Assertion. An operating system is a system software.

LOGIN JOIN NOW

Reason. The software that controls internal computer operations, is called

system software.

Answer

(a)

Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of
Assertion.

Explanation

An operating system controls all other components of a computer system and

acts as an interface between a user and the hardware.

Question 7

Assertion. Customised software is a tailor made software according to user's

requirements.

Reason. Software libraries are customised software.

Answer

(c)

Assertion is true but Reason is false.

Explanation

Software libraries are not customised software. Software libraries are set of pre-
written code/functions/classes etc. available to programmers for use in the
development of new code.

Question 8

Assertion. Utility software programs are application software.

Reason. Application software are the programs necessary to carry out

operations for specific applications.

Answer

(a)

Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of
Assertion.

Explanation

Utility software are those application programs that assist the computer by
performing housekeeping functions like backing up disk or scanning / cleaning
viruses or arranging information, etc.
Assignment Questions

Question 1

Briefly explain the basic architecture of a computer.

Answer

A computer system comprises of five basic components:

1. Input Unit — An input unit takes the input and converts it into binary form
so that it can be understood by the computer. For example, keyboard,
mouse etc.
 2. Output Unit — It converts the output in binary form to human readable
LOGIN JOIN NOW
form. For example, monitor, speakers etc.
3. Central Processing Unit (CPU) — It is responsible for processing the data
and instructions. It consists of two parts:
i. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) — It performs all the four arithmetic
operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) and some
logical operations (less than, greater than, less than equal to, greater
than equal to, equal to, not equal to).
ii. Control Unit (CU) — It acts as a supervisor by controlling and guiding
the operation taking place.
4. Primary Memory — It is the internal volatile­memory where data and
instructions are stored during processing. It is of two types: Random Access
Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).
5. Secondary Storage Unit — It refers to the external storage devices which
provide permanent memory to the computer system. For example, hard
disk, compact disk, flash drive etc.

Question 2

What do you understand by input unit? What is its significance ? What does
computer input consist of?

Answer

An input unit takes the input and converts it into binary form so that it can be
understood by the computer.

Since a computer operates on electricity, it can understand only the language of

electricity i.e., either ON or OFF or High/Low voltage or the binary language that
uses just two symbols: 1 for ON and 0 for OFF. It cannot understand the the data
and instructions if they are not in binary language. Thus, input unit takes data
and instructions from the user and converts them into binary form so that the
computer can understand them.

Different input devices take input in different forms and pass them in digital
form to CPU for processing. Computer inputs may consist of:

1. letters, digits, commands from the keyboard.

2. movement of pointer using a mouse or pointing device.
3. sound input from a microphone.

Question 3

What is the function of CPU in a computer system ? What are its subunits ?

Answer

The CPU or the Central Processing Unit is the main control centre and processing
unit. It is also called brain of the computer as it guides, directs, controls and
governs the performance of a computer.

The CPU has three sub-components which are as follows:

1. Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) — It is responsible for carrying out the
arithmetic instructions (add, subtract, multiply, divide) and making logic
decisions (greater than, less than, equal to).
2. Control Unit — It is responsible for controlling and supervising the
processing.
3. Registers — The CPU uses these small units of data holding places to
temporarily hold some important processing-information during the time
the processing is taking place.
Question 4
LOGIN JOIN NOW

What functions are performed by the control unit ? Can we call it the control
centre of computer system ? Why ?

Answer

Control Unit is responsible for controlling and supervising the processing. It

performs the following functions:

1. It controls and guides the interpretation, flow and manipulation of all data
and information.
2. It sends control signals until the required operations are done properly by
ALU and memory.
3. It fetches the program instructions from the memory unit one by one. The
instructions are decoded and executed one after the other.
4. After an instruction is executed, it sends a signal to memory to send the next
instruction in sequence to CU.
5. It controls the flow of data from input devices to memory and from memory
to output devices.

Yes, we can call control unit the control centre of computer system because it
acts as a supervisor by controlling and guiding all the other components of the
computer system as well as the operations taking place.

Question 5

What functions are performed by the ALU ? Is it an independent unit ? If not,

which unit does ALU work in coordination with ?

Answer

Arithmetic and Logic unit is responsible for carrying out the arithmetic
instructions (add, subtract, multiply, divide) and making logic decisions (greater
than, less than, equal to).

No, it is not an independent unit. It is a part of CPU. It works in coordination with

the commands given by the Control Unit.

Question 6

Distinguish between CPU and ALU.

Answer

CPU ALU

CPU refers to Central Processing

ALU refers to Arithmetic and Logic unit.
Unit.

CPU is one of the main

components of a computer ALU is a sub-unit of the CPU.
system.

CPU guides, directs, controls and ALU carries out arithmetic and logic
governs the performance of a operations on the operands in
computer. computer instructions.

Question 7

What is the function of output unit in a computer system ? Give examples of

some output devices.

Answer
Output Unit converts the output in binary form to human readable form. The
LOGIN JOIN NOW
output coming from the CPU is in the form of binary signals which needs
conversion in some human readable form i.e,, characters, graphical or audio
visual form. This function of conversion is performed by output units.

