1. Describe the fetch-execute cycle.

2. Describe the central processing unit (CPU) components in terms of the functions of:

• control unit
• registers
• arithmetic/logic unit (ALU)

3. Describe the roles of buses.

4. Describe the concepts of caching.

5. Define:

• reduced instruction set computer (RISC)
• complex instruction set computer (CISC)

6. Describe:

• sequential processing
• parallel processing
• distributed processing

7. Define:

• firmware
• software

8. Define levels of storage.

9. Describe the convergence and compatibility of computer architectures.

10. Describe trouble-shooting procedures.

11. Describe the role of preventative maintenance.

Note: Students are expected to be aware of underlying computer technology in the day-to-day use of computers in various applications.

Rambus

A Grandchild’s Guide to Using Grandpa’s Computer

“Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons,
computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1 1/2 tons.”
— Popular Mechanics, March 1949