COMPUTER STUDIES COMPREHENSIVE REVISION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PER TOPIC

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

1. (a) Clearly define a computer

(b) Give one reason why a computer is referred to as an electronic device

2. Explain the following terms as used in computer science

 Data

 Program

 Data processing

 Information

3. State any three functions of a computer

4. State four different parts that make up a computer

6. (a) Explain the term system Unit

(b) List four devices located under the cover of the system unit

(c) Give two differences between tower – style and desktop system units

7. Computers have evolved through a number of generations. List any 4 characteristics of the
first generation of computer.

8. Briefly explain the classification of computer according to historical development

(generations)
 10. State the differences between desktop computers and laptop computers

11. (a) Give two reasons why smaller computers like Laptops tend to be more expensive than
Desktop computers

12. Which category of computers would you place an N- series Nokia phone

13. Give three reasons why a mobile phone is regarded to be a computer

14. (a) Mention three Analogue devices

18. (a) Identify and explain five areas where computers are used to process data ( 10 mks)

27. (a) State one reason why a computer needs to be connected to a stable power supply

(1 mk)

(b) List down four functions of the uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) (4 mks)

(b) Outline three reasons why it is important to first shut down the computer before

turning itoff ( 3 mks)

36. A computer must go through the process of booting/ initialization before use
 o Briefly explain the term “computer booting”.

 Explain what happens in the computer during the booting process

 Give and explain two types of booting

 Cold booting:

 Warm Booting

( 1mk)

(c) Name the keyboard keys that will help you: (2 mks)

 Type the upper character in a key –

 Execute a selected command –

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1. Define the following terms as used in computing

(i) System

2. Differentiate between a computer and a computer

3. (a) List and explain three functional elements of a computer system ( 6 mks)

o Hardware

 Software

4. (a) Give two main functions of a computer input device. (2 marks)

5. State two advantages of using a mouse instead of a keyboard. (2 marks)

12. Describe three functions performed by the CPU ( 3 mks) (i) It carries

13. Explain the functions performed by each of the following central processing unit elements

Control Unit ( 2 mks)

The main memory

16. (a) Name the basic unit used to measure the processing speed of a computer ( 1 mk)

17.(a) What is the computer Motherboard?

18.(a) Give two reasons why there are many forms of computer storage devices ( 2 mks)

21. Using examples, distinguished between:

 o Primary and secondary (2 mks)

Primary storage devices are accessed directly by the CPU, while secondary storage is

not

 Fixed and removable disks

Fixed disks are mounted inside the computer system unit, e.g. Hard disk.

Removable disks are not hosed inside the system unit & are portable, e.g. floppy disk,

Jazz disk, Zip disk, flash disk, CD-R, CD – RW, DVD

22. Explain the following storage devices

(i) Hard disk

A fixed storage device housed inside the Computer System Unit

(ii) Flash disk

A high capacity plug-in portable storage device. Usually attached at the USB port of the computer

(iii) Zip disk

High capacity disk that resembles a floppy disk, but is slightly larger and thicker in size 23. (a)
Compare a floppy disk and zip disk in relation to size ( 2mks)

A floppy disk is physically small in size and capacity, while a zip disk is slightly large in size and has large
storage capacity.

(b) Give three disadvantages of floppy disks as storage devices

 Floppy disks are slower than hard disks

 Highly affected by viruses

 Low storage capacity

 Not reliable

 Affected by environmental factors, exposure to sunlight, magnetism and dirt

 24. (a) State three advantages of using hard disks as medium of storage

o They provide permanent storage of data

o They have a large storage capacity

o Are cheap per unit of storage

o Are rewritable (provide read & write facilities)

o Are very fast compared to other secondary storage devices in terms of data transfer

(b) Describe three precautions you would take to avoid damaging the hard disk ( 3mks)

 Do not drop the disk drive

 Do not expose it to strong heat

 Do not expose it to dust/ smoke particles

 Do not unprocedurally switch off the computer

(c) Describe the structure of a hard disk in reference to cylinders, tracks and sectors The surface of
hard disk is divided into circles called Tracks. Parallel tracks on several platters are called cylinders

The tracks are further subdivided into sectors. Several sectors can be grouped to form clusters.

25. State two reasons why Magnetic tapes are not commonly used as computer data
storagemedium today

o Are slow when retrieving data. This is because of the linear storage of data o the tape.

o Do not fully use their recording surface due to inter- record Gaps

26. Differentiate between:

(i) Microcomputer and microprocessor

A microcomputer is a computer whose Central Processing Unit (CPU) has been implemented with a
microprocessor

A microprocessor is a small computer processor, mainly a combination of the ALU &

CU manufactured on a single chip.

 Volatile memory and non- volatile memory

Volatile memory is temporary, while non- volatile memory is permanent

 RAM and ROM

RAM is a temporary and rewritable memory, while ROM is a permanent and read only memory.

