Parts of a computer and Input / Output devices
1.
Windows has a GUI. What does GUI stand for and give 2 features of a
GUI.
(3)
GUI stands for Graphical User Interface, two features of a GUI are that
information is visually displayed and therefore to easieruse, and that it takes a lot
of computing space
2.
Briefly describe the difference between hardware and software
(1)
Hardware is the physical component of a computer, devices that you
can see & touch, whereas software are the instructions and programs
that tell the hardware what to do and therefore we can’t touch them
3.
Every computer requires ROM.
a. What does ROM stand for? Read Only Memory
b. What vital instructions does it contain? The instructions are to read
the programs this memory is storing but can’t edit or change them
c. Why is it important that it cannot be changed? Because if
something is changed maybe the information saved can stop
working
(3)
4.
Software - There are different types of software, the main types being
system software, application software and utility software.
An average household will have many different programs installed on the
computer, give an example of
a. System software and explain what it does. It’s the main system that
runs other programs and operating systems, an example will be
Windows XP
b. Application software and explain what the household might use it
for In a house it would be used to perform a specific task (like save
information), and example will be Microsoft Word
c. Utility software and explain what it does. It’s designed to help
analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer, an
example will be network managers.
(6)
5.
Every week Oakley College backs up the hard drive with all the
students’ work.
a. What does ‘to back up means to save or have a different copy, in
a different place, of your important files
(2)
b. Explain carefully, with reference to Oakley, 3 reasons why this is
done.
o To prevent losing the information if the computer breaks down
o In case somebody deletes a student’s work
o Information would be restored faster & easier
(3)
6.
Below are the specifications for two new computers.
Computer A
DimensionTM 1100
Intel® Celeron® D 335 (2.80GHz, 533FSB, 256kB cache)
Windows® XP Home Edition
Microsoft Office XP
15" Analogue Flat Panel Monitor (15.0" v.i.s.)
80GB (7200 RPM)
48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
Now 512MB (Was 256MB)
Computer B
DimensionTM 5150C
Intel® Pentium® 4 630 with HT Technology (3.00 GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz
FSB)
Windows® XP Home Edition
Microsoft Works 7.0
17" Flat Panel TFT Monitor
160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
8x DVD +/-RW drive
Now 1024MB (Was 512MB)
2 DAYS LEFT!
For computer A
a) What is the speed of the processor? 2.80 GHz.
b) What is the size of the hard drive? 80GB
c) How much RAM does it have? 512 MB
For computer B
d) What type of screen does it have? Flat panel TFT Monitor
e) What operating system is included? Windows XP home edition
f) What application software is included? Microsoft works 7.0
(6)
7. Compter A costs 500€, while Computer B costs 900€. Despite the price
explain why computer B would be a better computer for a digital
photographer (who uses very large photographic files) to use. Give 3
reasons.
o It has more RAM, good to hold heavy photographic files
o It has a bigger hard drive which holds more capacity, also to store
heavy files
o It has a larger CPU, better to process all of the information(3)
8. For an average teenager with a music collection and a digital photo album
which computer would be best and why? Give three reasons
Computer B. This would be because it has a bigger hard drive and CPU to
hold and store as many music and photos as possible and run the files faster
.And because the monitor is also bigger, making it clearer to see the
displayed photos
(3)
9. Computer B has double the amount of RAM than computer A, what
difference will that make to a computer user. Give 2 differences.
o More programs and files can be open at the same time
o The computer will run those programs and files faster
(2)
10. Computer B has a much bigger hard drive than Computer A. What is a
hard drive used for? A hard drive is used as a permanent storage dervice,
this is where everything is stored .
(1)
Input / Output devices
11. Sort the following list of hardware into:
 Input devices
 Output devices
 Other.
OMR-----input
monitor-----output
web cam-----input
Magnetic stripe reader-----input
TFT
CPU-----other
graphics tablet-----input
CD drive-----other tracker ball-----input
(8)
12. In a school, the office uses many input and output devices. Name three
output devices a secretary may use and explain what they would use them
for.
o Monitor > to display all of theh information about students, teachers,
the school...
o Scanner > to scan important papers about school news or activities...
o Keyboard > to type student’s data or any other information about the
school into the computer
(3)
13. A school also uses input devices that an average household may not use.
Name one input device that schools use to record pupil attendance.
An OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) would be used, which counts up all the
marks, in this case of the attendance of the students, directly into the
computer
(2)
14. Shops use many input and output devices to speed up the process of
buying goods and controlling the amount of stock.
At the POS (point of sale) where goods are bought and paid for:
a) What input devices are used? Name three and explain what they do
o Barcode Reader > To scan the barcode labels which identify
each product of the shops
o Magnetic Stripe Reader > to read magnetic stripes found in
credit cards, used to pay for items
o Touch pads > to insert the signature of the people who are
buying things into the computer (6)
b) What type of printer is used and why
.
They use Thermal printers because it doesn’t require toner or ink
and is used to print all of the information recorded about what a person
has bought
(2)
15. A small business is thinking about buying a new printer for its office. Give
three reasons why a laser printer would be better for them.
o It prints in high quality
o It’s one of the fastests printers
o It’s really quite, as it hardly emits sounds
(3)
16. The meteorological office use sensors to monitor the environment. Why do
they use sensors to collect data and not humans? Give three reasons.
o You can have it working throught the whole day
o It’s more accurate
o It’s more easy to use, as you only have to read the information it
has recorded
(3)
Total /60