UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2014/2015
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1106 BBIT 102 COMPUTER ORGANISATION AND
APPLICATIONS DISTANCE LEARNING
BIT 1109 COMPUTER ORGANISATION AND ARCHITECTURE
DATE: APRIL, 2015 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE [30 marks]
a) Define and explain the following terms as used in computers.
i) ROMBIOS
ii) Cache memory
iii) machine cycle
iv) Machine language
v) Registers [5 Marks]
(b) Distinguish between
i) RISC and CISC
ii) Random and sequential access
iii) System software and application software
iv) Analogue and digital computers
v) Byte and bits [10 Marks]
(c) Describe how the magnetic disk is organized internally clearly illustrating your
answer using diagrams. [4 Marks]
(d) Data within a computer goes through several processes including input, storage,
output, processing. Explain each process giving examples of devices used in each.
[5 Marks]
(e) By the use of an illustration, describe the organization of computer in a computer
system clearly explaining the function of each. [6 Marks]
QUESTION TWO [20 marks]
a) There are three (3) main types or approaches towards systems maintenance.
Briefly describe these approaches. (9 Marks)
b) List FOUR reasons why computer systems need secondary storage. Would a
system with magnetic disk and optical storage system meet all the storage
requirements? (9 Marks)
c) What causes a hardware conflict? (2 Marks)
QUESTION THREE [20 marks]
By explaining each of the following terms distinguish between:
(a) (i) Smart card and a card with a magnetic stripe. [2 Marks]
(ii) MICR and OMR. [2 Marks]
(iii) Laser printers and Dot-matrix printers. [2 Marks]
(iv) Multiprogramming and Parallel Processing. [2 Marks]
(v) Real time processing and On-line processing. [2 Marks]
(b) (i) What do you understand by a Computer Network? Give two reasons why we
network. [1 Mark]
(ii) With the help of well illustrated diagrams, explain what you understand by:
a) Star Topology
b) Bus Topology
c) Ring Topology [9 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR [20 marks]
(a) Convert the binary number, 1101101010111
(i) Octal [2 Marks]
(ii) Decimal [2 Marks]
(iii) Hexadecimal [2 Marks]
(b) Explain the following terms and state how they affect system performance.
i) Bus width [2 Marks]
ii) Word size [2 Marks]
(c) Briefly explain the boot-up process and state how you can troubleshoot if the
process was not successful. [4 Marks]
(d) With the help of a well labelled diagram, explain Von Neumann computer
architecture. [6 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE [20 marks]
(a) Describe the technological advancement in
i) First Generation computers
ii) Third Generation computers [6 Marks]
(b) Describe the characteristics of optical and magnetic disks clearly explaining the
technologies implemented in each. [4 Marks]
(c) Explain the meaning of the following terns as used in the computer systems:
i) EEPROM [2 Marks]
ii) Vacuum tubes [2 Marks]
iii. IBG [2 Marks]
(d) Differentiate between SRAM and DRAM and with reasons state which one is
suitable for making cache memory. [4 Marks]
