Specimen Paper Computing

January 2003
Computing (Modular) CP2
(2 Hours)

1.(a)	Describe two advantages, apart from the speed of delivery and the cost of sending a message, of using email rather than sending a letter using conventional post.	[2]
	the same email can be sent to a number of different users. attachments can be sent along with the email. Eg Pictures, music, video clips.
(b)	Word processors often provide a print preview facility. Briefly explain why this may be useful.	[1]
	The user can see how the finished printout will look. If alterations need to be made then no paper is wasted.

2.(a)	A certain computer has a 32 bit word size. How many bytes are there in each word in this computer?	[1]
	4 bytes.
(b)	Explain the separate roles of Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) in a computer.	[2]
	RAM is for temporary storage of data and programs. Eg storing a word processing program and the document being created. ROM is for permanent storage of programs. Eg the booting-up program which loads the operating system into memory.

3(a)	Spooling allows a number of documents from different users to be sent to the same printer for printing.
(i)	Explain the term spooling.	[1]
	sending output to a disc before sending it to an output device eg printer
(ii)	Describe a benefit of spooling for a computer user.	[1]
	The user will not have to wait for output to be completed before he can continue with the next task.
(b)	Explain the role of a time slice in a multi-user operating system.	[2]
	a time-slice is a small amount of time for which a task gets processed. each task is given a time-slice of processing time in turn.

4.	Robert is building his own personal computer and he is trying to decide which types of secondary storage to purchase. He knows that he requires a floppy disc drive and a hard disc drive.
(i)	State two other types of secondary storage devices that Robert could purchase, clearly indicating one benefit that each of these devices would provide.	[2]
	CD Writer - If he uses this he will be able to save data on CDs and use them on any other computer with a CD drive. Tape streamer - he could use this to make a backup of all his work on his computer each night.
(ii)	State what is meant by disc cache memory, and explain why disc cache memory is used.	[2]
	an area of disc which is used as extra memory if the computer is low on memory capacity.
(iii)	Disc drives use blocks when transferring data to and from disc. What is a block?	[1]
	The amount of data that a computer can transfer at a time.

5.	A local shop sells a wide range of items. The price of each item is shown on the item using a small sticky label. When a customer takes items to the cashier the price of each item is typed into the till.
(a)	Vicky, who is a systems analyst, frequently buys items from the shop. She suggests to the owner of the shop that he would find it useful to invest in a new computer system, which should include a bar code reader.
(i)	Describe in detail the possible effects of such a system on the running of the shop.	[3]
	there would be a faster process at the till, which would please the customers as queues would be avoided. there would be no need to put the prices on sticky labels on each item. fewer staff would be needed, but they would need to be re-trained so they could use the bar-code readers.
(ii)	Give one concern that the owner may have about installing a new computer system.	[1]
	it may be expensive to buy and install the new system. how would they cope in the shop if the system failed to work?
(b)	Vicky also suggests that the computer system could be used to set up a loyalty scheme, where customers would earn reward points depending on how much money they spend at the shop. Considering the information that would need to be stored about each cardholder, describe three ways in which the Data Protection Act would affect the owner of the shop.	[3]
	the shop would need to register with the Data Protection Act and state the purpose for storing the data. the data would need to be kept accurate and up-to-date the data would need to be kept secure.

6.(a)	Draw two diagrams that show the difference between a bus network and a star network.	[2]

(b)	Give one advantage of using a star network rather than a bus network.	[1]
	if one computer fails then the other computers are not affected.
(c)	Give one advantage of using a bus network rather than a star network.	[1]
	cheaper and easier to install (less complex cabling).

7.	A gas company uses a computerised billing system that includes a master file and a transaction file. The records in the master file are stored in sequential order based on customer account number.
(i)	Using a diagram, explain how the master file and the transaction file are used to produce the bills.	[3]
	The transaction file must be sorted into the same order as the master file (customer account number) Each transaction is loaded. The master file is sequentially searched, copying files onto the new master file until the matching master file record is found. This record is updated and saved onto the new master file. This process is repeated until the end of the files.
(ii)	In what order are the records in the transaction file?	[1]
	in the order in which the transactions were created.
(iii)	For each customer, state two items of data, other than the account number, that could be stored in the master file.	[2]
	address of customer value of last meter reading
(iv)	When producing the bills, sequential access is the most suitable form of access to the master file. Explain why this is the case.	[1]
	all the customer records will need to be accessed, and not just selected ones.
(v)	When bills are produced, several items of data are updated in the master file. State one data item that is updated.	[1]
	value of last meter reading

8.	A book club has a web site where club members may order a book. The member has to type in their membership number and the code of the book they would like to order. The membership number consists of four digits. The book code consists of five characters. Before the order is accepted a validation and verification check is made on both these data items.
(i)	Name one type of validation check that could be applied to the membership number and describe how this check would be applied.	[2]
	length check - to check the codes have the correct number of digits (four).
(ii)	Explain how the book code could be verified.	[1]
	the book code could be entered twice and only accepted if both versions are identical.

9.	Alex is the manager of a local hockey club, which has both male and female teams. Alex keeps the details of all the players on a paper-based system. Each year some players join and some players leave the club. Sometimes, players change their name or change their address. Alex may have to contact some players by telephone.
(i)	Explain why this paper-based system may cause Alex some problems.	[2]
	the paper records will be difficult to edit if a player changes address. searching for records may be slow. storage space will be needed for all the files.
(ii)	Alex thinks a computer system could be used to keep track of the players more efficiently.
	I. State the most suitable type of software for this application. Describe, giving two reasons, how this software would help solve the problems experienced with the existing paper-based system.	[3]
	database software records may be easily edited and re-saved in the database. records may be found very quickly by running searches on the database. there will be no need for filing cabinets to store files in as the database will be stored in the computer's backing storage. [two reasons needed - they must match up with your answers to (i)]
	II. Apart from name and address, state two items of information which the new system should store about each club member.	[2]
	sex - whether male or female. telephone number

10.	Cymru Direct is an on-line bank. Customers can view up-to-date statements and transfer money between their accounts using the Internet. The data have to be protected from accidental loss and malicious damage. Explain, giving a suitable example in each case, what is meant by the terms accidental loss and malicious damage.	[4]
	accidental loss of data may occur if data is deleted or changed when it was not intended to be. money may be accidentally transferred to the wrong account (someone else's) malicious damage occurs when a person deliberately changes data. a hacker may get unauthorised access to the bank's data and change the amount of money in the account.

11.	In the following question, additional credit (up to 3 marks) will be given if your answer demonstrates skill in written communication. A large number of children have personal computers with Internet access. The Internet can be a useful resource when researching information for GCSE coursework and can be used to exchange ideas by 'chatting on-line'. Many children also spend considerable time playing 'on-line games'. Describe any possible benefits and drawbacks to children using the Internet for the three uses shown in green in the above paragraph.	[9 + 3]
	The Internet has a large amount of information which can be accessed and used in research for coursework, but this should be obtained from 'reputable' websites. This information should be up-to-date, and can be easily found by using search engines. It may be possible to discuss coursework topics with experts in chat-rooms or exchange ideas with others who are researching the same topics. It would also be possible to ask questions and see if anyone has the answers. There is also no proof that the information is correct. Problems may arise through contacting undesirable people in the chat-rooms - there is no proof that people are who they say they are. On-line games are a distraction. Children can become very addicted to these games and spend too much time playing them and not enough time researching their coursework. This could also be expensive if the Internet link is not paid at a fixed rate.