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Computer Studies SG Grade 12 - 2004

Last updated 05 Sep 2004

Theory examination September 2004 - 90 minutes - 75 marks

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

Select the one answer to each question which you think is the correct or the best answer. Just write down the letter.

  1. You use ... to organise files on the hard disk. 
    1. Access 
    2. Internet Explorer 
    3. the control panel 
    4. Windows Explorer 
  2. Read Only Memory (ROM) ...
    1. contains the boot strap loader. 
    2. is mounted on the mother board. 
    3. is programmable. 
    4. is volatile. 
    1. (i) and (iv) 
    2. (i), (ii) and (iv) 
    3. (iii) and (iv) 
    4. (i) and (iii) 
  3. Compact disks are used as/to ...
    1. backup data. 
    2. primary memory. 
    3. save data which is too much to fit onto a single hard drive. 
    4. store data magnetically. 
  4. E-commerce refers to ...
    1. commercial trade between countries.
    2. illegal trading agreements. 
    3. shopping on the Internet. 
    4. the buying and selling of electronic equipment. 
  5. Which one of the following is NOT a crime? 
    1. A game which was bought legally is also installed on a friend's computer. 
    2. A hacker breaks into a system to show his skills, but does no damage to the system. 
    3. Cracker breaks into a system and obtains unauthorised information. 
    4. Shareware is downloaded from the Internet. 
  6. Which ONE of the following operating systems can read disks which use FAT, VFAT, NTFS or MPFS? 
    1. Linux 
    2. UNIX 
    3. Windows 98 
    4. Windows NT 
  7. If you receive a virus by means of e-mail the damage will only occur when the ...
    1. attachment is opened. 
    2. e-mail is downloaded. 
    3. e-mail is forwarded. 
    4. e-mail is read. 
  8. Which transmission medium is immune to interference and eavesdropping from outside the cable, has a low attenuation rate, is reliable and secure, but its installation is complex and it is difficult to maintain? 
    1. Coaxial cables 
    2. Fibre optic cables 
    3. Infrared cables
    4. Twisted pair cables 
  9. A certain firm has struggled for some time using standalone computers and can consequently not centralise their data processing. They understand the need to modernise and update their computer system. Whose help must be called in to do the planning? 
    1. Computer engineer 
    2. System analyst 
    3. System programmer 
    4. Technician 
  10. Software is integrated when it ...
    1. can be used on any computer.
    2. consists of a few applications designed to work in combination with one another. 
    3. consists of programmes stored on one compact disk. 
    4. is a program that was developed for the needs of a specific business only. 

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Question 2 - Matching columns - 1 each - 10 marks

Write down the letter of the item in Column B which best matches the description in Column A.

Column A Column B
  1. A combination of characters used in e-mail to express emotions e.g. :-) 
  2. A connector in a network that can execute intelligent route selections 
  3. A new instruction is read from memory before the instruction in process has been finished 
  4. A portable disk drive 
  5. A way in which data can be protected against being deleted 
  6. An electrical connection by means of which signals are transmitted from one component in a computer to another
  7. An instruction set that enables the processor to execute one instruction on multiple pieces of data and thus improve multimedia and graphic performances 
  8. Audible e-mail messages 
  9. The bar on the computer screen in Windows that indicates which windows are open/minimised 
  10. Units in which the speed of the processor is measured 
  1. Bus 
  2. Byte 
  3. Emoticons 
  4. Megabytes 
  5. Megahertz 
  6. MMX 
  7. Multitasking 
  8. Pipelining 
  9. RAID 
  10. RAM 
  11. Repeater 
  12. RISC 
  13. Stiffy 
  14. Switch 
  15. Taskbar 
  16. Toolbar 
  17. Virus 
  18. Voice mail 
  19. Zip drive

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Question 3 - Data communication - 16 marks

