A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

How does the Control Unit facilitate the execution of instructions?

1. By performing all calculations directly

2. By managing the flow of data in the CPU

3. By sending control signals to other parts of the computer

4. By holding data in the memory registers

The correct answer is: By sending control signals to other parts of the computer

The Control Unit plays a crucial role in the execution of instructions within a CPU by sending control signals to other parts of the computer. These control signals coordinate all the different components of the CPU and ensure that the appropriate operations are performed in the correct order. By directing the movement of data between the ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit), registers, and memory, the Control Unit effectively manages the execution of programs. This orchestration is essential for the CPU to function correctly, allowing for orderly processing of instructions from fetched data. Other options provided involve functions that are not directly managed by the Control Unit. While it is responsible for directing operations, calculations are done by the ALU, and data management in terms of storage occurs within memory registers, which are also not directly controlled by the Control Unit itself. Therefore, the function of sending control signals to other parts of the CPU is key to its operation and execution of instructions.