 Hard disk and floppy disk

Hard disk is a hard metallic platter used to store data and is encased in a metallic housing (casing)

Hard disk is metallic. Shinny and non- flexible

 Magnetic and optical storage media

In magnetic storage media, data is recorded using magnesium, while in optical storage media data is
recorded using a beam of light (laser)

 Hardcopy and softcopy output

Hardcopy is printed copy, e.g. printout on paper such as letters while softcopy is intangible information
e.g. screen display or music.

 MICR and OCR scanners

MICR uses magnetic technology to read magnetic characters, while OCR uses laser/ light technology to
read characters

27. Explain four rules for handling magnetic disks

o Keep magnetic away from excessive heat. This is because heat energy weakens the

ability of the magnetic media to store data.

 Store the media in their cases when not in use in order to protect/ safeguard their recording
surfaces against environmental influences such as dust, touch, direct sunlight, radiations, etc

 Do not drop the disk on the ground

 Never bring them near moving or strong magnetic bodies. Such bodies might demagnetize the
recording surfaces making recording in terms of magnetism impossible
  When mounting the media into its reading/ writing unit, avoid brushing the recording surfaces
against the mechanical components of the drive

 Put on the power before mounting the media and off after removing the media from the

drive.

This is because; the fluctuation in power might cause demagnetization

28. (a) Calculate the capacity in MB of a two sided floppy disk with 6 sectors per surface, and 512
bytes per sectors

No. of sectors = (2 sides x 6 sectors)

= 12 sectors

If 1 sector = 512 bytes

(12 x 512) = 6,144 bytes

1,000,000 bytes 1 MB

6,144

1,000,000 = 0.006144 MB

(b) A double – sided disk contains 40 tracks on each side. The tracks are divided into 9 sectors of 512
bytes each. What is the total capacity of the disk in megabytes? ( 2mks)

Total tracks = (40 x 2)

Total sectors = (80 x 9)

Total bytes (720 x 512)

If 1 MB = 1,048,

? = 368, 64

368, 64

1,048,
 = 0.352 M

29. By giving examples, differentiate between primary and Secondary Computer storage

( 3mks)

Primary Memory Secondary Memory

1. Used for holding data & instructions required immediately by the CPU

2. It is accessed directly by the CPU 1. Used for storing backup inf

3. Provides fast access to information is accurate & reliable 2. It is not accessed directly b

4. It is expensive per bit of memory dues to the technology involved 3. Provides slow access of info

5. It has low/ limited storage capacity 4. Secondary storage devices

6. It is volatile & therefore it is used to store temporary programs & data 5. it has high storage capacity

7. The speed of the processor depends on the size & type of primary 6. It is non- volatile i.e. stores

storage E.g. punched cards, magnetic ta

E.g. Read Only Memory (ROM) &

Random Access Memory (RAM)

30. (a) State four functions of Read – Only Memory (ROM)

o It stores Firmware (bootstrap instructions) – the essential files the computer uses while
booting/ starting up.
  It stores the system data & instructions that are necessary for the normal functioning of the
computer hardware e.g. the Kernel / supervisor of the OS

 It stores translation programs (code converters) used for converting a user‟s program into
machine language

 It stores special functions (facilities) peculiar to a given machine

 It stores character generators for printers & Video displays

 It stores instructions used in special – purpose computers & computerized fuel pumps

 Give three characteristics of ROM

o It can only be read, but cannot be written to (i.e., the user can only read the information
in the ROM, but cannot write on it unless it is a special type of ROM).

o Provides permanent or semi permanent storage of instructions & data from the
manufacturer.

o It is non volatile memory

o Forms a small proportion of the main storage ( i.e. it contributes 30% of the internal

Memory).

 Stores essential files for starting the computer (Bootstrap programs)

 Name two different types of ROM

 Masked ROM

 Programmable Read- Only Memory (PROM)

Erasable Programmable Read- Only Memory (EPROM)

Electrically Alterable Read- Only Memory (EAROM)

31. (a) Outline three characteristics of Random Access Memory (RAM)

o Stores data & programs temporarily during the times when they are needed in the Main

Memory (or during execution).

  Provides “read & write facilities” i.e. it allows instructions to be written, read out & to be
changed at will.

 The contents in RAM are user – defined, i.e. the user dictates what is to be contained in the
RAM

 Its contents are temporary

 It is a volatile memory

 Forms the major proportion of main storage

(b) Name the two types of RAM clearly starting their differences (3 mks)

(i) Static RAM

A static RAM can retain its data/ content as long as power is provided to the memory

chips, i.e. it does not need to be re- written periodically

(ii) Dynamic RAM

 Dynamic RAM can only hold its content for a short while even when power is on.

Therefore, in order to maintain its content/ data, a DRAM must undergo the refreshing

process (i.e. it must be re- written continually)

Static RAM is much faster than Dynamic RAM

SRAM chips are physically large & much more expensive than DRAM chips

 Dynamic RAM has a much higher packing density than SRAM, i.e., a DRAM chip is able to store
more information than a SRAM chip of the same size.

