I/O Devices and Interfaces: Master the Fundamentals of Computer Architecture

Question 1

Which type of I/O device is used for human interaction with the computer?

Accepted Answer

Keyboard

Answer

CD-ROM drive

Answer

Network card

Answer

Hard disk drive

Question 2

What is the purpose of a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller?

Accepted Answer

To manage the direct transfer of data between I/O devices and memory, bypassing the CPU

Answer

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

Answer

To convert digital signals to analog signals

Answer

To amplify the signals received from I/O devices

Question 3

Which of the following is a characteristic of serial I/O?

Accepted Answer

Data is transmitted bit-by-bit over a single line

Answer

Data is transmitted in parallel over multiple lines

Answer

Data is transmitted in a burst mode

Answer

Data transmission is always synchronous

Question 4

What is the main advantage of using a bus-based I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Improved scalability and flexibility

Answer

Reduced system complexity

Answer

Increased data transfer rates

Answer

Reduced power consumption

Question 5

What is the role of an interrupt handler in I/O operations?

Accepted Answer

To respond to interrupt requests from I/O devices and take appropriate actions

Answer

To transfer data between I/O devices and memory

Answer

To manage the allocation of resources to I/O devices

Answer

To synchronize the operation of I/O devices

Question 6

What is the significance of I/O mapping in computer architecture?

Accepted Answer

It allows I/O devices to be accessed as memory addresses, simplifying programming

Answer

It simplifies the hardware design of I/O devices

Answer

It improves the performance of I/O operations

Answer

It reduces the number of interrupts generated by I/O devices

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of I/O devices in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Performing complex computations

Answer

Allowing exchange of data between the computer and external sources

Answer

Providing a means of user interaction

Answer

Storing data persistently

Question 8

Which interface standard is commonly employed for connecting high-speed peripherals and providing fast data transfer rates?

Accepted Answer

FireWire (IEEE 1394)

Answer

Parallel ATA (PATA)

Answer

Serial ATA (SATA)

Answer

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Question 9

Which of the following is a fundamental type of interrupt used in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

All of the above (A, B, and C)

Answer

Hardware interrupt

Answer

Software interrupt

Answer

Maskable interrupt

Question 10

What is the key difference between synchronous and asynchronous I/O operations?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous operations block the CPU until the I/O operation is completed, while asynchronous operations do not.

Answer

Asynchronous operations block the CPU until the I/O operation is completed, while synchronous operations do not.

Answer

Synchronous operations are always faster than asynchronous operations.

Answer

Asynchronous operations are more efficient than synchronous operations.

Question 11

Which interface standard is commonly used for connecting high-speed storage devices like SSDs and NVMe drives?

Accepted Answer

PCIe

Answer

SATA

Answer

USB

Answer

SCSI

Question 12

What is the purpose of a multiplexer in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

To connect multiple devices to a single channel, allowing for efficient communication

Answer

To convert analog signals to digital signals

Answer

To provide error detection and correction capabilities

Answer

To control the flow of data between devices

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of mass storage device?

Accepted Answer

Random access memory

Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Solid state drive

Answer

Optical drive

Question 14

What is the purpose of a parity bit in data transmission?

Accepted Answer

To detect single-bit errors during data transmission

Answer

To correct single-bit errors during data transmission

Answer

To provide end-to-end flow control

Answer

To improve data throughput

Question 15

What is the function of an interrupt controller in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

To prioritize and manage interrupt requests from devices, ensuring that critical events are handled promptly

Answer

To provide a mechanism for communication between devices and the CPU

Answer

To handle data transfers between devices and memory

Answer

To generate clock signals for synchronization purposes

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Processing data internally

Answer

Transferring data between the computer and external world

Answer

Converting data from one format to another

Answer

Providing sensory input to the computer

Question 17

What is the main purpose of a data transfer controller (DTC) in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

To manage data flow between the processor and I/O devices

Answer

To temporarily store data during transfer

Answer

To translate data between different formats

Answer

To handle interrupt requests from I/O devices

Question 18

Which type of storage device commonly uses a SCSI interface?

Accepted Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Printer

Answer

Monitor

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a wireless I/O interface technology?

