IGCSE Cambridge (CIE) Computer Science 38 mins 11 questions

Exam Questions

Data Storage
Primary Storage / Secondary Storage / Virtual Memory / Cloud Storage

Easy (6 questions) /19 Scan here for your answers

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Medium (3 questions) /8

Hard (2 questions) /11

Total Marks /38

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Easy Questions
1 A student uses a laptop and a calculator for schoolwork.

Both the laptop and the calculator have read only memory (ROM).

State one reason why both devices have ROM.

(1 mark)

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2 (a) A finance company uses cloud storage to archive their accounts.

The computers in the finance company use both primary and secondary storage.

One example of primary storage is ROM.

Give one other example of primary storage.

(1 mark)

(b) Give two examples of secondary storage

(2 marks)

3 A computer is designed using the Von Neumann model for a computer system.

The computer has a central processing unit (CPU).

Data is fetched from primary storage into the CPU to be processed

State the name of the primary storage from where data is fetched.

(1 mark)

4 Three types of storage media are magnetic, optical and solid state

One example of solid‑state storage is a Solid State Drive (SSD).

Identify one other example of solid‑state storage.

(1 mark)

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5 (a) Cassie stores data for her business every day. She stores the data using optical data
storage.

Identify three examples of optical data storage.

(3 marks)

(b) Six statements are given about the operation of three different types of storage.

Tick (✓) to show which statements apply to each type of storage. Some statements may
apply to more than one type of storage.

Statement Magnetic Optical Solid state

(✓) (✓) (✓)

this storage has no moving parts

this storage uses a laser to read and

write data

this storage uses a read/write head

this storage burns pits onto a reflective

surface

this storage uses NAND and NOR

technology

this storage stores data in tracks and

sectors

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 (6 marks)

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6 (a) Secondary storage devices are used to store data in a computer.

Identify three components from the list that are secondary storage devices.

central processing unit (CPU)

compact disk (CD)

hard disk drive (HDD)

random access memory (RAM)

read only memory (ROM)

register

sensor

solid‑state drive (SSD)

(3 marks)

(b) Tick (✓) one box to show which statement about secondary storage is correct.

A. It is directly accessed by the CPU

B. It is magnetic storage only
C. It is used to permanently store software and data files
D. It is volatile
(1 mark)

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Medium Questions
1 A finance company uses cloud storage to archive their accounts.

Describe what is meant by cloud storage.

(2 marks)

2 Three types of storage media are magnetic, optical and solid state

Optical storage uses a laser to store and read data from a disk

Explain how the laser is used to store and read data from the disk.

(3 marks)

3 A business is creating a new mobile device that has an SSD as secondary storage.

Give three reasons why an SSD is the most suitable secondary storage for their mobile
device.

(3 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) Draw a diagram to represent how virtual memory is created and used.

(4 marks)

(b) A student is using software to create 3D models. This process often requires the use of
virtual memory.

Explain why virtual memory is needed for this process.

(3 marks)

2 A finance company uses cloud storage to archive their accounts.

The computers also use virtual memory

Describe how virtual memory is created and used.

(4 marks)

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