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Q&A-KCSE Computer Studies Paper 1

State any four applications of electronic spreadsheets

  • Financial accounting
  • Prediction and forecasting
  • Inventory keeping
  • Budgeting
  • Keeping records
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  • Explain the purpose of an operating system
  • provides an interface between the computer user and the hardware
  • Manages the allocation and deallocation of the CPU to processes.
  • manages Input-output devices by use of drivers

What is a network server?

  • It refers to a computer that controls other computers in a network and monitors user's access to the shared resources.
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A company making televisions has introduced robots to replace the human work force.

(a) Describe three effects this would have on the work force

(b) Give two advantages to the company of introducing robots

(c) How could the robots be trained to assemble the televisions?

(d) A whole batch of televisions was produced with some of the parts missing. How could this error have been avoided?

(a) Describe three effects this would have on the work force

  • loss of jobs/unemployment
  • deskilling
  • need to re-train
  • different jobs available/re-skilling
  • no longer need to do hazardous/tedious jobs

(b) Give two advantages to the company of introducing robots

lower work force costs (no salaries to pay)

  • lower environmental costs (less electricity for heating/lighting)
  • higher throughput
  • more consistent product
  • robots don’t need breaks, holidays/work 24/7 etc.
  • robots don’t take industrial action

(c) How could the robots be trained to assemble the televisions?

  • tasks repeated by skilled worker and how each task is done is memorised
  • tasks programmed directly into the computer/robot memor

(d) A whole batch of televisions was produced with some of the parts missing. How could this error have been avoided?

  • if parts missing for a sequence, then a warning should be given and the assembly stopped
  • several quality control stages to spot an error early on
  • program in checks at each stage of assembly so robots can detect a fault immediately
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What is social engineering?
The act of soliciting for sensitive information from unsuspecting users. According to study.com, it is the use of various forms of technology to deceive people into divulging private information:study.com
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Give a reason why microwaves are commonly used for point-to-point communication

  • their small wavelength allows conveniently sized antennas to direct them in narrow beams, which can be pointed directly at the receiving antenna
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State three documents that are used during mail merging in word processing

  • Main document
  • Data source
  • merged document
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Explain two computer hardware features that may be considered when selecting a laptop computer to be used in developing a KCSE computer studies project (4mks)

Multimedia Capability - A laptop with strong multimedia capabilities is essential for a computer studies project submitted on CD-RW. This ensures that the laptop can efficiently handle multimedia content, providing a seamless experience in creating and presenting project materials.

Processor Speed - Opting for a laptop with a high processor speed is crucial. This feature enables the smooth execution of multiple applications simultaneously, enhancing overall project efficiency and reducing processing delays.

Hard Disk Capacity - Consider a laptop with ample hard disk capacity, as the Microsoft Office suite used in computer projects requires significant space for the installation and storage of project files. A spacious hard drive ensures that there is sufficient room for data and applications.

Main Memory Capacity - Given that students often work with multiple programs concurrently during a project, it's important to choose a laptop with an adequate main memory size. A smaller main memory may result in performance issues, hindering the seamless operation of various software applications during project development.

 

What is a Uniform Resource Locator?

  • It is an address to a resource on the internet
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Explain the following terms

(a) Disk mirroring

(b) Encryption

(c) Backup

(a) Disk mirroring- Data is written on two or more disks simultaneously.

(b) Encryption - Contents are scrambled so they cannot be understood without a decryption key

(c) Backup - A copy of the data is taken and stored in another location

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Explain, using examples where appropriate, the meaning of these computer terms

(a) byte ..................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2mks]
(b) compiler ............................................................................................................................
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......................................................................................................................................[2mks]
(c) handshaking .....................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[2mks]
(d) technical documentation ..................................................................................................
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......................................................................................................................................[2mks]
(e) simulation .........................................................................................................................
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(a) byte

  • fixed number of bits, 8 bits
  • represents a character


(b) compiler  program

  • converts/changes/translates high-level language into machine code/machine language/low-level language/object code
  • changes each high-level language instruction into machine code instructions
  • produces an independent program capable of being executed by itself
  • all (syntax errors) listed
  • converts the whole program before execution/in one go
  • converts source code to object code

