2.2.1. Programming Techniques PhysicsAndMathsTutor.

com

1. A programmer is designing a program that will store data.

The programmer is deciding whether to store the data in a stack or a queue.

The pseudocode function, enqueue, inserts an item into a queue.

01 function enqueue(item)
02 if tailPointer >= [Link] then
03 return false
04 else
05 queue[tailPointer] = item
06 tailPointer = tailPointer + 1
07 return true
08 endif
09 endfunction

i. Give the name of the parameter in the function enqueue.

[1]

ii. Give the name of one global variable that is used in the function enqueue.

[1]

iii. Describe one benefit and one drawback of using global variables instead of parameter passing in a
subroutine.

Benefit

Drawback

[4]

iv. The function enqueue can be called by the main program.

Explain why the function enqueue returns true or false values, and how this can be used by the main
program that calls the function.

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

v. The pseudocode function, dequeue, removes and returns the first item in the queue. If the queue is
empty, the function returns the string "EMPTY".

01 function dequeue(data)
02 if headPointer != tailPointer then
03 return "EMPTY"
04 elseif
05 value = queue[headPointer]
06 return value
07 headPointer = headPointer + 1
08 endif
09 endfunction

The function dequeue has several errors.

Identify the line number of any three errors and state the correction required.

Error 1 Line Number

Error 1 Correction

Error 2 Line Number

Error 2 Correction

Error 3 Line Number

Error 3 Correction
[3]

vi. The programmer has corrected all of the errors in the function dequeue.

The main program repeatedly calls the function dequeue until all of the elements in the queue have been
output.

Write the main program using pseudocode or program code.

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

2(a). A game is being written that makes use of object-oriented programming. A prototype for one part of the
game is being designed that includes a character, a road and a prize to collect.

The road will have 50 spaces that a character can move along. Each space on the road will store a null value or
a prize object for the user to collect. Each space is numbered sequentially from the first space (position 0) to the
last space (position 49) and will not change during the game. As the player travels down the road, the position
the player is on the road will be output.

The road is designed to be a 1-dimensional array with the identifier road.

Explain why an array is a suitable data structure to represent the road.

[3]

(b). The characters and prizes are designed as separate classes. 10 of the spaces on the road will contain an
instance of the class Prize. The other spaces will be empty.

The class design for Prize is here.

class: Prize
attributes:
private name : string
private type : string
private value : integer
methods:
new()
getName()
getType()
getValue()

new() is the constructor method. The name, type and value are passed to the constructor as parameters which
then assigns these to the attributes.

i. The method getName() returns the data in the attribute name.

Write the method getName() using pseudocode or program code.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

ii. A global 1-dimensional array, allPrizes, stores 10 objects of type Prize.

The prize in index 3 has the name “Box”, the type is “money” and the value is 25.

Write pseudocode or program code to create a new object for this prize and store it in index 3 of
allPrizes.

[3]

iii. The game starts with 10 prizes. Each prize is allocated to one space on the road.

An algorithm needs designing that will generate a random space on the road for each prize. Each road
space can only store one prize.

Describe the decisions that will need to be made in this algorithm and how these will affect the program
flow.

[3]

(c). The class design for Character is here.

class: Character
attributes:
private name : string
private money : integer
private experience : integer
private roadPosition : integer
methods:
new()
getName()
getMoney()
getExperience()
getRoadPosition()
changePosition()
updateValues()

The four get methods return the associated attribute.

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

The number of moves is passed to changePosition() as a parameter. The method adds this value to the
character’s position on the road.

The type and value of an object are passed to updateValues() as parameters. If the object is money the value
is added to the character’s money. If the type is experience the value is added to experience. If the type is
neither money or experience no changes are made.

i. new() is the constructor method. The name of the character is passed into the constructor as a
parameter. The constructor then initialises both the experience and road position of the character to 0
and initialises the amount of money to 5.

Write the constructor method for Character using either pseudocode or program code.

You do not need to declare the class, the attributes or any other methods.

[5]

ii. The type and value of a prize are passed as parameters to the method updateValues. If the type is
money the value is added to the character’s money. If the type is experience then the value is added to
the experience. If the type is neither money or experience no changes are made.

For example, for the Character player1:

[Link]("money",10) updates player1’s money by 10

[Link]("experience",5) updates player1’s experience by 5

[Link]("foo",9) has no effect on player1.

Write pseudocode or program code for the method updateValues().

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[5]

(d). This incomplete pseudocode algorithm:

• creates a new character with the name Jamal

• loops until the character reaches the end of the road
• generates a random number of spaces to move between 1 and 4 (including 1 and 4)
• moves the character and checks if the new space has a prize
• updates the character attributes if there is a prize
• outputs the character’s new attribute values.

