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Computer Studies SG Grade 12 - 2004

Last updated 03 Jun 2004

Theory examination May 2004 - 90 minutes - 100 marks

Section A - 20 marks

Question 1 - Multiple-choice questions - 1 mark each - 10 marks

Select one answer to each question.

  1. Routines that are executed before the operating system interprets and executes the commands entered:
    1. Bootstrap loader
    2. Command processor
    3. Operating system
    4. POST
  2. The built-in facility of Windows 98+ to automatically add new hardware:
    1. 32-bit data bus
    2. Plug and Play
    3. TCP/IP 
    4. Windows Explorer
  3. A dedicated channel or circuit is established connecting the sender and receiver by a single path for the duration of the call:
    1. Cell switching
    2. Line switching
    3. Message switching
    4. Packet switching
  4. A technique used to prevent unauthorised use of sensitive information is …
    1. blocking.
    2. decryption.
    3. encryption.
    4. hashing.
  5. Which of the following characteristics of an operating system will be sufficient if it is required that a numbers of users, interactively, via terminals, simultaneously need access to a program on a central server?
    1. Remote job entry
    2. Multiprogramming (also called multi-tasking)
    3. Multi-access
    4. Timesharing
  6. The most popular LAN architecture today is ...
    1. ArcNet.
    2. CSMA/CD.
    3. Ethernet.
    4. Token passing.
  7. When you turn on your computer, the central processing unit performs instructions given by the ... that searches the disk drive for the main operating system files.
    1. CMOS
    2. POST
    3. RAM
    4. ROM BIOS
  8. The Microsoft Certified System Engineer qualification studies the …
    1. Linux system.
    2. Novell system.
    3. Microsoft NT server.
    4. Microsoft Office package.
  9. The Internet ...
    1. cannot be accessed from a computer which does not have a modem.
    2. in the USA is distinct from the Internet in Africa and Asia.
    3. is a global collection of LANs, WANs and individual users.
    4. is another name for a Wide Area Network.
  10. The network component which links a network cable to the motherboard is a …
    1. EMI.
    2. FDDI.
    3. NIC.
    4. UPS.

/10/ 

Question 2 - Matching columns - 1 each - 10 marks

Write down the name of the person in Column B which best matches/links to the description in Column A.  You may use the person in Column B more than once.

Column A Column B
  1. Amazon.com
  2. Google
  3. Hewlett-Packard
  4. Invented/developed first Windows  
  5. Keyboard
  6. iPod
  7. Microsoft
  8. Invented/developed first Mouse
  9. Open source software operating system
  10. PlayStation2
  • Carly Fiorina
  • Sergey Brin and Larry Page
  • Steve Jobs
  • Bill Gates
  • Michael Dell
  • Ken Kutaragi
  • Linus Torvalds
  • Jeff Bezos
  • Douglas Englebart
  • Christopher Sholes

/10/

Section B - 80 marks

Question 3 - Software - 40 marks

  1. Which characteristic of an operating system causes it to be considered user friendly? (1) 
  2. List two methods that will help one create a good structure for file handling. (2)
  3. GUI and WIMP are acronyms that apply to the user interface component of the operating system.
    1. What do these acronyms stand for?  (2)
    2. What do they tell us about how the user interacts with the operating system?  (1)
  4. What is the difference between application and system software? Give an example of each. (4)
  5. Define an operating system. (2) 
  6. List four functions of an operating system. (4) 
  7. When the hard disk is used to supplement physical RAM it can lead to something called 'thrashing' when things go wrong.
    1. What is 'thrashing'? (1)
    2. Name two ways to prevent it from happening?  (2)
  8. Explain file organisation with reference to directories and FAT.   (4)
  9. Most viruses are file infectors that spread from program to program and do damage to code, data and directories. A file virus infects executable files. 
    1. Name two other types of viruses and describe shortly what their aim is. (2) 
    2. How can one prevent viruses reaching a computer via the stiffy drive? (1)
    3. How can one prevent viruses reaching a computer via the Internet? (1)
    4. How can you make sure a computer system cannot be infected with a computer virus.    (1)
  10. Drivers:
    1. What is a driver? (1)
    2. Who supplies the drivers which are loaded onto the operating system for the different hardware components? (1)
    3. Name another type of system software (apart from the drivers) that plays an important role in enabling the computer to 'talk' to devices. (1)
  11. Processing:
    1. Briefly explain how it is possible to play music, download a file and type a word document all on the same computer at the same time.  (2)
    2. What is this technically known as?  (1)
    3. Do all operating systems allow this to happen?  Motivate your answer. (1)
  12. Explain the difference between sharing a folder containing the marks system of a school
    1. on a peer-to-peer network (1)
    2. on a server-based network (1)
  13. List three embedded operating systems and indicate where each is used.  (3)
  14. A computer which has been used for the last few months, creating, modifying and deleting files has become slower and slower. 
    1. What is wrong?   (1)
    2. What should be done to make it function faster? (1) 
  15. Briefly explain what the following careers in computers involves. (5)
    1. Computer technician 
    2. Computer engineer 
    3. A person with an A+ certificate
    4. A system analyst 
    5. A person with a MOUS certificate 

