Bus Architecture MCQs

1. What is the primary function of a system bus in computer architecture?

(A) To store data temporarily during processing

(B) To facilitate communication between the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices

(C) To increase the clock speed of the CPU

(D) To manage power consumption in the system

2. Which component of a bus architecture is responsible for transferring data between the CPU and memory?

(A) Control bus

(B) Address bus

(C) Data bus

(D) Power bus

3. What is the purpose of the address bus in a computer system?

(A) To supply power to the system components

(B) To carry data between the CPU and memory

(C) To control the timing of data transfers

(D) To specify the memory location for data transfer

4. How does the control bus function in a bus architecture?

(A) It carries control signals to manage the operations of the CPU, memory, and I/O devices

(B) It transfers data between memory and the CPU

(C) It specifies the address of data to be transferred

(D) It increases the speed of data transfer

5. What is “bus contention” in a computer system?

(A) The process of synchronizing the bus clock with the system clock

(B) A situation where multiple components attempt to use the bus simultaneously, leading to conflicts

(C) A technique for increasing bus bandwidth

(D) The action of reducing bus speed to prevent overheating

6. What does a “shared bus” configuration mean in a multiprocessor system?

(A) The bus is used exclusively for data transfer between the CPU and I/O devices

(B) Each processor has its own dedicated bus to avoid conflicts

(C) Multiple processors share a common bus to communicate with each other and with memory

(D) Only one processor can use the bus at a time, with others waiting in queue

7. Which type of bus architecture allows for simultaneous data transfer between multiple devices?

(A) Hybrid bus

(B) Serial bus

(C) Single bus

(D) Parallel bus

8. What is the main advantage of a “serial bus” compared to a “parallel bus”?

(A) Serial buses require fewer physical connections and can achieve higher data transfer rates over longer distances

(B) Parallel buses have higher data transfer rates

(C) Serial buses are less complex and easier to implement

(D) Parallel buses are more power-efficient

9. In bus architecture, what is the role of the “bus arbiter”?

(A) To increase the speed of data transfers

(B) To manage access to the bus among multiple components to prevent conflicts

(C) To handle errors in data transmission

(D) To regulate the power supply to the bus

10. What does the term “bus width” refer to in computer systems?

(A) The speed at which data is transferred over the bus

(B) The length of the bus connecting the CPU to memory

(C) The number of bits that can be transmitted simultaneously over the bus

(D) The number of devices that can be connected to the bus

11. What is “bus bandwidth”?

(A) The total number of devices connected to the bus

(B) The physical width of the bus in terms of connection pins

(C) The distance between the CPU and memory

(D) The maximum amount of data that can be transferred over the bus per unit of time

12. Which bus architecture is commonly used for connecting external devices to a computer system?

(A) Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus

(B) System bus

(C) Memory bus

(D) Address bus

13. What is the function of the “data bus” in a computer system?

(A) To specify memory addresses for data transfer

(B) To carry data between the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices

(C) To manage control signals and timing

(D) To supply power to the system components

14. How does “bus multiplexing” improve the efficiency of a bus system?

(A) By reducing the number of devices connected to the bus

(B) By increasing the physical width of the bus

(C) By allowing multiple types of signals (data, address, and control) to share the same bus lines

(D) By synchronizing the bus clock with the CPU clock

15. What is “bus bandwidth” typically measured in?

(A) Ohms (Ω)

(B) Hertz (Hz)

(C) Watts (W)

(D) Bits per second (bps)

16. What does “bus latency” refer to in a bus system?

(A) The duration of each data transfer cycle

(B) The time it takes for the bus to initialize

(C) The delay between initiating a data transfer and the completion of the transfer

(D) The time it takes to repair the bus

17. Which type of bus is used for high-speed data transfers between the CPU and main memory?

(A) Control bus

(B) I/O bus

(C) Address bus

(D) System bus

18. What is the key benefit of using a “bus interface unit” (BIU) in a computer system?

(A) It reduces the power consumption of the bus

(B) It increases the clock speed of the CPU

(C) It manages the communication between the CPU and the bus, handling data transfers and address mapping

(D) It provides additional memory for data storage

19. What does “bus contention” refer to?

(A) The action of reducing bus speed to prevent overheating

(B) The process of synchronizing the bus clock with the system clock

(C) A method of increasing bus bandwidth

(D) Multiple devices or components competing for control of the bus at the same time

20. How does “bus arbitration” resolve conflicts in a multi-device system?

(A) By using a centralized controller to allocate bus access based on priority or request order

(B) By allowing all devices to access the bus simultaneously

(C) By disabling non-essential devices

(D) By increasing the clock speed of the bus

21. What is the purpose of the “address bus” in a memory access operation?

(A) To carry data to and from the CPU

(B) To specify the address in memory where data should be read from or written to

(C) To manage control signals for the data transfer

(D) To supply power to the memory modules

22. Which bus architecture is typically used to connect a CPU to peripheral devices such as hard drives and network cards?