Complete the pseudocode algorithm.

character1 = new ................................. ("Jamal")

newPosition = 0
while newPosition < .................................
move = random(1, 4) /this will generate a random number between 1 and 4
[Link](move)
newPosition = [Link]()
if newPosition < 50 and road[...............................] != null then
prizeType = road[newPosition].getType()
valueAmount = road[newPosition].getValue()
[Link](.........................., valueAmount)
print("Congratulations you are in position", newPosition, "and found",
road[newPosition].getName())
print("Money =", [Link](), "and experience =",
character1. ...................... ())
endif
.......................
print("You reached the end of the road")
[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(e). The procedure displayRoad() outputs the contents of each space in the road. The number of each space
is output with either:

• the word “empty” if there is no prize

• the name of the prize if there is a prize.

01 procedure displayRoad()
02 for x = 0 to 60
03 print("Space", y)
04 if road[x] == null then
05 print("empty")
06 elseif
07 print(road[x].getValue())
08 endif
09 next x
10 endprocedure

The algorithm contains errors.

Give the line number of four different errors and write the corrected line for each error.

Error 1

Error line 1

Correction

Error 2

Error line 2

Correction

Error 3

Error line 3

Correction

Error 4

Error line 4

Correction
[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(f). A programmer is going to create a prototype for one small part of the game. Both road and allPrizes will
be needed throughout the whole prototype. The programmer is considering making these global arrays as she
thinks it will reduce the development time. Another programmer has suggested that doing this may create some
problems when the rest of the game is created at a later stage.

Compare the use of global and local variables in this program.

You should include the following in your answer:

• the use of local and global variables

• alternative methods to using global variables
• the appropriateness of each to this program design.

[9]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

3(a). A student has written this pseudocode algorithm:

01 a = 12
02 do
03 b = input("Enter a number")
04 until b >= 0 and b <= 100
05 for c = 1 to a
06 print(c * a)
07 next c

Rewrite lines 05 to 07 to use a while loop instead of a for loop.

You should write your answer using either program code or pseudocode.

[4]

(b). The program uses variables.

i. Describe what is meant by a variable.

[2]

ii. Give the identifiers of all the variables used in this program.

[1]

(c). The student has used a do loop on line 02.

Describe the difference between a do loop and a while loop.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

4(a). A text-based computer game allows a user to dig for treasure on an island. The island is designed as a grid
with 10 rows and 20 columns to store the treasure. Each square is given an x and y coordinate. Some of the
squares in the grid store the name of a treasure object. Each treasure object has a value, e.g. 100 and a level,
e.g. "Bronze."

A class, Board, is used to store the 10 row (x coordinate) by 20 column (y coordinate) grid.

The design for the Board class, its attributes and methods is shown here.

class: Board
attributes:
private grid : Array of Treasure
methods:
new()
function getGridItem(x, y)
function setGridItem(x, y, treasureToInsert)

The constructor initialises each space in the grid to a treasure object with value as -1 and level as an empty
string.

Complete the following pseudocode for the constructor method.

public procedure new()

for row = ............................. to 9
for column = 0 to .............................
............................. [row, column] = new
Treasure(.............................,"")
next .............................
next row
endprocedure
[5]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). A procedure, guessGrid():

• takes a Board object as a parameter

• accepts the row (x) and column (y) coordinates from the user
• outputs "No treasure" if there is no treasure found at the coordinate (level is an empty string)
if there is treasure at that coordinate, it outputs the level and the value of the treasure in an appropriate
•
message.

Write the procedure guessGrid() using either pseudocode or program code.

[7]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(c). The main program initialises a new instance of Board. The programmer is considering declaring this as a
global variable or as a local variable and then passing this into the subroutines that control the game.

Compare the use of variables and parameters in this game.

You should include the following in your answer:

• what is meant by a local variable and global variable

• how local and global variables can be used in this program
• the use of passing parameters by value and by reference.

[9]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

5. A programmer has designed a program that includes a reusable program component.

The reusable program component is a function called isInteger(). This will take a string as an argument and
then check that each digit is between 0 and 9. For example if 103 is input, it will check that the digits 1, 0 and 3
are each between 0 and 9.

The asc() function returns the ASCII value of each digit. For example asc("1") returns 49.

The ASCII value for 0 is 48. The ASCII value for 9 is 57.

01 function isInteger(number)
02 result = true
03 for count = 0 to [Link]-1
04 asciiValue = asc([Link](count, 1))
05 if not(asciiValue >= 48 and asciiValue <= 57) then
06 result = false
07 endif
08 next count
09 return result
10 endfunction

i. Identify one identifier used in the function isInteger().

[1]

ii. Give the line number where the branching (selection) construct starts in the function isInteger().

[1]

iii. Give the line number where the iteration construct starts in the function isInteger().

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

6. A recursive pseudocode function, recursiveAlgorithm(), is shown.

01 function recursiveAlgorithm(value)
02 if value <= 0 then
03 return 1
04 elseif value MOD 2 = 0 then
05 return value + recursiveAlgorithm(value – 3)
06 else
07 return value + recursiveAlgorithm(value – 1)
08 endif
09 endfunction

Describe the key features of a recursive algorithm.

You may refer to the function, recursiveAlgorithm() in your answer.

[3]

7. A programmer uses an Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

Complete the table by identifying and describing three IDE features that can help the programmer to develop, or
debug a program.

