Computer Studies Paper 1 Questions and Answers - MECS Cluster Joint Pre Mock Exams 2021/2022

COMPUTER STUDIES
PAPER 1
(THEORY)

SECTION A (40 MARKS)
Answer all the questions in the spaces provided

State three ways in which mobile phones have affected money transactions in Kenya (3marks)
State three circumstances that necessitate the development of a new information system (3 marks)
Kidato system has offices in Murang’a and Nairobi connected into a network. The management is convinced that someone is illegally gaining access to the data in their computers. State three ways the company can overcome this problem. (3marks)
State three reasons why your school may opt to create its own software as compared to buying ready-made programs (3marks)
Waurika bora bank is using a system that generates receipts that are printed in
triplicates using carbon papers.
1. Name one type of a printer suitable for this task. (l mark)
2. Give a reason for your answer (l mark)
A mobile phone is regarded as a computer. Give two reasons why. (2marks)
Wanafunzi Cooperative has recently introduced magnetic ink character recognition for
processing customer cheques. Give any two benefits they are likely to gain from its use. (2 marks)
State what will happen when the following combination of keys are pressed in MS Word (2 marks)
1. CTRL+ P
2. CTRL + N
Define the following terms (2marks)
1. Multiplexing
2. Baseband signal
Explain the difference between digital signal and analog signal in data communication (2marks)
Define the following terms as used in disk management
1. Partitioning (1mark)
2. Defragmentation (1mark)
3. State one reason for defragmenting a disk (1mark)
1. Differentiate between real time processing and batch processing (2 marks)
2. List an example where each of the data processing mode above can be used. (1mark)
3. Convert the following binary number, 11001011.001 into decimal form (2 marks)
Outline three roles of an internet service provider (ISP) (3 marks)
Give three ways in which robots can be used in the army during war (3 marks)
The formula = F24 + N$18 was typed in cell J25 and was copied to cell L21 of a spreadsheet. Write the formula in the destination cell (2 marks)

SECTION B:(60 MARKS)
Answer question 16 and any other three questions in this section.

Study the flowchart below and answer the questions that follow.
1. List the various outputs from the flow chart above. Show your working. (6 marks)
2. List three programs that can be used by Web Developers. (3 marks)
3. Explain three change over strategies used in system development (6 marks)

Define the following terms as used in charts. (2 marks)
1. Legend
2. Data range

The table below shows how a kiosk owner uses a spread sheet to keep records in a shop.

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Item Name	Number of Items	Unit Cost	Total Buying Price	Total Selling Price	Profit
2	Blue Band	150	120			3600
3	Toss	135	50			1350
4	Cow boy	120	120			2880
5	Panga soap	118	50			1180

Write a function to calculate the total buying price. (1 mark)
Write a formula to calculate the Profit. (1 mark)
The total buying prices of all items was increased by 12% and the value 12% is placed in cell B6. Using cell addresses with absolute referencing, write a formula to calculate the Total Selling Price in cell E2. (2 marks)
State the output of the expression =SUM IF (F2:F5,"<1 500")would return. (1 mark)

Define the term operating system (1mark)
Describe any four functions of the operating system (4marks)
State three ways how one can manage his/her disks using windows. (3 marks)

1. State three major types of Networks. (3 marks)
2. List two disadvantages of fiber optic cables (2 marks)
3. State 3 types of hubs (3marks)
4. Define the following terms in reference to the internet:- (3 marks)
  1. Protocol ______________________________________________________________________________
  2. Website ______________________________________________________________________________
  3. Spam mail ______________________________________________________________________________
5. Other than Google list two examples of search engines (2 marks)
6. Explain two communication services offered through the internet. (2 marks)
1. Explain the meaning of the following terms as applied in word processor (2 marks)
  1. Text wrap
  2. Word wrap
2. Distinguish between (2 marks)
  1. First line and hanging indentation
  2. Auto complete and auto correct features.
3. Define the following terms as used in data representation (2 marks)
  1. Amplitude
  2. Frequency
  3. Nibble
  4. Byte
4. Perform the following 11111.11112 + 100001.10102 – 1111.001112 (3 marks)
5. Using two’s complement subtract 73 from 115 and convert the answer to decimal notation (6 marks)

