General-purpose computer

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which of these is a general-purpose computer?

A A laptop

B A microwave oven control board

2. How does a general-purpose computer do many different jobs?

A By swapping its CPU for each job

B By running different programs

3. A student can install a new web browser or game on a PC. What does this show?

A A PC is embedded because it can store files

B A PC is general-purpose because the user can add new software

4. True or false: A general-purpose computer can run a word processor, a game and a spreadsheet on the same hardware.

A True

B False

5. Which statement is correct?

A A desktop PC is designed to do many different tasks

B A desktop PC is designed to do one fixed task only

Match the Pairs

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

Left column		Right column
1general-purpose computer		AA general-purpose computer can run many different programs, not just one. Only running a single fixed program describes an embedded system.
2install new software		Blaptop.run(browser); laptop.run(wordProcessor); laptop.run(game)
3A laptop can run many different applications, such as a browser, a word processor and a game		CA computer, such as a PC or laptop, that can do many different jobs by running different programs
4A PC is general-purpose because the user can install new software to give it new functions		DPC.install(videoEditor)
5A PC can only run one program, so it is a general-purpose computer		EThe user CAN install new software on a laptop. This ability to add programs is what lets it do many different jobs.
6A laptop cannot get new software after it is bought, so it is general-purpose		FThe user can add a new program to a general-purpose computer so it can do a new job

Definitions

general-purpose computer

Fill in the Blanks

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

IF computer = "laptop" THEN generalPurpose ← ____ ENDIF

FOR i ← 1 TO 3 RUN apps[i] ____ i

IF userWantsApp = TRUE THEN _______ newSoftware ENDIF

apps ← ["Word", "Chrome", "Game"] OUTPUT apps[_]

IF computerType = "general-purpose" ____ manyFunctions ← TRUE ENDIF

Spot the Error

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

Question 1

A computer = "microwave"

B apps = ["browser", "game"]

C for app in apps:

D print(computer, app)

Question 2

A apps = ["word", "game", "web"

B for app in apps:

C print("Open", app)

Question 3

A computer = "laptop"

B apps = ["web", "game", "code"]

C count = len(apps)

D print(computer, count "apps")

Question 4

A is_general = True

B can_install = False

C if is_general:

D print("Many jobs")

Question 5

A device = "PC"

B apps = 5

C if apps > 1

D print("Many functions")

Answer Key

General-purpose computer

Section A: Quick Questions

A — A laptop

B — By running different programs

B — A PC is general-purpose because the user can add new software

A — True

A — A desktop PC is designed to do many different tasks

Section B: Match the Pairs

general-purpose computer → A computer, such as a PC or laptop, that can do many different jobs by running different programs

install new software → The user can add a new program to a general-purpose computer so it can do a new job

A laptop can run many different applications, such as a browser, a word processor and a game → laptop.run(browser); laptop.run(wordProcessor); laptop.run(game)

A PC is general-purpose because the user can install new software to give it new functions → PC.install(videoEditor)

A PC can only run one program, so it is a general-purpose computer → A general-purpose computer can run many different programs, not just one. Only running a single fixed program describes an embedded system.

A laptop cannot get new software after it is bought, so it is general-purpose → The user CAN install new software on a laptop. This ability to add programs is what lets it do many different jobs.

Section C: Definitions

general-purpose computer — A computer, such as a PC or laptop, that can do many different jobs by running different programs, and the user can install new software.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IF computer = "laptop" THEN
   generalPurpose ← TRUE
ENDIF

FOR i ← 1 TO 3
   RUN apps[i]
NEXT i

IF userWantsApp = TRUE THEN
   INSTALL newSoftware
ENDIF

apps ← ["Word", "Chrome", "Game"]
OUTPUT apps[2]

IF computerType = "general-purpose" THEN
   manyFunctions ← TRUE
ENDIF

Section E: Spot the Error

A — A microwave is an embedded system built for one job. A general-purpose computer is a PC or laptop, so the line should be computer = "laptop".

A — The list is missing its closing square bracket. It should be apps = ["word", "game", "web"].

D — There is a comma missing between count and "apps". It should be print(computer, count, "apps").

B — On a general-purpose computer the user can install new software. So can_install should be True.

C — An if statement must end with a colon. It should be if apps > 1: