EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER

Module Code: CS1S404

Module Title: Computer Systems Concepts

Assessment Sitting: Main 2015/16

Month Examination to be sat: May

Duration of Examination (in

2 hours
hours and minutes):

The following items are provided to Candidates:

 Examination answer booklet

 Supplementary sheets, as detailed below

Instructions to Candidates:
Allowed Not Allowed
Calculators √
Removal of the examination paper from the venue at the √
end of the examination
Additional Resources (full details detailed below) √

This paper contains a total of 4 questions.

You are required to answer 3 questions.

Other relevant instructions:

Campus Examination to be sat Examination paper

Treforest 2
at: version number:

Name of Partner College(s)

(if applicable)

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Question 1

a. Describe the main components of the Little Man Computer (LMC) model, discussing what
each component represents in a real processor.
(10 marks)

b. Outline the operation of the LMC fetch-execute cycle. Use one data movement and one
branch instruction to illustrate your answer.
(10 marks)

Question 2

a. Describe your understanding of positional notation as used in Number Systems. Give an

example of its use in THREE different Number Systems.
(6 marks)

b. Assuming a computer with an 8-bit word length, what is the two’s complement
representation of the following decimal numbers? Give your answers in binary and
hexadecimal. You must show details of your working to obtain full marks.

+37
-97
(4 marks)

c. Describe the three basic types of logic gate studied this year. For each gate you should
include its symbol, its truth table and its Boolean algebra expression.
(6 marks)

d. Draw the truth table for the following Boolean algebra expression and hence produce a
design using the logic gates from c. above.

F= ~A.B + A.~B
(4 marks)

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Question 3

a. The system bus is the traditional structure that physically connects the fundamental
components of a computer. Using a diagram and an appropriate narrative, show how it is
used to connect these components together. Your answer should include how addresses, data
and control information is passed between these components.
(12 marks)

b. Outline the major idea expressed by von Neumann, which has contributed to the success of
computing technology?
(3 marks)

c. For a computer memory with 16 address lines, how many locations can be addressed?
What is the address of the first location? What is the address of the last location?
(3 marks)
d. What is the range of values that can be stored in a byte?
(2 marks)

Question 4

a. Using a labelled diagram, outline the major components of a router and describe its
functionality. What is the difference between a router and a gateway?
(10 marks)

b. Show how protocols are used to allow applications to communicate via a network. You
should assume the existence of FOUR distinct protocol layers. Illustrate, using this layered
architecture, how you would expect the network frame structure to be implemented.
(6 marks)

c. Assuming that each layer in b. above requires 40 bytes of protocol control information and
that the maximum size of a network frame is 1000 bytes, what is the largest message that can
be sent in one network frame? If the message is 10 bytes long, then how big would the
network frame be?
(4 marks)

END OF EXAMINATION

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