IDE feature Description

[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

8. Layla writes a pseudocode algorithm to:

• input 20 positive numbers into a 0-indexed 1-dimensional array

• output the average (mean) number as a decimal
• output the smallest number
• output the largest number.

The pseudocode algorithm is shown. It contains various errors.

01 total = 1
02 smallest = 9999
03 largest = -1
04 for x = 0 to 21
05 dataArray[x] = input("Enter a number")
06 total = total + dataArray[x]
07 if dataArray[x] < largest then
08 largest = dataArray[x]
09 endif
10 if dataArray[x] < smallest then
11 smallest = dataArray[x]
12 endif
13 next x
14 print("Average = " + total * 20)
15 print("Smallest = " + smallest)
16 print("Largest = " + largest)

dataArray is defined as a local variable within the main program.

i. State what is meant by a ‘local variable’.

[1]

ii. Give one benefit and one drawback of declaring dataArray as a local variable in the main program.

Benefit

Drawback

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

9. A programmer has designed a program that includes a reusable program component.

Describe the purpose of the following lines in the function isInteger().

Line 03

Line 04

Line 09

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

10. Nina is writing a computer game using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Her friend, James, is
writing a computer game using a text-editor which will allow James to create and edit text. James will use a
separate compiler.

Discuss the differences between writing and debugging a program using an IDE and a text-editor.

You should include the following in your answer:

• features that are used when writing code

• features that are used when debugging code
• the benefits of using an IDE instead of a text-editor.

[9]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

11(a). A function, toBinary(), is needed to calculate the binary value of a denary integer between 0 and 255.

toBinary() needs to:

• take an integer value as a parameter

• divide the number by 2 repeatedly, storing a 1 if it has a remainder and a 0 if it doesn’t
• combine the remainder values (first to last running right to left) to create the binary number
• return the binary number.

For example, to convert 25 to a binary number the steps are as follows:

25 / 2 = 12 remainder 1
12 / 2 = 6 remainder 0
6/2=3 remainder 0
3/2=1 remainder 1
1/2=0 remainder 1

return value = 11001

Write the function toBinary().

You should write your function using pseudocode or program code.

[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). The main program:

• asks the user to enter a denary number between 1 and 255

• checks that the input is valid between 1 and 255
• If valid call the function toBinary() and pass the input as a parameter
• outputs the return value
• If not valid, repeatedly asks the user to input a number until the number is valid.

Write the algorithm for the main program.

You should write your algorithm using pseudocode or program code.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

12(a). Layla writes a pseudocode algorithm to:

• input 20 positive numbers into a 0-indexed 1-dimensional array

• output the average (mean) number as a decimal
• output the smallest number
• output the largest number.

The pseudocode algorithm is shown. It contains various errors.

01 total = 1
02 smallest = 9999
03 largest = -1
04 for x = 0 to 21
05 dataArray[x] = input("Enter a number")
06 total = total + dataArray[x]
07 if dataArray[x] < largest then
08 largest = dataArray[x]
09 endif
10 if dataArray[x] < smallest then
11 smallest = dataArray[x]
12 endif
13 next x
14 print("Average = " + total * 20)
15 print("Smallest = " + smallest)
16 print("Largest = " + largest)

i. Identify the construct used on lines 01 to 03 in the algorithm.

[1]

ii. Identify the construct used on lines 10 to 12 in the algorithm.

[1]

(b). Identify two variables used in this algorithm.

2
[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(c). The algorithm that Layla has written has many errors.

Identify the line number of four different errors and write the corrected line of code.

Error 1 line number ......................

Error 1 correction

Error 2 line number ......................

Error 2 correction

Error 3 line number ......................

Error 3 correction

Error 4 line number ......................

Error 4 correction
[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

13(a). A card game uses a set of 52 standard playing cards. There are four suits; hearts, diamonds, clubs and
spades. Each suit has a card with a number from; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

The card game randomly gives 2 players 7 cards each. The unallocated cards become known as the deck.

The players then take it in turns to turn over a card. A valid move is a card of the same suit or the same number
as the last card played.

The winner is the first player to play all of their cards.

A function, checkValid(), takes the card the player has selected, and the last card played as parameters.

It returns true if the player’s move is valid and returns false if the player’s move is not valid.

i. State the reason why checkValid() is a function and not a procedure.

[1]

ii. The programmer will use a branching (selection) construct to make decisions.

Describe the decisions that will be made in the checkValid() function and how these change the return
values.

[3]

(b). The cards are held in the 2D array cards. The first index stores the card number and the second index
stores the suit, both as strings.

Write a pseudocode statement or program code to declare the array cards.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

14(a). A program uses the recursive function calculate(). The function is written in pseudocode.

1. function calculate(number : byVal)

2. if number == 1 then
3. return number
4. else
5. return number + calculate (number - 1)
6. endif
7. endfunction

i. Give the line number in the algorithm calculate() where a recursive call is made.

[1]

ii. State two features of any recursive algorithm.

