Firmware

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Where is firmware stored?

A Only in RAM, until the power is switched off

B In a chip on the hardware, such as ROM or flash memory

2. What happens to firmware when the power is turned off?

A It is kept in the chip

B It is erased

3. Which statement about firmware is true?

A It gives the hardware its basic instructions

B It is an app the user installs to edit photos

4. Where does firmware sit in the layers of a computer?

A Between the user and the application software

B Between the hardware and the operating system

5. Which device is likely to contain firmware?

A A washing machine

B Only a desktop PC

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1firmware		AFirmware is not the operating system and is not stored on the hard drive. It is permanent software stored in a chip on the hardware, below the operating system.
2firmware = ROM or flash		Bdevices = ["router", "washing machine", "PC"]
3Firmware sits between the hardware and the operating system		CPermanent software stored in a chip on the hardware that gives it basic instructions
4Firmware is found in everyday devices such as routers and washing machines, not just computers		DRAM is volatile, so it loses its contents without power. Firmware is stored in non-volatile memory such as ROM or flash and is kept when the power is off.
5firmware is stored in RAM and is lost when the power is off		EFirmware is kept in non-volatile memory, so it is not lost when the power is off
6firmware = the operating system on the hard drive		Fhardware -> firmware -> operating system

Definitions

firmware

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Firmware is _________ software in a chip

Firmware is stored in ___ or flash memory

Firmware memory is ____________

Firmware gives ________ basic instructions

Hardware -> Firmware -> __ -> Apps

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A firmware = "BIOS"

B storage = "ROM"

C power_off_keeps = False

D print(storage)

Question 2

A chip = "flash"

B volatile = True

C if not volatile:

D print("Firmware kept")

Question 3

A layers = ["hardware"]

B layers.append("os")

C layers.append("os")

D layers.append("apps")

Question 4

A has_firmware = False

B device = "washing machine"

C if has_firmware:

D print("Runs its programs")

Question 5

A power = "off"

B chip = "ROM"

C if chip == "ROM":

D firmware = "lost"

Answer Key

Firmware

Section A: Quick Questions

B — In a chip on the hardware, such as ROM or flash memory

A — It is kept in the chip

A — It gives the hardware its basic instructions

B — Between the hardware and the operating system

A — A washing machine

Section B: Match the Pairs

firmware → Permanent software stored in a chip on the hardware that gives it basic instructions

firmware = ROM or flash → Firmware is kept in non-volatile memory, so it is not lost when the power is off

Firmware sits between the hardware and the operating system → hardware -> firmware -> operating system

Firmware is found in everyday devices such as routers and washing machines, not just computers → devices = ["router", "washing machine", "PC"]

firmware is stored in RAM and is lost when the power is off → RAM is volatile, so it loses its contents without power. Firmware is stored in non-volatile memory such as ROM or flash and is kept when the power is off.

firmware = the operating system on the hard drive → Firmware is not the operating system and is not stored on the hard drive. It is permanent software stored in a chip on the hardware, below the operating system.

Section C: Definitions

firmware — Permanent software stored in a chip on the hardware. It gives the hardware its basic instructions and is kept when the power is off. Found in routers and PCs.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Firmware is permanent software in a chip

Firmware is stored in ROM or flash memory

Firmware memory is non-volatile

Firmware gives hardware basic instructions

Hardware -> Firmware -> OS -> Apps

Section E: Spot the Error

C — Firmware is kept when the power is off because it is stored in non-volatile memory. The line should be power_off_keeps = True.

B — Firmware is stored in non-volatile memory such as ROM or flash, so volatile should be False. Volatile memory would lose the firmware when the power is off.

B — Firmware sits between the hardware and the operating system, so line 2 should add "firmware". Adding "os" here puts the OS directly on the hardware and skips the firmware layer.

A — Devices such as washing machines have firmware that gives their hardware its basic instructions. has_firmware should be True.

D — Firmware is stored in ROM, which is non-volatile, so it is kept when the power is off. It should be set to "kept", not "lost".