Examples of some output devices are monitor, speaker, printers, plotters etc.

Question 8

What role does memory play in the functioning of computer system ?

Answer

The memory of a computer is more like a predefined working place, where it

temporarily keeps information and data to facilitate its performance. When the
task is performed, it clears its memory and memory space is then available for
the next task to be performed.

There are two types of main memory:

1. Random Access Memory

2. Read Only Memory

Since computer's main memory is temporary, secondary memory space, such as

hard disk, CDs, pen drive etc., is needed to store data and information
permanently for later use.

Question 9(a)

Define byte.

Answer

A bit is an elementary unit of the memory. Eight bits together form a byte.

Question 9(b)

Define kilobyte.

Answer

A kilobyte is equal to 210 bytes i.e., 1024 bytes.

Question 9(c)

Define megabyte.

Answer

A megabyte is equal to 210 kilobytes i.e., 1024 kilobytes.

Question 9(d)

Define gigabyte.

Answer

A gigabyte is equal to 210 megabytes i.e., 1024 megabytes.

Question 9(e)

Define terabyte.

Answer

A terabyte is equal to 210 gigabytes i.e., 1024 gigabytes.

Question 10
What is the meaning of the term volatile primary memory ? What can be done to
LOGIN JOIN NOW
overcome the problems of volatility ?

Answer

Volatile primary memory means that when the power goes off, the contents of
the primary memory get erased.

Since computer's primary memory is volatile or temporary, secondary memory

space is used to store data and information permanently for later use.
Secondary storage media are the hard disk, CD-RWs, pen drive etc.

Question 11

Distinguish between internal and external memory.

Answer

Internal memory External memory

Internal memory is also known as External memory is also known as

primary storage or main memory. secondary storage.

It is volatile in nature in case of RAM but

It is non-volatile in nature.
ROM is non-volatile.

It is used to store data temporarily (in It is used to store data

case of RAM). permanently.

External memory is not a working

Internal memory is a working memory.
memory.

Examples are hard disk, CD, DVD,

Examples are RAM and ROM.
flash drive etc.

Question 12

What is the role of memory in a computer functioning ? What types of memory

does the computer work with?

Answer

The memory of a computer is more like a predefined working place, where it

temporarily keeps information and data to facilitate its performance. When the
task is performed, it clears its memory and memory space is then available for
the next task to be performed.

The computer works with two types of main memory:

1. Random Access Memory

2. Read Only Memory

Since the main memory is volatile, the computer also uses secondary memory to
store data permanently.

Question 13

What are RAM and ROM ? How are they alike ? How are they different ? What are
EEPROM, PROM and EPROM?

Answer

RAM refers to Random Access Memory where both read and write operations
can take place. But the RAM is a volatile memory and its contents are lost when
power is turned off.

ROM refers to Read Only Memory where only read operation can take place. It
does not have a write capability. ROM is a non-volatile memory.
RAM and ROM are the main memory of a computer and both of them are
LOGIN JOIN NOW
required for the smooth functioning of a computer system.

The RAM provides memory for reading as well writing and its contents can be
modified as and when required. ROM, on the other hand, stores some
instructions which are permanent. ROM cannot be written onto. One can only
read instructions from ROM.

EEPROM refers to electrically erasable programmable ROM. In EEPROM, the

EPROM is erased electrically which is faster. Also, with EEPROM, selective bytes
can be erased unlike UV-EPROM which erases fully.

PROM refers to programmable ROM. It is a user-programmable memory in

which information is burnt using special equipment called a ROM burner. It can
be programmed only once.

EPROM refers to erasable programmable ROM. In EPROM, one can program the
memory chip through various mechanisms (e.g., UV radiation) and erase it as
many times as needed. The UV-EPROM can take up to 20 minutes for erasing
EPROM contents.

Question 14

What is cache memory ? How is it useful ?

Answer

The cache memory is a high speed memory available inside CPU in order to
speed up access to data and instructions stored in RAM memory. Whenever
some data is required, the CPU first looks in the cache, if it is there or not. If the
data is found in cache, CPU does not access memory and hence the process
becomes very fast.

Memory caching is effective because most programs access the same data or
instructions over and over. By keeping as much of this information as possible in
cache memory (SRAM), the computer avoids accessing the slower main memory
(DRAM). Hence, cache memory is useful for improving the performance of the
computer.

Question 15

What are major functional components of a mobile system ?

Answer

The major functional components of a mobile system are as follows:

1. Mobile Processor (Mobile CPU) — This is the brain of a smartphone. It has

two sub-processor types:
i. Communications Processing Unit — responsible for making and
receiving phone calls.
ii. Applications Processing Unit (APU) — responsible for governing,
controlling all types of operations taking place on a mobile system by
running various apps.
2. Display Subsystem — responsible for providing display facilities, touch
sensitive interface and touch sensitive keyboards.
3. Camera Subsystem — designed to deliver a tightly bound image processing
package.
4. Mobile System Memory — consists of RAM (work memory) and ROM
(mobile's internal storage).
5. Storage — external storage of a mobile system.