Question 4 - Data communication and networks - 40 marks    

  1. What is the difference between a LAN and a MAN?  (2)
  2. Describe four ways of protecting network resources. (Single word answers will not be sufficient to obtain marks.) (4)
  3. Describe four ways of protecting data in a computer system, i.e. stand alone or networked environment. (Single word answers will not be sufficient to obtain marks.)  (4)
  4. Provide a scenario where one would use a hub, repeater and a bridge.  Your answer must cover a real-life practical application of your own choice where such devices would be used.    (3)
  5. Give the difference between the following. (3)
    1. A digital signature. 
    2. A certificate authority. 
    3. A digital certificate.
  6. E-commerce is rapidly being implemented in the business world. Briefly describe (in a sentence or two) how the following is accomplished: 
    1. Find an undertaking on the Internet which trades in leather gloves. (2) 
    2. Order a pair of leather gloves from a company in South Africa. (2) 
    3. Pay for the gloves by means of the electronic transfer of funds. (2)

     

  7. COMPUSCARE is a company which is gradually increasing the usage of computers in their business. Every employee who submits a sound motivation is issued with a personal computer, peripherals and software of his or her choice for the executing of his or her duties. To date the company has installed 20 computers. Four are used for bookkeeping and six manage databases that do not differ much from one another. An integrated office suite has been installed on all the computers. 
    1. Write down four advantages that the installation of a local area network would offer this company. (4) 
    2. Name three possible network topologies that the company could choose. (3) 
    3. Name two advantages that a server-based network would offer in comparison to a peer-to-peer network. (2) 
    4. What must be installed in each existing personal computer to enable the computer to be connected to the network? (1) 
  8. ABC Stores have their head office and five branches in the suburbs of Cape Town. Each branch has its own manager and administrative personnel who are fully responsible for operating the branch. Each branch must report to the head office monthly. At each branch between 3 and 10 personal computers are used to process the data. Take these facts into consideration when answering the following questions. 
    1. What kind of area network will be found at each branch? (1) 
    2. What kind of area network will link the whole group of stores? (1) 
    3. At store A all 8 workstations are individually linked with a separate cable to a central hub. What kind topology is used here? (1) 
    4. At branch B the 5 personal computers are connected without using a hub. What kind of cable can link computers without using a hub - twisted pair cable or coaxial cable? (1) 
    5. At branch C the administrative office is situated approximately 150m from the shop. What kind of additional hardware (that is the cheapest) will be needed in the line for a network which covers such a distance? (1) 
    6. At branch D the only three personal computers and a laser printer are installed in the same room. Which unguided/unbound media will be used to link the nodes? (1) 
    7. At branch E an agent visits the clients by car to make deals. Explain briefly how this agent can store the transaction data continuously on the server at the branch. Which 
      1. hardware (name two) and (2) 
      2. connection media will be needed by the agent in his vehicle? (1) 
    8. Why would the use of a dial-up line instead of a dedicated line be sufficient to connect each branch with the head office? (Read the introduction to the question.) (1) 

This work may be freely copied for non-commercial use only. Copyright © Pam Miller.