Modern Database Management, 13e (Hoffer)

Chapter 13 Distributed Databases

1) A(n) ________ is a database stored on multiple computers in multiple locations that are NOT
connected by a data communications link.
A) distributed database
B) decentralized database
C) unlinked database
D) data repository
Answer: B
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

2) Which of the following are business conditions that encourage the use of distributed
databases?
A) Companies with less than 10 employees
B) Lack of Data sharing needs
C) Data communication reliability
D) Companies that only store data on spreadsheets
Answer: C
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

3) Which of the following environments uses the same DBMS at each node with a central or
master DBMS coordinating database access across nodes?
A) Centralized; maximum
B) Centralized; minimum
C) Homogeneous; nonautonomous
D) Federated; nonautonomous
Answer: C
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

1
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
4) Which of the following environments uses a different DBMS at each node and supports local
databases for unique data requests?
A) Gateways; local
B) Centralized; minimum
C) Homogeneous; cross-linked
D) Heterogeneous; federated
Answer: D
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

5) Which of the following supports a simple path to other databases, without the benefits of one
logical database?
A) Linked; differential
B) Gateways
C) Autonomous; cross-linked
D) Federated; nonautonomous
Answer: B
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

6) Which of the following characterizes homogeneous environments?

A) Contains simple pathways
B) Same DBMS used at all locations
C) Some users require only local access
D) Cross-linked systems easily communicate
Answer: B
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

7) ________ is a design goal for a distributed database, which says a user does not need to know
the location of data to use the data.
A) Location transparency
B) Location autonomy
C) Location dependency
D) Distributed locatability
Answer: A
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

2
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
8) Simple paths to other databases without the benefits of one logical database are called:
A) freeways.
B) parkways.
C) gateways.
D) highways.
Answer: C
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

9) ________ is a design goal for a distributed database that says a site can independently
administer and operate its database.
A) Remote autonomy
B) Local authority
C) Local autonomy
D) Location transparency
Answer: C
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

10) Which of the following is true of distributed databases?

A) Less reliable
B) Better local control
C) Slower response time
D) Centralized
Answer: B
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

11) A form of distributed database in which all data across a network are kept continuously
updated, so a user can access any data anywhere on the network and get the same answer is
called a(n) ________ distributed database.
A) synchronous
B) asynchronous
C) private
D) cloud-based
Answer: A
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

3
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
12) ________ is an application that can effectively employ snapshot replication in a distributed
environment.
A) Data cloning
B) Data replication
C) Distributed data
D) Data warehousing
Answer: D
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

13) Which of the following is true of data replication?

A) Reduced storage requirements
B) Slower response
C) Node decoupling
D) Requires Oracle
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

14) All of the following are disadvantages of data replication EXCEPT:

A) storage requirements.
B) reduced network traffic at prime time.
C) cost of updating.
D) complexity.
Answer: B
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

4
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
15) Data replication allowing for each transition to proceed without coordination is called:
A) reliability.
B) fast response.
C) node decoupling.
D) node coupling.
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

16) Snapshot replication is most appropriate for:

A) a data warehouse application.
B) an application where the processing of data follows a workflow across the business units.
C) a transaction processing system.
D) a spreadsheet application.
Answer: A
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

17) One way to generate, store, and forward messages for completed transactions to be broadcast
across a network is through the use of:
A) stored procedures.
B) triggers.
C) functions.
D) SQL statements.
Answer: B
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

5
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
18) With a pull strategy of replication, the ________ node determines when a database is
updated.
A) user
B) source
C) target
D) banner
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

19) Replication should be used when:

A) data currency and timing don't matter.
B) there is a highly heterogeneous network.
C) there are no or few triggers.
D) spreadsheet pages need to be linked.
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

20) Which of the following is true about horizontal partitioning?

A) Data can be stored to optimize local access.
B) Data are less secure.
C) There is consistent access speed.
D) It only works with Macintosh systems.
Answer: A
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

6
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
21) All of the following are advantages of horizontal partitioning EXCEPT:
A) efficiency.
B) security.
C) ease of querying.
D) easier to set up than horizontal partitioning.
Answer: D
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

22) A centralized strategy has ________ expandability.

A) excellent
B) good
C) poor
D) medium
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

23) A synchronized replication strategy has a(n) ________ reliability.

