Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Question Bank

Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Multiple Choice Questions

(U04C05L01Q001)
Which of the following statements is correct?
A CMOS memory is used to hold data required by BIOS after the boot process.
B The instructions in the BIOS tell the computer how to manage essential
peripheral devices.
C The CPU performs instructions specified by CMOS that search the disk drive for
the main operating system files.
D CMOS requires much power to retain its contents.
Answer
B

(U04C05L01Q002)
Which of the following setup screens allows you to set the system date and time?
A Chipset features setup
B Standard CMOS setup
C CPU features setup
D BIOS features setup
Answer
B

(U04C05L01Q003)
Which of the following setup screens allows you to configure the disk drives?
A Standard CMOS setup
B Chipset features setup
C BIOS features setup
D CPU features setup
Answer
A

Computer & Information Technology for HKCEE 1 © Pearson Education Asia Limited 2004
(Module B)
Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Question Bank

(U04C05L01Q004)
Which of the following setup screens allows you to change the setting for the CPU
and the system?
A Standard CMOS setup
B Chipset features setup
C BIOS features setup
D CPU features setup
Answer
D

(U04C05L01Q005)
Which of the following setup screens allows you to change the setting of the RAM?
A BIOS features setup
B Chipset features setup
C Standard CMOS setup
D CPU features setup
Answer
B

(U04C05L01Q006)
Which of the following statements about the role of BIOS is INCORRECT?
A. BIOS provides routines that the OS uses to communicate with different hardware
devices.
B. BIOS loads the operating system after the computer is turned on.
C. BIOS performs POST.
D. BIOS performs defragmentation of the hard disk.
Answer
D

(U04C05L01Q007)
Which of the following statements about CMOS is INCORRECT?
A. CMOS provides storage for PC’s control information.
B. CMOS needs very little power to operate.
C. CMOS provides storage for system BIOS.
D. The size of CMOS memory is very small.
Answer
C

Computer & Information Technology for HKCEE 2 © Pearson Education Asia Limited 2004
(Module B)
Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Question Bank

(U04C05L01Q008)
Which of the following information is NOT stored in CMOS?
A. operating system
B. type of hard disk
C. boot sequence
D. type of the display unit
Answer
A

(U04C05L01Q009)
How many steps are executed in the boot process of a personal computer?
A. three
B. four
C. five
D. six
Answer
D

(U04C05L01Q010)
Which of the following is NOT included in the boot process of the BIOS?
A. initialise power management
B. initialise network connection
C. initialise system hardware and chipset registers
D. initialise floppy disk and hard disk drive controllers
Answer
B

(U04C05L01Q011)
How can we enter the BIOS set-up during boot-up?
A. Hit a particular key or key combination.
B. Right-click the mouse.
C. Left-click the mouse.
D. Press the Reset button on the system unit.
Answer
A

Computer & Information Technology for HKCEE 3 © Pearson Education Asia Limited 2004
(Module B)
Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Question Bank

Conventional Questions

(U04C05L02Q001)
(a) List the SIX steps for the boot process of a microcomputer. (6 marks)
(b) State TWO functions of a CMOS setup program. (2 marks)
(c) (i) What is POST? (1 mark)
(ii) State THREE processes that are included in POST? (3 marks)
Answers
(a) Step 1: Power up (1)
Step 2: Start boot program (1)
Step 3: Power-on self-test (1)
Step 4: Load operating system (1)
Step 5: Check configuration (1)
Step 6: Ready for commands and data (1)
(b) A CMOS setup program lets you configure:
Standard CMOS setup – You may set the system date and time, and configure the
disk drives. /
BIOS features setup – It allows you to set the boot sequence. /
CPU features setup – You can change the setting for the CPU and the system. /
Chipset features setup – You can change the setting of the RAM.
(Any 2 × 1)
(c) (i) During boot process, the BIOS runs a series of tests. These tests are called
the Power-On Self Test (POST). (1)
(ii) The POST includes the followings:
Initialise system hardware and chipset registers. /
Initialise power management. /
Test RAM. /
Enable the keyboard. /
Test serial and parallel ports. /
Initialise floppy disk and hard disk drive controllers.
(Any 3 × 1)

Computer & Information Technology for HKCEE 4 © Pearson Education Asia Limited 2004
(Module B)
Chapter 5 Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) Question Bank

(U04C05L02Q002)
(a) (i) What does BIOS stand for? (1 mark)
(ii) Briefly describe what BIOS is. (5 marks)
(b) State the reasons why the BIOS is stored in the ROM, but not on the hard disk.
(2 marks)
(c) Briefly describe the hardware components of the BIOS. (4 marks)
Answers
(a) (i) BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. (1)
(ii) BIOS is responsible for booting the computer by providing a basic set of
instructions. (1)
The BIOS displays information such as the amount of memory installed,
and the type of hard disk etc. on booting up. (1)
The most important role of the BIOS is to load the operating system after
the computer is turned on. (1)
Other functions include booting the system, performing POST, and
providing setup program that allows users to change BIOS parameters. (1)
The BIOS also provides a set of low-level routines that the OS uses to
communicate with different hardware devices. (1)
(b) There are advantages of storing the BIOS in the ROM. Firstly, the code and data
are readily available every time the machine boots up. (1)
Secondly, the BIOS content will not be corrupted by any errant applications that
write into the wrong part of memory. (1)
(c) A PC’s BIOS hardware is made up of two parts: the BIOS ROM and the BIOS
CMOS Memory. (1)
The BIOS ROM is usually located in an electrically-erasable programmable
read-only memory chip. (1)
The BIOS CMOS memory provides a non-volatile storage for PC’s control
information. (1)
The size of the CMOS memory is very small. (1)

Computer & Information Technology for HKCEE 5 © Pearson Education Asia Limited 2004
(Module B)