Interrupt Handling MCQs – T4Tutorials.com

What is the primary purpose of interrupt handling in a computer system?
a) To manage and prioritize tasks by temporarily pausing the current process and executing an interrupt service routine
b) To directly control the data flow between CPU and memory
c) To increase the speed of arithmetic operations
d) To provide additional memory space for running processes
Answer: a) To manage and prioritize tasks by temporarily pausing the current process and executing an interrupt service routine

Which component is responsible for signaling an interrupt request to the CPU?
a) Interrupt Request (IRQ) line
b) System Clock
c) Address Bus
d) Data Bus
Answer: a) Interrupt Request (IRQ) line

What is an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR)?
a) A special function that handles specific tasks when an interrupt occurs
b) A routine for initializing the system’s hardware
c) A sequence of instructions that manage system memory
d) A method for improving system performance
Answer: a) A special function that handles specific tasks when an interrupt occurs

How does the CPU determine the priority of multiple simultaneous interrupts?
a) By using an Interrupt Priority Level (IPL) system
b) By executing interrupts in the order they were received
c) By assigning each interrupt a unique address
d) By polling each interrupt source sequentially
Answer: a) By using an Interrupt Priority Level (IPL) system

What is the role of the Interrupt Vector Table?
a) It contains addresses of ISRs for different interrupts
b) It manages the allocation of system resources
c) It stores data related to interrupt requests
d) It synchronizes tasks between different CPUs
Answer: a) It contains addresses of ISRs for different interrupts

In a system with nested interrupts, how does the CPU handle an interrupt while another interrupt is being serviced?
a) By temporarily saving the state of the current ISR and executing the new interrupt if it has a higher priority
b) By ignoring the new interrupt until the current ISR is completed
c) By disabling all interrupts until the current ISR is finished
d) By terminating the current ISR and executing the new one
Answer: a) By temporarily saving the state of the current ISR and executing the new interrupt if it has a higher priority

What does the term “interrupt latency” refer to?
a) The delay between the arrival of an interrupt request and the start of the corresponding ISR
b) The time required to execute an ISR
c) The time it takes for the CPU to return to the interrupted process
d) The delay in processing multiple interrupts
Answer: a) The delay between the arrival of an interrupt request and the start of the corresponding ISR

How does a priority-based interrupt system differ from a vector-based system?
a) A priority-based system determines the order of handling interrupts based on their importance, while a vector-based system uses specific addresses for each interrupt
b) A priority-based system uses fixed addresses for interrupts, while a vector-based system determines priority dynamically
c) A priority-based system handles interrupts sequentially, while a vector-based system handles them simultaneously
d) A priority-based system uses software interrupts, while a vector-based system uses hardware interrupts
Answer: a) A priority-based system determines the order of handling interrupts based on their importance, while a vector-based system uses specific addresses for each interrupt

What action does the CPU take when an interrupt occurs and interrupts are disabled?
a) It queues the interrupt request until interrupts are re-enabled
b) It ignores the interrupt request
c) It processes the interrupt request immediately
d) It triggers an error and stops execution
Answer: a) It queues the interrupt request until interrupts are re-enabled

Which interrupt handling method involves the CPU continuously checking for interrupt requests?
a) Polling
b) Vectored Interrupt
c) Priority-based Interrupt
d) Nested Interrupt
Answer: a) Polling

What is the main advantage of using interrupts in a computer system?
a) They allow the CPU to respond immediately to critical events, improving efficiency
b) They increase the processing speed of arithmetic operations
c) They simplify memory management
d) They reduce the need for multitasking
Answer: a) They allow the CPU to respond immediately to critical events, improving efficiency

How does the system determine which ISR to execute for a given interrupt request?
a) By referencing the Interrupt Vector Table
b) By sequentially checking all available ISRs
c) By comparing the interrupt request with a pre-defined list
d) By using direct memory access
Answer: a) By referencing the Interrupt Vector Table

What happens during the “context switch” in interrupt handling?
a) The CPU saves the state of the current process and loads the state of the ISR
b) The CPU terminates the current ISR and starts a new one
c) The system reboots to handle the interrupt
d) The CPU pauses all activities to process the interrupt
Answer: a) The CPU saves the state of the current process and loads the state of the ISR

Which mechanism allows the CPU to handle multiple interrupts efficiently?
a) Nested Interrupt Handling
b) Direct Memory Access
c) Polling
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Nested Interrupt Handling