A) excellent
B) good
C) fair
D) medium
Answer: A
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

24) An integrated partition strategy is ________ to manage.

A) excellent
B) difficult
C) easy
D) medium
Answer: B
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
7
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
25) Which of the following factors in deciding on database distribution strategies is related to
autonomy of organizational units?
A) Organizational forces
B) Frequency of data access
C) Reliability needs
D) Organizational development
Answer: A
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

26) A distributed database must:

A) keep track of data locations.
B) present a single logical database that is physically distributed.
C) require Oracle.
D) require SQL Server.
Answer: B
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

27) In a distributed database, a transaction that requires reference to data at one or more nonlocal
sites is called a ________ transaction.
A) link
B) tight
C) global
D) loose
Answer: C
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

8
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
28) With ________, users can act as if all the data were located at a single node.
A) location transparency
B) local autonomy
C) client-based control
D) location consistency
Answer: A
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

29) A design goal for distributed databases to allow programmers to treat a data item replicated
at several sites as though it were at one site is called:
A) location transparency.
B) replication accessibility.
C) replication transparency.
D) data accessibility.
Answer: C
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

30) With ________, all of the actions of a transaction are either committed or not committed.
A) location transparency
B) replication transparency
C) failure transparency
D) commit transparency
Answer: C
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

9
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
31) An optimization strategy that allows sites that can update to proceed and other sites to catch
up is called:
A) read-only commit.
B) lazy commit.
C) sequenced commit.
D) linear set up.
Answer: B
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

32) ________ ensures that a transaction is successfully completed or else it is aborted.

A) Failure protocol
B) TCP/IP protocol
C) Commit protocol
D) Go/No Go protocol
Answer: C
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

33) A design goal for distributed databases that states that although a distributed database runs
many transactions, it appears that a given transaction is the only one in the system is called:
A) linear run.
B) concurrency transparency.
C) transaction CPU transparency.
D) location transparency.
Answer: B
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

10
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
34) The step in which a distributed database decides the order in which to execute the distributed
query is called:
A) decomposition.
B) localization.
C) step optimization.
D) global optimization.
Answer: D
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

35) A joining operation in which only the joining attribute from one site is transmitted to the
other site is called a(n):
A) attribute linkup.
B) key data element transfer.
C) key data element join.
D) semijoin.
Answer: D
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

36) The sequence of instructions required to process a transaction is called the:

A) unit of work.
B) logical program unit.
C) rollback.
D) commit.
Answer: A
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

11
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
37) A ________ allows a single SQL statement to refer to tables in more than one remote
DBMS.
A) distributed UOW
B) join SQL statement
C) distributed request
D) data transfer command
Answer: C
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

38) A distributed database is NOT just a collection of files.

Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

39) Distributed databases make data sharing more difficult because of the data communication
problems.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

40) Distributed databases do not easily satisfy both transaction and analytical processing
systems.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

41) A distributed database is a single logical database spread physically across computers in
multiple locations that are connected by a data communication link.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology
12
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
42) In a homogeneous environment, the same DBMS is used at each location.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

43) In a heterogeneous environment, not all users use the same DBMS.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

44) Users of distributed database systems always need to know the location of the data.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

45) Local autonomy means that data are not accessible from remote sites.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

46) With an asynchronous distributed database, all data across the network is continuously kept
up to date.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

47) An environment in which data are distributed across all nodes, and there is a global schema,
is called a heterogenous environment.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

13
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
48) A distributed database may require more costly and complex software than a centralized
database.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

49) Location efficiency enables a user to access data without knowing exactly where the data are
located.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

50) Replicated databases usually result in tightly coupled nodes.

Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

51) Replication is often used for noncollaborative data.

Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

52) Replication should NOT be used if timely updates are important.

Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

14
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
53) Applications such as decision support or data warehousing often do not require current data
and are supported by periodic snapshots.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

54) Shared ownership of data is most appropriate as business activities move across time zones.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

55) One way to generate messages for near-real-time replication is through the use of database
triggers.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

56) Applications that can tolerate out-of-date data are not the best candidates for data replication.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

57) Horizontal partitioning offers increased efficiency because data are close to use areas.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

15
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
58) Combining data across vertical partitions is generally more difficult than combining across
horizontal partitions.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

59) The overriding principle in distributed database design is that data should be stored at one
central site.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

60) When separate copies of data are stored at each of two or more sites, it is called replication.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

61) In a push replication strategy, the target, not the source, controls when a local database is
updated.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

62) Horizontal partitioning is implemented by placing some rows of a table at one site and other
rows at another site.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

16
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
63) Organizational forces such as funding availability drive the choice of distributed database
strategy.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

64) The reliability of a decentralized distributed database system with independent partitions is
poor.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

65) A replicated database with snapshots is very manageable.

Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

66) A distributed DBMS must provide consistency among copies of data across the remote sites.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

67) A local transaction is one that requires reference only to data that are stored at the site where
the transaction originates.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

17
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
68) Location transparency is used to inform users of where data are located within the distributed
database.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

69) Replication transparency allows a programmer or user to treat a replicated data item as if it
were a single item at a single node.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

70) A transaction manager is an algorithm that coordinates updates or aborts them.

Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

71) Failure transparency is a design goal for distributed databases that guarantees that all the
actions associated with a transaction are either committed or none of them are committed.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

72) Two-phase commit is an algorithm for coordinating deletions in a distributed database

management system.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

18
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
73) With a two-phase commit strategy for synchronizing distributed data, committing a
transaction is faster than if the originating location were able to work alone.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

74) Concurrency transparency allows each transaction to appear as if it were the only activity in
a distributed database management system.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

75) The purpose of time-stamping is to allow transactions to be processed in parallel.

Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

76) In general, data should be located away from the applications that use those data.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

77) Scalability is the ability to grow, reduce in size, and become more heterogeneous as the
needs of the business change.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

19
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
78) A transaction that requires only reference to data that are stored at the site is a remote
transaction.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

79) A transaction that requires reference to data at one or more nonlocal sites to satisfy the
request is a global transaction.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

80) Location translucency enables users and programmers to treat data as if it were located at one
node even though it may move from node to node.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

81) Replication transparency is a design goal in distributed database systems, which says that
even though a data item may be replicated at several nodes throughout the network, a user may
treat the data item as if it were a single data item at a single node.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

82) The transaction processor at each site maintains an appropriate concurrency scheme to
ensure data integrity during parallel execution of transactions at that site.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

20
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
83) Data localization involves transforming a query into fragments that explicitly reference data
at one site.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

84) In a semijoin, all of the selected attributes from every selected row are transmitted to each
site.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

85) A remote unit of work allows updates at the single remote computer.
Answer: TRUE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Easy
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

86) A distributed unit of work does not support location transparency.

Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

87) A distributed unit of work allows a single SQL UPDATE statement to update data at more
than one location.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

21
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
88) A distributed request allows a single SQL statement to refer to tables in more than one
remote DBMS.
Answer: FALSE
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Concept
AACSB: Information Technology

89) What business conditions encourage the use of distributed databases?

Answer: There are several business conditions which encourage the use of distributed databases:
1. Distribution and autonomy of business units
2. Data sharing
3. Data communication costs and reliability
4. Multiple application vendor environment
5. Database recovery
6. Satisfying both transaction and analytical processing
LO: 13.2: Explain the business conditions that are drivers for the use of distributed databases in
organizations.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

90) Describe the range of distributed database environments.

Answer: The range of distributed databases falls into two categories: homogeneous and
heterogeneous. Homogeneous environments have the same DBMS at each node, either working
independently, called autonomous, or using a central DBMS to coordinate database access and
updates across nodes. Heterogeneous environments can have different DBMSs at each node and
can either be systems or gateways. A gateway is simply a path to other databases. Systems can
either include full database functionality or partial database functionality.
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

91) Explain the difference between a synchronous and asynchronous distributed database.
Answer: A synchronous distributed database keeps all data constantly up to date across the
network. A user at any site can access data anywhere on the network at any time and get the
same result. An asynchronous distributed database keeps replicated copies of databases on local
servers. In this way, local servers can access data without reaching out across the network.
LO: 13.3: Describe the salient characteristics of a variety of distributed database environments.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

