Types of software, programming language, translator and IDE.

(System & Application software – High & Low level languages – Integrated
Development Environment)
Index : ................ Name : ........................................................... Grade – 10 (A/B)

1. Tick one box in each row to identify if the software is an example of system software or
application software.

Software System software Application software

Word processor  
Defragmenter  

Operating system  

Image manipulation  
System clean up  

Database  
Web browser  
Spreadsheet  
Device driver  

2. There are five types of software on the left and four items of hardware on the right.
Draw lines to connect each software item to the hardware item where the software will reside;
each hardware item may be used once, more than once or not at all.

Part of a program or OS CMOS (Complementary Metal

currently in use Oxide Semiconductor) battery
power chip.

the BIOS setting

Flash memory

the BIOS software

Hard disk drive (HDD)

Operating system software

Random Access Memory
(RAM)
Virus scanner software

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3. Which utility programs are being described below?

a) Software that runs in the background and checks for malware; suspect programs are
quarantined and deleted if necessary.

........ Anti-virus / Anti-malware

software ..............................................................................

b) Software that rearranges data on a hard disk drive (HDD) to reduce the scattering of the data
stored on the HDD.

........ Defragmenter / Defragmentation software ..................................................................

c) Software that manages access control and user accounts and also protect network interfaces.

........ Security
software .............................................................................................................

d) Program that supplies static or moving images on a monitor when the computer has been idle
for a period of time.

........ Screen saver ....................................................................................................................

e) Software that communicates with the operating system and translates data into a format
understood by an input/output device.

........ Device driver ..................................................................................................................

4. State the difference between system software and application software using an example of
each.

System software is designed to control hardware and provide platform for application
software to run on the computer. Application software is designed to do some specific task
as per user’s need, it runs over operating system. System software always runs in the
background to allows application software to interact with computer hardware.
Application software can be executed by user as and when they are required.

5. Describe what is meant by Utility system with example.

Utility software is a system software designed to analyze, configure, optimize or maintain a

computer and its resources. They are included with operating system or installed
separately.

Example – File manager, Anti-virus, File Compressor, Disk Defragmenter, Backup Utility,
Diagnostic Utility, etc.

6. Describe Operating system and its purpose.

Operating system is a set of system software that controls the hardware and helps other
application software to run on the computer. A computer can’t be used without operating

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 system. It runs in the background, providing security to the system and files. It provides
user interface to make use of computer.

7. a) Explain the differences between a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a Command Line
Interface (CLI).

GUI is a communication system with hardware and software which provides commands
and instruction in Graphical form to the user like, icons, menus, windows and pointer
to select and interact with computer. CLI is an Interface which provides a way to type-
in the command and instruction on the screen to get something done by the computer.

b) Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using GUI interface.

GUI is user-friendly; no need to remember commands; avoids typing errors. Programs

takes longer to execute in GUI than CLI, need large memory to run all programs.

c) Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using CLI interface.

CLI is faster, flexible and more accurate. It requires less memory. It needs only
keyboard. All commands need to be remembered.

8. An operating system performs memory management.

a) Describe memory management.

Manage primary RAM and allows data to be moved between RAM and HDD/SSD.
Keeps track of all the free and allocated memory locations. It ensures that two different
applications do not use the same memory locations at the same time.

b) Give four other functions of an operating system.

1. File management – allows to save, delete, rename, copy and move files.

2. Multi-tasking – allows more than one application to run at the same time.

3. Manages the User’s Account – provides user name and password to allow more than
one user to log into the computer.

3. Provides System security – prevent illegal intrusion; network security; ensures the
integrity and confidentiality of data through access rights and privileges.

9. a) Describe what is meant by Interrupt.

A signal sent from a device or a software to the CPU to get its attention; CPU stop its
current task temporarily and serve interrupt request. For example, interrupt can occur
when the user presses a key in the keyboard; when a paper jam occur in a printer;
when a software crashes.

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 b) A printer sends an interrupt to the computer to say that it is out of paper.
Describe the stages involved in the processor handling the interrupt.

When the Interrupt signal is sent to CPU, microprocessor checks its priority index in
the Interrupt Request Queue (IRQ). If the priority index of the interrupt received is
higher than the current task, then CPU stops and stores the current process. Checks the
source of the Interrupt and call the relevant Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) to serve
the Interrupt request. After finishing the Interrupt request, CPU restores and continue
with the stored process.

10. Describe what is meant by Multi-tasking.

It allows more than one program to run at a time. Operating system allocates CPU timing
for each process to do its task. Each process is given a priority level. Process with higher
priority is executed automatically by interrupting and saving the current process.

11. a) Describe what is meant by the term Buffer.

Buffer is a temporary memory usually in RAM that holds data right before it is used. It
is used to compensate the difference in processing speed of CPU and peripheral devices.
It allows the processor to perform other tasks while waiting to receive or send data to
input/output devices.

b) Describe how Interrupt and Buffer are used in the printing process of a large document.

A portion of data from the document to be printed is sent to the printer buffer from the
computer memory. Processor continues with other job. Printer buffer is emptied by
sending the contents to the printer. When print buffer is empty an Interrupt signal sent
to processor requesting further data to be sent to buffer. Processor stops its present job
to refill buffer. The process continues until the whole file is printed.