32. The diagram below shows as example of a secondary

  Identify the name of the devices

Flash Disk

 List down two advantages of this device over a floppy disk in storage ( 2 mks)

o Smaller in size than a floppy disk, hence, easily portable

o Has a high data storage capacity compared to a floppy disk

o Flash disks are more reliable than floppy disks

33. (a) List any four examples of optical storage devices

o Compact Disk Read – Only Memory (CD – ROM)

Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R)

Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW)

 LS- 120 super disk

 Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)

 Optical card

 Optical tape

(b) Give two advantages of a digital Versatile Disk over a normal Compact disk

 DVD has a larger storage capacity than a CD ( 2 mks)

 A DVD offers better data storage quality

34. (a) State the two types/ forms of computer output

o Softcopy

o Hardcopy
 (b) List any four examples of output devices in a computer

 Monitors

 Printers

 Sound output, e.g. speakers

 Audio response units

 Plotters

 Sound cards

 Digital projectors

Computer output on microforms (COM)

Storage devices

(c) Identify three Functions of computer devices

 Transmit the intermediate & final results to the users

 Convey messages e.g. error messages to the operators

 Provide immediate response to queries

 Convert the coded results produced by the computer to human- readable form

35. (a) State one function of the screen (monitor)

o Used to display the results of all the data that has been processed from the computer –
It converts machine- coded outputs results from the processor into a form that can be
understood by people

(b) Show two differences between a CRT monitor and a flat- panel display

 CRT monitor uses a cathode ray tube to display information, while a flat panel does

not.
  CRT has a protruding back, while a flat panel does not.

 Flat panel displays are light & easily portable, while CRT‟s are heavy

 CRT can display a wide range of colours, while a flat panel displays a limited number

ofcolours

 CRT consumes more electrical power than flat panel displays

 The screen of a flat panel is much thinner & smaller than that of a CRT

 The screen resolution of a CRT is adjustable, while that of a flat panel is often set

(c) Give there examples of flat- panel monitors available in the market today

 Liquid crystal displays (LCD)

 Electro luminescent (EL)

 Gas plasma

 Thin Film Transistor (TFT)

36. (a) What are pixels?

Pixels (picture elements) are dots on the screen that form characters and images

 What role do pixels play in screen display?

They determine the clarity of images on the screen

 Give two advantages of the higher number of pixels per square centimeter (2 mks)

 Higher screen resolution

 Displays of sharp & clear images

 The screen is able to display a higher number of different images

 37. (a) What are character printers? (1 mk)

Are usually low- speed printers that print one character at a time?

(b) Give two examples of character printers

Dot matrix

Thermal

 Daisy wheel

 Inkjet

 Golf ball

38. Distinguish between impact and non impact printers and give two examples of each Impact
printers print by striking mechanism & are noisy, e.g Dot matrix, Daisy wheel, and Golf Ball,
drum and chain printer.

Non- impact printers print either by laser, ink or thermal transfer mechanism & are silent, e.g. Laser,
Inkjet, thermal printer, electrostatic and xerographic

39. (a) Distinguish between a line printer and a page printer

A page printer prints documents page by page, while a line printer prints documents line by line

(b) State three advantages and one disadvantages of:

(i) Laser Printers

Advantages – Cheap running cost

 Produces high quality of printouts

 Has a very high speed of printing ( it is fast)

 Economical in maintenance

 It is very silent
Disadvantages – Expensive to purchase & maintain

 Involves expensive multiply colour printing

(ii) Inkjet Printers

Advantages – Cheap to purchase

– Cheaper multiple colour printing

– Produces high quality prints

Disadvantage – Expensive to run (i.e. to buy cartridges)

– Produces a water based print which fades easily

40. Highlight four factors one should consider when purchasing a printer (4 mks)

o Cost involved i.e. the printer‟s buying price, cost of maintenance & cost of consumable

items like printing papers, ribbons/ cartridges

 Volume of printing expected ( speed of the printer)

 Quality of printing e.g. ability to print graphics &colour

 Capability of the selected printer, i.e. multiple copy production, paper size, etc

 Compatibility with other computers

 Environment in which the printer will operate

 Ease of maintenance

 Reliability of the printer

 Application it is required for (i.e. purpose/ use of the printer)

Type of paper used by the printer

Documentation

 Availability
41. List three advantages of a plotter over normal printer machines

o Plotters produce information in an easily understandable form

o Their presentation is quick & reliable

o Produces large graphical designs of high quality, which are east to read & use

o Can print on large sized papers, e.g. papers e.g. Al, Which a normal printer cannot

42. Give two advantages of using sound output devices

o Very fast making it useful in emergency situations

o One can receive the output even when a few meters away from the computer

o No reading ability is required of the user

o Suitable for the blind and people with poor sight

o Can be used for distant communication if done over telephone lines

o Errors are easily corrected, e.g. if used in a camera, one know when the film or
exposure is set wrongly.

