The City School

Mid-Year Examination 2023 - 2024

Student’s Name Student ID Section

Teacher’s Name Campus Name

COMPUTING December 2023

CLASS 8 1 hour 30 minutes

--- For Examiner’s use only ---

Question Max. Marks

INSTRUCTIONS No. Marks Obtained
1 5
 Enter your Full Name, Student ID, Section,
2 5
Subject Teacher’s Name and Campus Name in the
boxes above.
1 4
 Write your answer to each question in the spaces 2 4
provided. 3 4
4 7
 You should show all your working where
appropriate.
5 3
6 6
7 4
8 4
9 4

Invigilated by: ______________________________ Total

50
marks
Marked by: ________________________________
Percentage
Marks entered by: __________________________

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 1 of 11
 Objective type
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

[5]
1. Why do search engines exist?
a) To gather data
b) To create reports
c) To protect personal information
d) To identify error

2. Why is it important to use keywords when searching on the internet?

a) To confuse search engines
b) To make your search results more colorful
c) To narrow down and specify your search
d) To increase your internet speed
3. Why would you use Boolean operators when conducting an online search?
a) To enhance security
b) To identify fake news
c) To specify your search criteria
d) To protect personal information

4. Why is citing sources ethically important when using information from the internet?
a) To secure search
b) To avoid cyberbullying
c) To understand digital resilience
d) To give credit to the original creators

5. Why should you be cautious about sharing personal information on the internet?
a) To collect data
b) To understand digital resilience
c) To safeguard private data
d) To discern false information.

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 2 of 11
Fill in the Blank: [5]
1. To extract information from different websites, you need to search effectively using keywords.
2. Using Boolean and arithmetic operators can help you refine your online searches.
3. It's essential to protect personal information and maintain privacy when browsing the internet.
4. Understanding digital resilience involves being aware of online risks and taking precautions.
5. One way to combat cyberbullying is to learn how to identify it and prevent harm to yourself and
others.

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 3 of 11
 Subjective Type
Q1: [4]

John and Wills are working on a graphic design project for a school event poster. They would use
Select and cut out an image of a mascot from its background. Afterward, they blend it to make the
mascot seamlessly with the poster's background.

Part a:

How does the use of the "Magic Wand" for selecting objects in graphic design relate to the concept of
image masking?

Answer: The use of the "Magic Wand tool" for selecting objects in graphic design is closely related
to the concept of image masking. Image masking involves isolating specific areas or objects within
an image while preserving the quality of the edges.

Part b:

When utilizing "Layer Blending Methods" in graphic design, how does the selection of blending mode
influence the interaction between various layers?

Answer: When applying "Layer Blending Methods" in graphic design, the choice of blending
mode determines how the pixels in one layer interact with pixels in the layers below it. Different
blending modes create various effects, such as making layers appear transparent, altering color
interactions, or emphasizing contrasts.

Part c:

How can selecting and refining a complex object's edges impact the final result of the composition?

The accuracy of selecting complex object edges impacts the final composition's realism and quality.
Inadequate selection can result in noticeable artifacts or irregular edges, detracting from the
overall visual appeal. Properly selected edges ensure that the object seamlessly integrates into the
new background.

Part d:

In the context of graphic design, what factors might influence a designer's choice to use pen tool?

Answer: The Pen tool depends on the complexity of the object and the desired level of precision. In
contrast, manual tracing with the Pen tool provides greater control over complex shapes, especially
those with curves or irregularities.

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 4 of 11
Q2: [4]

Ahmad has a photo that needs some enhancements for a photography class project. He wants to
adjust the colors to change the photo's color tones. Additionally, he also needs to remove blemishes
and imperfections from the subject's face.

Part a:

How does the "Hue and Saturation" adjustment affect the colors in a digital image?

Answer: The "Hue and Saturation" adjustment allows photographers and designers to manipulate
the colors in a digital image. It primarily affects the hue (the actual color), saturation (intensity of
the color), and lightness of specific color ranges within the image. By adjusting these parameters,
one can enhance or alter the overall mood and tone of a photograph.

