Computer Architecture Quiz

Which of the following components is NOT typically part of a modern computer?

• Processors

• Main memory

• Network interfaces

• Solar panels

What are the two primary modes of operation in most computers?

• User mode and kernel mode

• Supervisor mode and guest mode

• User mode and admin mode

• Kernel mode and hypervisor mode

Which mode grants complete access to all hardware and can execute any machine instruction?

• User mode

• Kernel mode

• Supervisor mode

• Guest mode

What is considered the "brain" of the computer?

• Memory

• CPU

• Hard disk

• Network interface

What is the basic cycle of the CPU?

• Fetch, decode, execute

• Execute, fetch, decode

• Decode, execute, fetch

• Fetch, execute, decode

Which CPU register contains the memory address of the next instruction to be fetched?

• Stack pointer

• Program counter

• Instruction register

• Accumulator

How is a process defined in operating systems?

• A program in execution

• A set of instructions stored on disk

• A hardware component

• A user interface

In a multiprogramming system, how does the CPU handle multiple processes?

• Runs all processes simultaneously on multiple CPUs

• Switches rapidly among processes, running each for a short time

• Runs processes sequentially without interruption

• Runs only one process per day

Which of the following is NOT a typical reason for process termination?

• Normal exit

• Error exit

• Process duplication

• Killed by another process

Which system call in UNIX is used to create a new process?

• exec

• fork

• spawn

• create