Identify one duty of the following ICT specialists
1. Software engineer (1 mark)
2. System analyst (1 mark)
List two types of opportunities available in the field of computer hardware (1mark)
List two ways how the use ICT may affect the society (2 marks)
Daniel has noticed the following problems in his computer;
1. It is taking a longer time to start up.
2. It is often hanging
3. Applications are taking long to load.
State three possible causes of these problems and how they can be solved. (3 marks)
Describe the following terms: (2 marks)
1. Software suite
2. Shareware

Below are two table structures of files in a database:

TABLE 1		TABLE 2
Field	Data type	Field	Data type
Employee number Employee Name D.O.B Address	Text Auto number Date/time Text	Employee number Data employed Department Salary	Number Date/time Text Currency

Which of the two tables is likely to be the parent table? (1 mark)
It is advisable to enforce referential integrity when creating a relationship. When creating a relationship. What is referential integrity? (1 mark)
The field “employee Number” in Table 2 is likely to be the primary key. What will make the relationship between the tables fail to work? (1 mark)
In databases, the field properties specify finer details related to the fields and the entries expected. State four field properties. (2 marks)

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A (40 MARKS)

State three ways in which mobile phones have affected money transactions in Kenya (3marks)
- Mobile phones have made money transfer to be done easily
- Mobile phones have made money transfer to be done in any point of communication
- Users are no longer required to physically visit financial houses (banks) etc. this has lowered the cost of doing business
- Has enabled users to transfer money to/from banks to their phones easily
State circumstances that necessitate the development of a new information system (3 marks)
- New opportunities – a chance to improve quality of internal processes and service delivery in the organization
- Problems – these are undesirable circumstances that prevent the organization
- Directives – these are new requirements imposed by the government, management or external influences
Kidato system has offices in Murang’a and Nairobi connected into a network. The management is convinced that someone is illegally gaining access to the data in their computers. State three ways the company can overcome this problem. (3marks)
- Encryption
- Firewalls
- User access level/Passwords
- Limit number of log in attempts
- Audit trail
- Log files
State three reasons why your school may opt to create its own software as compared to buying readymade programs (3marks)
- Specific module that school needs
- Easy to modify
- Proper management of memory
- No user resistance
Waurika bora bank is using a system that generates receipts that are printed in triplicates using carbon papers.
1. Name one type of a printer suitable for this task. (l mark)
  - Impact printer/dot matrix/daisy wheel
2. Give a reason for your answer (l mark)
  - Because it uses striking mechanism
A mobile phone is regarded as a computer. Give two reasons why. (2marks)
- It is programmable.
- Has a screen for displaying information.
- Has a keyboard/keypad for data entry.
Mwalimu Cooperative has recently introduced magnetic ink character recognition for processing customer cheques. Give any two benefits they are likely to gain from its use. (2 marks)
- Accurate details of the cheque will be captured.
- Faster entry of the cheque details.
- It would be difficult for forgery to take place.
State what will happen when the following combination of keys are pressed in MS Word (2 marks)
1. CTRL+P- display the print dialog box
2. CTRL + N- opens a blank document
Define the following terms (2marks)
1. Multiplexing
  - It is the process of sending multiple medium
2. Baseband signal
  - It is a digital signal that is generated and applied to the transmission medium directly without modulation.
Explain the difference between digital signal and analog signal in data communication (2marks)
- Analog signal is made up of continuous varying waveform while digital signal is made up of non continuous discrete waveform.
Define the following terms as used in disk management
1. Partitioning (1mark)
  - Refers to the process of dividing a large physical disk into two or more partitions called logical drives.
2. Defragmentation (1mark)
  - Consolidating fragments files into one area if the disk or so that file occupies a single, continous space on the above