What does “interrupt masking” refer to?
a) The process of temporarily disabling specific interrupts to prevent them from being serviced
b) The technique of hiding the details of an ISR from the user
c) The method of prioritizing interrupts based on urgency
d) The action of saving the state of the CPU during an interrupt
Answer: a) The process of temporarily disabling specific interrupts to prevent them from being serviced

In a system with a vector-based interrupt approach, how is an interrupt request handled?
a) The CPU uses a specific address in the Interrupt Vector Table to locate and execute the ISR
b) The CPU performs a priority check before executing any ISR
c) The CPU sequentially polls all devices to find the source of the interrupt
d) The CPU executes a default ISR for all interrupts
Answer: a) The CPU uses a specific address in the Interrupt Vector Table to locate and execute the ISR

What is the primary disadvantage of using polling for interrupt handling?
a) It can waste CPU cycles by continuously checking for interrupt requests
b) It does not provide real-time response to interrupts
c) It increases interrupt latency
d) It complicates the interrupt handling process
Answer: a) It can waste CPU cycles by continuously checking for interrupt requests

Which method involves the CPU responding to interrupt requests as they occur without constant checking?
a) Interrupt-driven I/O
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Interrupt-driven I/O

What is the purpose of the interrupt enable/disable mechanism?
a) To control whether interrupts can be processed by the CPU
b) To manage the priority of multiple interrupts
c) To allocate memory for ISR execution
d) To update the Interrupt Vector Table
Answer: a) To control whether interrupts can be processed by the CPU

What is “interrupt nesting”?
a) The ability of the CPU to handle a new interrupt while servicing a higher-priority interrupt
b) The process of saving and restoring the CPU state during an interrupt
c) The method of disabling interrupts temporarily
d) The action of masking specific interrupts to avoid conflicts
Answer: a) The ability of the CPU to handle a new interrupt while servicing a higher-priority interrupt

How does an interrupt request signal the CPU to stop its current task?
a) By generating an interrupt signal that triggers the CPU to execute an ISR
b) By directly altering the CPU’s arithmetic operations
c) By using a separate address space for interrupt processing
d) By resetting the system clock
Answer: a) By generating an interrupt signal that triggers the CPU to execute an ISR

Which type of interrupt handling is characterized by the CPU continuously checking the status of peripherals?
a) Polling
b) Interrupt-driven
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Polling

What does “ISR preemption” mean in the context of interrupt handling?
a) The ability to interrupt the execution of a currently running ISR to handle a higher-priority ISR
b) The process of prioritizing interrupts based on urgency
c) The action of masking lower-priority interrupts
d) The technique of saving the state of the CPU before executing an ISR
Answer: a) The ability to interrupt the execution of a currently running ISR to handle a higher-priority ISR

Which technique improves interrupt handling by allowing devices to directly signal the CPU?
a) Interrupt-driven I/O
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Interrupt-driven I/O

What is a “vector interrupt”?
a) An interrupt that uses a specific address in the Interrupt Vector Table to execute its ISR
b) An interrupt that requires polling to determine its source
c) An interrupt that has the lowest priority in the system
d) An interrupt that involves direct memory access for processing
Answer: a) An interrupt that uses a specific address in the Interrupt Vector Table to execute its ISR

In the context of interrupts, what does “context saving” refer to?
a) The process of saving the CPU’s state before executing an ISR
b) The action of disabling all interrupts during ISR execution
c) The method of prioritizing multiple interrupts
d) The technique of masking specific interrupts to prevent conflicts
Answer: a) The process of saving the CPU’s state before executing an ISR

What is the key difference between vectored and non-vectored interrupts?
a) Vectored interrupts use a specific address for each ISR, while non-vectored interrupts use a single address for all ISRs
b) Non-vectored interrupts are handled faster than vectored interrupts
c) Vectored interrupts do not require a priority system
d) Non-vectored interrupts allow for nested interrupt handling
Answer: a) Vectored interrupts use a specific address for each ISR, while non-vectored interrupts use a single address for all ISRs

What is the main advantage of using an interrupt vector table?
a) It provides a way to quickly locate and execute the appropriate ISR for each interrupt
b) It reduces the need for context switching
c) It simplifies the process of disabling and enabling interrupts
d) It ensures that interrupts are handled sequentially
Answer: a) It provides a way to quickly locate and execute the appropriate ISR for each interrupt