o Makes computing interesting and entertaining

43. George connected new multimedia speakers to his computer and tried to play his
favoritemusic CD, but no sound came out. Suggest two problems that might have occurred ( 2
mks)

o Volume control was too low

o Loose or improper connection to the sound card

 Speakers not powered

 Multimedia not supported

 Lack of analogue cable connecting the optical drive to the motherboard or sound card –
Sound card drivers not installed
 44. List down 4 factors to consider when buying an output device

o The volume of the data

o The speed at which the output is required

o Cost of the method chosen as compared with the benefits to be derived

o Suitability of the application

o Whether a printed version is required

45. Define the following terms

(a) Port

A special kind of socket found at the back of a computer used to connect an external peripheral device
such as a printer, monitor, mouse, scanner, modem, flash disk, etc to the interface cards inside the
computer

 Data interface cable

These are special cables that connect all the peripheral devices to the motherboard and the CPU. They
transmit data signals and information to and from the devices

 Power cable

Cable for power supply to devices

46. State the function of the power supply unit found in the system unit (1 mk)

 It supplies stable power to the motherboard and other internal devices of a computer

 Converts the potentially dangerous alternating current (AC) into a steady low- voltage direct
current (DC) usable by the computer.
 47. (a) Name any two peripheral devices which get their power supply through ports

o Keyboard

o Mouse

(b) State the type of port that would commonly be used to connect the following devices

 Mouse – PS/2, Serial, or USB

 Modem – Serial

 External CD drive – Parallel

48. (a) Explain two differences between serial and parallel communication ports of a computer

o Serial ports have 9 pins, while parallel ports have holes for 9 or 25 pins

o Parallel cables transmit several bits of data simultaneously, while serial cables transmit

One bit at a time

 Serial cables are slower than parallel cable

 Serial cables allow for 2 ways communication (i.e. communication to and from the computer
and the device connected to it) while parallel cables usually offer 1- way communication.

(b) Give two major advantages of a USB interface cable over other cables in the computer

 It is light & convenient to carry

 It provides faster transmission of high – quality data

 Its serial nature enables it to connect devices a longer distance away

 The USB port can be used to connect a wide range of peripheral devices due to its common
universal interface

49. Outline three precautions one should take when assembling a computer

o Disconnect all diverts from the power source before starting to work on them
 o Never work alone because you may need help in ease of energy

o Discharge ant static electricity that might have built up on the hands by touching an
earthed metallic object and wearing an anti- static wrist member.

50. State six factors which you would consider when selecting computer hardware for
anorganization

o Cost of the system

o Processor type and speed

o Storage capacity of hard disk & RAM memory size

o Warranty (service contract)

o Upgradeability of the computer

o Compatibility of the system

o Portability (light to carry)

o User needs

o Popularity of the hardware manufacturer

o Availability of spare parts

o Multimedia capability

51. List down any four hardware components you can add or upgrade in a computer system

(4 mks)

 Processor (CPU)

 Ports e.g. USB ports/ SCSI ports

 Hard disk

 DVD drives/ tape drives

 RAM memory

 Expansion slots
 52. (a) What is warranty with reference to the purchase of computers

A warranty is an agreement between the buyer and the seller that spells out terms and conditions of
after selling a product in case of failure or malfunction.

A warranty is usually the duration in which your computer is supposed to work without any problem.

 Why is it important to carefully study a warranty before committing yourself by signing it?

In order to negotiate on sensitive items like duration, after sales services etc.

 List down three issues to understand about warrants

 Duration (scope of cover)

 How comprehensive is the warranty- good warranty should cover all the parts of the

Computer.

 Liability agreement e.g. how long should the supplier take to repair a fault or replace the
product, and if he/ she delays, who bears the cost.

 Does the warranty offer online support?

 Regularity of service or maintenance

53. What are clones with reference to computers and what is their disadvantage? – Clones
are locally assembled computers

Disadvantages

 Their components are not optimized to work with each other

 They are not as reliable as their brand names like IBM, Compaq, Hewlett Packard (HP),

Dell, Gateway etc.

 54. (a) What is standard software?

These are programs developed, packaged and then made available for purchase either directly from the
developer, though a vendor or a distributor

They may be used for a wide variety of purposes

(b) Small and large scale organizers are turning to the use of in- house developed software for the
processing activities rather than use of standard software

 What is in- house developed software?

These are programs that are uniquely designed & written by the user or a software house under
contract, to meet the specific needs of a particular user or organization.

They are usually customized (tailored) to perform a specific job or solve only specific processing tasks in
one organization

 Give two reasons that may be influencing these organizations for such a decision

( 2mks)

 The user gets well tested program, which he/ she is able to use with confidence

 The program provides all the facilities required to solve a particular problem

 The purchaser has direct control over the package, as he/ she is involved in its

Production

 The user is able to quickly implement the results obtained from the use of the package

 They can easily be modified to meet specific user‟s needs without involving expert
programmers.

55. Differentiate between single- purpose programs and integrated software

– Single – purpose software is developed for only one purpose, while integrated software is a suite of
more than one program and can be used to carry out a variety of tasks
 56. Explain the following considerations when purchasing software ( 2 mks)

o Authenticity

It is the genuineness, validity or legitimacy of software. The copy of the software you buy should be
accompanied by the license and certificate of authenticity of the developer.

