•
ICT for GCSE Teacher’s Guide
SECTION ONE
Section A Test your knowledge: answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
The Central Processing Unit is the main piece of hardware in your computer. Name two
other important pieces of hardware.
Any two from:

A hard disk for storage

RAM

Keyboard

Mouse Monitor
(2)
Software is also required to make your computer work. What is software?
Software is the set of instructions that tell the computer’s CPU what to do.
(1)
Backing storage is used for storing programs and data.
State two types of backing storage.
Any two from:

Hard disk

tape

CD-RW, CD-R, DVD-R, DVD-RW or other DVD types

Zip disk

Floppy disk
(2)
Portable computers and desktop computers are similar because they can do the
same sort of tasks.
List three differences between portable and desktop computers.
Differences between portable and desktop computers include:

Size

Robustness

Weight
(3)
Name two common input devices.
Common input devices include:

Keyboard

Mouse

Joystick
(2)
Images must be converted to digital format to be edited on the computer or to be
used in computer presentations.
State two ways in which images can be captured or converted to digital format.
Images must be converted to digital format to be edited on the computer or to
be used in computer presentations. Images can be captured or converted to
digital format using a scanner, digital camera, or video digitiser.
(2)
Explain why computer images take up a lot of memory space?
Computer images take up a lot of memory space because data is stored as
DPI equivalent to each point on the image and as there are many DPI lots of
memory is required.
(2)
Sound input can be captured using one of two methods.
What are the methods?
Sound input can be captured by either:

Sound sampling software + a microphone

Or by MIDI
MIDI files are smaller so this is the better method.
(2)
Hodder & Stoughton
SECTION ONE
•
ICT for GCSE Teacher’s Guide
9
A VDU is an output device which gives feedback to the user. Name two other
output devices.
Other output devices include:

Printer.

Plotter.

Control device.

Speakers/headphones.
10 Which type of printer would you choose to produce high quality, fast printouts?
A laser printer will produce high-quality, fast printouts.
11 (a) What is a control device?
A control device is an output device which responds to electrical signals
produced by computer.
(2)
(1)
(1)
(b) Give an example of a control device.
A suitable example is a robotic arm.
12 Explain the difference between Immediate Access Storage and backing storage.
IAS is volatile but backing storage is non volatile.
IAS is usually small while backing storage is large.
IAS is usually fast while backing storage is slow access.
13 Describe the advantages and disadvantages of hard disks compared to floppy disks.
Hard disks have a larger capacity so can store programs as well as data.
Hard disks are internal/fixed in computer and tend to be more robust than
floppy disk.
Floppy disks have smaller capacity and can be removed and used in any
(or almost any) machine.
14 Why are CD-ROMs ideal for storing multimedia reference material?
CD-ROMS are ideal for storing multimedia reference material because they
are portable, cannot be erased so data is not lost, and have a large storage
capacity of about 650MB.
15 What is DVD?
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc, although it is often, incorrectly, said to
be Digital Video Disc.
16 Explain why we take backups of our work.
Backups are made to ensure that we always have a safe copy of our work.
17 Describe what we mean when we refer to a term ‘computer network’.
A computer network is when computers are linked by cabling to other
computers or to a server.
18 List the advantages and disadvantages of using a computer network.
The advantages of using a computer network include:

Being able to share resources such as printers.

Being able to share files.

Being able to communicate with other users.
(1)
(2)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(2)
The disadvantages of using computer networks include:

Security

Viruses can spread more easily.

Management overheads.
(2)
Hodder & Stoughton
•
ICT for GCSE Teacher’s Guide
SECTION ONE
19 Explain why users need a user id and password to logon to a network.
A user ID identifies the user as a valid user of the network, and a password
is to maintain the privacy of the user.
20 State two advantages of using e-mail instead of facsimile.
Email has several advantages over facsimile:

Privacy.

Can use attachments.

Can use colour.

Can email to multiple recipients.

Can encrypt the data.
21 Describe what we mean when we refer to ‘data type’. Give two examples to
illustrate your answer.
Data type refers to different categories of data such as Boolean, integer,
real, text, date, or currency.
22 A file is a collection of related records. Explain why each record needs a key field.
A record needs a key field to provide unique identification of individual
records.
23 Describe how you would prevent a computer virus from affecting your computer
system.
Any two from:
Using a virus scanner.
Keeping your computer as a standalone computer.
Not allowing other users to use their files on your computer.
Not connecting to the Internet.
Not opening attachments on emails.
24 What is a hacker?
A hacker is a person who gains access to data that he/she is not authorised
to see.
25 (a) Name two jobs that have been created by the increased use of ICT.
Any two from: computer programmers, computer repair persons, and call
centre workers.
25 (b) Name two jobs that have been changed by the increased use of ICT.
Answer may include: fewer staff make decisions and secretarial workers
might need training in word processing.
25 (c)
Name two jobs that have been replaced because of the increased use of ICT.
Any two from: factory worker, filing clerks, banking staff and payroll staff.
26 Describe video conferencing.
Video conferencing allows communication between people over distances and
the people can see and hear each other.
27 Describe teleworking and explain why it is an advantage to telework.
Teleworking is where employees work from home and communicate via their
computers, sending documents and data between home and e.g. an office.
(2)
(2)
(3)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
Hodder & Stoughton
•
ICT for GCSE Teacher’s Guide
SECTION ONE
28 Computer crimes are on the increase due to the expansion of the Internet. Name two
crimes, which could happen when using the Internet.
Any two from:

Fraud.

Hacking.

Virus production.
29 Name two health problems caused by continued use of ICT equipment and describe
how they might be prevented.

RSI – wrist support or special keyboard

back problems – foot rest and adjustable chairs

eye strain – diffused lighting, screen guards

fatigue – regular breaks
30 Name two safety issues to be considered when installing a new ICT laboratory.
Any two from:

No trailing wires.

Sufficient sockets.

Fire precautions.
(2)
(4)
(2)
(64 marks total)
Hodder & Stoughton