How does a hardware interrupt differ from a software interrupt?
a) A hardware interrupt is generated by external devices, while a software interrupt is triggered by software instructions
b) A software interrupt is generated by external hardware, while a hardware interrupt is triggered by software
c) A hardware interrupt requires polling, while a software interrupt does not
d) A software interrupt is handled by direct memory access, while a hardware interrupt is not
Answer: a) A hardware interrupt is generated by external devices, while a software interrupt is triggered by software instructions

What is “interrupt throttling”?
a) The practice of limiting the rate at which interrupts are processed to avoid overwhelming the CPU
b) The process of increasing the priority of interrupts
c) The action of disabling interrupts temporarily
d) The method of saving the state of the CPU during an interrupt
Answer: a) The practice of limiting the rate at which interrupts are processed to avoid overwhelming the CPU

Which type of interrupt allows the CPU to handle high-priority tasks more efficiently?
a) Nested Interrupts
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Nested Interrupts

What is the purpose of an interrupt priority system?
a) To determine the order in which multiple interrupts are handled based on their importance
b) To manage the allocation of memory for ISR execution
c) To disable lower-priority interrupts temporarily
d) To synchronize the execution of ISRs
Answer: a) To determine the order in which multiple interrupts are handled based on their importance

How does an interrupt-driven I/O system improve performance compared to polling?
a) By allowing the CPU to respond immediately to interrupt requests without continuous checking
b) By increasing the frequency of polling operations
c) By using dedicated hardware to manage interrupts
d) By reducing the number of required ISR executions
Answer: a) By allowing the CPU to respond immediately to interrupt requests without continuous checking

What is “interrupt starvation”?
a) A situation where lower-priority interrupts are not serviced due to constant high-priority interrupts
b) The process of disabling all interrupts to prevent conflicts
c) The action of saving the CPU state before executing an ISR
d) The method of masking specific interrupts
Answer: a) A situation where lower-priority interrupts are not serviced due to constant high-priority interrupts

How does direct memory access (DMA) relate to interrupt handling?
a) DMA uses interrupts to signal the completion of data transfer operations, reducing CPU involvement
b) DMA eliminates the need for interrupt handling in all cases
c) DMA interrupts the CPU to handle memory management tasks directly
d) DMA increases the frequency of interrupts for data processing
Answer: a) DMA uses interrupts to signal the completion of data transfer operations, reducing CPU involvement

What is the role of the CPU in an interrupt-driven I/O system?
a) To execute ISRs and manage the handling of interrupts
b) To continuously poll for interrupt requests
c) To allocate additional memory for ISR execution
d) To reset the system clock during an interrupt
Answer: a) To execute ISRs and manage the handling of interrupts

What is the significance of the “interrupt mask” in an interrupt system?
a) It controls which interrupts are allowed to interrupt the CPU
b) It manages the priority of different interrupts
c) It specifies the address of the ISR for each interrupt
d) It determines the frequency of interrupt requests
Answer: a) It controls which interrupts are allowed to interrupt the CPU

How does interrupt-driven I/O affect CPU utilization?
a) It improves CPU utilization by allowing the CPU to perform other tasks while waiting for interrupts
b) It increases CPU utilization by requiring continuous polling
c) It reduces CPU utilization by handling interrupts more slowly
d) It requires the CPU to execute ISRs more frequently
Answer: a) It improves CPU utilization by allowing the CPU to perform other tasks while waiting for interrupts

What is “priority inversion” in the context of interrupt handling?
a) A scenario where a lower-priority task prevents a higher-priority task from executing due to resource contention
b) The process of reversing the priority levels of interrupts
c) The action of prioritizing all interrupts equally
d) The technique of disabling interrupts temporarily
Answer: a) A scenario where a lower-priority task prevents a higher-priority task from executing due to resource contention

What does an interrupt controller do in a system with multiple interrupts?
a) It manages and prioritizes multiple interrupt requests and signals the CPU accordingly
b) It executes all ISRs sequentially
c) It disables all interrupts until manually re-enabled
d) It provides additional memory for handling interrupts
Answer: a) It manages and prioritizes multiple interrupt requests and signals the CPU accordingly

Which strategy involves the CPU directly responding to each interrupt request as it arrives?
a) Interrupt-driven I/O
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Interrupt-driven I/O

How does an interrupt request affect the current process being executed by the CPU?
a) The CPU temporarily suspends the current process to handle the interrupt request
b) The CPU continues executing the current process without any interruption
c) The CPU restarts the current process from the beginning
d) The CPU permanently halts the current process
Answer: a) The CPU temporarily suspends the current process to handle the interrupt request