 Portability

It refers to whether a program can be copied or installed in more than one computer

57. Differentiate between portability with reference to hardware and software

In hardware, the computer device should be sufficiently small & light to carry

In software, portability refers to whether a program can be copied from one computer to another or
installed in more than one computer.

58. (a) Explain why documentation is necessary for any software package

It contains details on how to install use and maintain the software. It also shows the purchaser how the
program can be used to solve particular problem as well as provide the user with assistance on using
the program.

(b) A firm intends to purchase new software. List three items of documentation that
shouldaccompany the software

 A license

 Installation guide

 User manual (guide)

 Reference manual

 Warranty

 Upgrades

 Service pack
OPERATING SYSTEMS

1. The central processor and peripheral devices of a computer system are coordinated by the
operating system

o Define the term „operating system‟

 A set of computer programs that normally reside in the main memory and used
to control the basic computer hardware resources & the operation of the entire
system

 The main program that controls the execution of user applications, and enables
the user to access the hardware & software resources of the computer

 List two resources/ components that an operating system manages

 Processor

 Memory (RAM)

 Secondary storage devices

 Input/ output devices

 Communication devices

 I/O & communication ports

 Files

 There are several types of operating systems in use today. State two examples of

Operating systems which you are familiar ( 2mks)

 Disk Operating System (DOS)

 Windows

 MacOS

 Unix

 Linux
 2. Name the two latest operating systems from Microsoft corporation ( 2 mks)

o Windows XP

o Windows Vista

3. Explain any four functions of an operating system software ( 8 mks)

(i) Memory allocation & loading of programs

 Loads application programs from an external storage into the available locations in the

Main memory (RAM)

 It keeps track (monitors) of the parts of the memory that are in use, and those which are

free

 Processor management:

The processor can only execute one program at any one time. Therefore, in a multi- tasking system
access to the CPU must be carefully control & monitored. The OS must decide, which program will be
allowed into the system, and for how long

 Job scheduling-it schedules & loads programs in order to provide a continuous sequence of
processing. This is necessary when more than one application program is occupying the main
storage

 Error reporting and interrupt handling- The OS reports any errors that occur during program
execution.

 Management of CPU time:

In a multi- taking system where several user programs share the computer resources, the processing is
done according to the job priorities allocated and in a continuous process until all the jobs in the queue
within the memory are executed. This ensures that the CPU does not remain idle at any given time.

 Manages the input and output devices

The OS controls the allocation of I/O devices and tries to resolve any conflicts that arise. It also monitors
the state of each I/O device and signals any faults detected

 File management
OS is concerned with the logical organization of the files in the computer & provides ways for sorting,
retrieving & sharing of the files

It also provides a means of protecting the data files & programs against unauthorized access and
corruption.

 It controls the selection & operation of the hardware devices used for input, output & storage

 It interfaces the user to the system‟s hardware, i.e. it provides a quick means of

communication between the computer user and his programs

 Logging & accounting

The OS keeps records (internal logs) on how the computer resources (e.g. CPU time, memory,
peripherals) are being used

It also keeps a complete record of all what happens during processing (usually in the form of a printed
log)

4. What is an interrupt?

An interrupt is break from the normal sequential flow of instructions processing in a program

5. Give three ways in which operating system are classified ( 3mks)

 The number of users they handle

 The number of tasks they execute concurrently

 Human computer interface

6. Giving an example in each case, explain the following types of operating systems

(a) Single – user / single tasking

A system that allows only one user to run one user program at a time in an interactive, conversational
mode. E.g. Ms- DOS, PC- DOS.

(b) Multi- User/ Multi- tasking

A multi- user computer system can allow interactive facilities to several at a time. A Multi- tasking
Computer system can allow more than one program which are in the memory to be processed at the
same time. E.g. Microsoft Windows, Linux.

7. A computer user may interact with a computer either through Graphical User

Interface(GUI) or though typed commands

(a) Give one advantage of using GUI based operating system over a command line interface

( 1mk)

 User friendliness

 Easy to learn & use even by those who do not have much knowledge about them

 One does not need to master any commands

 It is faster to work with than a command line interface as it only relies on clicking the icons by
use of a pointing device

(b) Some computer systems still use command line interfaces. State two advantages of command line
interface

 They are more flexible than menu- driven interfaces

 There is security of data as only those who know how to use the commands will access

it.

 They use cheap hardware & software facilities

 One has a better control over the system resources

8. What is a deadlock in reference to operating systems?

– It is a situation in an OS when a particular task holds a needed resource and refuses to release it for
use by other tasks

9. Explain briefly the following concepts as used in the windows environment:

o Desktop
Desktop is mostly an empty screen that appears when windows starts and has some standard icons that
show that the computer is ready for use.

 Window

A rectangular area on a computer screen in which text, graphical images or the contents of a folder or
disk may be displaced

 Icon

A little picture on the computer screen representing a program, disk file folder or any other item

 Sidekick menu

A submenu that appears either on the right or left of a main menu

 Taskbar

A long bar/ strip that runs across the desktop and displays the start button and any other active tasks.

