures to translate each kind of program instruction?

  Interpreter
• Which type of translator which translates high-level languages into machine code best protects source code?


  Compiler
• What name is given to a collection of connected logic gates?

  Logic circuit
• How many outputs do logic gates have?

  1
• What are the two inputs of an edge-triggered D-type flip-flop?

  1. Data
  2. Clock signal
• Which symbol represents a NAND logic gate?

  
• What mathematical operation does AND perform?

  Multiplication
• What truth table represents this logic gate?

  
• Which symbol represents an OR logic gate?

  
• What mathematical operation does OR perform?

  Addition
• Which two logic gates can be combined to form NOR?

  OR and NOT gates
• Which logic gate only outputs FALSE when both inputs are FALSE?

  OR
• Which logic gate is represented by the symbol ⊕?

  XOR gate
• What type of logic circuit can be used to store the value of a single bit?

  Edge-triggered D-type flip-flop
• Which logic gate outputs TRUE when strictly one input is TRUE?

  XOR gate
• Which two logic gates can be combined to form a NAND gate?


  AND gate and NOT gate