Edexcel GCSE Computer Science (1CP2) Exam Questions

• B Control unit (1)
• The only correct answer is B. The correct answer is control unit.
• A is not correct because the arithmetic logic unit performs arithmetic and logical operations, not decoding
• C is not correct because main memory stores instructions and data, not decoding
• D is not correct because a register holds data or addresses temporarily, not decoding

Award up to two marks for a linked description such as:

• The interpreter executes each line as soon as it has been translated (1) so translation and execution happen together/at the same time (1)
• The compiler translates the whole program first (1) and the machine code is run later/separately (1)
• The interpreter translates the code and runs it while the program is running (1) whereas the compiler does not run the code it produces (1)
• The compiler produces translated code that is executed only after all the translation has finished (1) but the interpreter executes each line immediately (1)

Allow 'translates one line at a time' where it is linked to executing each line immediately.

Do not accept answers that only state that a compiler is faster/an interpreter is slower, without reference to when execution happens.

Do not accept answers that only give object code, error reporting or portability, without reference to when execution happens.

Do not accept the compiler executing the program as it translates it.

Award one mark for each correct nibble in the correct order:

• 1111 (1)
• 0010 (1)

0 marks if the response is not 8-bit binary.