Cache Memory: A Comprehensive Guide for Computer Architecture Students

Question 1

In a Direct Mapped Cache, which of the following uniquely determines the cache block frame to which a main memory block is mapped?

Accepted Answer

Cache Index

Answer

Cache Line

Answer

Cache Tag

Answer

Cache Control Register

Question 2

In a Set Associative Cache, how many memory blocks can be simultaneously mapped to the same cache set?

Accepted Answer

A power of 2

Answer

Only 1

Answer

Up to the cache size

Answer

As many as the cache lines

Question 3

Which cache replacement policy gives priority to replacing the cache block that has not been accessed for the longest period?

Accepted Answer

Least Recently Used (LRU)

Answer

Least Frequently Used (LFU)

Answer

First In First Out (FIFO)

Answer

Random Replacement

Question 4

In a Write-Back Cache, when does the updated cache block get written back to main memory?

Accepted Answer

When the cache block is replaced

Answer

Immediately upon updating the cache block

Answer

When the cache becomes full

Answer

When the processor requests the data

Question 5

Which cache organization offers the highest hit rate?

Accepted Answer

Fully Associative Cache

Answer

Direct Mapped Cache

Answer

2-way Set Associative Cache

Answer

4-way Set Associative Cache

Question 6

What is the main advantage of incorporating a cache memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Reduced data access latency

Answer

Increased memory capacity

Answer

Lower power consumption

Answer

Enhanced security

Question 7

In a Fully Associative Cache, which component is used to determine the cache block to replace?

Accepted Answer

Cache Replacement Policy

Answer

Cache Index

Answer

Cache Tag

Answer

Cache Control Register

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a recognized Cache Coherence Protocol?

Accepted Answer

FIFO

Answer

MESI

Answer

MSI

Answer

MOESI

Question 9

Which of the following cache mapping techniques involves mapping each memory block to a unique cache line?

Accepted Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

Set associative

Answer

Fully associative

Answer

Dynamic mapped

Question 10

In a direct mapped cache, to find the cache line that stores a given memory address, which part of the address should be used?

Accepted Answer

Lower order bits

Answer

Middle order bits

Answer

Higher order bits

Answer

All bits

Question 11

In a write-back cache, what happens when data is written to the cache?

Accepted Answer

It is only written to main memory when the cache line is evicted

Answer

It is immediately written to main memory

Answer

It is written to a write buffer and then periodically flushed to main memory

Answer

It is discarded and only written to main memory if it is read again

Question 12

The least recently used (LRU) cache replacement policy:

Accepted Answer

Replaces the cache line that has not been used for the longest time

Answer

Replaces the cache line that has been used the most number of times

Answer

Replaces the cache line with the smallest access count

Answer

Replaces the cache line with the largest access count

Question 13

In a 2-way set associative cache with a set size of 4, how many cache lines are present in each set?

Accepted Answer

2

Answer

1

Answer

4

Answer

8

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a cache memory in a computer system?

Accepted Answer

Improved data security

Answer

Reduced memory latency

Answer

Increased memory bandwidth

Answer

Reduced power consumption

Question 15

In a direct mapped cache, each memory block is mapped to:

Accepted Answer

A unique cache line

Answer

Multiple cache lines

Answer

A random cache line

Answer

No specific cache line

Question 16

In a fully associative cache, the memory block to be replaced can be chosen from:

Accepted Answer

Anywhere in the cache

Answer

Only the least recently used block

Answer

Only the most recently used block

Answer

Only a random block

Question 17

A write-back cache policy:

Accepted Answer

Writes data to cache immediately and main memory later

Answer

Writes data to main memory immediately

Answer

Writes data to both cache and main memory simultaneously

Answer

Never writes data to main memory

Question 18

The primary benefit of a set associative cache is to:

Accepted Answer

Increase cache hit rate

Answer

Reduce cache size

Answer

Decrease latency

Answer

Improve write performance

Question 19

A cache miss occurs when the requested data is:

