Cambridge University Press 2011

Hardware 3
Answers to Revision questions: 3 Hardware 1 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies
Below each answer there is a page reference for the coursebook. Tis is there to help you focus
your revision. If you fnd that you get an answer wrong, you can use this guide to return to the
coursebook to revise the areas that need some extra attention. Please note these are example
answers only and do not represent the only possible answers.
1
See Chapter 3 as a whole.
2 a Tis is an example of magnetic ink characters. Tey are read by a magnetic ink character
recognition reader (MICR).
b Tis is an example of a barcode. It is read by a barcode reader.
c Tis is an example of a specialised form for data collection by optical mark recognition. It is
read by an optical mark reader (OMR).
See Devices and methods for automatic data capture on page 60.
3 a A mouse is an input device.
b A monitor is an output device.
c A plotter is an output device.
d A speaker is an output device.
e A keyboard is an input device.
f A scanner is an input device.
See Input devices and their uses on page 49 and Output devices and their uses on page 71.
4 a A barcode reader is used at a supermarket checkout to fnd the price for an item by reading
the data stored in the items barcode.
b A magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader is used in a bank to process cheques. Te
cheque number, bank sort code and account number are printed in magnetic ink so the MICR
reader automatically enters them into the system. Te operator has to enter the amount.
c An optical mark reader (OMR) is used to mark multiple-choice exam papers.
See Devices and methods for automatic data capture on page 60.
D. keyboard input
C. computer storage and processor
E. telephone communications
A. monitor screen output
B. printer output
Cambridge University Press 2011 Answers to Revision questions: 3 Hardware 2 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies
5 Words can be input to a computer using a microphone with voice recognition sofware and
using a scanner with optical character recognition sofware (OCR).
See Sound and music capture devices on page 58 and Devices and
methods for automatic data capture on page 60.
6 A mouse is used on a desktop computer. A touchpad is used on a laptop. A touchscreen is used
in a kiosk (e.g. a ticket machine in a train station or airport).
See Manual input devices on page 49.
7 An ATM machine uses a numeric keypad and buttons at the side of the screen. It may also use a
touchscreen for some buttons.
See Manual input devices on page 49.
8 Temperature, pressure and humidity sensors can be used to input data in a control application.
See Sensors on page 66.
9 Backing storage is a long-term non-volatile storage that stores programs and data for future use.
Computers need backing storage so that programs and data can be stored afer the power has been
switched of.
See Backing storage on page 81.
10 a Magnetic tapes could be used to store large amounts of data where speed of access is
notimportant.
b Magnetic tapes can be used in batch-processing applications, such as payroll and utility billing.
c Magnetic tapes provide serial data access.
See Magnetic storage media on page 82.
11 A DVD drive uses a more precise laser and can ft more data on the disc than a CD, but DVD
drives and media are more expensive than CD drives and media.
Similarly, Blu-ray discs store more data and are more expensive than DVD media.
Recordable media cost more to produce than ROM discs, but allow the user to archive large
amounts of data. Re-writable media are even more expensive, but allow the user to record many
times on the same disc.
See Optical storage media on page 84.
12 A backup is a copy of data. It is needed to recover data if the working medium becomes
corrupted or damaged.
See page 84.
13 a ROM stands for read-only memory.
b RAM stands for random access memory.
c RAM is volatile storage and ROM is non-volatile storage. Data in RAM disappears when
a computer is switched of it holds programs and data that are being worked on. Data in
ROM cannot be changed afer manufacture it holds the computers boot information.
d Complete the following statements with RAM, ROM or backing storage:
i Backing storage stores a copy of your work when the computer is switched of.
ii RAM stores application programs and data while the computer is running.
iii ROM stores programs that must be available as soon as the computer is switched on.
See Internal memory and storage devices and their uses on page 79.
Cambridge University Press 2011 Answers to Revision questions: 3 Hardware 3 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies
14 Complete the following sentences by using the correct words from this list:
eight gigabytes memory RAM
a A byte is a unit of computer memory and it consists of eight bits.
b A school computer may have two gigabytes of RAM.
See Measuring the size of memory on page 80.
15 Indicate which of the following statements are true or false:
a ROM stands for Read-Only Memory TRUE.
b Data can be saved in ROM FALSE.
c Te internal memory of a computer can store sofware and data TRUE.
d Data that changes is normally held in ROM FALSE.
e Data on magnetic tape has to be read serially TRUE.
f An airline booking system would probably use hard disk drive as backing storage TRUE.
g A CD-ROM is an optical disk TRUE.
See Internal memory and storage devices and their uses on page 79.