Part b:

When using "Retouch Tools" in photo editing, what ethical considerations should a photographer or
designer keep in mind?

Answer: When using "Retouch Tools" in photo editing, ethical considerations are essential. These
considerations relate to the concept of image authenticity and manipulation. It's important to
strike a balance between enhancing the subject's appearance and maintaining the truthfulness of
the photograph.

Part c:

Explain the importance of understanding color theory and color psychology when making adjustments
with the "Hue and Saturation" tool. ?

Answer: Understanding color theory and color psychology is vital when using the "Hue and
Saturation" tool. Color theory helps photographers and designers make informed decisions about
color adjustments. Different colors evoke specific emotions and convey particular messages.

Part d:

In the context of photo enhancement, Discuss the balance between preserving the authenticity of a
photograph and making necessary retouches. ?

Answer: The balance between preserving the authenticity of a photograph and making necessary
retouches is crucial. Excessive retouching, often referred to as "photoshopping," can lead to
unrealistic and misleading representations. This can impact the credibility and integrity of an
image, especially in journalism or documentary photography.

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 5 of 11
Q3 [4]

Jonathan is designing a digital banner for a club event. Explain how he would create and format
text and to add a drop shadow and bevel & emboss effect to make the text pop. He also wants to
create a colorful background, and apply a border around important elements.

Part a

How does the use of layer styles, such as drop shadow and bevel enhance the visual appeal of text and
design elements in digital graphics?

Layer styles like drop shadow enhance the visual appeal by creating a sense of depth and
separation, making text or design elements appear to lift off the background, adding visual interest
and a three-dimensional effect. They can make objects stand out and appear more realistic in
digital graphics.

Part b

When working with text layers and layer styles, explain the significance of understanding the principles
of typography.

Understanding typography principles is crucial when working with text layers and layer styles
because it allows designers to make informed choices about font selection, spacing, and alignment,
ensuring that the text complements the overall design, is easy to read, and conveys the intended
message effectively.

Part c

How can layer styles, gradients, and stroke borders be used to establish visual hierarchy and guide the
viewer's attention within a composition?

Using layer styles strategically helps establish hierarchy, with more prominent elements using
stronger effects. This allows designers to direct the viewer's focus, ensuring that key information is
noticed first and supporting the overall message of the composition.

Part d

Explain how designers can effectively use text and visual effects to convey a narrative.

Layer styles, such as color gradients and opacity adjustments, can set the mood and emotional tone
of the narrative. Effective use of text and visual effects ensures that the graphic design project
communicates its intended message, engages the viewer, and conveys a compelling story or
message.

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 6 of 11
 Q1: [7]

A garden centre sells garden tools and stores details of these in a database table named TOOLS.
Code is the primary key in the TOOLS table.

Code Description Price ($) Quantity_Stock Quantity_Ordered

GFLG Garden Fork 50.00 1 50
GSLG Garden Spade 50.00 11 0
GHLG Garden Hoe 45.00 8 0
HFSM Hand Fork 9.99 42 0
HSSM Hand Spade 9.99 40 0
HWSM Hand Weeder 9.99 11 0
HS20 Hose (20 metres) 45.00 10 0
HS35 Hose (35 metres) 60.00 2 0
HS50 Hose (50 metres) 75.00 20 60
YBLG Yard Brush 24.99 100 0
LMHD Lawn Mower 99.99 5 0
LMBT Lawn Mower (Battery) 249.99 7 0
LMPT Lawn Mower (Petrol) 349.99 10 25
TRBT Edge Trimmer (Battery) 79.99 15 0
TRPT Edge Trimmer (Petrol) 59.99 20 0
SHSM Shears 40.00 40 0
HCSM Hedge Clippers 40.00 45 0

(a) State the purpose of the primary key in the TOOLS table. [1]

The primary purpose of a primary key in a database is to uniquely identify each record or
row in a table. It ensures that there are no duplicate entries and enables efficient data
retrieval and management.

