I/O Subsystems and Controllers: Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following is **NOT** a type of I/O device?

Accepted Answer

RAM

Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Monitor

Answer

Printer

Question 2

What is the key difference between synchronous and asynchronous data transfer?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous data transfer requires precise timing signals, while asynchronous data transfer does not.

Answer

Asynchronous data transfer requires precise timing signals, while synchronous data transfer does not.

Answer

Synchronous data transfer is faster than asynchronous data transfer.

Answer

Asynchronous data transfer is faster than synchronous data transfer.

Question 3

What is the purpose of a status register in an I/O controller?

Accepted Answer

To indicate the current status of the controller, including any errors or completion flags

Answer

To store data received from I/O devices

Answer

To provide configuration options for the controller

Answer

To control the flow of data between the controller and I/O devices

Question 4

What is the primary role of the I/O subsystem in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To manage the exchange of data between the CPU and peripheral devices

Answer

To store data for temporary access

Answer

To perform complex calculations

Answer

To manage the user interface

Question 5

Which of the following is a primary function of an I/O controller?

Accepted Answer

Managing data transfer requests and interfacing with I/O devices

Answer

Executing application code

Answer

Storing operating system files

Answer

Providing user interface capabilities

Question 6

Which I/O interface standard is specifically designed for high-speed data transfer over short distances in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

PCIe

Answer

USB

Answer

Ethernet

Answer

HDMI

Question 7

What is the purpose of a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller in an I/O subsystem?

Accepted Answer

To allow I/O devices to directly access main memory without CPU involvement, enhancing data transfer efficiency

Answer

To perform memory allocation for I/O operations

Answer

To cache frequently accessed I/O data

Answer

To convert data formats between I/O devices and the CPU

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of a bus arbiter in an I/O subsystem?

Accepted Answer

To determine the priority and order in which I/O devices gain access to the system bus, ensuring fair and efficient resource allocation

Answer

To translate device addresses into physical addresses

Answer

To cache frequently accessed I/O data

Answer

To manage interrupts from I/O devices

Question 9

What is the primary purpose of an interrupt controller in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To handle and prioritize interrupts from I/O devices and other system components, ensuring timely and appropriate responses

Answer

To manage memory allocation for I/O operations

Answer

To translate device addresses into physical addresses

Answer

To cache frequently accessed I/O data

Question 10

Which of the following data transfer modes generally provides the most efficient use of the system bus?

Accepted Answer

DMA (Direct Memory Access)

Answer

Programmed I/O

Answer

Interrupt-driven I/O

Answer

Cycle stealing

Question 11

Which protocol enables data transfer between I/O devices and memory without CPU intervention?

Accepted Answer

Direct Memory Access (DMA)

Answer

I/O-mapped I/O

Answer

Memory-mapped I/O

Answer

Programmed I/O

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of an I/O controller in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Executing user applications and programs

Answer

Managing data transfer between the CPU and I/O devices

Answer

Decoding I/O instructions and generating control signals

Answer

Performing error checking and data verification

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of an I/O controller?

Accepted Answer

Performing complex arithmetic operations

Answer

Managing data transfer between the CPU and I/O devices

Answer

Decoding I/O instructions

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a type of I O controller?

Accepted Answer

Memory controller

Answer

DMA controller

Answer

Interrupt controller

Answer

Programmable interface controller

Question 15

Which of the following techniques is used to improve the data transfer rate between the CPU and I O devices?

Accepted Answer

DMA

Answer

Interrupt

Answer

Polling

Answer

Serial communication

Question 16

Which of the following is a primary responsibility of an I/O controller in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Managing data flow between the CPU and peripheral devices

Answer

Storing program instructions and data

Answer

Executing arithmetic and logical operations

Answer

Interfacing with user applications

Question 17

What is the primary function of an I/O bus in a computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Providing a physical pathway for exchanging data between the CPU and I/O devices

Answer

Translating CPU instructions into device commands

Answer

Storing information about I/O devices

Answer

Managing memory allocation for peripherals

Question 18

What is a key characteristic of a protocol in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Defines a set of rules and procedures that govern the communication and data exchange between devices

Answer

Specifies the encoding scheme used for representing data

Answer

Determines the types of physical connections and interfaces used

Question 19

Which of the following is a primary benefit of using a device driver in an I/O subsystem?

Accepted Answer

Provides a standardized and consistent interface for accessing and controlling devices, simplifying the interaction between software and hardware

Answer

Reduces the need for specialized hardware components in the system

Answer

Typically improves the overall performance of the computer system

Question 20

What is the primary purpose of a device descriptor in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Provides detailed information about the characteristics, capabilities, and configuration of a specific device

Answer

Stores and manages the data generated by the device

Answer

Handles the processing of interrupts and events generated by the device

Answer

Configures and sets up the device's settings and parameters