 Task

Any activity taking place in windows and is displayed on the taskbar, e.g. running

program (3 mks)

10. Identify three functions of taskbar

o Indicates what programs are running

o Holds minimized programs

o Provides a shortcut menu for arranging programs

11. State two differences between Disk Operating System (DOS) and Windows operating
system ( 2 mks)

DOS Windows

(i) Single – tasking (i) Multi- tasking

(ii) Single- user (ii) Multi- user

(iii) Command driven interface (iii) Graphical User Interface

(iv) Not easy to use (iv) User friendly

12. Identify three factors you would consider when choosing an operating system for use

in a computer ( 3 mks)

 Hardware configuration of the computer, e.g. RAM memory size, Hard disk capacity, type of
processor, etc

 Basic design of the computer – It is an IBM compatible, or apple computer?

 Hardware compatibility

 User (type of work to be done), i.e. the applications intended for the computer

 User friendliness or human computer interface, i.e. it is command line based, Menu driven or
graphical user interface?

 Availability in the Markey, e.g. Microsoft Windows based operating systems are very common

 Portability

 Cost- how expensive the OS is

 Reliability, i.e. can it run without crashing (stop responding to commands)?

 The method of communicating with the computer, e.g. the number of peripherals (xi) The
method of operating the computer

13. Explain how windows organizes information in reference to files and folders
It stores related data & information records into files, and related files into folders & subfolders

14. (a) Distinguish between systems files and application files ( 2 mks) System files hold critical
system information while application files hold programs data

(b) State the extensions used signifying the following file types (2 mks)

 Driver or system file – DLL, SYS, INI

 Batch file – BAT

15. (a) List and explain down the three parts of the windows Taskbar ( 3 mks)

o Start button – Provides access to the start menu

o Task Manager – Displays buttons of currently running tasks

o System tray – displays icons of applications that automatically start and run in the
background

(b) Outline the procedure of renaming a file or folder using windows operating system

(3 mks)

Method 1:

 In an explorer window, click the file/ folder you want to rename

 Click on file, choose rename

 Type the new name, then press enter

Method 2:

 In an explorer window, right- click the file/ folder you want to rename

 Choose Rename from the shortcut menu that appears

 Type the new name, then press Enter

 16. (a) What is a dialog box?

Window that appears temporarily to request or supply information. It contains options (settings) one
must select to complete a task

(b) List five settings that may be found in a dialog box

 Textbox- a box you can type data in

 List box – a box that contains a list of options, one of which is selected

 Checkbox- a small, square box that can be selected or cleared. It appears with an option that
you can turn on or off. When the checkbox is selected, a selected, a checkbox (þ or x)appears in
the box

 Radio button – a round button that can either be blank or can contain a dot. If the button
contains a dot¤, it is selected.

 Pull down menu – A box with a downward – pointing triangular button at its right end

(6). When the triangular button is clicked, it displays a menu.

 Command button- A button that can click to carry out or cancel the selected action. E.g.

the OK or cancel button.

17. (a) Define „ folder/ directive tree‟

Directory tree is the hierarchical arrangement of folders and storage locations from the root
downwards.

(b) Give two examples of root directories you know (1 mk)

 A:\

 C:\

 D:\

 E:\

(c) Give three uses of sub- directories or subfolders (3 mks)

 Used to store files that are not required currently until they are needed again
  Used to store the files of one program separately from the files of another program – It allows
each user to keep his/ her files separately, even if all the users are using the same systems.

18. The Hierarchical system represented below shows how a school organizes its files.

Study itand answer the questions below.

The F2 directory has the files: classlist.doc, Districts.xls, and the tribe.mdb. Write down the path of
accessing the Districts. xls file.

A:\SCHOOL\EXAMS\F2\Districts.xls (2 mks)

19. (a) (i) Explain the meaning of backup ( 2 mks)

It means making of duplicate copies of data or programs from the hard disk into storage media so that in
case the system fails, or originals are corrupted or lost, the data can be reconstructed from the backups.

This is used to protect data from accidental erasure or hardware problems

(ii) Explain two methods you can use in windows to back up data into a storage device

(2 mks)

 Using copy and paste commands on the Edit Menu

 Using the send to command on the file menu

 Using the backup facility to compress the data into another disk

(b) Identify two reasons why a user needs to know the space available for data storage in the harddisk

 To know the amount of data that can be stored in the hard disk
  To know how much space is left in the hard disk in case a new programs needs to be

installed

 To detect the likelihood of a virus infection

20. Name the command one would use to repair cross- linked files in graphical user

interfacesoftware ( 1mk)

Scandisk

21. (a) Explain the team Disk Defragmenter, and give two advantages of this feature ( 3 mks)

Disk defragmenter is a tool that is used to re- arrange scattered files & folders on a storage media

Advantages

 Rearranges scattered folders & files on storage media

 Reduces the time by the read / write head to locate files or folders on the storage media

This speed up access to files & folders, hence, makes files to open more quickly

 Consolidates related data close to each other, hence, frees space on the storage media

(b) Distinguish between disk compressing and disk defragmenting

Compressing is creating more space on a disk by squeezing disk contents (files) into a smaller storage
location on the disk.

