2009 Paper2
Uploaded by
Tonderai Mayisiri2009 Paper2
Uploaded by
Tonderai MayisiriZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
COMPUTING 9195/2 -
PAPER 2
NOVEMBER 2009 SESSION 3 hours
Additional materials:
Answer paper
•
TIME 3 hours
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name, Centre number and candidate number in the spaces provided on the answer
paper/answer booklet.
Answer all questions.
Write your answers on the separate answ-er paper provided.
If you use more than one sheet of paper, fasten the sheets together.
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES
The number of marks is given in brackets [ Iat the end of each question or part question.
You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers.
This question paper consists of 5 printed pages and 3 blank pages.
Copyright: Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, N2009.
©ZIMSEC N2009
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1 (a) Explain why the main memory is usually referred to as random access
memory (RAM). [1]
(b) State the importance of read only memory (ROM). [1]
2 (a) State why employee number and stock number are often chosen as
primary keys to employee and stock records rather than employee name
. or stock description. [2]
(b) Describe one major danger of having many separate file systems that
contain common data. [1]
3 Explain two possible problems which are encountered in transferring data
between two different computers running on different operating systems. [4]
4 When data is being sent to a printer, an interrupt may occur.
(a) State two reasons why an interrupt might occur in this case. [2]
(b) Interrupts can be given priorities. Give two examples of interrupts
which are likely to have higher priorities than an interrupt from the
printer. [2]
5 When deciding which file structure to use for a particular application, one must
choose between fixed length and variable length records.
(a) State
(i) two advantages, and
(ii) one disadvantage of using variable length records. [3]
(b) Describe one example when it would be more appropriate to use a
variable length record. [2]
~
6 (i) Convert the following expressions into Reverse Polish (post fix)
expressions,
(a) a*c + (b - d) *e [2]
(b) (m+ nip)! (q -r) [2]
(ii) Convert the following Reverse Polish into infix form.
ab + cd -* af/* [2]
9195/2 N2009
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7 (a) Describe two properties of each of the following types of languages.
(i) declarative
(ii) imperative [4]
(b) Give an example of each type oflanguage in (a). [2]
(c) Explain why declarative languages are more popularly used by
programmers. [1]
8 Describe each of the following components in the Memory Unit:
(a) memory address register
(b) address decoder
(c) main store
(d) memory data register
[8]
9 (a) Describe the following terms of addressing:
(i) immediate
(ii) direct
(iii) indirect
(iv) indexed
(v) relative
[5]
(b) State the purpose served by the following registers.
(i) memory buffer
(ii) status [4]
9195/2 N2009
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10 (a) High level languages have many facilities not found in low level languages.
Identify three facilities. [3]
(b) (i) Distinguish iteration and recursion giving an example of each. [4]
(ii) State two disadvantages of using recursive routines. [2]
11 (a) A rural hospital intends to network all their computers which are in
wards and administration block. Briefly highlight two advantages of
networking the hospital using
(i) star topology,
(ii) ring topology, '
(iii) bus topology.
[6]
(b) How would networking of the hospital help the following:
(i) admission clerk,
(ii) hospital doctor on duty,
(iii) .jnformation desk,
(iv) hospital canteen.
[4]
12 (a) Explain the following terms:
(i) spooling
(ii) polling
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-•...•
(iii) interrupt [6]
(b) The primary storage of a computer consists of Random Access Memory
and Read Only Memory.
(i) Distinguish between the two types of memory. [2]
(ii) Explain one use of each of the two memory types for a desktop
computer used in the school secretary's office. [2]
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13 (a) Differentiate a linked list and an array. [4]
(b) Describe the following tree traversal methods:
(i) inorder
(ii) preorder [6]
(c) Outline the importance of performing an inorder traversal on a binary
tree. [1]
14 Explain the following terms:
(a) control unit
(b) accumulator
",-.. (c) memory data register
(d) eIR
(e) internal bus
(f) memory address register
[12]
.,.....
919512 N2009