Feature 1

Feature 2

[2]

(b). Trace the recursive function calculate() and give the final return value, when the following function call is
run:

calculate(5)

You may choose to use the table below to give your answer.
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

Function call number return

calculate(5)

[5]

(c). Give the pseudocode function call that would return 55 from the recursive function calculate().

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

15(a). A computer uses a stack data structure, implemented using an array, to store numbers entered by the
user.

The array is zero based and has 100 locations.

Fig. 8 shows the current contents of the stack and the first 9 locations of the array.

Fig. 8

i. The function pop() removes an item from the stack.

The function push() adds an item to the stack that is passed in as a parameter.

Show the contents of the stack and pointer from Fig. 8 after the following subroutines calls have run.

pop()
pop()
push(3)
push(6)
push(7)

[2]

ii. State the purpose of pointerValue.

[1
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). The stack is programmed as an object using object-oriented programming. The design for the class, its
attributes and methods are shown:

class: stack
attributes:
private stackArray : Array of integer
private pointerValue : integer
methods:
new()
function pop()
function push(value)

i. The method pop() returns the next value in the stack, or –1 if the stack is empty.

Complete the pseudocode method pop().

public function pop()

if pointerValue == .............................................. then
return ...............................................
else
pointerValue = pointerValue ...........................................
returnValue = stackArray[...............................................]
return ..................................................
endif
endfunction

[5]

ii. The method push() accepts an integer as a parameter and adds it to the top of the stack unless the stack
is already full.

If the push is successful the method returns true.

If the push is unsuccessful due to the stack being full the method returns false.

Write the method push() using either pseudocode or program code.

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[6]

iii. The main program initialises a new object of type stack with the identifier mathsStack.

Write pseudocode or program code to declare the object.

[2]

iv. The main program needs to:

• take numbers as input from the user

• push them onto the stack mathsStack until the stack is full
• output an appropriate message if the stack is full.

Complete the pseudocode algorithm to meet these requirements.

returnValue = true
while returnValue == ..................................................
returnValue = mathsStack.
...........................................(input("Enter Number"))
if returnValue == .................................................. then
.................................................. ("Stack full")
endif
endwhile

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

v. The main program also needs to:

• remove one item from the stack at a time and add this to a total
• output the total every time an item is removed
• stop removing items when either the stack is empty, or 20 items have been removed.

Write pseudocode or program code to meet these requirements.

[8]

16. A programmer is developing an aeroplane simulator. The user will sit in a cockpit and the simulated
environment will be displayed on screens around them.

Describe how caching can be used in the aeroplane simulator.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

17(a). The array words is defined as a global variable and contains these values:

"house" "boat" "car" "telephone" "garden" "spice" "elephant"

The pseudocode function useWords() here uses the global array words. The number of words in the array
words is passed as a parameter.

function useWords(numberOfWords : byVal)

contents = ""
for count = 0 to numberOfWords - 1
contents = contents + words[count] + " "
next count
return contents
endfunction

i. Identify two variables in the function useWords().

[2]

ii. numberOfWords is a parameter passed by value.

Describe the difference between passing a parameter by value and by reference.

[2]

iii. Rewrite the function useWords() to use a while loop instead of a for loop.

The function header and close have been written for you.

Write your answer using pseudocode or program code.

function useWords(numberOfWords : byVal)

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

endfunction

[4]

(b). Give one benefit and one drawback of declaring an array as a global variable instead of a local variable.

Benefit

Drawback

[2]

(c). Describe one feature of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that can be used to help write a
program and one feature that can be used to help test a program.

Write

Test

[4]

(d). Functions and procedures are reusable components.

Give two benefits of writing a program with reusable components.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

18. Given the following procedure:

01 procedure generate(number)
02 a = 0
03 while number > 0
04 if number MOD 2 == 0 then
05 a = a + 2
06 print(a)
07 number = number – 2
08 else
09 a = a + 1
10 print(a)
11 number = number – 1
12 endif
13 endwhile
14 endprocedure

State the values printed by the procedure generate when number = 8.

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

19. A veterinary surgery uses a two dimensional array to store bookings for customers to bring in their animal to
see the vet. There are ten possible booking slots during each day.

An example of the two dimensional array is shown in Fig. 1.

• The first column stores the booking slot number, ranging between 1 and 10.
• The second column stores the time of the appointment.
• The third column stores the customerID of the customer who has booked that slot.

1 9:00 5877RC

2 9:30 9655AS

3 10:00

4 10:30 8754TT

5 11:00

6 11:30 8745SD

7 13:00 9635GH

8 13:30

9 14:00 9874PL

10 14:30 9658SV

Fig. 1

If a customerID has been entered for a booking slot then the booking slot has been taken. If no customerID has
been entered then the booking slot is available for booking.

When an available time slot has been found then a valid customerID must be entered to confirm the booking.

This is checked by another function called checkCustomerID. This will return true if the customerID is valid or
false if the customerID is not valid.

State why a function would be used instead of a procedure for this purpose.