(c) handshaking

  • exchanging of signals to establish communication between two devices/computers e.g. printer and computer, modem and computer

(d) technical documentation

  • documentation to ensure that the system can be maintained/updated/altered/developed/upgraded
  • trouble shooting/correcting errors/correcting faults
  • explanation of what the program does/how the system works
  • contains file structures
  • algorithms/flow charts/pseudo code
  • program listings
  • hierarchical chart

(e) simulation

  • studying the behavior of a system by using a model/represents real-life/mathematical representation
    e.g. flight simulator (or others), hazardous applications results can be predicted
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Describe two effects on society of an increase in the use of the Internet for e-commerce.

  • loss of jobs as some traditional shops/banks close
  • lower profits for companies that do not get involved with e-commerce
  • decline of leisure shopping as goods are bought on-line
  • city centres becoming deserted as shops/banks close down
  • gap between rich and poor widening as richer get savings from
  • shopping on-line
  • more people choosing to interact with computers rather than people
  • increase in small businesses
  • less pollution/travelling
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State two reasons for the increased use of computers in offices                      (2 marks)

  • They are small and fit in a small storage space
  • They are portable hence can be carried when need to be used outside the office
  • Low power consumption
  • Have rechargeable batteries
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What is secondary storage?

  • A non-volatile store of data
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Joelle’s parent also uses the firewall to limit the websites that Joelle can access.
Explain how the firewall is used to limit the websites that Joelle can access

(The parent can) set criteria for the websites she is allowed to visit such as a whitelist/blacklist of websites. The firewall will examine the data/traffic incoming and outgoing from her computer. If data is sent from a website that is not allowed, it will be blocked

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Differentiate between a compiled and an interpreted program

  • A compiled program will only execute on a processor of specific type/family/with same instruction set
  • A program run using an interpreter can execute on a computer with any type of processor
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Give two other uses of hexadecimal in computer science.

  • colour codes // colour in HTML/CSS
  • error messages
  • locations in memory
  • memory dump // debugging 
  • IP(v6) address
  • ASCII // Unicode
  • assembly language
  • URL.

 

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Differentiate between a function parameter and a function argument

A parameter represents additional information that  a function requires to perform its task. Each parameter required by a function is specified in the function header

An argument the value supplied in the function call. When the function is called, the argument value is passed into the function parameter so that the function can perform its task

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What is a computer system ?

A computer system refers to computer components that collectively function as a single unit to achieve the desired goal. It can also be defined as a collection of hardware, software, and liveware that work together to receive, process, and manage data

What is meant by RAID technology?

RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology refers to a method of combining multiple physical disk drives into a logical unit to improve performance, data availability, and data redundancy. RAID technology is commonly used in storage systems to provide fault tolerance, data protection, and increased storage performance.

The primary purpose of RAID is to create a more reliable and robust storage solution by spreading data across multiple drives and implementing various data redundancy techniques. This helps to mitigate the risk of data loss and system downtime in case of drive failures.

There are different levels or configurations of RAID, each offering different features and trade-offs. The most commonly used RAID levels are:

  1. RAID 0 (Striping): Data is split evenly across multiple drives, resulting in increased performance as data can be accessed from multiple drives simultaneously. However, there is no redundancy, so if one drive fails, data loss can occur.

  2. RAID 1 (Mirroring): Data is duplicated or mirrored across two drives, providing redundancy. If one drive fails, the other drive can still function and serve the data. RAID 1 offers data protection but does not offer increased performance.

  3. RAID 5 (Striping with Parity): Data and parity information are striped across multiple drives, providing both increased performance and fault tolerance. Parity information allows for the recovery of data in case of a single drive failure. RAID 5 requires a minimum of three drives.

  4. RAID 10 (Combination of Mirroring and Striping): RAID 10 combines elements of RAID 1 and RAID 0. It involves mirroring data across two sets of drives and then striping the mirrored sets for increased performance and fault tolerance. RAID 10 provides high levels of data redundancy and performance but requires a minimum of four drives.

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