Accepted Answer

Not found in the cache

Answer

Found in the cache

Answer

Partially found in the cache

Answer

Prefetched into the cache

Question 20

The least recently used block in a cache can be replaced using the:

Accepted Answer

LRU replacement policy

Answer

FIFO replacement policy

Answer

Optimal replacement policy

Answer

Random replacement policy

Question 21

Cache coherency is crucial in multiprocessor systems to:

Accepted Answer

Maintain consistency of shared data

Answer

Improve cache performance

Answer

Reduce memory latency

Answer

Prevent cache misses

Question 22

In a write-through cache write policy, write operations are propagated to:

Accepted Answer

Both cache and main memory

Answer

Only the cache

Answer

Only main memory

Answer

Neither cache nor main memory

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a cache structure?

Accepted Answer

Block associative

Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

Set associative

Answer

Fully associative

Question 24

Which cache replacement policy gives priority to recently accessed data?

Accepted Answer

Least Recently Used (LRU)

Answer

Least Frequently Used (LFU)

Answer

First In First Out (FIFO)

Answer

Least Recently Modified (LRM)

Question 25

Which cache write policy writes data to both cache and main memory simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

Write-through

Answer

Write-back

Answer

No-write-allocate

Answer

Copy-back

Question 26

What is the role of a cache controller?

Accepted Answer

Manages cache access and replacement decisions

Answer

Provides security for cached data

Answer

Increases memory bandwidth

Answer

Reduces latency

Question 27

What is a key advantage of a fully associative cache?

Accepted Answer

Increased hit rate

Answer

Reduced miss rate

Answer

Simplified cache controller design

Answer

Lower power consumption

Question 28

What is the term for the time taken to fetch data from main memory when it's not found in the cache?

Accepted Answer

Cache miss penalty

Answer

Cache hit time

Answer

Access time

Answer

Latency

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of cache memory?

Accepted Answer

Increased power consumption

Answer

Faster access time

Answer

Enhanced performance

Answer

Reduced cost

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a type of cache memory organization?

Accepted Answer

Partially associative

Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

Set associative

Answer

Fully associative

Question 31

LRU stands for:

Accepted Answer

Least Recently Used

Answer

Largest Rarely Used

Answer

Least Rarely Used

Answer

Longest Requested Used

Question 32

In a direct mapped cache, each memory block can be mapped to:

Accepted Answer

One cache line only

Answer

Multiple cache lines

Answer

Any cache line

Answer

No cache line

Question 33

Which cache organization divides the cache into equally-sized blocks, with each block mapped to a specific memory address range?

Accepted Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

Set associative

Answer

Fully associative

Question 34

What cache replacement policy replaces the least recently used (LRU) cache block when the cache is full?

Accepted Answer

LRU

Answer

LFU

Answer

Random

Question 35

Which cache write policy writes data to the cache but defers writing it to main memory until later?

Accepted Answer

Write-back

Answer

Write-through

Question 36

Which situation would benefit most from using a cache with a large block size?

Accepted Answer

Applications with large data sets that exhibit temporal locality

Answer

Applications with high locality of reference and predictable access patterns

Answer

Applications with low cache miss rates

Question 37

What is the primary role of a cache tag?

Accepted Answer

To uniquely identify the corresponding memory block in main memory

Answer

To keep track of the Last Recently Used (LRU) status of the cache block

Answer

To store the data from the corresponding memory block

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using a cache memory?

Accepted Answer

Guaranteeing data consistency across all memory levels

Answer

Reducing average memory access time

Answer

Minimizing memory bandwidth consumption

Question 39

What is the fundamental distinction between a cache hit and a cache miss?

Accepted Answer

A hit occurs when the requested data resides in the cache, while a miss occurs when it does not.

Answer

A hit occurs when the requested data is not found in the cache, while a miss occurs when it is.

Answer

A hit occurs when the requested data is written to the cache, while a miss occurs when it is read from the cache.

