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Q&A-KCSE Computer Studies Paper 1

Describe two differences between a switch and a repeater

  • a repeater is a two-port device that amplifies a signal from one port to another
  • a switch is a multiport device that uses a table of addresses to send a signal through the correct port
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Differentiate between modulation and demodulation as used in data communication

Modulation refers to the process of converting a digital signal to analog signal at the transmission end while demodulation is to converting analog signal to digital signal at the receiving end

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Explain why solid state storage is the best choice for a fitness tracker.

  • Because it will be subject to movement  and it does not use mechanical/moving parts

          OR

  • Solid state storage is smaller/more compact so better suited for a wearable device

          OR

  • Doesn’t have moving parts  because they could be disrupted during use
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State two functions of utility software

  • Repairing files
  • Compression
  • Defragmentation
  • Back up
  • Anti-virus / anti-spyware / anti-malware
  • Firewall
  • Managing application updates
  • Format disks/drives
  • System analysis tools
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Name four data management tools used in spreadsheets. (2 marks)
- Filtering - Sorting - Input validation - Subtotals - Data entry forms
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What is repetitive strain injury?

  • the pain felt in muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.
  • Injury as a result of repetitive use of parts of the body while performing work
  • Strains and injuries due to prolonged typing and use of the mouse
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A school intends to install a computer network. Explain three challenges that the school may experience after the installation (KCSE 2021 Computer Studies Q19(b))

Network Failure - when the network becomes faulty or the network is down, users may not access network resources hence operations of an organization may be brought to a standstill

Security Issues:  A computer network can be accessed thus there is an increased chance of hacking

The rapid spread of viruses: Viruses can easily spread to terminals of a computer network which may be very expensive to clear

Cultural and moral effects: adult content may be shared in a networked environment which may be of negative impact on teenagers

 

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KCSE 2016 COMPUTER STUDIES PAPER 1

State the function of each of the following keys on the computer keyboard :  (2mks)

Backspace;

  • Deletes characters to the left of the cursor

Insert

  • Add characters at the cursor position
  • Toggles between overtype and insert modes

An organization intends to replace an existing system by carrying out the process in stages .

Name the implementation strategy ;  (1mk)

  • Phased change-over

Give two reasons why the  organization is opting to use the implementation strategy  in (a) above (2mks)

  • Gives employees time to learn
  • Organizations can revert to the old system in case of failure
  • Reduces resistance by the employee
  • It is easier to find system errors as you are dealing with only one part at a time
  • Accessing parts of the old system is still is possible in case of failure of the new system
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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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List two types of network software

  • Network operating systems
  • Protocols
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State the factors that affect the performance of the CPU

Number of cores
The number of cores a processor has directly affects the performance of the processor. Each core can perform its own fetch-execute cycle independently of others, so different applications can be allocated to different cores. Quad-core (four-core) and even octa-core (eight-core) processors are becoming common

Cache memory
A processor’s cache is a small portion of incredibly fast memory. It has read and write speeds far higher than hard disk drives and even SSDs. The cache is used to store frequently used information and reduces time wasted in fetching the same information from main memory time and time again

Clock speed
A processor’s clock speed relates to the frequency of the pulses generated by the system clock. The higher the frequency, the more cycles of the fetch-execute cycle can be completed in the same period of time.

Word length
A word is a group of bits that is treated as a single unit by a processor. Words can be used for representing both instructions and data. The length of a word is the number of bits that are assigned to it, with higher word lengths allowing for more bits to be transferred and manipulated as a single unit.

Address bus width
The width of a bus relates to the number wires that make up the bus. Increasing the width of the address bus increases the range of addresses that it can specify, hence increasing the computer’s amount of addressable memory. Adding a single wire doubles the number of addressable memory locations

Data bus width
Increasing the width of the data bus increases the volume of data that can be transferred over the bus at any one time. A wider data bus allows the processor to fetch more data from the main memory in one cycle of the fetch-execute cycle, reducing the number of cycles required to fetch large volumes of data.

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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 the advantages and disadvantages of the command-line interface

Advantages

  • It is quicker to type commands
  • Little memory needed
  • Little processing power needed

Disadvantages

  • Commands have to be typed precisely
  • There is a large number of commands to be learnt
  • It is not user friendly
  • The user has to remember commands
  • Users cannot transfer data between applications
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  1. (a)State the meaning of the term disk defragmentation as used in computers  (1mk)
  • The process of rewriting parts of a file to contiguous sectors on a disk
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Explain each of the following function of an operating system

Job scheduling/Process scheduling                                                                                              (2mks)

  • Operating systems allocate tasks/processes/jobs to the CPU using priority and FIFO principle

 Memory management                                                                                                                  (2mks)

  • OS allocates and de-allocates memory spaces to processes loaded into the RAM
  • Swaps processes between main memory and virtual memory created in the secondary storage
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State the types of storage devices used in a computer

