CXC IT JUNE 2003 TECHNICAL AND GENERAL PROFICIENCIES ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS SECTION 1 -37 marks 1.

(a) (b) List TWO advantages of secondary storage for long term storage of data, as compared to using the computers main memory. (2 marks) (i) (ii) (c) (d) Identify TWO input devices that are regularly used at Point-OfSale terminals, and briefly describe how they function. (2 marks) List TWO locations at which Point-Of-Sale terminals are helpful. (2) (2 marks)

Explain the difference between data and information.

State 1 similarity in the operation of Optical Mark Readers and bar codes. (1 ) Total 9 marks 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) In handling diskettes, one precaution is Keep diskettes away from liquids. Give THREE further precautions to be taken in the handling of diskettes. (3 marks) 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

2.

(a)

(b) (c)

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 computer must 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.

(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 divided into 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) (b) (c) (d) (e)

With regard to storage, what is the difference between a byte and a word? (2 marks) Explain the difference between odd parity and even parity. (2 marks) With respect to information being read from a hard disk, what is the purpose of a BUFFER? (1 mark) Suggest ONE use for which a DVD is more suitable than a CD. (1 mark) The information contained in ROM (Read Only Memory) cannot be changed. What is the purpose of ROM? (1 mark) Total 7 marks

5.

(a) (b)

Explain briefly what is meant by the resolution of a visual display unit (2 marks) What is (i) point-to-point transmission (1 mark) (ii) (iii) a voice response unit (1 mark) a bulletin board. (1 mark)

6.

Total 5 marks The eight-bit representation of the decimal number 25 is 00011001. (a) (b) (c) (d) What is the twos complement representation of NEGATIVE 25? (1 mark) What are the sign and magnitude representations of NEGATIVE 25? (1 mark) What is the decimal equivalent of 00110111? (1 mark) The ASCII representation of H is 01001000. what is the ASCII representation of D? (1 mark)

Total 4 marks

SECTION 2 -23 marks 7. The list contains hardware and software aspects of interface. Which of these are hardware aspects? (a) (d) Command line Pull-down menus (b) (e) Touch screen Start button (c) (f) Icons Status bar

Total 2 marks 8. (a) (b) (c) (d) How can an expert system be of value to a doctor? (1 mark) List TWO obstacles to be overcome before natural-language programming could become part of everyday life. (2 marks) Robots replace humans. Give TWO advantages of using robots. (4 marks) 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) (b) (c) (d) (e) 10. (a) (b) (c) Internet Relay Chat (1 mark) A synthesizer (1 mark) Videotext (1 mark) A web browser (1 mark) Archiving (1 mark) Total 5 marks What is the difference between a web page and a web site? (1 mark) List THREE responsibilities of a systems analyst. (3 marks) (i) Briefly explain the difference between data integrity and data security. (2 marks)

(ii)

Outline ONE method of ensuring the integrity of the data. (1 mark) Total 7 marks

THIS SECTION IS FOR TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY CANDIDATES ONLY. SECTION 3 -30marks PROGRAMMING ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS 11. Write one algorithm using pseudocode to do the following sequence of tasks: (a) (b) (c) (d) Read in the values of the two numbers. Find the product of the two numbers. Find the sum of the two numbers. Check whether the product is bigger If the product is bigger, it must print a message to say so, and if the product is not bigger it must print a message saying that the product is not bigger. Total 7 marks 12. 13. 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) Consider the following routine: INPUT X, Y Z=X*X+Y*Y PRINT 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) (b) How is object code obtained from source code? (1 mark) Briefly explain the difference between source code and object code. (2 marks) Total 3 marks 15. Consider the following code: INPUT A, B DO

A = A+ B B=B1 LOOP 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), to do the following: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Announce (with a printed statement) that it will find the volumes of sets of boxes. Ask how many boxes there are. For EACH box, ask for the length, width, and height. 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

THIS SECTION IS FOR GENERAL PROFICIENCY CANDIDATES ONLY. SECTION 4 30 marks PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS 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 be moved, and ONE way of removing the selected text from its position. (2 marks) Your word-processing package assumes a paper size of 8 1/2 by 11. Describe the 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) What is the difference between fully justified text and centered text? (2 marks) 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) Give TWO reasons why it is better to apply page numbering than to manually type the page number at the bottom of every page. (2 marks) 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. C D E F G Overtime Overtime Overtime Gross Tax Hours rate pay pay Rate John 1000 20 30 25% Mary 1200 15 20 30% Jim 1200 20 20 25% 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 A Name B Salary H Tax Paid I Net Pay

(b)

(c) (d) (e) (f)

1 2 3 4 5

 (c) (d)

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)

What is the formula for cell F5? (1 mark) Assuming all the required formulae were in place, up to and including Column 1 and the Totals row, which cells would be affected by a change in the value of Johns salary? (2 marks) Which of the columns A to I should have their numbers formatted as currency? (1 mark) In column J you are to express each persons net pay as a PERCENTAGE of the total 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

(e) (f)

19.

The following questions relate to Databases: Consider the following table: Number 12-da 22-cm 31-ma 44-md Name Antacid Liquid Cough Mixture Insect Killer Sleeping Tabs Content 1.2 0.3 2.5 1.0 Stock 20 40 20 15 Expiry Feb 3, 2004 Feb 5, 2003 Feb 10, 2005 Feb 5, 2004 Type Non-Prescription Non-Prescription Poison 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 Number Name

Field Type

Field Size

Content Stock Expiry Type (b) A data entry form allows you to use clearer wording in place of the field name, to make clear to the operator what values must be entered. In your form design, you should 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 Expiry In 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