What does the term “software interrupt” refer to?
a) An interrupt generated by a software instruction rather than by external hardware
b) An interrupt that requires direct memory access for processing
c) An interrupt that occurs due to hardware failure
d) An interrupt that handles system clock updates
Answer: a) An interrupt generated by a software instruction rather than by external hardware

In a system with multiple interrupt sources, how does the CPU determine which ISR to execute first?
a) By referencing the interrupt priority levels assigned to each source
b) By sequentially polling each interrupt source
c) By executing ISRs in the order they were generated
d) By using a default ISR for all interrupts
Answer: a) By referencing the interrupt priority levels assigned to each source

What is the main advantage of using an interrupt controller in a complex system?
a) It helps manage and prioritize multiple interrupt requests efficiently
b) It simplifies the ISR execution process
c) It reduces the number of required interrupts
d) It eliminates the need for an interrupt vector table
Answer: a) It helps manage and prioritize multiple interrupt requests efficiently

What does “context switching” involve during interrupt handling?
a) Saving the current state of the CPU and loading the state required to execute the ISR
b) Changing the priority level of the interrupt
c) Switching between different ISRs without saving the CPU state
d) Loading new interrupt vectors for processing
Answer: a) Saving the current state of the CPU and loading the state required to execute the ISR

What is “interrupt chaining”?
a) A method of linking multiple ISRs together to handle complex interrupt scenarios
b) The process of queuing multiple interrupts for sequential processing
c) A technique for managing interrupt priorities dynamically
d) The action of combining hardware and software interrupts into a single handler
Answer: a) A method of linking multiple ISRs together to handle complex interrupt scenarios

How does “interrupt masking” benefit a real-time system?
a) It allows critical interrupts to be processed immediately while temporarily ignoring less important ones
b) It simplifies the ISR execution process
c) It increases the frequency of interrupt requests
d) It reduces the need for multiple ISRs
Answer: a) It allows critical interrupts to be processed immediately while temporarily ignoring less important ones

Which technique involves assigning specific addresses in memory to different interrupt sources?
a) Vector Interrupts
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Vector Interrupts

What does “interrupt acknowledgment” signify in an interrupt system?
a) The CPU’s recognition of an interrupt request and the initiation of its handling
b) The process of saving the state of the CPU before handling an interrupt
c) The action of disabling all interrupts temporarily
d) The method of managing interrupt priorities
Answer: a) The CPU’s recognition of an interrupt request and the initiation of its handling

Which strategy allows an ISR to be interrupted by a higher-priority ISR?
a) Nested Interrupt Handling
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Nested Interrupt Handling

What is “interrupt servicing latency”?
a) The time taken by the system to start executing the ISR after an interrupt request is received
b) The total duration of the ISR execution
c) The delay between multiple interrupt requests
d) The time it takes to save and restore the CPU state
Answer: a) The time taken by the system to start executing the ISR after an interrupt request is received

What role does an interrupt vector play in handling interrupts?
a) It provides the address of the ISR for a specific interrupt request
b) It manages the priority of interrupts
c) It disables lower-priority interrupts temporarily
d) It executes all ISRs sequentially
Answer: a) It provides the address of the ISR for a specific interrupt request

How does interrupt-driven I/O compare to memory-mapped I/O?
a) Interrupt-driven I/O allows for immediate CPU response to I/O operations, while memory-mapped I/O uses memory access techniques
b) Memory-mapped I/O handles interrupts more efficiently than interrupt-driven I/O
c) Interrupt-driven I/O requires more CPU involvement than memory-mapped I/O
d) Memory-mapped I/O involves continuous polling of I/O devices
Answer: a) Interrupt-driven I/O allows for immediate CPU response to I/O operations, while memory-mapped I/O uses memory access techniques

What is “interrupt vectoring”?
a) The process of directing an interrupt request to the appropriate ISR using an interrupt vector table
b) The method of increasing interrupt priority dynamically
c) The technique of combining multiple ISRs into a single routine
d) The action of disabling interrupts temporarily
Answer: a) The process of directing an interrupt request to the appropriate ISR using an interrupt vector table

Which interrupt handling technique involves a device requesting attention by sending an interrupt signal?
a) Hardware Interrupts
b) Software Interrupts
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Hardware Interrupts

What is “interrupt prioritization” used for?
a) To determine the order in which multiple interrupt requests are handled based on their urgency
b) To increase the frequency of interrupts
c) To simplify the ISR execution process
d) To manage the allocation of system resources
Answer: a) To determine the order in which multiple interrupt requests are handled based on their urgency

