CUTE IDEAS REVISION SERIES

COMPUTER SYSTEMS REVIEW QUESTIONS 2

1. Describe the following categories of software (4 marks)

i) Firmware
ii) Proprietary software

2. Explain the meaning of solid state storage media giving two examples of it.
(3 marks)
3. Define the following terms: (2 marks)
(i) Computer Port

(ii) Power supply unit

4. Mutiso wanted to upgrade the RAM of his computer. State two factors Mutiso should
consider when purchasing a RAM module. (1 mark)

5. To process an instruction, the CPU goes through a cycle of three stages. Name each of the
stages. (3 marks)

6. During a visit to the typing room, Jane a computer student observed a type of printer that
uses a beam to create an image on a rotating drum. As the beam hits the drum, some regions
attract ink toner particles. The toner is then fused onto a piece of paper.
I. State the name of this type of printer and indicate whether it is an impact or non-impact printer.
(1mark)

II. List two advantages of using the printer mentioned in a. above. (2marks)
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7. Distinguish between a computer drive and computer driver (2 Marks)

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 8. a. Dan a computer student noticed that every time a person enters the computer lab the computer
screen flickers. Identify three reasons why the monitor might be flickering
(3 Marks)
b. State two ways in which the problem can be solved (2 Marks)

9. List four devices that use scanning technology that would be used to capture data directly from
source. (2 marks)

10. Explain two contents of a warranty that should be considered when purchasing computer hardware
(4 marks)

11. List two categories of system software (1mark)

12. Explain how a pixel affects the resolution of a monitor. (1mark)

13. List two types of computer output on microform (COM). (2marks)

14. Speech recognition devices are used to capture natural sound and convert the input into digital form.
State two problems related to speech recognition devices. (2marks)

15. (a)Differentiate between buffers and Registers (2 marks)

16. Control unit is an essential component of the CPU. Describe the functions of the control unit.
(2 marks)

17. Using a well labelled diagram, describe the fetch and execute cycle. (3 Marks)

18. Mr. Kala wants to buy a printer to use in his automobile workshop for printing sales orders in
duplicates. He has approached you for advice. What printer should he buy? (1 Mark)

Give a reason for your answer. (1mark)

19. Differentiate the term portability in both hardware and software. (2marks)

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 20. The accounts department of a secondary school is using a system that generates invoices that are
printed in triplicate using carbon papers.
Name one type of printer suitable for this task. (1mark)

Give a reason for your answer I (a) above. (1mark)

21. A firm intends to purchase new software. List three items that should accompany the software.

(3marks)

22. Describe the following terms: (2 marks)

(i) Software suite

(ii) Shareware

23. Wanafunzi Cooperative has recently introduced magnetic ink character recognition for
processing customer cheques. Give any two benefits they are likely to gain from its use. (2 marks)

24. Dr. Fundi would like to demonstrate a concept using a computer program on his laptop to
members of his village health committee.
Give two reasons why he would prefer a laptop to his desktop computer. (3 marks)

25. State 2 reasons why an organisation may use other strategies of software acquisition other than
developing their own. (2 marks)

26. List four advantages of secondary storage devices which make them indispensable /popular
part of a computer system. (2 marks)

27. Give two reasons why magnetic tape is not a popular secondary storage device.

28. Describe the following computer memories.

i) Register (1mark)

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 ii) Cache (1mark)

29. Explain the term Pen Computing (2 marks)

30. Ministry of Lands prefers to use hard copy output over soft copy when handling documents for land
matters. Give two reasons for this preference (2 marks)

31. Write the following acronyms if full (2 marks)

I. HDMI…………………………………………………………………………
II. SATA…………………………………………………………………………
III. PnP…………………………………………………………………………
IV. WORM…………………………………………………………………………
32. Differentiate between freeware and shareware (2 marks)

33. Name two factors that determine the quality of a scanner (1 mark)

34. With reference to cables list two reasons why a keyboard may not function correctly (2 marks)

35. State any three disadvantages of using the magnetic tape ( 3 marks)

36. State any two advantages of solid-state storage devices. (2 marks)

37. After data is processed, it is important to keep it somewhere either permanently or semi -permanently
for future use.Briefly describe how data is stored/ represented on a solid-state storage device.
(2 Marks)

38. Give any two advantages of OLED monitors over the LED monitors. (2 Marks)

39. A system analyst is employing a programmer to write a software for a new computer-based system.
State the benefits of this method of obtaining appropriate software. (3 Marks)

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 40. State any two methods of input available for the operation of a smartphone. (2 Marks)

41. Today, many companies are re-engineering their products to implement the USB connection to the
computer. State any two reasons for the drift. (2 Marks)

42. State three circumstances which may force an individual to acquire an impact printer instead of non-
impact printer. (3marks)

43. A school computer laboratory is scheduled to undergo major renovations. The lab is schedule to
receive new computer whose specifications are given below:-
Pentium IV 2.8GHz processor
40GB HDD
3 ½ FDD
256MB RAM
56 x CD ROM
17” SVGA TFT monitor
Explain what is meant by the terms:-

1. FDD

2. HDD

3. SVGA

4. TFT

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

45. The secretary to the Board of Management of your school wants to purchase a computer screen and
has resulted to consult your advice. State any three features or terms you could recommend her to
consider during the purchasing process. (3 marks)

46. State the purpose of the following parts of the CPU

a. Control Unit; [1 mark]

b. Arithmetic and Logic Unit; [1 mark]

c. Main Memory; [1 mark]

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 47. Explain two meanings of WORM in relation to computer. (2marks)

48. Study the chart/diagram below carefully and identify the gaps labeled (4 marks).

(i) A ……………………………………………………………………..…………………
(ii) B …………………………………………………………………………….………..
(iii) C ……………………………………………………………………………..……..
(iv) D ……………………………………………………………………………………

b) (i) What is a PnP device? (1 mark)

(ii) State two examples of PnP devices. (2 marks)