1.

5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

Q1 2015-June, P32
6. A team of programmers has developed software using a variety of languages and software tools. Some
of the code was written in the XYZ high-level language and some in assembly language. The programmers
have also made use of program libraries.

The programmers had available both a compiler and an interpreter for the high-level code written. Some
of the early error detection was carried out using an interpreter.

R
The diagram opposite shows the complete development life cycle, finishing with the final executable

KU
code.

c) Describe one benefit and one drawback of using an interpreter for part of the software development.

………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….

A
…….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]

Q2 2015-June, P12
TH
6 (a) Name the most suitable input or output device for each of the following uses.

Give a different device in each case.

ED
HM

(b) All of the uses in part (a) involve the input or output of data.

(i) Describe two methods of preventing accidental loss of data.

A

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. …………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

(ii) Describe one way of ensuring the security of the data against malicious damage.

.................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................... [1]

Q3 2014-Nov, P32

R
5. (a) An assembler translates assembly language programs. A compiler translates high-level
language programs. They each do this for programs written in a particular language and for a
particular processor.

KU
Name two features which these translators have in common.

1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............

………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
TH
(b) In the early stages of program development, a source program usually has errors. Each statement
below (labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) describes one step in the development of the machine code
version of an assembly language program.

Note: One of the steps given is not relevant and will not be used.
ED
HM
A

Put the steps in the correct sequence to describe the assembly process.

The first two steps, G and E, have been placed for you.

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

R
KU
(c) A developer writes programs in a high-level language. Both an interpreter and compiler exist for the
language.

A
(i) Describe two benefits that the use of an interpreter would offer.

……………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………
TH
……………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]

(ii) Describe one drawback in the use of an interpreter.

ED

……………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
HM

Q4 2014-Nov, 13
4. (a) What is meant by a computer virus?

………..…………………………………………………………………………………...………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]

(b) It is important to protect a computer system from viruses.

Describe three different ways to do this.

A

1. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

3. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [3]

Q5 2013-June, P33
5 (a) Describe four differences between using a compiler or interpreter for the translation process and
the execution of a high-level language source code program.

R
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

KU
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

A
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
TH
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………………. [4]

Q6 2013-Nov, P12
1 Some students decide to do a survey to find out how good the general public are at Mathematics. They
produce a series of questions. For each question, an answer is chosen by shading in a lozenge on a survey
form. These survey forms are then automatically read using optical mark recognition (OMR). The
ED

computer software automatically decides which questions have been answered correctly.

(b) These surveys produced a lot of data. The students decided to run a file compression utility.
HM

(i) Describe why file compression would be useful in this application.

….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

….……………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………..……………………………………….……………………………………………………. [2]

(ii) The students frequently send each other emails with file attachments. Describe two different
A

file types where compression can be used.

….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

….……………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………..……………………………………….……………………………………………………. [2]

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

Q7 2013-Nov, P11

5 (c) Once a week the user runs a virus checker. What action will be taken if the virus checker a virus in a
file?

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

R
…………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

KU
……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………. [2]

Q8 2012-Nov, P33
4 Two types of software which are used to translate high-level programs are a compiler and an interpreter.

A
(a) Name two outputs produced by the compiler.

…………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………. [2]
TH
(b) Describe two advantages of using an interpreter rather than a compiler.

1. ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……….........................................................................................................................................

2. ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ED

……….................................................................................................................................... [2]

Q9 2012-Nov, P12
4 A student has a stand-alone computer at home. Describe the following examples of utility software and
HM

state how they would be used by the student

(i) Disk formatter

Description……………………..………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
A

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………… [2]

Use……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) File compression

Description……………………..………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………… [2]

Use……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………

R
……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

KU
Q10 2012-Nov, P11
4 A teacher is responsible for the maintenance of the school network. Describe the following examples of
utility software and state how they would be used by the teacher.

A
(i) Hardware driver

Description……………………..………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
TH
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………… [2]

Use……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
ED

(ii) Virus checker

Description……………………..………..………………………………………………………………………………………………….
HM

……….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………… [2]

Use……………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………..………………………

……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
A

Q11 2011-Nov, P31

9 (b) (i) Explain the value of using library routines when writing new programs.

….……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

….……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

….……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885
 1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE AHMED THAKUR

1.5 SYSTEM SOFTWARE – EXERCISE

….……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………… [2]

Q12 2010-Nov, P12

1 Describe four functions of an operating system.

R
………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

KU
………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

A
………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
TH
………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………..……………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
ED

………..………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [8]

Q13 2010-June, P32

1 (a) Explain the differences between using a compiler and an interpreter for:
HM

(i) The translation of a high-level language program

………..………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………..

……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]
A

(ii) The execution of a high-level language program

………..………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………..

……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]

COMPUTER SCIENCE https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAComputers/

9608 [email protected], 0300-8268885