MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
P.O. Box 972-60200 – Meru-Kenya.
Tel: +254 (0)799529958, +254 (0)799529959, +254 (0)712524293
Website: [Link] Email: info@[Link]
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2021/2022
FIRST YEAR SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE BACHELOR OF
BUSINESS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, BACHELOR OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, BACHELOR COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY, BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SECURITY AND FORENSICS, BACHELOR
OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER AND BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
MATHEMATICS
CIT 3150: COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND ARCHITECTURE
DATE: MAY 2022 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer question one and any other two questions
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) Differentiate between the following terms
i) Computer architecture and Computer organization (2 Marks)
ii) CPU and GPU (2 Marks)
iii) Source Program and Object code (2 Marks)
b) State three factors that influences the performance of the CPU (3 Marks)
c) Describe any three Features of machine languages (3 marks)
d) Convert 6710 to its base 2 equivalent. (4 Marks)
e) A given computer system includes a hard disk with direct memory access (DMA). Suppose a user
application needs to change a single byte within a disk block. Sketch, in order, all
communications that must take place between the processor and the hard drive to complete this
operation. (4 Marks)
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f) Complete the truth table for the following logic gates (4 Marks)
g) Using a discuss the three main categories of computer networks based on geographical coverage
(6 marks)
QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
a) List and explain 3 factors that are put into consideration when designing computer
architectures (6 Marks)
b) Explain the meaning of the following operations associated with a computer’s Control Unit
(6 Marks)
i) Fetch
ii) Decode
iii) Execute
c) Briefly explain the role of a System Clock and its speed matters in instruction processing.
(2 Marks)
d) Outline 3 types of registers found in the CPU and the role of each type (6 Marks)
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
a) Convert the following to the specified base
i. ABCD16 to Decimal, Binary and Octal (6 Marks)
ii. 123410 to Binary, Octal and Hexadecimal (6 Marks)
b) Briefly describe the roles of the data bus and the address bus within the central
processing unit (4 Marks)
c) Define the term interrupt and further explain any three types of interrupts and how they
are handled (4 Marks)
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QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
a) Difference between Primary and Secondary memory (2 Marks)
b) Explain 4 factors to consider when buying a secondary storage device (4 Marks)
c) Explain 4 types of number systems used for data representation in computers (8 Marks)
d) Using a well labelled diagram, Discuss the functional units of a computer (6 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
a) Define the meaning of the types of memory
i) ROM (2 Marks)
ii) PROM (2 Marks)
iii) EPROM (2 Marks)
b) Explain two advantages of using binary number system in computers instead of natural language
(4 Marks)
c) Distinguish between second and third generation languages (4 Marks)
d) From the logic circuit shown, write the correct values of the output Q for each of the listed set of
inputs (6 Marks)
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