CSEC IT Theory Jun 2003

7/30/2019 CSEC IT Theory Jun 2003

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CXC IT JUNE 2003

TECHNICAL AND GENERAL PROFICIENCIES

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

SECTION 1 -37 marks

1. (a) List TWO advantages of secondary storage for long term storage of data,

as compared to using the computers main memory. (2 marks)

(b) (i) Identify TWO input devices that are regularly used at Point-Of-Sale terminals, and briefly describe how they function. (2 marks)

(ii) List TWO locations at which Point-Of-Sale terminals are helpful. (2)

(c) Explain the difference between data and information. (2 marks)

(d) State 1 similarity in the operation of Optical Mark Readers and bar codes. (1 )

Total 9 marks

2. (a) A computer user suspects that the laser printers toner cartridge is about to

run out. Suggest ONE way in which the user can tell whether or not the toner is

about to finish. (1 mark)

(b) In handling diskettes, one precaution is Keep diskettes away from liquids. GiveTHREE further precautions to be taken in the handling of diskettes. (3 marks)

(c) Tape storage involves serial access. Briefly explain the meaning of the term

serial access, highlighting any disadvantage that this kind of access may have. (2

marks)

Total 6 marks

3. Complete the following paragraphs, using the terms supplied in the listing below.

LIST OF TERMS (Some or all may be used): arithmetic and logic unit, backing store,control unit, cylinders, heads, internal memory, program, sectors, tracks.

(a) In order to execute a (A) ____________________ which is stored on the computermust read the instructions from its (B) ______________ into its (C)

______________. The (D) ________________ then picks each instruction in turn,

passing any mathematical or logic operations over to the (E) _______________

until the entire sequence is completed.


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(b) The data stored on a high density 3 inch diskette is arranged in 80 circular (F)

________________ forming rings on the surface of the disk. Each ring is dividedinto 18 (G) ______________ having K-byte each. A hard disk has multiple

surfaces. The corresponding rings on those surfaces are directly above and below

each other. On a hard disk, these rings, one above the other, are said to form (H)______________. (2 marks)

Total 6 marks

4. (a) With regard to storage, what is the difference between a byte and a word?

(2 marks)

(b) Explain the difference between odd parity and even parity. (2 marks)

(c) With respect to information being read from a hard disk, what is the purpose of a

BUFFER? (1 mark)

(d) Suggest ONE use for which a DVD is more suitable than a CD. (1 mark)

(e) The information contained in ROM (Read Only Memory) cannot be changed. What

is the purpose of ROM? (1 mark)

Total 7 marks

5. (a) Explain briefly what is meant by the resolution of a visual display unit

(2 marks)

(b) What is(i) point-to-point transmission (1 mark)

(ii) a voice response unit (1 mark)

(iii) a bulletin board. (1 mark)

Total 5 marks

6. The eight-bit representation of the decimal number 25 is 00011001.

(a) What is the twos complement representation of NEGATIVE 25? (1

mark)

(b) What are the sign and magnitude representations of NEGATIVE 25? (1 mark)

(c) What is the decimal equivalent of 00110111? (1 mark)

(d) The ASCII representation of H is 01001000. what is the ASCII representation ofD? (1 mark)


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Total 4 marks

SECTION 2 -23 marks

7. The list contains hardware and software aspects of interface. Which of these are hardware

aspects?

(a) Command line (b) Touch screen (c) Icons

(d) Pull-down menus (e) Start button (f) Status bar

Total 2 marks

8. (a) How can an expert system be of value to a doctor? (1 mark)

(b) List TWO obstacles to be overcome before natural-language programming could

become part of everyday life. (2 marks)

(c) Robots replace humans. Give TWO advantages of using robots. (4 marks)

(d) Suggest TWO ways in which a high school student could benefit from using a

newsgroup. (2 marks)

Total 9 marks

9. Explain what is

(a) Internet Relay Chat (1 mark)

(b) A synthesizer (1 mark)

(c) Videotext (1 mark)

(d) A web browser (1 mark)

(e) Archiving (1 mark)

Total 5 marks

10. (a) What is the difference between a web page and a web site? (1 mark)

(b) List THREE responsibilities of a systems analyst. (3 marks)

(c) (i) Briefly explain the difference between data integrity and data

security. (2 marks)


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(ii) Outline ONE method of ensuring the integrity of the data. (1mark)

Total 7 marks

THIS SECTION IS FOR TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY CANDIDATES ONLY.

SECTION 3 -30marks

PROGRAMMING


11. Write one algorithm using pseudocode to do the following sequence of tasks:

(a) Read in the values of the two numbers.(b) Find the product of the two numbers.

(c) Find the sum of the two numbers.(d) Check whether the product is bigger

If the product is bigger, it must print a message to say so, and if the product is notbigger it must print a message saying that the product is not bigger.

