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Ans - To Revision Test 3

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Ans - To Revision Test 3

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Answers to revision test 3

Below each answer there is a page reference for the coursebook. This is there to help you focus
your revision. If you find that you get an answer wrong, you can use this guide to return to the
coursebook to revise the areas that need some extra attention. Please note these are example
answers only and do not represent the only possible answers.

1 a An intranet is a private, web-based service on a LAN. A large organisation uses it to provide


information to its employees through familiar web-based tools, such as web browsers. Using
an intranet means no one outside the organisation can access it.
b An intranet is private and cannot be accessed by members of the public, unlike the Internet
which can be accessed by anyone through an ISP.
See ‘Types of network’ in Chapter 5 on page 111.

2 A college has linked its stand-alone computers to form a local area network (LAN).
a Advantages of creating a LAN are that users of the computers can share peripherals, such as
printers, and a single Internet connection. It is also easier to share and distribute data files.
b If one computer is infected with a virus, it can spread to the other computers on the
network. If an unauthorised user gains access to one computer on a network, they may be
able to see and damage data on another computer. Depending on the network topology, if
one computer is not accessible, that may prevent other users of other computers being able
to access facilities.
See ‘Network systems’ in Chapter 5 on page 109.

3 a A database is a set of linked data tables that store structured records.


b A file is a set of related data or program items held in a named area of storage.
c A direct access file is a file that can be accessed by using an algorithm to generate a record’s
disk address from the record’s key value.
d A record is a group of data items related to one thing, such as name, address and date of
birth for a pupil.
e A sequential file is a file that stores records in order of their record key values.
See ‘File organisation and manipulation’ in Chapter 2 on page 37.

4 a A smart card reader is used to enter data from this medium.


b Data stored on this medium is easy to carry around. The reader can use cryptographic
techniques to ensure that the card is authentic and has not expired and that the PIN
supplied by the cardholder matches the one stored in encrypted form on the card.
See ‘Smart card reader’ in Chapter 3 on page 64.

5 Internal memory media: RAM, ROM.


Backing storage media: CD-R, CD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, hard disk, magnetic tape,
digital storage card (DSC), USB flash drive.
See ‘Internal memory and storage devices and their uses’ in Chapter 3 on page 79.

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies © Cambridge University Press 2011 Answers to revision test 3 1
6 The stages of the system life cycle are:
• fact finding – finding out about the existing system
• feasibility study – working out whether the proposed solution is possible
• analysis – defining the system requirements
• design – defining how the system input, processing and output works
• building and testing – developing a working system
• documentation – writing information for users and maintainers of the system
• implementation (changeover) – putting the system into live use
• evaluation – examining the system to see if it does what was intended
• maintenance – changing the system to meet changing requirements or to correct errors.
See ‘Overview’ and specific sections in Chapter 6 on page 117.

7 a P2P file sharing is a method of distributing large data files. Instead of downloading a whole
file from the original distributor’s server, a user obtains the file piece-meal by joining a
swarm of other downloaders’ computers that collaborate to, download from, and upload to,
each other simultaneously.
b Negative effects of P2P file sharing are that it can be quite slow and it is often used to
distribute files illegally.
See ‘Peer-to-peer file-sharing protocols’ in Chapter 8 on page 235.

8 a A ‘wiki’ is a set of interlinked web pages that are created via web-based software, which
allows non-technical users to collaborate on presenting information.
b Wikis present the problem that it can be difficult to hold people responsible for the
authorship of information. Wikipedia, for example, suffers from ‘wars’ in which competing
factions alternately change text to give a different view on a factual description.
c A ‘blog’ is a set of linked web pages that are saved by date, so they can act as a diary. Usually,
only one person updates it but others can comment.
d A blog is a good way for people to give regular updates to their readers. For example if
someone is doing a round-the-world trip, they can upload pictures and text to their blog
rather than sending postcards home. The blog could also form the basis for a book in
the future.
See ‘Recent developments in the use of the Internet’ in Chapter 8 on page 232.

Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies © Cambridge University Press 2011 Answers to revision test 3 2

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