The objective of （architecture design）is to determine what parts of the application software will be assigned to what hardware.The major software components of the system being developed have to be identified and then allocated to the various hardware components on which the system will operate. All software systems can be divided into four basic functions. The first is（data storage）. Most information systems require data to be stored and retrieved,whether a small file,such as a memo produced by a word processor,or a large database,such as one that stores an organization's accounting records. The second function is the （dataaccess logic）,the processing required to access data,which often means database queries in Structured Query Language. The third function is the （application logic）,which is the logic documented in the DFDs,use cases,and functional requirements.The fourth function is the presentation logic,the display of information to the user and the acceptance of the user's commands.The three primary hardware components of a system are （clients,servers,and network）.
系统架构设计的核心目标是确定应用软件各模块与硬件资源的分配方案，完成软件构件与硬件构件的适配统筹，是衔接软件功能与硬件部署的关键环节。所有软件系统可划分为四大基础功能模块：数据存储功能覆盖从小型文档到大型数据库的全类型数据留存需求，是信息系统数据承载的基础；数据访问逻辑负责处理各类数据访问操作，比如通过SQL查询实现数据调取，区别于单纯的数据库连接机制或特定实现模式；应用逻辑是系统核心业务处理的载体，对应数据流图、用例及功能需求中的业务规则，是系统价值落地的核心逻辑层；表现逻辑承担用户交互职能，涵盖信息展示与用户指令接收。从系统架构逻辑层面划分，支撑系统运行的三大核心硬件组件为客户端、服务器与网络，这一分类比笼统的计算机部件划分更契合系统部署与运行的实际框架，能清晰体现硬件在系统中的角色与协作关系。
本题考察的是系统架构设计与软件功能划分。
语境定位：原句为 “The objective of ____ is to determine what parts of the application software will be assigned to what hardware.”。空前 The objective of；空后 is to determine what parts of 是判断本空的关键。
答案判断：空后出现 of 结构，说明本空通常是名词性中心词；句意需要“架构设计，决定软件组件如何分配到硬件和网络环境中”。因此应选 architecture design。
选项辨析：
A. architecture design：表示“架构设计，决定软件组件如何分配到硬件和网络环境中”，能准确补足本句语义，符合语境。
B. modular design：强调模块化结构设计，不是此题的核心。
C. physical design：指物理部署细节，与整体架构分配不同。
D. distribution design：侧重分布式部署策略，不是本题所述的主要目标。
因此，选项 A 正确。