3. State one reason for defragmenting a disk (1mark)
  - To speed up access
  - Optimize on storage
1. Differentiate between real time processing and batch processing (2 marks)
  - Real time- Data is received and processed so fast and the results returned so quickly that the process is instantaneous to the user while
  - Batch-Data is accumulated and processed at a predetermined time. Once processing begins no amendments.
2. List an example where each of the data processing mode above can be used. (1mark)
  - Real time- Making reservations for airline tickets/theatre/cinema
  - Batch- payroll processing
  - -In schools to produce report forms at the end of the term
3. Convert the following binary number, 11001011.001 into decimal form (2 marks)
  - 1*2⁷+1*2⁶+0*2⁵+0*2⁴+1*2³+0*2²+1*2¹+1*2⁰+0.2^-1+0*2^-2+1*2^-3
    128+64+0+0+8+0+2+1+0.0+0.00+0.125
    203.125
Outline three roles of an internet service provider (ISP) (3 marks)
- Link user to the internet
- Host websites
- Provide customized email addresses
- Manage internet traffic
- Provide firewalls
Give three ways in which robots can be used in the army during war (3 marks)
- Detect bombs set up by the enemy and then detonate them
- Spy on the activities of the enemy
- Clear land mines any disarm bombs
- Confuse the enemy by deploying decoys
- Retrieve items from dangerous war zones
The formula = F24 + N$18 was typed in cell J25 and was copied to cell L21 of a spreadsheet. Write the formula in the destination cell (2 marks)
- =H20 + P$18
Study the flowchart below and answer the questions that follow.
1. List the various outputs from the flow chart above. Show your working. (6 marks)
  1. A=5*2=10
    YEAR = 1 + 2 = 3
    A = 10
  2. A = 10 * 2 = 20
    YEAR = 3 + 2 = 5
    A = 20
2. List three programs that can be used by Web Developers. (3 marks)
  - HTML
  - JavaScript,
  - VBScript
  - Hypertext Preprocessor
3. Explain three change over strategies used in system development (6 marks)
  - Parallel changeover - Both the old and the new system are run parallel to each other for some time until users have confidence in the new system then the old is phased out.
  - Phased changeover - A new system is implemented in phases or stages. Sometimes one phase may run a new system for testing before it is implemented into all the other phases.
  - Pilot change over - A new system is implemented at units e.g departments of an origin
1. Define the following terms as used in charts. (2 marks)
  1. Legend
    - The Legend is a chart object that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in the chart.
  2. Data range
    - The data range is the area of the worksheet that you want to chart. It includes any numeric data that you want to chart and can include the titles for the data.
2. The table below shows how a kiosk owner uses a spread sheet to keep records in a shop.
  1. Write a function to calculate the total buying price. (1 mark)
    - =product(B2:C2) or =product(B2,C2)
  2. Write a formula to calculate the Profit. (1 mark)
    - =E2-D2
  3. The total buying prices of all items was increased by 12% and the value 12% is placed in cell B6. Using cell addresses with absolute referencing, write a formula to calculate the Total Selling Price in cell E2. (2 marks)
    - =($B$6/100)*D2
  4. State the output of the expression =SUM IF (F2:F5,"<1 500")would return. (1 mark)
    - 2530
3. Define the term operating system (1mark)
  - a suite of programs that manage the computer resources such as I/O transfers, memory management and CPU time.
4. Describe any four functions of the operating system (4marks)
  - Memory management
  - Job scheduling
  - Processor management
  - I/O management
  - Error reporting
  - File management
  - Logging and accounting
5. Explain how one can manage his/her disks using windows. (3 marks)
  - Formatting disks
  - Scanning a storage devices for problems
  - Using disk defragmenter to rearrange storage media contents
  - Compressing the storage media
  - Backing up data
  - Partitioning a disk
1. State three major types of Networks. (3 marks)
  - LAN
  - WAN
  - MAN
2. List two disadvantages of fiber optic cables (2 marks)
  - They are expensive and difficult to work with
  - They are more fragile and difficult to split
  - They have a limited physical arc of cable
  - They are difficult to fix
3. State 3 types of hubs (3marks)
  - Passive hubs
  - Intelligent hubs
  - Active hubs