  1. Write the missing word in the following sentences next to the number of the question. 
    1. Two methods of communication in LANs are CSMA/CD and ... (1)
    2. When data cables are laid in the same channel as electric cables, ... interference can distort the signals. (1)
    3. Signals are transmitted either analogue or ... (1)
    4. A network has a star or a ring or a ... topology. (1)
  2. The following table is an attempt to show the difference between a client/server and a peer-to-peer network. Write only the numbers and the missing words in your answer book. 
Server-based LAN Peer-to-peer LAN
2. a. (Give an example of an operating system.) (1) Windows 98, Windows 2000 
Every computer is either a server or a 2.b. (1) Workstations are peers or equal.
The server provides all the services.  Workstations 2.c. (1) or 2.d. (1) services 
  1. User security is very important in any network. This is usually managed by allocating user rights and passwords. 
    1. Write down TWO recommendations in connection with passwords and their use. (2)
    2. Give TWO aspects in which the rights of users may differ. (2)
  2. Give TWO advantages of a computer network. (2)
  3. Name TWO functions of a network administrator. (2)

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Question 4 - Computer architecture and Systems software - 24 marks

Mary Taylor rents a flat from the City Council. If she finds that her flat needs repairs, she walks to the Council's local office, one of 45 around the city. There a clerk sits next to Mary at a desk containing nothing but a VDU and a keyboard. She explains her problem to the clerk who types her address on the keyboard and a fraction of a second later certain details of her flat appear on the screen. The clerk adds the details of the repairs that are necessary and the information is stored. Later that day in another office elsewhere in the city a computer printout informs the works department of the problem at Mary's flat. Within a few days the repairs should have been done. This computer is only one of about two hundred terminals all connected via telephone lines to a massive computer located near the city centre. All the data which the clerk needs to carry out her work is kept on disk drives on the central computer. 
  1. The clerk's most important input unit is the keyboard. Name TWO other input devices that the clerk might use and briefly explain why she might use them. (4)
  2. What file access method is being used to access the records contained in the housing file -- direct access or sequential access? Briefly motivate your answer. (3)
  3. Give TWO advantages and TWO disadvantage of the file access method that you gave as your answer to Question 2. (4)
  4. The computer gives the impression of doing several things at the same time. This computer uses a time-sharing operating system. How does the computer manage to give this impression? (3)
  5. The computer also has routine tasks to do, e.g. printing accounts or making backups. These tasks are done one after the other. Which type of operating system allows tasks to be done one after the other? (1)
  6. When the computer is busy with routine tasks, such as printing accounts, the output could be directed to an output file to be printed much later when the printer is not busy, possibly at night. What is the name of this process? (1)
  7. The Council has been using a fast dot-matrix printer for printing accounts each month. They now want to buy a good colour printer to print documents. They have to choose between a colour laser printer and a colour inkjet printer. Briefly outline TWO characteristics of a laser printer AND TWO characteristics of an inkjet printer so that the IT manager can make an informed decision. (4)
  8. The printer and the monitor are the most common output devices used by computers. Name TWO other output devices. (2)
  9. Name TWO hardware components that would influence the speed of a computer. (2)

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Question 5 - Social implications and careers - 15 marks

  1. With the development of voice activated computers or VlVOs (Voice in/voice out) it is possible that the written language will be phased out in future. Do you agree with this statement? Give THREE reasons for your answer. (3)
  2. Give TWO examples of where virtual reality is applied in today's information and communication technology. (2)
  3. Name TWO kinds of crime that are only connected to information and communications technology. (Theft of computers will, for example, not earn any marks.) (2)
  4. Computers form an essential part of today's banking. Give TWO examples where computers can help the man in the street with his transactions. (2)
  5. A computer school offers the following courses. In each case briefly explain what the course is about or why one would take the course.
    1. Pastel (1)
    2. Dreamweaver (1)
    3. A+ (1)
  6. What type of software was used by the hacker who hacked into a number of ABSA customer accounts in July 2003? (1)
  7. Name TWO companies that supply digital certificates. (2)

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