IGCSE – Computer Science
Operating Systems and Computer Architecture
Worksheet – 1
1. One of the key features of von Neumann computer architecture is the use of buses.
Three buses and three descriptions are shown below.
Draw a line to connect each bus to its correct description.
Bus Description
This bus carries signals used to
Address bus
coordinate the computer’s activities
This bi-directional bus is used to
Control bus exchange data between processor,
memory and input/output devices
This uni-directional bus carries
Data bus signals relating to memory addresses
between processor and memory
[3]
2. The seven stages in a von Neumann fetch-execute cycle are shown in the table below.
Put each stage in the correct sequence by writing the numbers 1 to 7 in the right-handcolumn. The
first one has been done for you.
Sequence
Stage
number
The instruction is then copied from the memory location contained in the
MAR (memory address register) and is placed in the MDR (memory
address register
The instruction is final decoded and is then executed
The PC (program counter) contains the address of the next instruction to
be fetched 1
The entire instruction is then copied from the MDR (memory data
register) and placed in the CIR (current instruction register)
The address contained in the PC (program counter) is copied to the MAR
(memory address register) via the address bus
The address part of the instruction, if any, is placed in the MAR (memory
address register)
The value in the PC (program counter) is then incremented so that it
points to the next instruction to be fetched.
[7]
3. Two features of Von Neumann architecture are the use of registers and the use of buses.
Give the names of two registers and two buses. [2]
4. State three features of a typical operating system. [3]