Total 7 marks

12. Write an algoritm to find the sum of M numbers where the user supplies the value of M and

types in the numbers, in response to the prompts generated by the program. (7 marks)

13. Consider the following routine:

INPUT X, Y

Z = X * X + Y * YPRINT The sum of square is; Z

For EACH of the first two lines of code, write a comment to indicate what the code does.

Total 2 marks

14. (a) How is object code obtained from source code? (1 mark)

(b) Briefly explain the difference between source code and object code. (2 marks)

Total 3 marks

15. Consider the following code:

INPUT A, BDO


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A = A+ B

B = B 1LOOP WHILE B > 0

PRINT A, B

Using a trace table, or otherwise, determine the values printed in the final statement, when

the input values of A and B are: (a) 1, 2 (b) 3, 4

Total 3 marks

16. Write a program in BASIC, PASCAL or another specified language (NOT pseudocode), todo the following:

(i) Announce (with a printed statement) that it will find the volumes of sets of boxes.

(ii) Ask how many boxes there are.

(iii) For EACH box, ask for the length, width, and height.

(iv) Computer the volume of EACH box.

If the values of length are all greater than zero, then print the volume.

(v) When finished with all the boxes print the message: Volumes have been found.

Total 8 marks


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THIS SECTION IS FOR GENERAL PROFICIENCY CANDIDATES ONLY.

SECTION 4 30 marks

PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS


17. The following questions relate to word-processing:

(a) You wish to move a paragraph from the top of your document and place it at the

end of your document. Describe ONE method of selecting the paragraph to bemoved, and ONE way of removing the selected text from its position. (2 marks)

(b) Your word-processing package assumes a paper size of 8 1/2 by 11. Describethe steps you could take to reset the paper size to 8 x 14. (State the name of the

word-processing software you would be using) (2 marks)

(c) What is the difference between fully justified text and centered text? (2 marks)

(d) Your cursor position is just past the last letter of a word. What combination

keystrokes can you use to delete the entire word? (1 mark)

(e) Give TWO reasons why it is better to apply page numbering than to manually typethe page number at the bottom of every page. (2 marks)

(f) State ONE function of the OVERTYPE mode. (1 mark)

Total 10 marks

18. The following questions relate to Spreadsheets:

The table below shows several records in a spreadsheet.

A B C D E F G H I

1 Name Salary Overtime

Hours

Overtime

rate

Overtime

pay

Gross

pay

Tax

Rate

Tax

Paid

Net

Pay2 John 1000 20 30 25%

3 Mary 1200 15 20 30%4 Jim 1200 20 20 25%

5 Totals 3400 55 _______ _____

(a) How many records are displayed in the table above? (1 mark)

(b) What are the formulae for the cells E2, F2, H2, given that


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Overtime pay is equal to overtime hours multiplied by overtime rate.

Gross pay is equal to salary plus overtime.

Tax paid is equal to tax rate multiplied by gross pay. (3 marks)

(c) What is the formula for cell F5? (1 mark)

(d) Assuming all the required formulae were in place, up to and including Column 1and the Totals row, which cells would be affected by a change in the value of

Johns salary? (2 marks)

(e) Which of the columns A to I should have their numbers formatted as currency? (1

mark)

(f) In column J you are to express each persons net pay as a PERCENTAGE of thetotal net pay. You are to compute the fraction, and express it as a percentage using

the percentage format. What formula can be used in cell J2, then copied correctly

to cells J3 and J4? (2 marks)

Total 10 marks

19. The following questions relate to Databases:

Consider the following table:

Number Name Content Stock Expiry Type12-da Antacid Liquid 1.2 20 Feb 3, 2004 Non-Prescription

22-cm Cough Mixture 0.3 40 Feb 5, 2003 Non-Prescription

31-ma Insect Killer 2.5 20 Feb 10,

2005

Poison

44-md Sleeping Tabs 1.0 15 Feb 5, 2004 Prescription

(a) Design the database table structure. Copy the table shown below in your answer

booklet and fill in the corresponding Field Type and size for the Field Names. (5

marks)

Field Name Field Type Field Size

Number

Name


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Content

Stock

Expiry

Type

(b) A data entry form allows you to use clearer wording in place of the field name, tomake clear to the operator what values must be entered. In your form design, youshould replace the field names with descriptive wording.

Draw up a table as shown below, indicating the text that you would use. (3 marks)

At top of form

In place of Number

In place of Name

In place of Content

In place of Stock

In place of ExpiryIn place of Type

(c) How can you obtain a list of the names and expiry dates of prescription items in

stock? (2 marks)

Total 10 marks

Documents

CSEC IT Theory Jun 2003