COMPUTER STUDIES
PAPER
(THEORY)
OCT./NOV. 2003
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
This paper consists of two sections’ A and B.
Answer All the questions in section A
Answer question 16 and an other three questions from section B
All answers should be written in the spaces provided on the question paper
SECTION A (40 MARKS)
Answer all the questions in this section
1. Computer systems are built from three types of physical components:
processors, memories and 1/O devices.
a) State two tasks of a processor (2 mks)
b) State function of 1/O devices (1 mk)
2. Threats to the safety of computer systems take many forms such as: white-collar
crime, natural disasters, vandalism and careless ness.
Give on way as to how each of these forms of threats can be controlled.
(2 mks)
3. a) Explain the term nibbles as used in data representation in computers
b) Perform the following binary arithmetic giving the answers in
decimal notation. (3 mks)
i) 1110.01111 + 11010001 .011
ii) 1001011.011 - 111.111
2 a) Distinguish between machine and assembly language (2mks)
b) State the type of translator necessary for a program written in: (2mks)
i) High level language
ii) Assembly language
5. Briefly explain the purpose of the following types of program documentation:
(3mks)
a) User manual
b) Reference guide
c) Quick reference guide
6. State any two features of a user-friendly program. (2mks)
1
7 a) Distinguish between labels and formulae with respect to spreadsheets
(2mks)
b) Consider the entries in the cells below.
Entry
State the value displayed in cell C13 (2 mks)
8. List three differences between wide area Networks (WAN) and Local
Area Networks (LAN)
(3mks)
2
9. Study the flowchart segment below and state the last value printed from
the flowchart. (2 mks)
K=1
K=K+1
M [K] =10
Print M [K]
K>5
YES
NO
EXIT
10. a) What is an expert system (1mk)
b) State any two components of an expert system (2mks)
11. Give two reasons why optical disks are better storage media compared to floppy
diskettes (2mks)
12. What are the Dos commands used for the following? (2mks)
a) Changing directories
b) Viewing directories
c) Renaming directories
d) Deleting a directory
13. Distinguish between copying and moving text (2mks)
14. a) Name two methods of paper orientation (1mk)
b) Name two keys used to delete text in a document (1 mk)
15. Name two features a Database package (2mks)
3
SECTION B (60 MKS)
Answer question and any other three questions from this section
16. Study the flowchart below and answer the questions that follow.
a) Write a high-level language program for the above flowchart (7mks)
b) List the outputs of the flowchart above (5 mks)
c) Modify the flowchart so that it adds up all its outputs and displays the
sum obtained (3mks)
17. A computer specification has the following details:
Pentium II
1.44 MB floppy disk drive 20 GB
hard disk
Full multimedia 17”
SVGA monitor
Pre-installed operating system Pre-
installed office suite
a) What is meant by
i) 1.44 MB floppy disk drive?
ii) 20 GB hard disk?
iii) 17” SVGA monitor
4
b) Which operating system might be pre-installed in this computer and
why?
(2mks)
c) List three multimedia components (3
mks)
d) i) what is meant by computer aided manufacture? (2
mks)
ii) Give two examples of computer aided design software.
(2mks)
18. a) Give three examples of network software
b) List any three items that may be referred to as data
terminal equipment in a network
c) Briefly explain the following terms as used in networking (4mks)
i) Remote communication
ii) Distributed processing
d) State three advantages and two disadvantages of mesh network topology.
(5mks)
19. a) a company has decided to computerize their operations.
They have decided to purchase package instead of
developing their own programs. Give three advantages
and two disadvantages of this approach.
(5mks)
b) i) explain why a value such as 611233444555 may be
displayed as ######### When typed in a cell of a
spreadsheet
ii) How can the problem in b (i) above be corrected? (2mks)
c) With reasons, briefly describe the most appropriate type
of printer output device for the output of:
(6mks)
i) Customer invoices on multi-part stationery
ii) Letters to customers
iii) Detailed engineering designs
20. a) Distinguish between the following pair of terms (6mks)
i) Data verification and data validation
ii) Data encryption and passwords
iii) Dry run and walk through
b) Draw a labeled diagram to illustrate the internal structure of a diskette.
(4mks)
5
c) Give two differences between post office mail and electronic mail
(E-mail) (2mks)
d) Speed and accuracy are some of the advantages of
using computers in banking. State three other
advantages of use of computers in banking.
(3mks)