Defragmenting is rearranging scattered related files/ folders closer to each other on the surface of a
storage unit.

22. Give two reasons why a new disk must be formatted before using it (2 mks)

o To prepare a new disk so that files can be stored on it

o To create sectors & tracks for the storage of data

o To create/ prepare a new root directory and file allocation tables on the disk

o To remove/ delete any existing files or information stored on the disk, if it is no longer
needed
 o To determine the effective storage capacity of the disk, i.e. formatting enables the user
to know how much data the disk can hold.

o It can also check for bad sectors on the new disk.

23. (a) What is meant by the term „disk partitioning‟?

It is the process of dividing a large physical disk into 2 or more partitions/ volume

(b) Give two reasons why the hard disk may be partitioned

 To install more than one operating systems on the same disk

 For the purposes of backup on the same disk, so that if one partition fails the other will

still be working.

24. A Form four computer student is attempting to print a programming documentation. The
printer is not responding to the print command. Explain three possible causes for the
anomaly. (3 marks)

o The printer may not be installed.

o The printer may not have been set as the default printer.

o The data interface cable to the printer could be loose. Make sure it is firm at the ports. –
The printer could still be off. Switch it on, and it will start printing.

o The wrong printer could have been selected. Select the right printer in the print dialog
box and send the print job again.

25. State two purposes of the recycle bin. (2 marks)

o Contains the files and folders that have been deleted.

o Can be used to restore files & folders accidentally deleted from the computer.

WORD PROCESSING
 1. a) What is a word Processor? (1 mk)

A computer program that enables a person to create, retrieve, edit, format, and print text based
documents

1. List two common examples of word processing software widely used in the market

today. (2 mks)

-Microsoft word

-WordPerfect

-Lotus WordPerfect

-WordStar

-WordPad

2. Give three comparisons of the traditional method of typing a document on a

Typewriter against using a word processor (6mks)

 Correcting typing mistakes using a word processor is easy; it is hard to correct mistakes on a
typewriter.

 Producing multiple copies of the same page is possible using a word processor, but it is not
possible to produce multiple copies on a typewriter.

 Text formatting features are available on a word processor, e.g. front size, font type, font colour,
boldfacing, italicization, etc.

 The documents created can be stored in the computer for future reference

 Typing using a word processor is easier & more efficient because most of the actions are
automatic. For example; the word wrap feature automatically takes the text cursor to the
beginning of the next line once it reaches the end of the current line.

 A new page is automatically inserted after reaching the end of the current page

 Graphics can be added within documents using a word processor

 Grammar& spelling mistakes can be checked & a text-editing tool that provides alternative
words with similar meanings.

 A word processor allows mail merging, which makes it possible to produce similar letters and
sent them to several people.
 3. a) What is a template? (1mk)

It is a document that acts as a blue print or outline for other documents of the same type. It contains the
standard text, graphics and formatting for use in all documents of this type.

1. State two advantages of using a template to create a document.

(2mks)

 It helps save time and makes creating of new documents easy

 It ensures that there is consistency between the documents being created.

4. Explain the difference between overtypes and insert mode in word processing

(2mks)

Type over deletes the current text at cursor position and inserts new text.

Inserting pushes the old text away as new text is inserted at cursor position.

5. Veronica tried to retrieve a document file following all the steps correctly. The filename did
not appear in file list box. State three causes for this.

(3mks)

 The file may not have been saved

 The file may have been deleted

 The file may be located in a different folder from the one she was trying to retrieve from
(or may have been moved).

 The file may have been destroyed by a computer virus.

6. Mwikaliselected a paragraph in word processing. Explain what happened after pressing

the following keys on the keyboard: (3mks)

1. i) CTRL + B -Changes the paragraph to bold/removes bold from paragraph ii) CTRL +A -the
whole document is selected iii) CTRL+ U -the selected text is underlined/removes
underline from the
selected text.

7. Precisely explain the role of the following editing features of a word processor;

(3mks)

1. i) Find and replace -To find words that you want replaced by others ii) Undo and redo- Undo
reverses the previous/latest action, while redo does the undone action iii) Thesaurus -It gives
suggestion of words or phrases with similar meaning

(synonyms), and sometimes antonyms to the selected word.

1. iv) Autocorrect -It checks for wrongly spelled words, and automatically replaces

them with the correct ones as set by the user.

8. Give the steps you would use to find and replace the occurrence of a particular word in

Microsoft Word. (4mks)

 Click on edit, select find (or replace)

 Type the word you want to replace with in the replace with box

 Click replaces or Replace all if you want to replace all the occurrences of that word in your
document at once.

