UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2012/2013
EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1109 COMPUTER ORGANISATION & APPLICATIONS
DATE: AUGUST, 2013 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and Any Other TWO Questions
QUESTION ONE [30 MARKS]
a) What is cache memory? [2 marks]
b) What is the function of ALU? [2 marks]
c) What is the function of CU? [2 marks]
d) Describe the technological advancement in
i) First Generation computers [2 Marks]
ii) Third Generation computers [2 Marks]
ii) Fifth Generation computers [2 Marks]
e) Define the three main Buses? [6 marks]
f) What is System Software? Give an example? [3 marks]
g) What is a compiler? [3 mark]
h) Convert the following: 110010110111.1100111 to:
(i) Octal [2 Marks]
(ii) Decimal [4 Marks]
QUESTION TWO
a) Describe FIVE functions of the operating system [5 marks]
b) What is multitasking? [2 marks]
c) Compare RISC and CISC architecture [6 marks]
d) What is assembly language? [2 marks]
e) Explain the meaning of the following terms within the context of computer systems
i) Peripherals devices [ 1 mark]
ii) Virtual storage [1 mark]
iii) ROM BIOS [ 1 mark]
iv) Co-Processor [ 1 mark]
v) Motherboard [ 1 mark]
QUESTION THREE
(a) A computer system consists of the four main parts INPUT, CENTRAL
PROCESSING UNIT (CPU), SECONDARY or BACKING STORAGE and
OUTPUT. Show these on diagrams indicating clearly:
(i) The three component parts of the CPU. [6 Marks]
(ii) The flows of program instruction, data and control within the computer system,
making clear distinctions between them. [4 Marks]
(b) List FOUR reasons why computer systems need secondary storage. [8 Mark]
c) Would a system with magnetic disk and optical storage system meet all the
storage requirements? [2 Marks]
QUESTION FOUR
a) Differentiate between SRAM and DRAM and with reasons state which one is
suitable for making cache memory. (4 Marks)
b) List any two pointing devices, which can be used to input data into computers and
state the appropriate areas of application. (4 Marks)
c) Differentiate between computer Architecture and Computer Organization.
(4 Marks)
a) The main role of the CPU is to execute instructions. Explain the steps involved
during the execution of an instruction. (8 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
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. [4 Mark]
(ii) With the help of well illustrated diagrams, explain what you understand by:
a) Star Topology
b). Linear- Bus Topology
c). Token-Ring Topology [6 Marks]