  1. Primary Storage (Memory):

    • Random Access Memory (RAM): This is a volatile memory used to store data and instructions that the CPU (Central Processing Unit) can access quickly. RAM is essential for running applications and the operating system. However, its contents are lost when the computer is powered off.
    • Read-Only Memory (ROM): ROM is a non-volatile memory that stores essential firmware and instructions necessary for the computer's boot-up process. It retains its contents even when the power is turned off.
    • Cache Memory: Cache is a small and fast memory located closer to the CPU. It stores frequently accessed data to speed up the processing.
  2. Secondary Storage (Mass Storage):

    • Hard Disk Drive (HDD): HDDs use magnetic storage to store data on rotating platters. They provide relatively large storage capacities and are commonly used in computers and laptops for long-term data storage.
    • Solid-State Drive (SSD): SSDs use NAND flash memory to store data, offering faster read and write speeds than HDDs. They are more durable and consume less power, making them increasingly popular in modern computers.
    • Optical Discs: CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are examples of optical storage media. They are mainly used for distribution of software, music, movies, and archival purposes.
    • USB Flash Drives: Also known as thumb drives or pen drives, these portable storage devices use flash memory to store data and can be easily connected to a computer's USB port.
    • Memory Cards: Memory cards, such as SD cards and microSD cards, are used in various devices like cameras, smartphones, and tablets to store data, photos, videos, etc.
    • External Hard Drives: These are HDDs or SSDs contained within an external enclosure, allowing users to expand their computer's storage capacity or create backups.
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A company has decided to deliver its products online to international customers. It has employed you as a project manager to determine whether this is a viable business decision. You choose to conduct a feasibility study. Outline the purpose of a feasibility study using two components associated with this process.

  • It covers many aspects that will be used to decide whether to go ahead with the project or not.
  • The main components are technical, operational, economic, legal and scheduling.
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Computer Studies KCSE 2006 Paper 1

SECTION A (40 MARKS)

1.What is meant by

    a)Analogue data

     b)Digital data                           (4 mks)

2. Distinguish between transcription and transposition types of errors and give an example of each  (4mks)

3. a)What are peripheral devices?  (1mk)

   b)Give two examples of peripheral devices  (1mk)

4a)What meant by the term user-friendly as used in software development? (1mk)

  b)Distinguish between the terms single-tasking and multi-user as used in operating systems  (2mks)

5.What actions should be taken in case of a fire outbreak in the computer laboratory?  (4mks)

6a) What is an Internet Service Provider?    (1mk)

  b) An employee in a business company is charged with the responsibility of putting the company advertisements on the Internet.

 i) State the professional title of the employee. (1mk)

ii) Give an example of software used by this employee to carry out the above task.    (1mk)

7.Differentiate between COM ports and LPT ports     (2mks)

8.Explain two ways in which ICT can enhance commerce.  (2mks)

9. Explain the following software terms:

    a) Portability       (1 mk)

    b) Modularity      (1 mk)

10. a) State two application areas of desktop publishing software. (2mks)

     b) Explain the following graphic terms:                                                                                     

     i) Rotate (1 mk)

    ii) Crop  (1mk)

12. a)List two arithmetic operations that can be performed on a row of numeric data in a word processing table.    (1 mk)

     b) In each case of (a) above, write the expression used.  (2mks)

13. List two methods of gathering information during the system development process   (2mks)

14.Name three types of optical disks.(3mks)

15.The diagram below shows a formatted plate surface of a storage disk.

 

 

 

            Shade and label:

            a)         one sector                                                                                ( 1mk)

            b)         One block                                                                                (1mk)

SECTION B (60 MKS)

Answer question 16 and any other three questions from this section in the  space provided

16 a) List two examples of:

       i) Third generation languages    (2mks)

       ii) Object oriented languages    (2 mks)

b) Draw a flowchart to compare three non-equal numeric values A, B, C and prints the largest of the three. (11 mks)

17 a) One of the functions of an operating system is job scheduling.  Explain what is meant by job scheduling.   (1mk)

    b)List and explain three types of user interfaces.                      (6 mks)

    c)Describe the following categories of software:

       i) Firmware                 (1mk)

       ii) Proprietary software  (1mk)

     d) a new company XYZ intends to go into the business of desktop publishing. Advise the company on three computer hardware system specification features to consider as a measure of enhancing performance. (6 mks)

18. a) distinguish between the following sets of terms as used in spreadsheets.        (2mks)

     i)Worksheet and workbook

     ii) Filtering and sorting

     b) State one way in which a user may reverse the last action taken in a spreadsheet package.        (1 mk)

     c)The following is a sample of a payroll. The worksheet row and column headings are marked  1, 2, 3, .  and A, B, C.  respectively

 

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The website has a uniform resource locator (URL).
An example of a URL is given.
https://www.google.co.ke/index.html
Complete the table to identify the name of each section of the URL.

https :  protocol

google.co.ke: domain name

/index.html: webpage/file name

 

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List two areas where infrared waves are used in data communication.

TV remote, wireless mouse , wireless keyboard, used by robots to gauge distance and avoid obstacles,

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