GUIDE TO THE TOPICAL QUESTIONS FOR ICT

PAPER 1
Input hardware Output hardware Storage hardware Processing hardware

 Key board  Monitor  Flash  processor

memory
 Trackball  Projector  Magnetic 
tape
 Interactive  Interactive  Optical discs 
white board white board
 Optical  Plotter  Floppy disc 
scanner zip disc
 Jaz disc
 Mouse  Touch screen  
 Touch pad  Printer  
 Touchscreen  Fax machine  
 QMR  Large format  
printer
 Fax machine  Head phones  
 Magnetic  Terminal  
stripe reader
 QCR  Multifunction  
device
 Barcode   
reader
 QR code   
reader
 Light plan   
 Terminal   
 MICR   
 Multifunction   
device
 Dictaphone   
a) In the above list, select five devices that can be used to both input data and out
information
 Interactive white board
 Touch screen
 Fax machine
 Terminal

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  Multi-function device
b) Give the function and application for each of the following devices
I. OMR: is a device that reads pencil marks and convert them into computer
usable form before entering them into the computer. It’s used read
questionnaires, multiple choice examination papers
II. OCR: is a device that enables a computer to recognize written or printed
characters. It is used in utility bills and price tags on department al store
merchandise
III. MICR: is a device used to read the special magnetic ink that banks use to print
details on the bottom of cheques. It is used to process cheques in banking
operations.
IV. Barcode reader: is a hand-held input device used to capture and read
information contained in a barcode. It is used in supermarkets, bookshops,
medical stores and departmental stores
1) a) outline the two major classification of printers giving three examples of printers
under each
 Impact printers: are printers that produce a hard copy with the print heads
physically touching the print media

examples of impact printers: dot matrix printer, daisy wheel printer. Line printer

 non-impact printer: are priers that produce a hard copy out put without the
print head touching the [Link].

examples of non -impact printer are: laser jet printer, inkjet printer, thermal printer

Give three merits and demerits of each of the above mentioned printer classification

Impact printers
Merits/advantages Demerits/disadvantages
 They are relatively cheap  They are generally noisy
 They can withstand dirty  They are relatively slow
environment
 They can make multiple copies  They produce a poor quality
with multipart paper out put

Non-impact printers
Advantages/ merits Demerits/disadvantages
 They are generally quiet during printing  They are very expensive to buy
 They are relatively fast during printing  There are high maintenance costs
 They produce high quality output 

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2) Define the following memories
a. RAM (random access memory): is the working area during the processing of
data. Ram is temporary, voltage, volatile, can read and write in it, it can also be
changed or increased.
b. ROM (read only memory): it contains the BIOS (basic input/output system),
which is a sequence of instructions the computer follows to load the operating
system and other files when the computer is on. Rom is non-violate, can only
be read and the information stored in it is permanent
c. CMOS memory: is a memory chip that stores configuration information about
the computer. It uses the battery power to retain information about the
computer is off. Some of the configuration information stored in CMOS
memory include: current date and time, amount of ram installed, type of
memory that stores frequently used files and application programs.
d. Butter memory: is a RAM component that is used for temporary storage of data
waiting to be sent to a device. Cache memory: is a type memory that stores
frequently used files and application programs.
e. Virtual memory: is a section of volatile memory created temporarily on the
available permanent storage medium (hard disc)
f. Storage medium: refers to the physical equipment that stores data or
information. Examples of storage media: compact disc, hard disc, floppy disc,
magnetic tape etc.
g. Storage device: is a device that records and retrieves data or information to and
from a storage medium. Examples of storage devices; DVD/CD drive, hard disc
drive, floppy disc drive, magnetic tape drive etc. iii) memory: is a temporary
area for holding data, instructions, and information.
h. Reading: is the process of transferring data, instructions, and information from
a storage medium into memory.
i. Writing: is the process of transferring data, instructions, and information from
memory to a storage medium
j. Access time: is the amount of time it takes a storage device to locate an item on
a medium
k. Spooling: is the process of putting tasks that need to be into a butter until they
can be executed.
l. Distinguish between
i. Sequential access and Random access methods of accessing data on
storage media.
ii. In Sequential Access, records are stored one after the other and, in order
to access a record, the computer has to go through all the previous

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 records while in Random access, records are also stored one after stored
one after the other but each record can be accessed directly.
iii. EBCDIC and ASII coding schemes
iv. EBCDIC (external binary code decimal interchange code) uses eight-bit
codes to encode every symbol

2. while ASCII (American standard code for information interchange) uses 7 bits to encode every
symbol

a. with examples, explain four categories of secondary storage media

I. Magnetic storage media: store data in the form of tiny magnetized dots. Examples of
magnetic storage media; fixed hard discs, potable hard disc, magnetic tapes, floppy
discs, zip disk, Jaz disks etc.
II. Optical storage devices: store data as patterns of dots that can be read using light.
Examples of optical storage media; CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, blue ray, HD0DVD, CD-R/DVDR/,
CD-RW/DVD-RW etc.
III. Solid state storage media: are based on electronic circuits with no moving parts. They
store data using a special type of memory stick/flash disc, memory cards, smart cards
etc.
IV. Online storage/cloud storage: refers to the practice of storing data on remote servers
accessed via the internet, or iCloud. examples of cloud storage service providers;
Dropbox, Google drive, Onedrive, iCloud, NextCloud, SpiderOak, Idrive, pCloud
a) Define a CPU

A CPU is the electronic device that interprets and carries out the instructions that tell the
computer how to work.

Give three types of CPU

AMD processors

Intel processors

ARM processors

Outline the three major components of the CPU giving the function of each

Control unit (CU): controls the operations of all parts of the computer

Arithmetic logical unit (ALU): performs the arithmetic, comparison, and logical operations

Registers: are high speed temporary memory locations for holding and instructions

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State four functions of a CPU
executes stored instructions

Tells the rest of the computer system what to do

Executes arithmetic calculation and data manipulation

Holds data and instruction which are in the current use

4) A) what is a machine cycle?

These are steps performed by the computer processor for each machine language
instruction received

b) State and explain the four major operations of the machine cycle (CPU)

Fetch: involves retrieving a program instruction or data item from memory

Decode: involves translating the fetched instruction into commands that the computer
understands

Execute: involves carrying out the commands

Storage: involves sending and writing the results of execution back into memory

7 A) write short notes on the following

System unit: is the enclosure for all the other main interior components of a computer

Motherboard: is a printed circuit board which acts as the main plat form for communication
between all other components of a system

Power supply unit: converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) to run the
internal components of a computer

Expansion slot: is a socket on the mother board