(b) List the output from the data shown in the table TOOLS that would be given by this query-by-
example.

Field:
The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 7 of 11
 Code Description Price ($) Quantity_Stoc Quantity_Ordered
k
Table: TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS
Sort: Descending
Show:
Criteria: >40 >0 >0
Or:

 It would display all the fields (Code, Description, Quantity_Ordered)

 for the qualifying records in descending order,
 Based on the criteria where price is greater than 40, the quantity ordered is greater than 0
[3]

(c) Complete the query-by-example grid to output the tools where the quantity in stock is
below 25. Only show the Code, Description, and Quantity Stock fields in ascending order of
Code. [3]

Field: Code Description Price ($) Quantity_Stoc Quantity_Ordered

k
Table: TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS TOOLS
Sort: Ascending
Show:
Criteria: >40 >0 >0
Or:

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 8 of 11
 Q2: [6]
A database, PROPERTY, was set up to show the prices of properties for sale and the features of
each property. Part of the database is shown below.

Brochure Number of Number of Price

Property Type Garden Garage in $
No Bedrooms Bathrooms

Bungalow B17 7 4 Yes Yes 750,000

Apartment A09 2 1 No No 100,000
House H10 4 2 Yes No 450,000
House H13 3 2 Yes No 399,000
Apartment A01 2 2 No Yes 95,000
Apartment A16 1 1 No No 150,000
House H23 3 1 No Yes 250,000
House H46 2 1 Yes Yes 175,000

(a) Give the number of fields that are in each record.

7 fields
.............................................................................................................................................. .[1]

(b) State which field you would choose for the primary key.
Brochure No
...................................................................................................................................................

Give a reason for choosing this field.

Uniquely identifies each property

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

(c) State the data type you would choose for each of the following fields.
Boolean
Garage .....................................................................................................................................

Number of Bedrooms ........... Number/Integer/Single

Price in $ .................. Number/Single/Real/Currency [3]

The City School / Unified Mid-Year Examination, December 2023 / Computing / Class 8 Page 9 of 11
Q3: [4]

John is working on creating a database for a car rental company. He wants to ensure that each
vehicle in the database can be uniquely identified. How can he use a primary key to achieve this?
[1]
John can use a primary key in the car rental company's database by assigning a unique
identifier, such as a vehicle identification number (VIN) or a registration number, to each
vehicle. This primary key ensures that no two vehicles share the same identifier,
guaranteeing each vehicle's unique identification in the database.

Why is it important to have a primary key in a database table? [1]

primary key is essential in a database table to ensure each record has a unique identifier,
facilitating data retrieval and maintaining data integrity.

What role does a foreign key play in establishing relationships between tables in a database?

A foreign key links records in one table to the primary key of another table, establishing
relationships and enforcing referential integrity in a database.
[1]
Sarah is designing a database for a school, where students are associated with specific courses.
She wants to ensure that each student's enrolment is properly linked to the corresponding course.
How can she use foreign keys to achieve this?
[1]

Sarah can use foreign keys by adding a course ID from the "courses" table as a foreign key
in the "students" table, linking each student's enrollment to a specific course.

Q5: [4]
What is the purpose of using forms in a database? How can forms simplify data entry for users?

Forms in a database make it easier for users to enter and edit data by providing user-
friendly, organized layouts, reducing the need to work directly with complex tables.
[2]

What are reports, and why are they useful in a database? [2]

Reports in a database are like well-organized summaries of data. They are useful because
they help people see and understand information from the database in a clear and
structured way, making it easier to make decisions and share information.

Q6: [4]
Why is a database useful in organizing information? [1]

A database is useful in organizing information because it provides a structured and efficient

way to store, retrieve, and manage data.

Explain the difference between a table, a record, and a field in a database. [3]
- A table in a database is like a collection of related information, similar to a spreadsheet. It
has rows and columns to store data.
- A record is a single row in a table and contains all the information about one specific item
or entity, like one student or one product.
- A **field** is a single piece of information in a table, found in a column. It represents a
specific characteristic or attribute, like a student's name or a product's price.