12. Describe what is meant by Utility software.

A system software designed to analyze, configure, optimize and maintain computer
resources like hardware, software and data storage. They are small programs generally
included with operating system or installed separately.

For example - File manager, File Compressor, Disk Scanner, Disk Defragmenter,
Diagnostic Utility, Antivirus, Backup Utility, Data Recovery Utility . . . etc.

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13. Describe what is meant by Virtual memory.
A volatile physical memory RAM created temporarily on the secondary storage like,
HDD/SSD. It is created when a computer is running many processes at once and RAM is
running low or out of space. It is used to compensate the storage space of RAM, by
transferring pages of data from RAM to secondary storage HDD/SSD. It is a memory
management technique of Operating System that creates an illusion of having a large
physical memory RAM.

14. Describe what is meant by disk thrashing and why does it occur.

A problem that may occur when virtual memory is being used. The swapping of data
between RAM and Hard disk causes a very high rate of hard disk read/write head
movement. If more time is spent on moving data in and out of memory, then the speed of
processing data will be considerably reduced. Dish thrashing can also lead to premature
failure of a hard disk drive.

15. a) Describe device driver including its purpose.

Device driver is a system software that allows the operating system to communicate
with a specific hardware device. They are hardware dependent and operating-system-
specific. It operates and controls a particular hardware attached to the computer, like
Sound card, Graphic card, Network card, Printer ...etc.

b) What is meant by descriptor in a device driver?

All Device drivers contain a collection of basic information about the devices called
Descriptor. It includes unique manufacturer-ID, product-ID and serial numbers to
identify the connected device. The operating system uses these information to determine
which device driver must be loaded to use that device.

c) What is the role of descriptor when a memory stick is plugged into a USB port of a
computer for the first time?

The USB port provides power supply to the device, to activate and communicate with
computer. The OS (operating system) sends a request to the USB port to identify the
device. The unique manufacturer-id, serial number and type of the device stored in
device descriptor is send to the OS. The operating system uses these numbers to
determine which device driver must be loaded to use that device.

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16. a) Describe what is meant by Firmware.

Firmware is a piece of software stored in the read-only memory chip ROM of a device
at the time of manufacturing in order to make the device run properly. It provides low
level control for devices. It provides necessary instructions to the device for
communicating with other computer hardware. Firmware is read only and do not need
to be changed.

b) Give three examples of firmware used in computer.

1. Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), a firmware which initializes and controls the
input and output operations.

2. Startup program called Bootstrap, a firmware which performs basic functions,

identifies and loads OS.

3. Computer’s factory settings, a firmware that stores its default settings.

17. a) Describe what is meant by High-level and Low-level language.

High-level language : A programming language that uses English-like statements and

mathematical symbols; easy to read and write. It is machine independent codes. The
codes written in one machine can be used in all machines. High-level language
programmers don’t need to have hardware knowledge.

Low-level language : Assembly language which uses mnemonic codes and Machine
language which uses only binary digits 0s and 1s are collectively called Low-level
language. Low-level languages are machine dependent. It uses machine specific codes.
Program written in one machine cannot be used in another machine.

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 b) Name and describe two translation program used to convert high-level language into
machine language.

Translation program 1 ..................................................................................................................

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Translation program 2 ..................................................................................................................

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c) Name and describe the translation program used to convert low-level language into
machine language.

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d) State the difference between Compiler and Assembler.

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18. David is writing a program using a high-level language. The program will be published and
sold for profit.

a) Describe why David prefer to use Interpreter when creating a computer program.

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b) Describe why David needed to compile program when he has completed it.

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19. Rizwan is writing a program to operate his newly designed drone. Give reason why he would
prefers to write the program in low-level language.

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20. a) Describe what is meant by Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and give reason
why programmer prefer to use IDE while writing a program.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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b) Describe the following features of IDE.

i) Auto-completion

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ii) Auto-correction

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iii) Prettyprinting

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c) Identify two other features provided by IDE. Give a reason why each feature is necessary.

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 i) ...............................................................................................................................................
.

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ii) ...............................................................................................................................................
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21. Tick () one of the most appropriate answer you think is correct.

a) Which of these options describes a task carried out by the operating system?
(A) preventing unauthorised access to a computer system.
(B) handling the HTTPS requests from a website.
(C) allocating memory to competing applications running on a computer system.
(D) booting up the computer motherboard when the computer is powered up.

b) What is the function of a printer driver?

(A) area of memory that holds data waiting to be printed out.
(B) software that communicates with the operating system and translates data into a
format which can be printed out.
(C) an area in memory that temporarily holds data.
(D) an example of firmware used to interface with the printer.

c) Which of these is the correct name for the operating system function that allows many
programs to run simultaneously?
(A) utility program. (C) embedded system
(B) application package (D) multitasking

d) What is meant by the term buffer?

(A) part of the RAM which is used to store the operating system in use.
(B) unused areas on a hard disk drive.
(C) an area in memory that temporarily holds data.
(D) an example of firmware.

e) Which of the following will produce a signal which is sent to the CPU to suspend its current
operation?
(A) bootstrap (C) interrupt
(B) buffer (D) quarantine

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