Question 40

How does the size of a cache typically affect its miss rate?

Accepted Answer

As the cache size increases, the miss rate generally decreases.

Answer

As the cache size increases, the miss rate generally increases.

Answer

Cache size has no significant impact on the miss rate.

Question 41

Which cache organization structure is NOT commonly used in modern computer systems?

Accepted Answer

Hierarchical

Answer

Fully associative

Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

Set associative

Question 42

In a direct mapped cache, what part of the memory address is used to determine the cache block's location?

Accepted Answer

Cache block index

Answer

Cache set index

Answer

Cache tag

Answer

Cache line size

Question 43

Which cache replacement policy prioritizes retaining the cache block that has been accessed most recently?

Accepted Answer

LRU (Least Recently Used)

Answer

FIFO (First-In-First-Out)

Answer

Random

Answer

LFU (Least Frequently Used)

Question 44

In a write-through cache, what happens to write operations?

Accepted Answer

They immediately update both the cache and main memory

Answer

They only update the cache and not the main memory

Answer

They are delayed and only update main memory later

Answer

They are never performed in the cache

Question 45

Which cache organization structure allows the placement of any cache block in any cache set?

Accepted Answer

Fully associative

Answer

2-way set associative

Answer

Direct mapped

Answer

4-way set associative

Question 46

What is the primary purpose of a cache tag?

Accepted Answer

To uniquely identify the memory block stored in the cache

Answer

To store the most recently accessed data item

Answer

To indicate whether the cache block is valid or invalid

Answer

To determine the cache set index

Question 47

Which of the following is the primary benefit of using a cache memory?

Accepted Answer

Reducing the average memory access time experienced by the processor

Answer

Lowering the cost of memory

Answer

Increasing the total amount of available memory

Question 48

Which cache structure divides the cache into fixed-size blocks, with each block mapped to a unique memory location by its address?

Accepted Answer

Direct Mapped Cache

Answer

Set Associative Cache

Answer

Fully Associative Cache

Answer

Sector Cache

Question 49

In a set associative cache, which replacement policy selects the least recently used block from a given set for eviction?

Accepted Answer

LRU (Least Recently Used)

Answer

LFU (Least Frequently Used)

Answer

FIFO (First In First Out)

Answer

MRU (Most Recently Used)

Question 50

Which cache write policy allows the processor to continue execution without waiting for data to be written to main memory, improving performance?

Accepted Answer

Write-Back

Answer

Copy-Back

Answer

Write-Through

Answer

Delayed Write

Question 51

A cache with a hit rate of 90% and a miss penalty of 100 clock cycles would have an average memory access time of:

Accepted Answer

10 clock cycles

Answer

120 clock cycles

Answer

80 clock cycles

Answer

200 clock cycles

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using a cache memory?

Accepted Answer

Increased memory latency for data not found in the cache

Answer

Improved processor performance

Answer

Energy savings

Answer

Reduced average memory access time

Question 53

In a fully associative cache, which of the following parameters primarily determines the cache's efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Block size

Answer

Cache size

Answer

Replacement policy

Answer

Memory timing

Question 54

Which cache mapping technique assigns each cache block to a specific location in the cache based solely on its address?

Accepted Answer

Direct Mapping

Answer

Set Associative Mapping

Answer

Random Mapping

Answer

Fully Associative Mapping

Question 55

What is the primary purpose of a cache coherence protocol in a multiprocessor system?

Accepted Answer

To ensure that all processors have a consistent view of the data in the cache, preventing data corruption

Answer

To improve cache performance

Answer

To prevent memory leaks

Question 56

Which of the following is a key advantage of using a write-through cache?

Accepted Answer

Data in memory is always up-to-date

Answer

Reduced write latency

Answer

Improved cache performance

Answer

Energy efficiency

Question 57

In a set associative cache with N sets, what is the maximum number of blocks that can be evicted by a single cache miss?

Accepted Answer

N

Answer

2N

Answer

log(N)

Answer

N/2