Accepted Answer

Ethernet

Answer

Bluetooth

Answer

Wi-Fi

Answer

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Question 20

What is the function of an interrupt vector table in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

To store the memory addresses of interrupt service routines

Answer

To prioritize incoming interrupt requests

Answer

To buffer interrupt requests

Answer

To process DMA requests

Question 21

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

Accepted Answer

Central processing unit (CPU)

Answer

Printer

Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Modem

Question 22

How does Direct Memory Access (DMA) enhance the efficiency of I/O operations?

Accepted Answer

Enables direct data transfer between I/O devices and memory, bypassing the CPU for faster data exchange.

Answer

Provides real-time data processing by allowing I/O devices to directly interact with the CPU.

Answer

Eliminates the requirement for interrupt handling, as I/O devices can communicate directly with the CPU.

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a key characteristic of Input/Output (I/O) devices?

Accepted Answer

Providing permanent data storage.

Answer

Interfacing with the computer system through a dedicated interface.

Answer

Performing input or output operations.

Answer

Existing either internally or externally to the computer system.

Question 24

Which interface standard defines the physical and electrical specifications of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port?

Accepted Answer

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Answer

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)

Answer

Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232)

Answer

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

Question 25

Which I/O device type enables permanent data storage and retrieval?

Accepted Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Monitor

Answer

Network card

Question 26

What is a primary function of an I/O controller?

Accepted Answer

Managing the data exchange between the computer system and I/O devices.

Answer

Processing data

Answer

Providing permanent data storage.

Answer

Displaying data on the screen.

Question 27

Which of the following exemplifies an asynchronous I/O operation?

Accepted Answer

Sending data over a network.

Answer

Reading data from a file.

Answer

Writing data to a file.

Answer

Displaying data on the screen.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT a valid factor to consider when selecting an I/O device?

Accepted Answer

Personal preference

Answer

Performance

Answer

Cost

Answer

Reliability

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT an I/O device category?

Accepted Answer

Central processing unit

Answer

Input devices

Answer

Output devices

Answer

Storage devices

Question 30

What is the primary function of a DMA controller?

Accepted Answer

To manage data transfer between I/O devices and memory without CPU involvement

Answer

To regulate data flow between the CPU and I/O devices

Answer

To convert analog signals to digital signals

Answer

To provide an interface between the operating system and I/O devices

Question 31

Which characteristic describes a polling-based I/O system?

Accepted Answer

The CPU repeatedly checks the status of I/O devices

Answer

The CPU waits for an interrupt signal from the I/O device

Answer

Data is transferred between the CPU and I/O devices in real-time

Answer

The CPU is only engaged in I/O operations when necessary

Question 32

What is the primary purpose of a FIFO buffer in an I/O interface?

Accepted Answer

To temporarily store data when the CPU is not ready to receive it

Answer

To convert data between different formats

Answer

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

Answer

To provide error correction for data transmission

Question 33

What is the primary function of an I/O multiplexer?

Accepted Answer

To combine multiple I/O devices onto a single bus

Answer

To prioritize I/O requests

Answer

To detect and handle I/O errors

Answer

To convert digital signals to analog signals

Question 34

What is the key difference between synchronous and asynchronous I/O interfaces?

Accepted Answer

Synchronous interfaces use handshaking signals, while asynchronous interfaces do not

Answer

Asynchronous interfaces use handshaking signals, while synchronous interfaces do not

Answer

Synchronous interfaces are faster than asynchronous interfaces

Answer

Asynchronous interfaces are more reliable than synchronous interfaces

Question 35

Evaluate the significance of considering trade-offs in I/O system design for optimizing the performance of a computer system.

Accepted Answer

Understanding trade-offs is crucial for designing efficient I/O systems that meet specific performance objectives.

Answer

Trade-offs in I/O design inevitably result in diminished system performance.

Answer

The impact of I/O system design trade-offs is isolated to I/O operations, with no broader implications for the system.

Question 36

Which of the following devices typically utilizes a serial interface for communication?

Accepted Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Printer

Answer

Hard disk

Answer

Monitor

Question 37

Identify the primary function of a data bus within an I/O system.

Accepted Answer

Facilitates data exchange between I/O devices and the CPU/memory

Answer

Supplies power to I/O devices

Answer

Controls data flow

Question 38

Which characteristic is central to the concept of Direct Memory Access (DMA)?

