FINAL QUIZ

Marlene Galea

Give 2 possible disadvantages of

computerising a system

Give 2 possible disadvantages of

computerising a system

- Dependency : users may grow increasingly dependent on the

computerised system such that work suffers a lot of the system is

temporarily unavailable

- Data security against hacking and data theft leads can be expensive,

and there is still always the risk of security breaches.

Why is a compiler better suited than an

interpreter for program distribution?

Why is a compiler better suited than an

interpreter for program distribution?

A compiler produces object code.

• Object code can be saved and directly executed later on. So object code can

be distributed to run without further translation. So the actual code will not be

seen by the user if a compiler is used which is desirable when distributing a

program.However no object code is created with an interpreter.

• Also, if using a compiler, when a loop is run the translation is only done once,

with an interpreter the loop is translated every time the program loops.

Therefore an interpreted program will run slower when executing a loop.

What is the address space of a CPU

with a 32 bit address bus?

How does the address bus effect

computer performance?

What is the address space of a CPU

with a 32 bit address bus?

How does the address bus effect

computer performance?

232

Address space determines the number of memory locations that can be

directly accessed by the CPU, so the greater the address space the more

RAM the CPU can use.

Having more RAM ensures more applications can run simultaneously

and smoothly.

Give 2 advantages of computerising a

system

Give 2 advantages of computerising a

system

• Computers are more reliable and consistent than humans: so they

may help avoid errors an accidents.

• When dealing with large volumes of data it is faster and more efficient

to search for data on a computerised system than have humans do so.

What is the Internet? How is it

different from the WWW?

What is the Internet? How is it

different from the WWW?

The internet is a global network of computers connected together in

such a way as to be able to exchange data.

The www is only part of the internet it is a system of interlinked

hypertext documents contained on the internet.

Give 2 uses of the Internet in:

• Education

• Commerce

Give 2 uses of the Internet in:

• Education

• Online testing: online tests are efficient because they can be corrected

by the system and hence give a student immediate results

• Video conferencing: this can be used to expose students to realities

outside their school without the expense and time wastage of

travelling: e.g. to discuss issues with experts or other students in other

countries

• Commerce

• E-commerce: the selling of items on the internet using auction sites etc

• Advertising: online advertising is a very good way of reaching potential

client.

What is Assistive Technology (AT) ?

Name an output and an input device

used in AT

Assistive Technology (AT) refers to technology that allows greater

independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform

tasks that they were unable to accomplish before, or had great difficulty

accomplishing, by providing new methods of using technology

Input device: braille keyboard

Output device: braille printer

What is Assistive Technology (AT) ?

Name an output and an input device

used in AT

What is the role of the ALU in a

computer?

What is the role of the ALU in a

computer?

The ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) carries out the

computer’s mathematical functions and

comparison operations

What is the role of the Control Unit

in a computer?

What is the role of the Control Unit

in a computer?

The Control Unit is responsible for:

• locating, decoding and executing each instruction in a program

• data transfer between memory and peripheral devices

What are mnemonics and symbolic

addressing?

What are mnemonics and symbolic

addressing?

• Mnemonics are short, abbreviated words used in Assembly Language

instead of binary patterns (e.g. LDA)

• Symbolic addressing is the use of variable names to refer to memory

addresses. (e.g. num1)

Distinguish between the following

three types of addressing

• Direct Addressing

• Immediate Addressing

• Symbolic Addressing

Distinguish between the following

three types of addressing

• Immediate Addressing

the instruction itself contains the value to be used.

Eg. MOV A, #20h the value to be used is 20h

• Direct Addressing

the instruction tells where the value can be found, but the value itself

is out in memory.

Eg. MOV A, 30h the values is found in memory location 30h

• Symbolic Addressing

symbolic addressing the address of a store location is specified by

means of an identifier, rather than the numeric value of the memory

address.

Eg. MOV A, num1 the value is stored in the variable num1

Distinguish between opcode and

operand

Distinguish between opcode and

operand

Opcode is the code specifying the action to be carried out (eg. Add)

Operand is the value on which the action is to be carried out or the

address in memory where this value is stored (eg. 5)

Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages

of using a LLL rather than a HLL

Advantages

LLL run faster because they are closer to machine code

Programs in LLL need less system resources to run

Disadvantages

Difficult to program in because they require a good knowledge of

machine architecture

Programs in LLL are not portable

Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages

of using a LLL rather than a HLL

Give 1 advantage and 1

disadvantage of a bus network

Give 1 advantage and 1

disadvantage of a bus network

Advantage

Less expensive to set up

Disadvantages

Performance degenerates as more computers are added

What personnel is/are responsible

for the following

• Creating Test Data for a system

• Writing program code

• Creation and Update of websites

• Data entry

What personnel is/are responsible

for the following

Creating Test Data for a system Systems Analyst

Writing program code Programmer

Creation and Update of websites Web Master

Data entry Data Entry Clerk

What is a CPU register?

