Knowledge and Understanding Past Paper Questions
Computer Systems
1.
A mainframe computer uses interactive processing to deal with orders. The
company also runs an invoicing program, which produces bills for shops.
Describe how the operating system allows this to be done without slowing the
processing of orders.
2
2.
A company wants photographs of plants to be included in a brochure.
Photographs of the plants are scanned and the graphic images are used in the
brochure. Describe how these graphic images are represented in the computers
memory.
2
3.
Give two advantages of using an interpreter rather than a compiler when
creating and testing programs.
2
4.
Give two advantages of using a compiled version of a program to control a
robot.
2
5.
One function of an operating system is file management. State two other
functions of an operating system.
2
6.
What is meant by a hierarchical filing system? You may use a diagram in your
answer.
2
7.
Name three types of file format that you might use when transferring data
between separate word applications.
8.
Which part of the central processing unit performs calculations?
10.
Give one advantage of representing characters using a standard code such as
ASCII.
1
11.
Describe one difference between the text and RTF data standards.
1
12.
Give one advantage of disc based software.
1
13.
Give two advantages of ROM based software.
1
14.
What is a printer driver and why is it needed.
2
15.
What is meant by the term multi-programming?
2
16.
Give one similarity between an assembler and a compiler.
1
17.
A computer has a word size of 16 bits. What is meant by the term word?
2
1
18.
When printing a document, what software must be available to ensure that her
work prints out on paper with the same text appearance as is on the screen. 1
19.
High level languages need to be translated. Name two different types of
translator.
2
20.
Give two advantages of a hierarchical system.
2
21.
A byte contains 8 bits. What is meant by the term bit?
1
22.
Name the three of the main parts of the CPU.
2
23.
Describe the function of three main parts of the CPU.
2
24.
Give one example of a storage medium that can be only accessed sequentially.
1
25.
Give one example of a storage medium which can be accessed randomly.
1
26.
State one input device and one output device that you could buy to provide
multi-media capabilities for her computer.
2
27.
How does the CPU locate data stored in RAM?
2
28.
High level languages must be translated. Why is translation necessary?
1
29.
Give one difference and one similarity between a CD-ROM and a re-writeable
optical disc.
2
30.
How are characters represented in a computer?
31.
State two requirements of a computer which would be needed to run multimedia applications.
2
32.
Software requiring 32 megabytes of backing store can be distributed on floppy
discs or CD-ROM. State one disadvantage of using the floppy discs.
1
33.
Give one advantage to a user of using a computer with multi-programming
capabilities.
1
34.
What is meant by portability of software?
1
35.
Give two benefits of using interactive processing.
2
36.
What is meant by the term multi-media?
1
37.
Name the piece of software that is required to ensure that the printout is the
same as it appears on screen.
1
1
38.
Give one disadvantage of holding software on a ROM chip.
1
39.
Give two advantages of adding a sound card to a PC
2
40.
Give two advantages of adding a graphics to a PC
2
41.
When developing user-friendly software, should the software be command
driven or menu driven. Explain your answer.
2
42.
Which part of the central processing unit is responsible for running a program
correctly?
1
43.
Which part of the central processing unit carries out calculations and decisionmaking processes?
1
44.
What type of memory holds the data and instructions while a program is
running?
1
45.
What type of memory holds programs that never change?
1
46.
When creating a multi-media application, would you choose DVD-RW or a
hard disc to store your application. Give a reason for your answer.
2
47.
Name two differences between CD-ROM and DVD discs.
2
48.
Name one specialist input device used in virtual reality.
1
49.
Name one specialist output device used in virtual reality.
1
50.
What is virtual reality?
1
Robotics and Automated Systems
1.
When a company automates production process, the first task is to carry out a
systems analysis. Explain why the company needed to carry out a systems
analysis.
2
2.
What is an embedded system?
1
3.
Describe a context in which an embedded system could be used.
2
4.