22
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
92) What are the functions of a distributed DBMS?
Answer: In a distributed database environment, the local database at each site will have a DBMS
managing the local database. However, there is a centralized DBMS which handles the
following:
1. Keeping track of where data are located in the distributed data dictionary
2. Determine the location from which to retrieve requested data and the location at which to
process each part of a distributed query
3. Translate the request at one node using a local DBMS into a request at another node, perhaps
using a different DBMS
4. Provide security, concurrency, deadlock control and other data management functions
5. Provide consistency among copies of data across multiple sites
6. Provide a single logical database that is physically distributed
7. Provide scalability
8. Replicate data and stored procedures across the nodes of the distributed database
9. Use residual computing power to improve the performance of database processing
10. Permit different nodes to run different DBMSs
11. Allow different versions of application code to reside on different nodes of the distributed
database
LO: 13.4: Explain the potential advantages and risks associated with distributed databases.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

93) What is data replication?

Answer: Data replication is a popular option for data distribution in which a copy of the
database is stored at two or more sites. This makes for a fault tolerant system. Replication may
use either synchronous or asynchronous distributed database technologies. In most cases,
asynchronous technology is used. By having multiple copies of the database, reliability is
increased as well as response time, since queries can be done against a local copy of the
database. Also, network traffic is reduced. A disadvantage of data replication is that a full copy
of the database must be stored at each site, which increases storage costs.
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

23
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
94) Discuss the different types of data replication.
Answer: There are several different types of replication that can be employed. Snapshot
replication allows the replicated database to be updated for a snapshot of time. This works best
for data warehousing applications, since real-time data is not needed. Near-real-time replication
broadcasts information about each completed transaction across the network, asking each node to
update the data as soon as possible. Another type is pull replication, where the local database
determines when it needs to be updated. The advantage here is that the local site controls when it
needs and can handle updates.
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

95) What is horizontal and vertical partitioning?

Answer: With horizontal partitioning, some of the rows of a table are put in one table at one site
and other rows of the table are put in one table at another site. There are four major advantages to
horizontal partitioning: efficiency, since data are stored close to where they are; local
optimization; security: it is easier to control who has access to a set of data at one site; and ease
of querying. Vertical partitioning splits a table up by columns, so that some columns are in one
table at one location and other columns are in another location.
LO: 13.5: Explain four strategies for the design of distributed databases, options within each
strategy, and the factors to consider in selecting among these strategies.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

96) What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a distributed database?
Answer: Either form of distributed databases has numerous advantages, including:
1. Increased reliability and availability
2. Local control
3. Modular growth
4. Lower communication costs
5. Faster response
There are also some costs and disadvantages associated with distributed databases, including:
1. Software cost and complexity
2. Processing overhead
3. Data integrity
4. Slow response
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

24
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
97) What are the five unique ways that a data distribution strategy can be organized?
Answer: A distributed database can be organized in five unique ways:
1.Totally centralized at one location and accessed from many different locations
2. Partially or totally replicated across distributed sites with each copy updated with snapshots
3. Partially or totally replicated across distributed sites with near-real-time synchronization of
updates
4. Partitioned into segments at multiple locations, but considered to be one logical database
5. Partitioned into nonintegrated segments spanning multiple computers
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

98) What is the difference between a local transaction and a global transaction?
Answer: A local transaction is one in a distributed database environment that requires reference
to data that are stored at the site where the transaction originates. A global transaction requires
reference to data in one or more nonlocal sites.
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

99) What are the three different kinds of transparencies used in distributed database management
systems?
Answer: Transparency isolates a user from the complexities of the distributed database
management system. Location transparency makes data appear to the user like it is all in one
place. Replication transparency allows the user to treat data as if it were on one node, even
though it may be replicated at many different sites. Failure transparency ensures that either all
actions of a transaction are committed or not.
LO: 13.6: State the relative advantages of synchronous and asynchronous data replication and
partitioning as three major approaches for distributed database design.
Difficulty: Moderate
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

25
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.
100) What are the three steps that a distributed DBMS uses to develop a query plan?
Answer:
1. Query decomposition–simplify and rewrite
2. Data localization–query is transformed to access data across network as if at one location
3. Global optimization–here decisions are made about the best way to execute the query
LO: 13.7: Outline the steps involved in processing a query in a distributed database and several
approaches used to optimize distributed query processing.
Difficulty: Difficult
Classification: Synthesis
AACSB: Reflective Thinking

26
Copyright © 2019 Pearson Education, Inc.