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

20(a). Kylie buys used games consoles and then sells them to make a profit. She sells her products in multiples
of £5 such as £30, £55 and £95. Kylie only accepts £50, £20, £10 and £5 notes from her customers.

Kylie has written an algorithm which will calculate the amount of change needed by stating how many £20, £10
and £5 notes are needed.

The program should output the minimum number of notes required. For example if £35 change is required then it
should output 1 x £20 and 1 x £10 and 1 x £5.

01 total = input("Enter total price of goods")

02 paid = input("Enter amount paid")
03 global change = paid – total
04 calculateChange()
05
06 procedure calculateChange()
07 twenty = 0
08 ten = 0
09 five = 0
10 while change >= 20 /Calculates number of £20 notes needed
11 twenty = twenty + 1
12 change = change – 20
13 endwhile
14 while change >= 10 /Calculates number of £10 notes needed
15 ten = ten + 1
16 change = change – 10
17 endwhile
18 while change >= 5 /Calculates number of £5 notes needed
19 five = five + 1
20 change = change – 5
21 endwhile
22 print("The amount of change you need is £" + str(change))
23 print("Total £20 Notes:" + str(twenty))
24 print("Total £10 Notes:" + str(ten))
25 print("Total £5 Notes:" + str(five))
26 endprocedure

Describe how calculateChange() on line 04 is used differently to calculateChange() on line 06.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). When line 22 is run, it will always print:

The amount of change you need is £0

Explain why this error occurs when line 22 is run.

[2]

(c). Explain why Kylie has used str on lines 22 to 25 in her algorithm.

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

21(a). Ruhail will make use of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

State the purpose of an IDE.

[1]

(b). State two different programming constructs and give an example of how Ruhail could use each construct
when creating his program code.

[4]

(c). Ruhail has been told to make use of reusable components when creating his program code.

Explain two benefits of using reusable components when writing program code.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

22(a). Logan is writing a program for his customers to be able to buy his gym equipment. In the program, once a
customer has selected the items they want to buy, a procedure, checkDetails, will be called. This procedure
will check that the customer has input their telephone number and also check that it is at least 11 characters
long.

Logan has written two possible versions of the procedure that could be used to achieve this.
Version One:
procedure checkDetails()
telephoneNo = input("Enter telephone number")
while (telephoneNo == "") or ([Link] < 11)
print("Error, please try again")
telephoneNo = input("Enter telephone number")
endwhile
endprocedure

Version Two:
procedure checkDetails()
telephoneNo = input("Enter telephone number")
if (telephoneNo == "") or ([Link] < 11) then
print("Error, please try again")
telephoneNo = input("Enter telephone number")
endif
endprocedure

i. Explain why version one is more effective than version two at making sure that the telephone number
entered is at least 11 characters long.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

ii. As well as the procedure checkDetails, Logan would like to use additional procedures to expand his
program.

The program will be expanded to:

• allow customers to be able to register an account by setting up a username and password

• allow registered users to be able to log-in with their registration details
allow customers, once logged in, to be able to add items that are in stock to their online shopping
•
basket.

State two other procedures that Logan could write to meet these requirements, and for each one, state a
suitable name and purpose.

Procedure 1:

Procedure Name:

Purpose:

Procedure 2:

Procedure Name:

Purpose:

[4]

iii. When setting up the additional procedures in his program, Logan will use a mixture of parameter passing
by reference and by value.

State the difference between parameter passing by reference and parameter passing by value.

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). *Logan will work in a team with five other programmers and together they will create programming code for a
program.

Discuss how modularity can be used to allow the team of programmers to work effectively together on the same
program at the same time.

[9]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

23. Ruhail owns ten different function rooms which can be hired by different business customers to hold
meetings. He would like a program to manage the booking process of each room.

Customers should be able to enter the date they want to hire a function room, and then a list of available rooms
will be displayed. Customers can then select which room they want to hire. Customers can then enter their
payment details which are then checked and then a confirmation email is sent to the customer.

Complete the structure diagram below to show the different component parts of the problem.

[4]

24(a). A Nonogram is a logic puzzle where a player needs to colour in boxes. The puzzle is laid out as a grid and
each square needs to be either coloured black or left white.

The numbers at the side of each row and column tells the player how many of the boxes are coloured in
consecutively. Where a row has two or more numbers, there must be a white square between the coloured
squares.

In this example:

the first column has 1 1, this means there must be two single coloured boxes in this column. There
•
must be at least 1 white box between them.
• the first row has 2, this means there must be two consecutively coloured boxes in the row.

Juan is creating a program that will store a series of Nonograms for a user to play. The game will randomly
select a puzzle and display the blank grid with the numbers for each row and column to the user.
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

The user plays the game by selecting a box to change its colour. If the box is white it will change to black and if it
is black it will change to white. The user can choose to check the answer at any point, and the game will
compare the grid to the answers and tell the user if they have got it correct or not.

Juan is creating a structure diagram to design the game.

i. Complete the structure diagram by adding another layer for New game, Play game and Check answer.

