2000 CXC Past Papers

Attempt ALL Questions

1. Give ONE similarity and ONE difference between EACH of the following pairs:
(a) ROM and RAM (2 marks)
(b) ROM and EPROM (2 marks)
(c) Hard disk and floppy disk (2 marks)
(d) Primary storage and secondary storage (2 marks)
(e) Systems software and applications software (2 marks)

Total 10 marks

2. (a) Give BRIEF explanations for EACH of the following terms:

(i) Wordsize (1 mark)
(ii) Buffer (1 mark)
(iii) Microfilm (1 mark)
(iv) Bandwidth (1 mark)
(v) Wide area network (1 mark)

(b) (i) What is ‘electronic eavesdropping’? (1 mark)

(ii) What is ‘software piracy’? (1 mark)
(iii) State TWO ways in which software piracy may be controlled. (2 mark)

Total 9 marks

3. This question is based on the following extract:

Writing a program to solve problem

Before writing a program in a high level language, it is advisable to write an

algorithm that solves the problem. This algorithm can be written in pseudocode and
tested thoroughly for logic errors. First, you perform a dry-run of the algorithm using
a wide variety of test data to ensure that your algorithm works for all possible cases.
Next, convert your algorithm to the high-level language. Compile your program and
correct any syntax errors which you may have. Run your program and use the same
set of test data you used for the dry-run. If you get the same results, your program is
working correctly.

Explain the meanings of EACH of the underlined phrases (6 marks)

Suggested Response

(A) high level language: allows users to write in a familiar, more English-like notation, rather than
numbers or abbreviations.
(B) pseudocode: a set of English-like statements used to specify the logic of an algorithm.
(C) logic errors: errors which occur because of incorrect reasoning in a program.
(D) dry-run: the execution of a program by hand using appropriate test data.

Page 1 of 5
 2000 CXC Past Papers

(E) compile: the process of converting from high-level language to machine language. It also detects
errors in the use of the language.
(F) syntax errors: errors which occur when the rules for forming statements in a program are violated.

Total 6 marks

4. The InsureNow Insurance Company has its head office in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The company has one computer, on which it stores all company data. The company
handles a lot of confidential client data. Each client is assigned to a particular agent.
You do not want agents to see confidential information about other agents’ clients.

(a) How can you prevent agents from viewing one another’s confidential files?
(1 mark)
(b) State TWO precautionary measures that can be taken to ensure that, in the cases
of a fire, all client data is preserved. (2 marks)
(c) What can be done to ensure that the client data files are protected in the event
that the computer hard disk fails? (1 mark)
(d) It is sometimes necessary to send confidential data across the telephone line
(using a modem) to another branch of the company 25 miles away. How can the
company ensure that no one can eavesdrop on the data while it is being
transmitted? (1 mark)

Total 5 marks

5. (a) What is ‘teleconferencing’? (1 mark )

(b) State TWO advantages of teleconferencing. (2 marks)
(c) State FOUR hardware requirements for teleconferencing. (2 marks)

Total 5 marks

6. (a) (i) State ONE advantage of a machine language over a high-level language.
Machine language can be directly executed by the computer whereas high level language has to
be translated to machine language.
(1 mark)
(ii) State TWO advantage of high-level language over machine language.
- -It is easier to program using a high level language than machine language.
- The same program can run on a different make of computer, while a machine language program would
have to be completely re-coded to run on a different make of computer.

(2 marks)
(b) State THREE advantage of computer networks. (3 marks)

Total 6 marks

7. (a) Convert 9910 to its binary equivalent. (2 marks)

(b) Add the two binary numbers 1101012 and 110112, giving your answer in
decimal form. (3 marks)

Page 2 of 5
 2000 CXC Past Papers

(c) Explain how an integer can be represented using BCD (2 marks)

(d) Give the BCD representation of –6510. (2 marks)

Total 9 marks
8. (a) Write an algorithm which reads three values, a, b and c and print the largest of the
three. (4 marks)
Suggested Response

(a)READ a, b, c
IF a > b THEN
larger a
ELSE
larger b
END IF
IF c > larger THEN
larger c
END IF
PRINT larger

(b) This part is based on the algorithm given below:

Set A to 3
Set B to 5
Set SUM to 1
While A <= 50 do
A=A+B
B=B+A
SUM = SUM + B
Endwhile
Print SUM
Stop

Using the algorithm above:

(i) Copy and complete the trace table which follows. (5 marks)

A B SUM
3 5 1

(ii) State what is printed by the algorithm. (1 mark)

Page 3 of 5
 2000 CXC Past Papers

(i)
A B SUM
3 5 1
8 13 14
21 34 48
55 89 137

(ii) 137 is printed

Total 10 marks

9. Write an algorithm to read a positive integer N and find the average of all even
numbers between 1 and N inclusive. Perform any necessary validation.
(8 marks)
Suggested Response

READ N
IF N <= 0 THEN
PRINT “You must enter a positive number”
ELSE
sum 0
count 0
FOR j = 1 TO N DO
IF j % 2 = 0 THEN
sum sum + j
count count + 1
ENDIF
END FOR
IF count = 0 THEN
PRINT “There are no even numbers between 1 and “, N
ELSE
PRINT “Average is “, sum/count
END IF
END IF
STOP

Total 8 marks

10. Write an algorithm to read the names of 10 items and their prices, and print the
name of the item with the highest price. Assume that no items have the same
price. Data is supplied in the form: item1, price1, item2, price2, etc.

Page 4 of 5
 2000 CXC Past Papers

(7 marks)

Suggested Response

highPrice 0
FOR j = 1 TO 10 DO
READ item, price
IF price > highPrice THEN
highPrice price
expensiveItem item
END IF
END FOR
PRINT “Most expensive item: “, expensiveItem

Total 7 marks

END OF TEST

Page 5 of 5