Question 1: List six of the ten different types of electronic memory from page 1 of the website.

Answer: RAM, Rom, Cache, Dynamic RAM, Static RAM, Flash memory, Memory Sticks, Virtual
memory, Video memory, and BIOS.
Question 2: Check out the Memory Hierarchy Pyramid on the Computer Memory Basics page
(page 2) and read the included explanation. Insert a copy of the picture below and then, in one
sentence, explain what it means when Level 2 cache is further up the hierarchy than a USB
drive.

Answer:
Because temporary storage is more easily accessible than permanent storage the computer
accesses temporary storage in the attempt to work faster because some of the program is
copied to the temporary storage from whatever permanent storage device you are using. Cache
level 2 is temporary while USB drive is permanent.
Question 3: ROM stands for ______________________________. It is a type
of permanent/temporary (highlight one) memory.
Answer: read-only memory. It is a permanent memory.
Question 4: BIOS stands for ____________________________________. It provides basic
information for the computer on __________________________ (4 things are listed on
the website).
Answer: basic input/output system. Storage devices, boot sequence, security, Plug and Play
(auto device recognition) capability and a few other items.
Question 5: RAM stands for ________________________________. It is a type
of permanent/temporary (highlight one) memory.
Answer: random access memory. It is a temporary storage.

Question 6: Page 2 describes all the things that can be loaded into RAM. List three or four.
Answer: most of the data used by the computer gets copied into the random access memory
(RAM), for example the operating system, any application you open, and any fills in that
application. Whenever something is opened or loaded it goes into RAM.
Question 7: What happens to the data stored in RAM when an application is closed?
Answer: when the application is closed it`s data is purged from RAM (it is only removed from
RAM, so if it exists in another storage device it remains there until deleted from that storage
device.)
Question 8: What is the cheapest form of read/write memory available today? Why is it so
popular to use large quantities of this kind of storage?
Answer: the cheapest form is the hard disk. It is so popular because it lets you use large
amounts of space and it`s cheap!!!
Question 9: What does bit-size mean (as in 32-bit or 64-bit computer)?
Answer: it refers to how many bytes it can use at a time (1byte = 8 bits) so 32 bit can work 4
bytes at a time and a 64 bit can work 8 bytes at the same time.
Question 10: The length of the clock cycle is used to determine a CPUs processing speed.
What unit of measurement is used?
Answer: Megahertz (MHz) is a measure of a CPU's processing speed, or clock cycle, in millions
per second.
Question 11: RAM is not fast enough to keep up with the CPU. Therefore some even higher
speed memory is needed. What is this high speed memory called?
Answer: it would be a cache.
Question 12: Explain registers. Where do they sit on the memory hierarchy pyramid?
Answer: The final step in memory is the registers. These are memory cells built right into the
CPU that contain specific data needed by the CPU, particularly the arithmetic and logic unit
(ALU). An integral part of the CPU itself, they are controlled directly by the compiler that sends
information for the CPU to process.
Question 13: What is virtual memory? How does it relate to the hard drive?
Answer: virtual memory is memory that is taken from RAM and stored on a hard disk to free up
some space in RAM. The hard drive has an area that stores RAM image its called the page file,
it holds pages of RAM.