[3]

ii. A structure diagram is one method of showing the decomposition of a problem.

Explain why decomposing a problem can help a developer design a solution.

[2]

iii. Identify one input, one process and one output required for the game.

Input

Process

Output

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). Juan uses the structure diagram to create a modular program with a number of subroutines.
The program will use two integer 2-dimensional arrays to store the puzzles:

• puzzle(5,5) stores the solution

• answerGrid(5,5) stores the user’s current grid.

A 0 represents a white box and a 1 represents a black box.

i. Juan creates a function, countRow(), to count the number of coloured boxes in one row and return the
number of consecutive coloured boxes in that row. If there is more than one set of coloured boxes in the
row, these are joined together and the string is returned. For example, in the following grid countRow for
row 0 will return "2" as a string, and countRow for row 2 will return "1 1" as a string. If there are no 1s in
a row, then "0" is returned as a string.

Complete the pseudocode algorithm countRow().

01 function countRow(puzzle:byref, rowNum:byval)

02 count = 0
03 output = " "
04 for i = 0 to ……………………………………………
05 if puzzle[rowNum, i] == …………………………………………… then
06 count = count + 1
07 elseif count >= 1 then
08 output = output + str(……………………………………………) + " "
09 count = 0
10 endif
11 next i
12 if count>= 1 then
13 output=output+str(count)
14 elseif output == "" then
15 output = "……………………………………………"
16 endif
17 return ……………………………………………
18 endfunction

[5]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

ii. Explain the purpose of line 03 in the function countRow.

[2]

iii. Describe the purpose of branching and iteration in the function countRow.

[3]

iv. The procedure displayRowAnswer() takes puzzle as a parameter and outputs the value in each box.
Each box in a row is separated by a space. At the end of each row there are two spaces and (by calling
the function countRow from part (i)) the clue values for that row.

For example the puzzle below:

Would output:
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

v. Write pseudocode or program code for the procedure displayRowAnswer().

[6]

vi. The function checkWon() takes answerGrid and puzzle as parameters and compares each element
in the grids. If they are identical, it returns true, otherwise returns false.

01 function checkWon(puzzle)
02 for row = 0 to 4
03 for column = 0 to 4
04 if puzzle[row, column] == answerGrid[row, column] then
05 return false
06 endif
07 next column
08 next column
09 return true
10 endfunction

There are three logic errors in the function checkWon

State the line number of each error and give the corrected line.

Error 1 line number

Error 1 correction

Error 2 line number

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

Error 2 correction

Error 3 line number

Error 3 correction
[3]

(c). * Juan passed the two arrays as parameters, but he did consider making them globally accessible.

Compare the use of global and local variables and data structures in this program. Include the use of parameters
and program efficiency in your answer.

[9]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(d). Juan wants to create a program that will generate new Nonograms with different grid sizes. For example a
Nonogram with a 10 × 10 grid or a 5 × 20 grid.

Describe how the program could be written to automatically generate a new Nonogram.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

25(a). Lucas writes a program that makes use of a circular queue. The queue stores the data entered into the
program. An array is used to represent the queue.

The program needs two pointers to access and manipulate the data in the queue.

State the purpose of the two pointers and give an appropriate identifier for each.

Pointer 1 purpose

Pointer 1 identifier

Pointer 2 purpose

Pointer 2 identifier

[4]

(b). Lucas wants a procedure, enqueue(), that will add the parameter it is passed to the queue.

Describe the steps the procedure enqueue() will follow when adding new items to the queue.

[5]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

26. * Anna currently writes her program code in a text editor and then runs the compiler.

She has been told that using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) would be more helpful.

Discuss the benefits of Anna using an IDE to write and test her program rather than using a text editor.
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[9]

27. The pseudocode function binarySearch() performs a binary search on the array dataArray that is
passed as a parameter. The function returns the array index of searchValue within the array, and -1 if it is not
in the array.

The pseudocode binary search algorithm is incomplete.

i. Complete the algorithm by filling in the missing statements.

function binarySearch(dataArray:byref, upperbound, lowerbound, ………………………………)

while true
middle = lowerbound + ((upperbound – lowerbound) ………………………………)
if upperbound < lowerbound then
return ……………………………………………
else
if dataArray[middle] < searchValue then
lowerbound = ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
elseif dataArray[middle] > searchValue then
upperbound = ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
else
return ……………………………………………………………………………………………
endif
endif
endwhile
endfunction

[6]

ii. The algorithm uses a while loop.

State a different type of loop that could be used instead of the while loop in the given algorithm.

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

28(a). Hugh has written a recursive function called thisFunction() using pseudocode.