9. Name and explain the use of any three buttons found in a spell-check dialog box

(6mks)

Change: Accepts the current selection in the suggestions box

Ignore Once: Leaves the highlighted error unchanged (if the highlighted

word is a valid word) & finds the next spelling or grammar error

Ignore all: retains all the occurrences of the same word or phrase in the document

from another language, e.g. a Kiswahili.

Add: Adds the highlighted word in the Suggestions box to the Custom

dictionary.
 10. Clearly explain the meaning of the following terms as used in word processing:

(7mks)

1. Editing a document – Making changes to an already typed/existing document.

2. Blocking text– Selecting a group of text in order to work with it as a

whole, e.g. a word sentence or paragraph.

 Printing – having your work copied on a piece of paper as output iv) Saving– Storing a
file/document permanently in the computer‟s secondary

memory (e.g., hard disk) so as to be used in the future.

1. v) Italicizing text– making the text saint forward vi) Header– It is a standard text or
information such as page numbers, chapter titles, etc that appears above the top margin of
every page in a document or in a section

vii) Footer-It is a standard text or information that appears below the bottom

margin of every page in a document.

11. a) What is document formatting? (1mk)

Applying various styles to enhance the appearance of a document

1. Give any five document formatting features of a word processor.

(5mks)

 Bolding

 Font colouring

 Text alignment

 Font type

 Setting tabs

 Underlining
  Italicizing

 Font size.

1. Differentiate between „superscript‟ and „Superscript is text formatted

to be at the bottom of a line.

Superscript is text formatted to be at the top of a line, Subscript is text formatted to be at the bottom of
a line.

12. What are page margins?

Non-printing but visible text-limiting borders that mark the distance that text starts on a page away from
the edge of the page

13. Differentiate between:

14. a) A Hard page break and a Soft page break. (2mks)

A hard page break is inserted on a page even before the end of the page, e.g. by pressing CTRL+ ENTER
or setting a manual page break.

For a Soft page break, the text cursor moves or creates a new page automatically when at the end of
the current page during typing.

1. Auto complete and AutoCorrect (2mks)

AutoComplete helps a person to type quickly by completing automatically a word that he/she has
already started to type

AutoCorrect automatically replaces mistyped words with the correct ones as set by the user.

1. Drawing and inserting a table in a document (2mks)

Drawing – use the pen tool to draw the table

Inserting table- use the Table-Insert-table Command

 14. Explain how a paragraph can be moved from one page to another using a word

processor. (4mks)

 Select the paragraph

 Click Cut on the Edit menu/ standard toolbar, (or Press CTL + „X‟)

 Click to place the insertion point here you want to put the text

 Click on Edit, then choose Paste (or Press CTRL + „V‟)

15. a) What is line spacing? (1mk)

The vertical distance between two text lines in a document

1. Explain any three line spacing specification used in Microsoft Word.

(3mks)

1. i) Single space – accommodates the largest font in a line ii) 5 line space- 1 ½
time that of single line spacing iii) Double – twice that of single line spacing
iv) Exactly – a fixed line spacing that word does not adjust

1. At least – the minimum line spacing that is needed to fit the largest

font or graphic on the line.

1. Multiple- a line spacing that is increased or decreased by a

percentage that you specify . (4mks)

16. Give any four text alignment features (4 mks)

o Left alignment

o centre alignment

o Right alignment

o Justified

17. List any thee sources of graphics that can be used in Microsoft word. (3mks)

o From Microsoft clip gallery

o From Scanner
 o By drawing using the Drawing tools available in Ms-World

o Import from another file

18. a) Explain the concept of graphics that can be used in Microsoft word.

(3mks)

Getting ready-made objects and text from other applications into the word

processor.

1. What is the difference between object linking and embedding? (2mks)

In linking, the object imported can only be edited in the original

application from which it was created.

In embedding, the object imported becomes part of the current application and can be edited there.

19. Give a reason why it may be necessary to merge cells in a table. (1mk)

To create larger cells in a table without increasing the height or width of the existing

cells.

20. a) Define mail merging. (2mks)

The process of generating personalized letters or documents by combining a

standard document, but addressed to different recipients.

1. Give two advantages of mail merge over copy and pasting several times to

mass mail a document. (2mks)

 combining of letters saves time when printing

 It allows producing of many documents at once

 The mailing list can be re-used on another document

21. a) Give two advantages of previewing a document before printing.

(2mks)

 To check whether the page layout is OK

  To confirm that no details are outside the printable area

 to go through the document before printing

 To save on printing papers & printer toner because; errors on the printouts that may require
reprinting will be minimal.

22. a) Distinguish between Portrait and Landscape orientations.

(2mks)

In Portrait, text & graphics are printed with the longest side of the page

vertically upright, while in Landscape, text & graphics are printed with the longest side of the page
placed horizontally.

1. b) State two reasons why it is necessary to specify the correct paper size

before printing a document? (2mks)

 Select a paper size depending on the document page size needed

 To comply with printer capabilities

23. Outline any three main features that make word processors popular

(3mks)

 Saving of documents for future reference

 Printing of multiple documents after editing

 formatting of documents into required form

 Mailing features such as mail merging of standard document with another saved file.