Business Degree Certification Practice Test

What components does the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a personal computer contain?

1. Control unit and primary memory

2. Control unit and arithmetic/logic unit

3. Arithmetic/logic unit and bus

4. Arithmetic/logic unit only

The correct answer is: Control unit and arithmetic/logic unit

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a critical component of a personal computer that performs most of the processing inside the computer. The correct answer highlights the main sub-components of a CPU: the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit. The control unit is responsible for directing the operations of the processor. It tells the CPU how to respond to various instructions and manages the flow of data between the CPU and other components of the computer. It orchestrates the execution of program instructions by fetching the instructions, decoding them, and then executing them sequentially. On the other hand, the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) handles all arithmetic operations (such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and logical operations (such as comparisons and logical decisions). This dual functionality is essential for executing the complex calculations and operations that programs require. Together, these two units—the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit—make up the core functionalities of the CPU, allowing it to execute commands and process instructions effectively. This combined operation is what enables the CPU to perform tasks ranging from simple calculations to complex data processing. The other answer options do not provide the complete view of the CPU's main components. For instance, primary memory is not a part of the