Robot arms have an analogue pressure sensor fitted. Why is it necessary for
the computer which controls the robots to have an analogue to digital
converter fitted?
1
5.
What is an end-effector?
1
6.
What is meant by the term labour intensive?
1
7.
What do you think would have been the effect on productivity in a factory
when robots were introduced? Give a reason for your answer.
2
8.
What is meant by the term adaptability in terms of a robot?
1
9.
Give one disadvantage to employees of automation in the work place.
1
10.
A robotic vacuum cleaner has been developed that will hoover a house with
out a human being involved. Name two types of objects that will allow the
robot to be aware of objects.
2
11.
What is virtual reality?
2
12.
Name a piece of hardware used specifically for virtual reality.
1
13.
Robots are programmed using high level control languages. What is meant by
a control language?
1
14.
Give two reasons why the introduction of robots improves the efficiency of
production lines.
2
15.
A control system is programmed using a special purpose control language.
Give two benefits of using a special purpose control language.
2
16.
Name one input and one output device used for virtual reality.
17.
Before the introduction of any automated system, what should be carried out?
1
18.
An airport invests in robotic snowploughs to clear runways. Name and
describe one method by which the snowploughs can be taught the route around
the airport.
2
19.
Data from a temperature sensor constantly varies. What must happen to the
data from the sensor so that the computer can process it?
1
20.
Give one advantage of an automated production line rather than a manual
system.
1
21.
Explain the terms stationary, mobile and intelligent when referring to robots.
3
22.
What is the purpose of an interface when connecting a robot to a computer
system?
1
2
Commercial Data Processing
1.
Describe three things that are illegal under the Copyright, Designs and Patens
Act.
3
2.
A mainframe computer supports multi-access. Explain the term multi-access.
2
3.
How will data on a mark sense card be input to a computer system?
1
4.
Give two advantages of using mark sense cards for data input.
2
5.
Give two pieces of information that are likely to be contained in a bar code.
2
6.
Give two pieces of information about an item which are likely to be stored by
the central computer but not on the bar code.
2
7.
Explain the difference between a “magnetic stripe card” and a “smart card”.
8.
Give two advantages of smart cards.
2
9.
What is a computer terminal?
1
10.
State two items required for remote access between a shops computer and a
cash and carry.
2
11.
What is a remote terminal?
12.
Give one disadvantage and one advantage of using OCR software to enter
data.
2
13.
What is meant by the term optical character recognition?
14.
Name the hardware device that is required for optical character recognition.
1
15.
Customers in a bank need to be served as quickly as possible, therefore all
transactions are processed immediately. What type of processing is carried out
in this situation?
1
16.
Describe the process of electronic funds transfer.
17.
Individual terminals in a supermarket are called remote terminals. From what
are the terminals remote?
1
1
2
3
Databses and Related Issues
1.
What is meant by a Computed field?
1
2.
When holding personal information about data subjects, what must a data user
do to ensure they are within the law?
1
3.
What is the purpose of a check digit?
1
4.
Describe briefly how a check digit works.
2
5.
What type of field in a database would contain a calculation?
1
6.
What is a company legally obliged to do before storing personal information
about customers on a computer?
1
7.
Which piece of legislation covers storage of personal information on a
computer?
1
8.
State one right that data subjects have under this legislation.
1
9.
State one responsibility that data users have under this legislation.
1
10.
State two rights data subjects have.
2
11.
A user has been given authorisation to gain access to a restricted access
database. Describe two steps involved in gaining authorisation.
2
12.
What piece of legislation has been introduced to try to restrict the spread of
viruses?
2
13.
Suggest two ways in which data can be protected from unauthorised access.
2
14.
Some people believe that they have the right to see all data held about them on
a computer. Give one argument for and one argument against this point of
view.
2
15.
How does the Data Protections Act protect a persons rights?
16.
What legislation covers the storage of other peoples’ personal details on a
computer?
1
17.
Name on other illegal activity covered by the Computer Misuse Act.
