UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/
DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIT108 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
DATE: AUGUST, 2019 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question 1 AND any other TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE
a) Define the following terms as used with computers [6 Marks]
(i) ALU
(ii) I/O
(iii) IDE
(iv) BUS
(v) SATA
(vi) RAM
b) List THREE characteristics of the following computers [6 Marks]
(i) Super computer
(ii) Mainframe
c) “The computer is essentially a logic device and not a computing device”. Explain. Use an example
to prove this. [4 Marks]
d) Perform the following binary arithmetic [4 Marks]
(i) 10000 – 10011
(ii) 10111 + 10101
e) THREE key components make up a computer processor. Name them and give their functions with
the aid of a well-labeled diagram. [4 Marks]
f) Give TWO symptoms that suggest the following computer faults [6 Marks]
(i) Faulty Display
(ii) Faulty Hard Disc
(iii) Faulty RAM
QUESTION TWO
a) Give meaning to the following acronyms used with computer memories. Give a key feature of each.
(i) EEPROM
(ii) DRAM
(iii) SRAM
(iv) PROM [8 Marks]
b) Give TWO advantages and TWO disadvantages of computers [4 Marks]
c) Give the function of the following logic gates (a truth table is required) [4 Marks]
(i) NOT
(ii) AND
d) Explain the use of adder in the computer [2 Marks]
QUESTION THREE
a) Define the term software as used in computers [2 Marks]
b) Outline the TWO main types of software. Give examples of each [4 Marks]
c) Giving examples describe the following programing languages [6 Marks]
(i) Machine Language
(ii) Assembly Language
(iii) High Level Language
d) With regard to operating systems (OS)
(i) Define the highlighted term above [2 Marks]
(ii) List two tasks of the OS [2 Marks]
(iii) Name TWO OS that you know of [1 mark]
e) A student needs to connect a new network card on their laptop. A device driver error occurs.
Explain the following; [3 Marks]
(i) Define what a device driver is
(ii) Outline what the device driver does
(iii) Explain how this error can be solved
QUESTION FOUR
a) Define the terms below as used with regard to data [4 Marks]
(i) bit
(ii) binary
(iii) nibble
(iv) byte
b) Make the following number conversions [4 Marks]
(i) 1100010(2) to __________________(10)
(ii) 37.23(8) to ____________________(2)
(iii) a4.1c(16) to ___________________(8)
c) Briefly describe the ASCII character set. Give examples where applicable [4 Marks]
d) Explain the use of compression in data representation of audio content. Give an example of an
image file. [4 Marks]
e) Explain the terms “heat sink” and “CMOS battery” as used in the motherboard. [4 Marks]
QUESTION FIVE
a) Discuss any four computer maintenance tasks [4 Marks]
b) Briefly outline the BUS system as used in computers. Use suitable diagrams to show the
composition of the BUS system [6 Marks]
c) Name any bus system in use in modern computers and briefly describe it [4 Marks]
d) Describe ONE input and ONE output device [6 Marks]