(A) Address bus

(B) System bus

(C) Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

(D) Control bus

23. What does “bus speed” refer to in a computer system?

(A) The power consumption of the bus

(B) The physical length of the bus

(C) The rate at which data can be transferred over the bus

(D) The number of devices connected to the bus

24. What is the advantage of a “wide bus” compared to a “narrow bus”?

(A) A narrow bus is easier to implement

(B) A narrow bus has a higher data transfer rate

(C) A wide bus requires less power

(D) A wide bus can transfer more data simultaneously, increasing overall system performance

25. How does a “bus bridge” function in a computer system?

(A) It manages the power supply to the bus

(B) It increases the physical width of the bus

(C) It connects different bus segments or types, allowing communication between them

(D) It handles data transfer directly between the CPU and memory

26. What is “bus throughput”?

(A) The speed at which the bus operates

(B) The number of devices connected to the bus

(C) The length of the bus

(D) The amount of data successfully transferred over the bus in a given period of time

27. What does a “bus master” refer to in a bus architecture?

(A) A component that manages power distribution to the bus

(B) A device or component that has control over the bus and can initiate data transfers

(C) A device that only receives data from the bus

(D) A device that synchronizes the bus clock with the system clock

28. In a multiprocessor system, how does “bus snooping” help maintain cache coherence?

(A) By monitoring the bus for transactions that affect the cached data to ensure consistency across caches

(B) By disabling other processors during data transfers

(C) By increasing the clock speed of the bus

(D) By reducing the number of devices connected to the bus

29. What is the primary benefit of a “high-speed bus” in computer architecture?

(A) It reduces the physical size of the bus

(B) It improves the rate at which data can be transferred between components, enhancing overall system performance

(C) It increases the power consumption of the system

(D) It simplifies the bus interface design

30. What role does a “bus controller” play in managing data transfers?

(A) It provides power to the bus

(B) It increases the speed of data transfers

(C) It regulates and controls the data flow on the bus, ensuring correct timing and coordination of transfers

(D) It handles memory allocation for data transfers

31. How does “bus width” impact the performance of a computer system?

(A) A narrower bus increases the speed of data transfers

(B) A wider bus allows more data to be transferred simultaneously, improving performance

(C) Bus width has no impact on performance

(D) A wider bus reduces the system’s power consumption

32. What is the purpose of “bus isolation” in a computer system?

(A) To simplify the design of the bus interface

(B) To increase the number of devices that can be connected to the bus

(C) To prevent electrical interference between different bus segments or components

(D) To enhance the power efficiency of the bus

33. Which type of bus architecture is designed for connecting high-speed peripherals like graphics cards?

(A) Control bus

(B) System bus

(C) Address bus

(D) Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)

34. How does “bus bandwidth” relate to “bus width”?

(A) Bus bandwidth decreases with a wider bus

(B) Bus bandwidth increases with a wider bus because more data can be transferred simultaneously

(C) Bus width and bandwidth are unrelated

(D) A narrower bus increases bandwidth

35. What does “bus contention” refer to in a shared bus system?

(A) The strategy for increasing bus bandwidth

(B) The process of synchronizing bus speeds with the CPU clock

(C) The competition among multiple devices for control of the bus, which can lead to delays or conflicts

(D) The procedure for managing power consumption of the bus

36. What is the role of a “bus repeater” in a computer system?

(A) To synchronize the bus clock with the CPU clock

(B) To manage access to the bus among multiple devices

(C) To increase the bus width

(D) To amplify and regenerate signals to extend the distance of data transmission on the bus

37. How does “bus coupling” help in connecting multiple bus systems?

(A) By simplifying the bus controller design

(B) By increasing the power of the bus

(C) By providing a mechanism to link and communicate between different bus segments or types

(D) By reducing the number of devices connected to the bus

38. What is “bus efficiency”?

(A) The physical length of the bus

(B) The effectiveness of the bus in transferring data relative to its capacity and speed

(C) The number of devices connected to the bus

(D) The amount of power consumed by the bus

39. What is a “bus protocol”?

(A) A technique for reducing power consumption of the bus

(B) A physical connector used to connect devices to the bus

(C) A method for increasing the bus speed

(D) A set of rules and standards that govern the communication and data transfer on the bus

40. How does “bus expansion” benefit a computer system?

(A) By reducing the width of the bus

(B) By increasing the bus speed

(C) By allowing additional devices to be connected to the bus without altering its fundamental design

(D) By enhancing the system’s power efficiency