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Q&A-KCSE Computer Studies Paper 1

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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Describe an environmental issue related to the disposal of computer components

Many components that go into computer systems are toxic and dangerous to the environment if released or disposed of inappropriately.
Heavy metals are used in batteries and circuits and these can pollute groundwater or kill animals if left exposed on landfill. Large quantities of plastics are used in systems, which take a long time to break down, some of the plastic will eventually break down into toxins as it degrades.

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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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Computer programs require translation to execute. (a) Compilers and interpreters translate high-level programming languages into machine code. Describe the main differences between a compiler and an interpreter.

  • A compiler translates the whole program in one go whereas An interpreter translates each line of code (often an intermediate code) at run time
  • A compiler produces an executable file that will run on the target hardware machine without the compiler being installed  A run time interpreter will be required at run time
  • Compilers tend to be large complex programs Interpreters are smaller simpler programs
  • Interpreted programs can be amended and run without translating whole program Compiled programs have to be re-compiled after a change
  • Compilers compile programs that will usually only run on the target platform (hardware/operating system)  Interpreters will interpret same program (or intermediate code) on different (some virtual) platforms
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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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One characteristic of a robot is its mechanical structure.
State two other characteristics of a robot

  • It has electrical components.
  • It is programmable.

 

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IT technicians are setting up a new file server for a school. Describe the benefits and drawbacks of using a command line interface (CLI) rather than a graphical user interface (GUI) to set up a new file server.  (4marks)

Benefits

  • The user is not restricted to the predetermined options//the GUI uses icons and set menus
  • The user has more control over the computer settings//in GUI computer settings are protected from the user
  • Uses less memory than GUI
  • Requires less processing power for the interface
  • More processing power is made available for the task

Drawbacks

  • The commands used have to be learnt
  • The commands used have to be remembered
  • The commands used have to be typed in/entered exactly
  • Have to remember the exact path/correct name of application
  • More prone to errors on data entry Commands have to be typed in//in a GUI can use touchscreens/mice
  • Tends to be used by specialist people//GUI is more user-friendly and can be used by non-experts
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Describe a typical situation that requires the use of:

(i) a high-level language

(ii) a low-level language.


High level languages are used in situations when:

  1. Speed of execution is not a critical factor, such as in office applications.
  2. a programmer needs to use complex commands that perform complex tasks.
  3. A programmer wants to make use of standardised library / sub routines.

Low level languages are used in situations when:

  1. a program must execute quickly such as real time applications
  2. a programmer needs to write code that interacts directly with the hardware, such as device drivers
  3. a programmer needs to perform a specific command not available in a HL language.
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Give one advantage of a star network when compared to a ring network.

if one station/cable fails, others are not affected
easier to identify faults when using star topologies
it is easier to expand this type of network
performance doesn’t deteriorate under load

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Explain, with examples where appropriate, the following five computer terms.

(a) Buffer

(b)batch processing

(c) e-commerce

(d) simulation

(a) Buffer

  • temporary storage or memory which compensates for the difference speed of peripherals and the CPU

(b)batch processing

  • processing doesn’t start until all data is collected
  • JCL (any reference to Job Control Language)
  • no need for user interaction
  • processed all in one go
  • done at “quiet” times
  • e.g. billing, payroll, cheque processing

(c) e-commerce

  • electronic commerce
  • buying and selling products/services using the internet/computer networks

(d) simulation

  • studying the behaviour of a system by using a model/mathematical representation
  • results can be predicted
  • e.g. flight (or other) simulator, modelling hazardous chemical process

(e) Email

  • sending messages from one device to another using computer networks/Internet
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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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Define the following terms as used in the internet

HTTPS/HTTP: this is a protocol that is used to send data to web pages across the Internet

Uniform Resource Locator (URL):   a text-based version of a web address

Internet Service provider /ISP  - his is the company that provides a user with a connection to the Internet

browser - Software/application that allows users to view web pages / render HTML -

cookie - a text file (stored by a web browser) that contains data about a user’s browsing habits/details/preferences

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Distinguish between a formula and a function as used in spreadsheets

  • A formula is a mathematical expression that returns a value
  • A function is an excel inbuilt formula that returns a value given a range of values or arguments
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Compare the use of a compiler with the use of an interpreter to translate code

Both translate source code written in high level programming languages into machine code.
Compiler: Produces a single executable file that is portable between machines
Interpreter: Source code needs a special environment to run
Compiler: Needs to be compiled for a particular architecture
Interpreter: Can run on any architecture that has the translator/interpreter
Complier: Entire source code file is translated at once
Interpreter: Code is translated line by line
Compiler: Provides error report at the end of the compilation
Interpreter: Errors more obvious in the sequence
Compiler: The program source code is not available (so helps protect IP)
Interpreter: Source code is available
Compiler: Only has to be translated once (affecting the speed of execution)
Interpreter: Has to be translated each time, therefore (affecting the speed of execution)
Compiler: Requires two files to be maintained (one for execution and for editing purposes)
Interpreter: Requires only one file to be maintained
 

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Give two benefits for the supermarket manager of using point of sale (POS) terminals.

  • more accurate/improved stock control/recording system/automatic
  • reordering/automatic updating of stock file
  • less staff/wages needed
  • sales statistics now available
  • faster throughput
  • itemised receipt
  • records every transaction
  • records staff work rates
  • less pilfering by staff/easier to identify pilfering
  • less errors
  • faster calculations
  • links to EFTPOS

Distinguish between microwave and a radiowave transmission and a microwave transmission  (KCSE 2017 PP1)

Microwaves can cover shorter distances. On the contrary, radio waves can travel a long distance. Radio wave is usually propagated through sky mode while microwave uses the line of sight propagation. 

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Why is 2's complement preferred over 1's complement?

  • two's complement has only one value for zero
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Define programming
The process of developing computer programs to solve a particular problem
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State three ways of transforming a picture embedded in a DTP program in order to fit on a designated space on a document (kcse 2019 paper 1)

  • Resizing using resize handles
  • Rotating
  • Cropping
  • Flipping
  • Moving
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Describe overtype and insert modes as used in word processors

  • Overtype mode: deletes the current text at the cursor position and replaces the existing characters with new text
  • Insert Mode: pushes the existing text away as new text is inserted between the existing text
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