Mention 2 CPU registers and briefly

describe their function

What is a CPU register?

Mention 2 CPU registers and briefly

describe their function

A CPU register is a small amount of memory on the CPU where data can

be temporarily stored

Examples

Program Counter – holds the address of the next instruction

Instruction register – holds the address currently being executed

What is a database? Give 1 advantage

of computerising a database

What is a database? Give 1 advantage

of computerising a database

A database is an organised collection of data and links between

them such that information can easily be obtained from it.

Advantages

It is faster to obtain information and query the system

Use only AND, OR and NOT gates to

produce a logic circuit which gives ‘1’

only when one OR the other of two

inputs is one but not both.

This is asking for the XOR gate in terms of the OR, AND and NOT

gate.

Use only AND, OR and NOT gates to

produce a logic circuit which gives ‘1’

only when one OR the other of two

inputs is one but not both.

Give the truth table for the above

A B A’ B’ A’B AB’ A XOR B

0 0 1 1 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 1 0 1

1 0 0 1 0 1 1

1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Give the truth table for the above

Suggest 2 possible disadvantages of e-

mail

• Spam may be sent and unnecessarily fill inbox

• One may receive a virus and other malware via email

Suggest 2 possible disadvantages of e-

mail

Compare the 3 types of looping

constructs

Conditional Loops

Undetermined Loops

Do…while loop

Repeats one or more times

Condition at end of loop

While…loop

Repeats 0 or more times

Condition at start of loop

Unconditional Loop

Predetermined Loop

– For loop

Compare the 3 types of looping

constructs

Why are tables in a database linked

through relationships?

• So as to have no redundant data

• So database occupies less storage space and is faster to process

• Database is easier to update

• Saves time and money - data input costs time and money.

Why are tables in a database linked

through relationships?

Complete the diagram explaining the

creation of file generations?

Transaction File

Master File

Sorting process Sorted Transaction File

Update Process

New Master File Error Report

Complete the diagram explaining the

creation of file generations?

Distinguish between serial and direct

access

• Serial access

means going through everything one by one, starting at the beginning, until you

reach the item you want.

• If you wanted to print all the names in a database, using serial access would be

fine because you are starting at the first and going right through to the end.

• Direct access

means going straight to the item you want without having to go through other

ones.

Distinguish between serial and direct

access

Mention 3 things that determine CPU

performance.

•Wordlength: the number of bits the CPU can handle at a go

•Cache memory: fast, volatile memory that holds a copy of recently accessed

data in anticipation of its being used again in the near future

•Clock speed: the number of times the CPU clock changes state per second

Mention 3 things that determine CPU

performance.

Give 3 uses of the Internet

• Research through vast amounts of sources: Looking up information

for school projects, business interests etc

• E-commerce

• Social Networking

Give 3 uses of the Internet

Which are the 3 programming

constructs?

•Loop (repetition)

•Decision

•sequence

Which are the 3 programming

constructs?

Is the check digit ‘6’ for the number

12346 correct?

(Using modulus 11 method)

1 2 3 4 6

5 4 3 2. 1

5 8 9 8 6

36/11

3 r 3

Therefore check digit is incorrect because there is a remainder

Is the check digit ‘6’ for the number

12346 correct?

(Using modulus 11 method)

Briefly describe these forms of

documentation

• Inline documentation

• User manual

• Installation manual

Briefly describe these forms of

documentation

Inline documentation

– these are comments in the program code that explain how the code works

User manual

– instructions to the user that show how to operate the program. This manual should avoid too technical terms.

Installation manual

– Instructions how to install the program including what hardware and software resources it requires

Give 1 application for

Dot matrix printer

MICR

Laser Printer

Barcode Reader

Give 1 application for

Dot matrix printer

Production of bills

MICR

Processing bank cheques

Laser Printer

On an office network

Barcode Reader

Bill production at a POS

Give 1 use for

LOGO

FORTRAN

COBOL

PROLOG

Give 1 use for

LOGO – to teach programming to young children

FORTRAN – to create programs to be used in scientific and mathematical applications

COBOL- to create business applications

PROLOG – to create programs used in AI

Put the steps of the system life cycle

in order

1. Maintenance of the new system

2. Project approval

3. Implementation

4. Designing and testing

5. Training staff

6. Documentation, both technical & user manuals

7. Feasibility study

8. Problem identification

Put the steps of the system life cycle

in order

1. Maintenance of the new system

2. Project approval

3. Implementation

4. Designing and testing

5. Training staff

6. Documentation, both technical & user manuals

7. Feasibility study

8. Problem identification

8, 7, 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, 1

Outline the main steps in the

fetch/execute cycle

Outline the main steps in the

fetch/execute cycle

• CU fetches instruction from memory location pointed by PC

• Copy of the instruction is placed in the IR

• CU fetches required data/address of data

• PC is incremented to the next instruction

• CU activates necessary circuits to execute the instruction

• Back to 1st step

Distinguish between general purpose

and special purpose computers

•Special purpose computers: are designed to do one particular function

•General purpose computer can carry out a number of applications depending

on the program being run

Distinguish between general purpose

and special purpose computers

Distinguish between FAT and NTFS

•NTFS allows the use of larger storage devices than FAT

•NTFS is a more recent filing system that is ideal for multi user systems

allowing:

