History of Computer Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Question 1

Who is credited with developing the concept of the stored-program computer, which became the foundation for modern computing?

Accepted Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Ada Lovelace

Answer

Alan Turing

Answer

Charles Babbage

Question 2

Which generation of computers marked the transition from vacuum tubes to transistors, leading to smaller size, lower power consumption, and increased reliability?

Accepted Answer

Second

Answer

First

Answer

Third

Answer

Fourth

Question 3

What is the primary distinction between RISC and CISC processor architectures?

Accepted Answer

Complexity of instructions

Answer

Number of instructions

Answer

Memory organization

Answer

Clock speed

Question 4

Which of the following technological advancements has played a transformative role in enabling high-performance computing for complex scientific and data-intensive applications?

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing

Answer

Cloud computing

Answer

Big data analytics

Answer

Quantum computing

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of a bus in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Transferring data between internal components

Answer

Connecting processors to main memory

Answer

Providing access to external peripherals

Answer

Executing instructions

Question 6

Which type of memory is volatile, meaning it loses its stored data when the power supply is disconnected?

Accepted Answer

DRAM

Answer

SRAM

Answer

ROM

Answer

Flash memory

Question 7

What is the primary function of an operating system in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Managing hardware resources and providing a platform for application execution

Answer

Providing a user-friendly interface for interacting with the computer

Answer

Running application programs directly

Answer

Storing and retrieving data permanently

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a primary factor that influences the overall performance of a computer system?

Accepted Answer

User experience

Answer

Processor speed

Answer

Memory capacity

Answer

Storage capacity

Question 9

Who is regarded as the 'Father of Computers' for their groundbreaking contributions to the development of computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

Charles Babbage

Answer

Alan Turing

Answer

Grace Hopper

Answer

Steve Jobs

Question 10

Who is credited with pioneering the concept of stored-program architecture?

Accepted Answer

John von Neumann

Answer

Charles Babbage

Answer

Alan Turing

Answer

Grace Hopper

Question 11

The development of integrated circuits (ICs) led to significant advancements in computer technology. Which of the following was NOT an impact of ICs?

Accepted Answer

Increased energy consumption

Answer

Increased processing speeds

Answer

Reduced size and cost of computers

Answer

Improved reliability

Question 12

The use of parallel processing in computer architecture is primarily aimed at:

Accepted Answer

Speeding up computations

Answer

Improving efficiency

Answer

Increasing memory capacity

Answer

Reducing energy consumption

Question 13

What was the breakthrough innovation introduced by the von Neumann architecture?

Accepted Answer

Stored-program concept

Answer

Transistor technology

Answer

Integrated circuits

Answer

Graphical user interface

Question 14

Identify the technology that revolutionized computing by enabling the miniaturization of computer systems:

Accepted Answer

Integrated circuits

Answer

Vacuum tubes

Answer

Transistors

Answer

Magnetic tape

Question 15

What was the primary goal of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)?

Accepted Answer

To connect computers across the United States

Answer

To develop new computer hardware

Answer

To create a global information network

Answer

To store and retrieve vast datasets

Question 16

What is the core function of a microprocessor in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To execute instructions and perform calculations

Answer

To store data and programs

Answer

To connect different components

Answer

To display graphical output

Question 17

In computer processors, how does instruction pipelining improve performance?

Accepted Answer

It breaks down instructions into stages, executing them concurrently to boost throughput and reduce latency.

Answer

It increases the processor's clock speed, speeding up execution.

Answer

It adds delays to the execution process, hindering performance.

Answer

It only benefits complex instructions, not simpler ones.

Question 18

Which computer architecture, named after its inventors, employs a single processor and a shared memory accessible to all components?

Accepted Answer

Von Neumann architecture

Answer

Harvard architecture

Answer

RISC architecture

Answer

Flynn's classification

Question 19

Which architectural style is characterized by the presence of multiple processors and a shared memory?

Accepted Answer

Multiprocessor architecture

Answer

Von Neumann architecture

Answer

Flynn's classification

Answer

Harvard architecture

Question 20

Which type of computing paradigm involves the pooling of resources and on-demand provisioning of services over a network?

Accepted Answer

Cloud computing

Answer

Distributed computing

Answer

Grid computing

Answer

Edge computing

Question 21

How has the evolution of computer systems impacted society?

Accepted Answer

Increased productivity and access to information

Answer

Reduced demand for skilled workers

Answer

Increased environmental pollution

Question 22

Which of the following computer types is primarily designed for high-performance scientific and engineering applications?

Accepted Answer

Supercomputer

Answer

Minicomputer

Answer

Mainframe

Answer

Personal computer