1. Multiple parallel pipelines are used in __________.
A. speculative execution
B. data flow analysis
C. superscalar execution
D. branch prediction
Correct Answer: C. superscalar execution
Explanation: Superscalar execution refers to a processor's ability to
execute more than one instruction per clock cycle by using multiple
pipelines.
2. The desktop application(s) that require the great power of
today’s microprocessor-based systems include __________.
A. image processing
B. speech recognition
C. videoconferencing
D. all of the above
Correct Answer: D. all of the above
Explanation: Modern microprocessors are designed to handle demanding
applications like image processing, speech recognition, and
videoconferencing, which require substantial computing power.
3. __________ potentially increases the amount of work available for
the processor to execute.
A. Branch prediction
B. Performance balance
C. Pipelining
D. BIPS
Correct Answer: A. Branch prediction
Explanation: Branch prediction helps in speculatively executing
instructions before they are known to be needed, thus increasing the
potential work the processor can execute.
4. The interface between processor and __________ is the most
crucial pathway in the entire computer because it is responsible
for carrying a constant flow of program instructions and data
between memory chips and the processor.
A. main memory
B. pipeline
C. clock speed
D. control unit
Correct Answer: A. main memory
Explanation: The interface between the processor and main memory is
critical as it constantly transfers data and instructions necessary for
execution.
5. The __________ is a relatively small fast memory interposed
between a larger, slower memory and the logic that accesses the
larger memory.
A. peripheral
B. cache
C. processor
D. arithmetic and logic unit
Correct Answer: B. cache
Explanation: Cache memory is a small, fast memory that stores
frequently accessed data to speed up access times from the slower main
memory.
6. An increase in clock rate means that individual operations are
executed _____.
A. the same
B. slower
C. with very little change
D. more rapidly
Correct Answer: D. more rapidly
Explanation: Increasing the clock rate reduces the cycle time, meaning
each operation can be completed more quickly.
7. A __________ is a core designed to perform parallel operations on
graphics data.
A. MIC
B. ALU
C. GPU
D. PGD
Correct Answer: C. GPU
Explanation: A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is designed specifically for
performing parallel operations on large amounts of graphics data.
8. A(n) __________ Mean is a good candidate for comparing the
execution time performance of several systems.
A. Composite
B. Arithmetic
C. Harmonic
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: B. Arithmetic
Explanation: The Arithmetic Mean is commonly used for comparing
execution time performance across different systems because it gives a
straightforward average of execution times.
9. __________ law deals with the potential speedup of a program
using multiple processors compared to a single processor.
A. Moore’s
B. Amdahl’s
C. Little’s
D. Murphy’s
Correct Answer: B. Amdahl’s
Explanation: Amdahl’s Law provides a formula for the potential speedup
in latency of the execution of a task at fixed workload of a system when
the execution can be parallelized.
10. One increment, or pulse, of a clock is referred to as a
__________.
A. clock cycle
B. clock rate
C. clock speed
D. cycle time
Correct Answer: A. clock cycle
Explanation: A clock cycle is the time between two pulses of an oscillator
that sets the tempo of the computer processor.
11. The use of multiple processors on the same chip is referred to
as __________ and provides the potential to increase performance
without increasing the clock rate.
A. multicore
B. GPU
C. data channels
D. MPC
Correct Answer: A. multicore
Explanation: Multicore refers to integrating multiple CPU cores on a
single chip, allowing parallel processing and improving performance
without increasing clock speed.
12. With respect to changes in values, the __________ Mean gives
equal weight to all of the values in the data set.
A. Harmonic
B. Arithmetic
C. Composite
D. Geometric
Correct Answer: D. Geometric
Explanation: The Geometric Mean is used for sets of numbers whose
values are meant to be multiplied together or are exponential in nature,
and it gives equal weight to all values in the data set.
13. The __________ measures the ability of a computer to complete
a single task.
A. clock speed
B. speed metric
C. execute cycle
D. cycle time
Correct Answer: B. speed metric
Explanation: A speed metric measures the performance of a computer
system in terms of its ability to complete a single task, often referred to in
benchmarks and performance tests.
14. A measurement of how many tasks a computer can accomplish
in a certain amount of time is called a(n) __________.
A. real-time system
B. application analysis
C. cycle speed
D. throughput
Correct Answer: D. throughput
Explanation: Throughput measures the number of tasks a system can
complete in a given period, indicating overall performance efficiency.
15. The best known of the SPEC benchmark suites is __________.
A. SPEC CPU2006
B. SPECjvm2008
C. SPECsfs2008
D. SPEC SC2013
Correct Answer: A. SPEC CPU2006
Explanation: SPEC CPU2006 is a widely recognized benchmark suite used
to evaluate the performance of a computer’s processor, memory, and
compiler.
