ACtE04 · Chapter 4Computer Organization & Embedded Systems🏛️ Past Licensure QuestionID: 5e0f398f
Virtual memory pages that are not currently in RAM reside in:
Virtual memory pages that are not currently in RAM reside in:
Multiple Choice Options
- A
RAM
- B
ROM
- C
External storage
- D✓ Correct Option
Secondary storage
Detailed Technical Solution & Explanation
Virtual memory creates an illusion of a large contiguous address space by keeping only actively used pages in physical RAM and storing the remaining pages on secondary storage (typically the hard disk or SSD in a designated swap partition/page file). When a page not in RAM is needed, a page fault occurs, and the OS fetches the required page from secondary storage into RAM.
Option Analysis:
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Option A (RAM): Pages in RAM are already in physical memory — the question asks where pages NOT in RAM reside.
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Option B (ROM): ROM stores firmware/BIOS — not used for virtual memory page storage.
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Option C (External storage): "External storage" typically refers to removable devices (USB drives, external HDDs) — not the standard location for virtual memory.
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Option D (Secondary storage): ✅ Correct. Virtual memory pages not in RAM are stored on secondary storage (hard disk/SSD swap space).
Reference: Demo · Set 4NEC Licensure Syllabus