01 function thisFunction(theArray, num1, num2, num3)

02 result = num1 + ((num2 - num1) DIV 2)
03 if num2 < num1 then
04 return -1
05 else
06 if theArray[result] < num3 then
07 return thisFunction(theArray, result + 1, num2, num3)
08 elseif theArray[result] > num3 then
09 return thisFunction(theArray, num1, result - 1, num3)
10 else
11 return result
12 endif
13 endif
14 endfunction

The function DIV calculates integer division, e.g. 5 DIV 3 = 1

theArray has the following data:

Index: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Data: 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Trace the algorithm, and give the final return value, when it is called with the following statement:

thisFunction(theArray, 0, 7, 35)

You may choose to use the table below to give your answer.
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

Function call num1 num2 num3 result

thisFunction(theArray,0,7,35)

Final return value .......................................... [5]

(b). State the name of the standard algorithm thisFunction() performs.

[1]

(c). Hugh could have written thisFunction() using iteration instead of recursion.

Compare two differences between recursion and iteration.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(d). The recursive function thisFunction() is printed again here for your reference.

01 function thisFunction(theArray, num1, num2, num3)

02 result = num1 + ((num2 - num1) DIV 2)
03 if num2 < num1 then
04 return -1
05 else
06 if theArray[result] < num3 then
07 return thisFunction(theArray, result + 1, num2, num3)
08 elseif theArray[result] > num3 then
09 return thisFunction(theArray, num1, result - 1, num3)
10 else
11 return result
12 endif
13 endif
14 endfunction

Rewrite the function thisFunction() so that it uses iteration instead of recursion.

You should write your answer using pseudocode or program code.

[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

29. The following pseudocode procedure performs an insertion sort on the array parameter.

01 procedure insertionSort(dataArray:byRef)
02 for i = 1 to [Link] - 1
03 temp = dataArray[i]
04 tempPos = i – 1
05 exit = false
06 while tempPos >= 0 and exit == false
07 if dataArray[tempPos] < temp then
08 dataArray[tempPos + 1] = dataArray[tempPos]
09 tempPos = tempPos - 1
10 else
11 exit = true
12 endif
13 endwhile
14 dataArray[tempPos + 1] = temp
15 next i
16 endprocedure

Explain why dataArray is passed by reference and not by value.

[2]

30. Bubble sorts make use of two different loops when sorting items into order.

Describe the two loops used and their purpose.

[4]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

31(a). Barney is writing a program to store data in a linked list. He is writing the initial program for a maximum of
10 data items.

Each node in the linked list has a data value and a pointer (to the next item).

A null pointer is stored with the value –1.

The procedure printLinkedList() follows the pointers to print all of the elements in the linked list.

01 procedure printLinkedList(headPointer)
02 tempPointer = headPointer - 1
03 dataToPrint = ””
04 if tempPointer == -1 then
05 print(”List is full”)
06 else
07 while linkedList[pointer].getPointer() != -1
08 dataToPrint = dataToPrint + ” ” + linkedList[tempPointer,0]
09 linkedList[tempPointer].getPointer() = tempPointer
10 endwhile
11 print(dataToPrint + ” ” + linkedList[tempPointer].getData())
12 endif
13 endprocedure

The procedure has a number of errors.

i. Identify the line of each error and write the corrected line.

Error 1 line number ..................................

Error 1 correction ..............................................................................................................

Error 2 line number ..................................

Error 2 correction ..............................................................................................................

Error 3 line number ..................................

Error 3 correction ..............................................................................................................

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

ii. Barney will use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to debug his program code.

Describe three features commonly found in IDEs that Barney could use to debug his program code.

[6]

(b). * Barney would like his linked list to be part of a base program that is saved in a library. This means that it
can be reused and changed by other programs.

Discuss the benefits of using different object-oriented techniques that Barney could use to achieve this.
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[12]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

32(a). A printer buffer is a storage area that holds the data, known as jobs, that are to be printed by a printer.

A simulation of the printer buffer uses a queue data structure to store jobs that are waiting to be printed. The
queue is not circular.

The printer buffer is represented as a zero-indexed 1D array with the identifier buffer.

Fig. 2 shows the current contents of the queue buffer and its pointers.

Fig. 2

State the purpose of the pointers queueHead and queueTail.

queueHead

queueTail

[2]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(b). The function dequeue outputs and removes the next data item in the queue.

The procedure enqueue adds the job passed as a parameter to the queue.

Show the final contents of the queue and pointer values after the following instructions have been run on the
queue buffer shown in Fig. 2.

dequeue()

dequeue()

enqueue(job-128)

dequeue()

enqueue(job-129)

[5]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(c). The array, buffer and pointer values are declared with global scope.

i. The function dequeue returns null if the array is empty, and the contents of the next element if not
empty. The queue is not circular.

Write an algorithm, using pseudocode or program code, for the function dequeue().

[5]

ii. The function enqueue returns -1 if there is no space at the end of the queue to add data, and returns 1 if
the parameter was added to buffer. The array buffer contains a maximum of 100 elements.

Write an algorithm, using pseudocode or program code, for the function enqueue().

[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

iii. In the main program of the simulation the user is asked whether they want to add an item to the queue or
remove an item.

If they choose to add an item they have to input the job name, and the function enqueue is called.

If they choose to remove an item, the function dequeue is called and the job name is output.

Appropriate messages are output if either action cannot be run because the queue is either empty or full.

