Lecture notes for the Introduction to Computers by James Tam Return to the course web page

Sample Exam Questions: Advanced concepts in computer hardware (Chapter 9 - includes binary/Chapter 1)

Choose the answer that best answers each question.  Unless otherwise stated the following questions refer to computers with Windows installed.

  1. Why do modern computers use binary?
    1. Information is stored and manipulated in the computer based on power levels and it’s easiest to measure power levels as either in the on or off state.
    2. Information is stored and manipulated in the computer based on water levels and it’s easiest to measure water levels as either ‘full’ or ‘empty’.
    3. Modern computers use vacuum tubes to store information and information can be stored either by the presence or the absence of a vacuum tube.
    4. It makes it easier to connect binary computers to the Internet.
    5. This statement is false; computers do not work with a base two system as evidenced by the fact that they can perform calculations with normal base ten numbers.

 

  1. Which of the following is a correct ranking from fastest to slowest access times?
    1. Level 1 cache, level 2 cache, RAM, hard drive
    2. Level 2 cache, level 1 cache, RAM, hard drive
    3. RAM, level 1 cache, level 2 cache, hard drive
    4. RAM, level 2 cache, level 1 cache, hard drive
    5. RAM, hard drive, level 1 cache, level 2 cache

 

  1. What is the base ten equivalent of the binary number 101?
    1. 1
    2. 2
    3. 4
    4. 5
    5. 101

 

  1. What is the binary equivalent of the decimal number 12?
    1. 2
    2. 10
    3. 12
    4. 1100
    5. None of the above

 

  1. What is decimal equivalent of the binary number 101.1?
    1. 0.5
    2. 5
    3. 5.1
    4. 5.5
    5. 101.1

 

Answers to the above questions