What happens if an interrupt request is received while another interrupt is being serviced in a system without nested interrupt handling?
a) The new interrupt request is ignored until the current ISR is completed
b) The system triggers an error and halts execution
c) The CPU processes the new interrupt immediately, interrupting the current ISR
d) The system queues the new interrupt request for later processing
Answer: a) The new interrupt request is ignored until the current ISR is completed

What is “interrupt-driven I/O”?
a) A method where devices signal the CPU directly to request I/O operations, allowing the CPU to handle interrupts as they occur
b) A technique where the CPU continuously checks for I/O requests
c) A strategy that combines direct memory access with interrupt handling
d) A system that uses memory-mapped I/O for all I/O operations
Answer: a) A method where devices signal the CPU directly to request I/O operations, allowing the CPU to handle interrupts as they occur

What is the main advantage of interrupt-driven I/O over polling?
a) It reduces CPU idle time by allowing the CPU to perform other tasks while waiting for interrupts
b) It increases the frequency of interrupt requests
c) It simplifies memory management during I/O operations
d) It provides more frequent updates on system status
Answer: a) It reduces CPU idle time by allowing the CPU to perform other tasks while waiting for interrupts

How does “interrupt masking” help in a system with critical and non-critical interrupts?
a) It allows critical interrupts to be processed immediately while masking or delaying non-critical interrupts
b) It increases the priority of all interrupts equally
c) It simplifies the interrupt vector table
d) It disables all interrupts to prevent conflicts
Answer: a) It allows critical interrupts to be processed immediately while masking or delaying non-critical interrupts

What is the primary function of an interrupt controller in a multi-core system?
a) To manage and distribute interrupt requests across multiple CPU cores
b) To execute ISRs sequentially across all cores
c) To increase the frequency of interrupt requests
d) To disable all interrupts temporarily
Answer: a) To manage and distribute interrupt requests across multiple CPU cores

How does “interrupt throttling” benefit a computer system?
a) It prevents the CPU from being overwhelmed by limiting the rate of interrupt processing
b) It increases the priority of interrupts
c) It simplifies the ISR execution process
d) It eliminates the need for an interrupt vector table
Answer: a) It prevents the CPU from being overwhelmed by limiting the rate of interrupt processing

What is “vector-based interrupt handling”?
a) A technique where specific addresses are used to locate and execute ISRs for different interrupts
b) A method of handling interrupts based on their priority levels
c) A strategy involving continuous polling for interrupt requests
d) A system that combines hardware and software interrupts
Answer: a) A technique where specific addresses are used to locate and execute ISRs for different interrupts

Which interrupt handling technique is characterized by the CPU executing ISRs based on a predefined address table?
a) Vector-based Interrupt Handling
b) Polling
c) Direct Memory Access
d) Memory-Mapped I/O
Answer: a) Vector-based Interrupt Handling

How does the CPU respond to an interrupt request in an interrupt-driven system?
a) By temporarily pausing the current process, saving its state, and executing the corresponding ISR
b) By immediately terminating the current process and starting the ISR
c) By ignoring the request until the current process is completed
d) By continuously polling for the interrupt signal
Answer: a) By temporarily pausing the current process, saving its state, and executing the corresponding ISR

What is the purpose of “interrupt acknowledgement” signals in a system?
a) To confirm that the interrupt request has been received and is being processed by the CPU
b) To disable interrupts temporarily
c) To increase the priority of all incoming interrupts
d) To allocate memory for ISR execution
Answer: a) To confirm that the interrupt request has been received and is being processed by the CPU

How does “interrupt handling latency” affect system performance?
a) It determines how quickly the system can start executing an ISR after receiving an interrupt request
b) It affects the frequency of interrupt requests
c) It determines the total execution time of all ISRs
d) It affects the speed of memory access operations
Answer: a) It determines how quickly the system can start executing an ISR after receiving an interrupt request

What is the advantage of using a hardware interrupt over a software interrupt?
a) Hardware interrupts can signal the CPU directly from external devices, allowing for immediate response
b) Software interrupts provide faster response times than hardware interrupts
c) Hardware interrupts require less CPU involvement than software interrupts
d) Software interrupts are easier to prioritize than hardware interrupts
Answer: a) Hardware interrupts can signal the CPU directly from external devices, allowing for immediate response

Interrupt Handling MCQs
By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: September 20, 2024

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