Accepted Answer

Enables I/O devices to directly access memory, bypassing the CPU's involvement

Answer

Typically slower than programmed I/O

Answer

Does not necessitate dedicated hardware support

Question 39

What is the primary purpose of an interrupt within an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Alerts the CPU when an I/O device requires attention or service

Answer

Facilitates data transfer between I/O devices

Answer

Controls the flow of data

Question 40

Which of the following is an example of a device that operates using block-oriented I/O?

Accepted Answer

Hard disk drive

Answer

Printer

Answer

Monitor

Answer

Keyboard

Question 41

What is a key advantage of implementing a dedicated I/O processor within an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Offloads I/O processing tasks from the CPU, optimizing overall system performance

Answer

Reduces system costs

Answer

Simplifies I/O system design

Question 42

Identify the standard that defines the interface for USB (Universal Serial Bus) device connections to computers.

Accepted Answer

USB

Answer

PCI

Answer

SATA

Answer

HDMI

Question 43

What is the primary role of a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller in an I/O system?

Accepted Answer

Manages data transfer between I/O devices and memory, without involving the CPU

Answer

Generates interrupts to signal I/O device requests

Answer

Controls data flow between I/O devices

Question 44

Identify the type of I/O device responsible for converting analog signals into digital form.

Accepted Answer

ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter)

Answer

Printer

Answer

Monitor

Answer

Keyboard

Question 45

What is the predominant responsibility of an interrupt controller in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Manage and handle interrupts generated by multiple peripheral devices

Answer

Generate system clock signals

Answer

Control the flow of data between components

Answer

Enforce memory protection measures

Question 46

Which of the following options best exemplifies a block-oriented input/output device?

Accepted Answer

Hard disk drive (HDD)

Answer

Computer monitor

Answer

Network interface card (NIC)

Answer

Keyboard

Question 47

In the context of I/O devices and computer architecture, which protocol is commonly employed for communication between I/O devices and the central processing unit (CPU)?

Accepted Answer

Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)

Answer

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Answer

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

Answer

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

Question 48

Which of the following options accurately describes a type of I/O mapping technique used in computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Memory-mapped I/O

Answer

Virtual I/O

Answer

File-based I/O

Answer

Networked I/O

Question 49

In the realm of I/O programming, which of the following options represents a commonly utilized I/O programming interface?

Accepted Answer

POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface)

Answer

JDBC (Java Database Connectivity)

Answer

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library)

Answer

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT a common type of I/O interface used in modern computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Parallel ATA

Answer

Serial ATA (SATA)

Answer

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)

Answer

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Question 51

Which of the following is a key characteristic of a serial interface?

Accepted Answer

Data is transmitted one bit at a time over a single channel.

Answer

Requires more complex hardware and software for data handling.

Answer

Typically faster than parallel interfaces for high-speed data transfer.

Answer

Data is transmitted simultaneously on multiple wires.

Question 52

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

Accepted Answer

To manage data transfer between the CPU and I/O devices, handling communication and control signals.

Answer

To provide power to I/O devices.

Answer

To convert digital signals to analog and vice versa.

Answer

To execute instructions directly from I/O devices.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of a block-oriented I/O device, typically accessed in large blocks of data?

Accepted Answer

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Answer

Keyboard

Answer

Mouse

Answer

Scanner

Question 54

What is the primary purpose of interrupts in I/O operations?

Accepted Answer

To signal the CPU when an I/O device requires attention or has completed an operation.

Answer

To provide error checking for data transfers.

Answer

To control the flow of data between I/O devices.

Answer

To initiate data transfer between the CPU and I/O devices.

Question 55

Which of the following is a key advantage of Direct Memory Access (DMA) in I/O operations?

Accepted Answer

It reduces CPU overhead by allowing I/O devices to transfer data directly to and from memory without CPU intervention.

Answer

It allows for parallel data transfer between multiple I/O devices.

Answer

It improves data security by encrypting data during transfer.

Answer

It compresses data to reduce transfer time.

Question 56

Which of the following is a standard interface commonly used for connecting storage devices like hard drives and CD-ROM drives to a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

Answer

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

Answer

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Answer

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)