Write, using pseudocode or program code, an algorithm for the main program of the simulation.

[8]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

(d). The queue is changed to make it a circular queue.

Describe how the functions enqueue and dequeue will need to be changed to allow buffer to work as a
circular queue.

[3]

(e). Some print jobs can have different priorities. The higher the priority the sooner the job needs to be printed.

Describe how the program could be changed to deal with different priorities.

[3]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

33(a). Barney is writing a program to store data in a linked list. He is writing the initial program for a maximum of
10 data items.

Each node in the linked list has a data value and a pointer (to the next item).

A null pointer is stored with the value –1.

Fig. 3 shows the current contents of the linked list including the head and free list pointer values.

Fig. 3

i. Describe the purpose of freeListPointer.

[2]

ii. State the purpose of headPointer.

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

iii. Show the contents of the linked list from Fig. 3 and the pointer values when the node with data 6.9 is
deleted.

[4]

(b). Barney wants the nodes to be stored as objects using object-oriented programming. He designs the following
class.

class: node
attributes:
private data : Real
private pointer : Integer
methods:
new (newData, newPointer)
getData()
getPointer()
setData(newData)
setPointer(newPointer)

The constructor assigns the parameters to the attributes to create an object.

i. Write an algorithm, using pseudocode or program code, to create the class node, its attributes and
constructor.

You do not need to write the get and set methods.

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[4]

ii. The class node, uses get methods and set methods.

Describe one difference between get methods and set methods.

[2]

(c). The function findNodePath() takes the data item to find in the linked list as a parameter and follows the
pointers to find the required node.

The function returns the array indexes of all the nodes it visits and joins this to a suitable message stating
whether the data was found or not found and then returns this as one string.

Describe how the function findNodePath() will search for the data item and return the required message.

[6]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

34. Oscar owns a taxi company. He would like a program to handle taxi bookings from customers.

Some of Oscar’s customers are rated as gold. Customers who are rated as gold are given priority when they
make a taxi booking. Some customers rated as gold are shown here.

Arshad Betty Dave Freddie Harry Jimmy Kanwal Lynn Siad Tommy Will

When a customer makes a booking, Oscar will make use of a binary search to check if they are gold rated.

Oscar would like to know if ‘Tommy’ is gold rated.

i. State the three values that will be set as the midpoints and then checked against ‘Tommy’ on each
iteration of the binary search.

Show your working here.

Midpoint 1

Midpoint 2

Midpoint 3
[3]

ii. Oscar has 75 000 customers stored in his program.

Describe the benefit to Oscar of using binary searches in his program.

Benefit

[2]

iii. State one other search algorithm that Oscar could have used.

[1]
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

iv. State the pre-condition which has been met, which meant that Oscar did not need to use the search
algorithm you stated in the part above.

[1]

35. Daisy is a computer technician. She is responsible for making sure all new employees are given a username
to access the computer network.

The rules that are followed when creating a new username are as follows:

Step 1: The employee’s first name is entered (e.g. Roger)

Step 2: The employee’s surname is entered (e.g. Banks)

Step 3: A username is then made up from:

○ Their whole surname (e.g. Banks)

○ The first letter of their first name (e.g. R)
○ A number 1
For example: BanksR1

Step 4: The username is then checked against existing usernames. This is done by calling a function
existingUsers. This will return true if the username is unique and false if the username already exists.

Step 5: If the username is unique then “Username is Unique” should be printed. If the username already exists
then the number at the end of the username should increase by one (e.g. BanksR2).

Step 6: Steps 4 and 5 should be repeated until the username is unique.

Write a procedure called createUsername that meets the rules of Daisy’s program.

You should write your procedure using pseudocode or program code.

2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[9]

36(a). Sally is a classroom teacher. She would like a program to be able to organise where students will sit in her
classroom.

A plan of her classroom is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

Sally would like to increase the security of her program by adding a password to enter the program. She has
created the procedure, checkPassword, to do this.

01 procedure checkPassword()
02 correctPassword = "ComputerScience12"
03 check = false
04 while check == false
05 enteredPassword = input("Enter Password")
06 if enteredPassword == correctPassword then
07 check = true
08 endif
09 endwhile
10 endprocedure
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

i. Identify the programming construct used on lines 06 to 08 in the procedure checkPassword.

[1]

ii. Sally has used a while loop on line 04 of the procedure checkPassword.

Explain why Sally has used a while loop instead of a for loop.

[4]

iii. Sally could have used a do until loop instead of a while loop.

Rewrite lines 04 to 09 of the procedure checkPassword using a do until loop instead of a while
loop.

[3]

(b). Sally will make use of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to create her program code.

i. Describe three features that are commonly found in IDEs that will help Sally write her program code.

1
2.2.1. Programming Techniques [Link]

[6]

ii. Sally uses a Rapid Application Development (RAD) approach when creating her program.

Describe two benefits of using RAD.

[4]

iii. Sally will make use of an appropriate test strategy to test her programming code.

Compare one difference between black box testing and white box testing.

[2]

END OF QUESTION PAPER