Free Practice Questions for iSQI CPSA-FL Exam

In the context of software architecture, the common definitions often focus on the structural aspects of system design. Here’s how the chosen answers align with the iSAQB® guidelines on software architecture:

Building Blocks (B): A fundamental concept in software architecture, building blocks refer to the modular units from which the system is constructed. These can include modules, classes, or components, all of which are vital for defining the structure and behavior of the system.

Relationships (D): Relationships in software architecture define how different components or building blocks interact with each other. These interactions are essential for understanding data flow, dependencies, and communication patterns within the system.

Components (E): Components are larger than building blocks and encompass them, representing significant units of functionality within the system. Each component usually encapsulates a portion of the system's overall functionality and interacts with other components via interfaces.

Interfaces (G): Interfaces define the points of interaction between components or building blocks. They are critical for ensuring that components can function independently yet interact seamlessly when required.

The white-box view of a software building block provides an in-depth perspective on the internal structure and behavior of the building block.

A: The dependencies of the internal building blocks of 'foo' are crucial for understanding how changes in one part affect others and for managing future modifications.

C: The algorithms of the internal building blocks of 'foo' give insight into the logic and operations performed within the block, which is essential for performance analysis and optimization.

D: The internal building blocks of 'foo' describe the finer-grained components or modules within 'foo', detailing their responsibilities and interactions, fundamental for detailed design and implementation.

A) TrueB) FalseC) TrueD) FalseE) True

The building-block view, as per the iSAQB® SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL, typically includes the following information:

A) Which building blocks the software is composed of: This is true. The building-block view shows the composition of software building blocks1.

B) How the building blocks interact during run time: This is false. The interaction during runtime is typically shown in the runtime view, not the building-block view1.

C) How the building blocks are hierarchically decomposed: This is true. The building-block view includes hierarchical decomposition of the software building blocks1.

D) How the building blocks are distributed in a distributed system: This is false. The distribution of building blocks in a distributed system is part of the deployment view1.

E) The dependencies between the building blocks: This is true. The building-block view should show the dependencies between the different building blocks1.

These aspects are essential for understanding the structure and organization of the software architecture and are aligned with the iSAQB® SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL documents1.

The Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM) helps evaluate architecture decisions with respect to quality attributes by producing several key artifacts:

B: The concrete quality tree illustrates and organizes the quality attributes specific to the architecture being evaluated, showing how generic quality attributes are refined into measurable scenarios.

C: Description of quality scenarios specifies and documents the scenarios under which the architecture's responses are tested against the desired quality attributes.

G: List of the architectural risks identifies potential risks in the architecture that may threaten the system’s ability to meet its quality goals, aiding in proactive risk management.

A) TrueB) TrueC) FalseD) TrueE) TrueF) True

A) Top-down and bottom-up design may be employed in the same project.

Top-down and bottom-up are two approaches to the design of software architecture. In top-down, the high-level design is created first, focusing on general functionalities and structure. In contrast, bottom-up starts with detailed designs focusing on a component or module level.

When designing external interfaces, several considerations must be taken into account:A. Volatility of neighbouring systems - Changes in neighboring systems can affect the stability and compatibility of interfaces, requiring interfaces to be adaptable to changes.C. Protocols enforced by neighbouring systems - It's crucial to align with the protocols used by neighboring systems to ensure seamless communication and interoperability.D. Expected amount of parallel calls - This affects the scalability and performance requirements of the interface, as it must be designed to handle the expected load efficiently.

A) CorrectB) IncorrectC) CorrectD) CorrectE) IncorrectF) Incorrect

The concept of coupling between building blocks is crucial in software architecture, and the iSAQB® SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL provides guidance on this topic. Here’s an analysis of the statements based on the curriculum:

A) A high degree of coupling of a building block reduces its reusability: This is correct. High coupling means that a building block is heavily dependent on other components, which can limit its ability to be reused in different contexts1.

B) Low coupling of a building block improves the ability to meet functional requirements: This statement is incorrect. While low coupling can contribute to a more maintainable and flexible architecture, it does not directly improve the ability to meet functional requirements1.

C) Low cohesion often leads to high coupling: This is correct. Cohesion refers to how closely related the responsibilities of a module are. Low cohesion can result in modules that perform a wide range of actions, which often leads to higher coupling with many other modules1.

D) Loose coupling often leads to less effort for making changes: This is correct. Loose coupling allows for easier modification of a system with minimal impact on other components, thus reducing the effort required for changes1.

E) For call dependencies, the degree of coupling is independent of the direction of the call: This statement is incorrect. The degree of coupling can be affected by the direction of the call, as it determines which module controls the interaction1.

F) In object-oriented programming languages, inheritance reduces coupling: This statement is incorrect. Inheritance can actually increase coupling because it creates a direct dependency between the superclass and the subclass1.

These insights are aligned with the principles outlined in the iSAQB® SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL curriculum, which emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing coupling for effective software architecture design1.

The principles that apply to testing include:A. In general, exhaustive testing is not possible. - It is widely recognized in software testing that it is not feasible to test every possible input or state of a software application due to the vast number of variations and combinations, especially in complex systems.B. Where many errors exist, more errors are usually hidden. - This principle, often referred to as the pesticide paradox in software testing, suggests that discovering numerous bugs in a specific area of the software often indicates the presence of additional, less obvious bugs.

Designing effective interfaces is critical in software architecture, ensuring that they are both usable and robust. The characteristics that generally make interfaces more desirable include:

A: Easy to extend - An interface should be designed such that it can be extended without breaking existing implementations. This characteristic is important for maintaining backward compatibility while allowing for future growth and changes in requirements.

C: Clear descriptions of assertions and prerequisites - Interfaces should clearly specify what is required of the caller (prerequisites) and what the interface guarantees in return (assertions). This clarity is vital for ensuring that the interface is used correctly.

G: Hard to misuse - An interface should be designed in such a way that there is little room for incorrect usage by the client. This involves making the interface intuitive and minimizing the potential for errors, which improves the robustness and reliability of the software system.

These characteristics help in creating interfaces that are not only functional but also robust, maintainable, and adaptable to future needs, aligning with best practices in software architecture.