18.
How would the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act protect a company that
develops computer games?
19.
From what data on a bar code is a check digit calculated?
2
1
1
20.
What is the purpose of Data Verification?
1
21.
What is the purpose of Data Verification?
1
22.
Apart from using usernames and passwords, describe one way in which
unauthorised access to a file can be stopped.
1
23.
24.
List two rights that the Data Protection Act of 1998 provides to data subjects.
2
Describe a validation check which could be performed on the month part of a
date of birth field.
2
25.
Is a check digit an example of validation or verification?
1
26.
What is the difference between validation and verification?
1
27.
What is the name of the process in which information from a datafile is
inserted into the standard letter?
1
Word Processing and Related Issues
1.
What is a Standard Letter?
2
2.
Give two advantages of buying an integrated package.
2
3.
Give two disadvantages of buying an integrated package.
2
4.
What does a spelling check facility do?
2
5.
What is pre-printed stationary and why is it useful.
2
6.
Give one example of a situation in which on-line help would be used.
7.
8.
1
Give one example of a situation in which an on-line tutorial would be used.
1
Describe two features of a word processing package that will allow changes to
the text layout to be made quickly and easily.
2
9.
What is meant by a Graphical User Interface?
1
10.
What facility of a word processing package would be used to place a school
name or persons name at the top of the page?
1
11.
A report contains a footer. What is a footer?
1
12.
What is meant by on-line help?
2
13.
An integrated package has a user-friendly HCI. Describe two features of an
HCI that would make it user-friendly.
2
14.
What feature of a word processor would you use to place text around a
graphic.
1
15.
What is the benefit of using templates?
1
16.
What is a keyboard shortcut?
1
17.
Describe two ways you can customise the HCI of a program.
2
Spreadsheets and Related Issues
1.
What is meant by static data linkage?
2
2.
What is meant by cell protection?
1
3.
What is a cell?
1
4.
What is meant by the term cell attributes?
1
5.
Explain the term absolute referencing.
2
6.
Explain what is meant by the term dynamic data linkage.
2
7.
What function is used to handle functions which involve conditions?
1
8.
Suggest one possible change to the HCI of a spreadsheet package.
1
9.
What is meant by the term replicate?
1
Networks and Related Issues
1.
As well as a computer system and a telephone line, what else do you need to
gain access to a wide area network? Give two answers.
2
2.
Give two differences between a LAN and a WAN.
2
3.
Describe two benefits for an organisation of setting up a LAN.
2
4.
Name one piece of hardware and one piece of software required to connect a
computer to the Internet.
2
5.
Suggest two ways a LAN improves the flow of information around an office.
2
6.
What is a complex Internet search?
1
7.
What is the advantage of using a complex Internet search?
1
8.
What language is used to create a web page?
1
9.
Describe two methods used to send a file across a network.
2
10.
List three ways networks are commonly used to break the law.
3
11.
How could you access your web based e-mail when travelling on a train. 2
12.
Apart from a printer server, name two other servers that might be on a client
server LAN.
2
13.
“You don’t pay a penny for shareware”. Is this statement correct? Explain
your answer.
2
14.
What is the difference between freeware and shareware?
2
15.
Explain how video conferencing works.
2
16.
Give three examples of the damage irresponsible use of networks can bring.
3
17.
Give three examples of the benefits responsible use of networks can bring. 3
18.
Could a laptop be used as a network client? Explain your answer.
2
19.
What piece of hardware must be added to your computer so that you can
connect to a LAN?
1
Miscellaneous
1.
A systems analyst considered several different Human Computer Interface
parameters for a package. Suggest three different HCI parameters that might
have been considered.
2.
What is meant by customising the HCI?
2
3.
Explain the difference between animation and video.
2
4.
Name and describe two methods of transferring data between two
applications.
4
What happens when you crop a graphic?
1
5.
Web Authoring
1.
Explain the tem hotspot.
1
2.
Explain the term hyperlink.
1