• User quotas on disks etc

• Improved file security

Distinguish between FAT and NTFS

Draw the logic circuit and give the

truth table for

X = (A’.B) + (C+B’)

A

C

B

Draw the logic circuit and give the

truth table for

X = (A’.B) + (C+B’)

A B C A’ A’.B B’ C+ B’ X

0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1

0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1

0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1

0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1

1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1

Draw the logic circuit and give the

truth table for

X = (A’.B) + (C+B’)

Subtract, using 8 bit two’s complement,

13 from 54

54 – 13

13 = 00001101

54 = 00110110

Two’s complement of 13 00001101

11110010

+1

11110011 (-13)

00110110

11110011

100101001

Subtract, using 8 bit two’s complement,

13 from 54

Distinguish between data validation

and data verification

•Validation ensures that data entered is reasonable and complete

while

•Verification ensures that the data is transferred correctly

Distinguish between data validation

and data verification

Suggest 1 use for

Batch Processing Operating System

Hard disk

Real time Operating System

Logic Gates

Light Pen

Mainframes

Palmtop

Batch Processing Operating System Payroll system

Hard disk Frequently used applications

Real time Operating System Military aircraft targeting system

Logic Gates addition inside the CPU

Light Pen Booking systems

Mainframes Bank system

Palmtop Order taking at a remote POS

Suggest 1 use for

What is process control?

The automatic monitoring and control of a system that responds to feedback

input from sensors

What is process control?

Binary Decimal Hexadecimal

111001

56

13F

Convert

Binary Decimal Hexadecimal

111001 57 39

111000 56 38

100111111 319 13F

Convert

Compare tailor made and off the

shelf software

Tailor Made Software Off the Shelf

More expensive Mass produced, therefore cheaper

Not readily available Readily available

Not possible to get user reviews One may get user opinions before buying

Compare tailor made and off the

shelf software

Suggest 3 ways how wordprocessing

has facilitated office work

• Mail Merge: Automised production of personalised documents

• Language tools: spellchecker and thesaurus help user improve content

quality

• Presentation tools: ability to modify and edit, fonts, paragraphs and page

design allows one to produce more attractive documents.

Suggest 3 ways how wordprocessing

has facilitated office work

Give 2 functions of an operating

system

• CPU Management: allocates CPU time to running processes

• Memory Management: allocates memory space to programs

Give 2 functions of an operating

system

Mention

1 portable magnetic storage device

1 read only electronic storage device

1 serial access device

1 optical storage device

1 volatile storage device

1 portable magnetic storage device: floppy disk

1 read only electronic storage device: ROM

1 serial access device: magnetic tape

1 optical storage device: CD

1 volatile storage device: RAM

Mention

Distinguish between global and local

variables

Local Variable: is declared at method or program section level and so has a

scope limited to that method or program section within which it is declared.

Global variable: is declared at class level and can be accessed from anywhere

within the class.

Distinguish between global and local

variables

Suggest 2 means of safeguarding data

security

• Using a firewall

• Using encryption

Suggest 2 means of safeguarding data

security

What is a sector?

The smallest addressable section of a disk.

What is a sector?

What is a virus? Mention 1 other type

of malicious code besides viruses

Malicious code written to automatically copy itself between and within

computers and hence render them unreliable

Other malicious code: trojan

What is a virus? Mention 1 other type

of malicious code besides viruses

Suggest 3 ways in which a spreadsheet

can improve a family’s budgeting

efforts

• Efficient calculation of data

• Can easily represent data in graphical form, making it easier to analyse

• Can easily obtain answers to ‘what if’ questions

Suggest 3 ways in which a spreadsheet

can improve a family’s budgeting

efforts

What is software piracy? Suggest 2

ways a company may protect its

software from piracy

Software piracy is the unauthorised copying and distribution of software.

Companies can try to protect themselves against piracy using:

• Key disk

• Software registration

What is software piracy? Suggest 2

ways a company may protect its

software from piracy

Distinguish between flowchart and

pseudocode

Both are ways of describing an algorithm however a flowchart is diagrammatic

whilst pseudocode is purely textual.

Distinguish between flowchart and

pseudocode

Write a program that produces the

following output:

(where X is input by the user)

1 x X = answer

2 x X = answer

….

12 x X = answer

An integer variable called ‘sum’

A constant called vat with a value of 18%

A constant called ‘name’ with a value of ‘Mario’

An array of names that can hold 10 names

A two dimensional array that can hold 10 names and surnames

Write a program that produces the

following output:

(where X is input by the user)