4. Define the following terms in reference to the internet:- (3 marks)
  1. Protocol:- set of rules that govern transmission of data or information over a net work
  2. Website:- it’s collection of related web pages where individual or organization documents are placed for easy access by external world by using their address.
  3. Spam mail:- its; a feature in e-mail which inhibits receiving mails from unknown sources.
5. List two examples of search engines (2 marks)
  - Google
  - Yahoo
  - Hotmail
  - Gmail
6. Explain two communication services offered through the internet. (2 marks)
  - Electronic mail
  - Internet radio
  - Voip (vice over internet protocol)
1. Explain the meaning of the following terms as applied in word processor (2 marks)
  - Text wrap:- this feature allows a text to surround an object inserted
  - Word wrap:- the cursor move automatically to the next line after reaching the end of the line.
2. Distinguish between (2 marks)
  1. First line and hanging indentation
    - First line indent – the first line is indent while other are left along the margin
    - Hanging indent- the whole paragraph is indent except the first line
  2. Auto complete and auto correct features.
    - Auto complete feature displays a word when the user types the first few characters of the word
3. Define the following terms as used in data representation (2 marks)
  - Amplitude:- the maximum value a wave can attain
  - Frequency:- the number of cycles made by a wave in one second
  - Nibble:- half a byte (4 bits)
  - Byte: - a group of 8 bits
4. Perform the following 11111.11112 + 100001.10102 – 1111.001112 (3 marks)
  - 11111.1111
    + 10001.1010
    Answer 110001.1001
    -1111.0011
    Answer = 100010.010112
5. Using two’s complement subtract 73from 115 and convert the answer to decimal notation (6 marks
  - 115 – 73 = 115 + (-73)
    Convert 115 to binary = 11100112
    Convert 73 to binary = 10010012
    Convert 73 to8-bits = 10010012
    Convert the 8-bit above to ones complement = 10110110
    Convert to two complement by adding 1 to ones complement above = 11001111012
    Answer = 1100111012
1. Identify one duty of the following ICT specialists
  1. Software engineer (1 mark)
    - Developing system and application software.
    - Developing user and technical documentation for a new software.
    - Maintain and update the software to meet day to day requirements
  2. System analyst (1 mark)
    - Design new and recommend change to existing one.
    - Co-ordinate training for users of a new system.
    - Repair system specifications
    - Co-ordinate the implementation of the new system
    - Prepare instruction manual
2. List two types of opportunities available in the field of computer hardware (1mark)
  - Computer technicians
  - Computer engineers
3. list two ways how the use ICT may affect the society (2 marks)
  - Environment pollution due to poor dispose of computer parts
  - Cultural effects
  - Affecting user’s health
  - Effects on employment
  - Automated production
4. Daniel has noticed the following problems in his computer;
  - It is taking a longer time to start up.
  - It is often hanging
  - Applications are taking long to load.
5. State three possible causes of these problems and how they can be solved. (3 marks)
  - Virus attacks
  - Processor over heating
  - Small capacity of RAM
6. Describe the following terms: (2 marks) (
  - Software suite :- A group of programs that are sold together e.g. Microsoft office which contains MS word, MS excel, MS access e.t.c.
  - Shareware:- Is copyrighted software that is distributed free of charge but requires users to make a monetary contribution in order to continue using it
7. Below are two table structures of files in a database:
  1. Which of the two tables is likely to be the parent table? (1 mark)
    - table 1
  2. It is advisable to enforce referential integrity when creating a relationship. When creating a relationship. What is referential integrity? (1 mark)
    - Is a feature that ensures that a record in a child table exists in a parent table.
  3. The field “employee Number” in Table 2 is likely to be the primary key. What will make the relationship between the tables fail to work? (1 mark)
    - Linking fields have different data types
  4. In databases, the field properties specify finer details related to the fields and the entries expected. State four field properties. (2 marks)
    - Caption
    - Input mask
    - Field size
    - Required
    - Validation rule
    - Validation text