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ZIMSEC O Level · 4021/1 · N2020

Computer Science Paper 1 November 2020

Questions
40
Time allowed
60 min
Syllabus code
4021/1

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Questions
40
Pass mark
24
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Answer every question in the printed order, get marked at the end, then see the answers.

The questions

Question 1

Computer system structure
The part of a computer where programs are run is called the
  1. ARAM.
  2. BROM.
  3. Cprocessor.
  4. Dmother board.

Question 2

System software

An operating system lets the user group files together for convenience.

Such a group is called a

  1. Ablock.
  2. Bsector.
  3. Cfolder.
  4. Dcluster.

Question 3

Computer system structure
Which of the following is not a hardware component?
  1. Aprocessor
  2. Bhard disk controller
  3. Cnetwork interface card
  4. Dpayroll processing system

Question 4

Databases
In a database about school learners, one field records whether a learner has had a TB vaccination. The most efficient data type to store this fact will be
  1. Atext.
  2. Bmemo.
  3. Cnumber.
  4. Dboolean.

Question 5

Business and ICT
Which of the following is not a feature of business?
  1. Aexchange of goods and services on a regular basis
  2. Bdealing in goods and services
  3. Crisk and uncertainties
  4. Dwork for others

Question 6

Systems analysis
During which stage are system flow charts usually drawn?
  1. Aimplementation
  2. Bevaluation
  3. Canalysis
  4. Ddesign

Question 7

Systems analysis
Which of these is likely to take place during the investigation stage of systems development?
  1. Adesign of data input screens
  2. Bexamination of paper work
  3. Ctraining of staff
  4. Dwriting code

Question 8

Business and ICT
A marketing philosophy summarised by the phrase 'a stronger focus on social and ethical concerns in marketing' is characteristic of which period?
  1. Asales
  2. Bmarketing
  3. Cproduction
  4. Dsocietal marketing

Question 9

Data protection
The Data Protection Act covers data which is stored
  1. Aon computer systems and paper systems.
  2. Bfor accounting purposes only.
  3. Con computer systems only.
  4. Don paper systems only.

Question 10

Security
Which of these methods is most likely to reduce the chances of a virus problem in a computer network?
  1. Apreventing the access of emails
  2. Binstalling anti-virus software
  3. Cbacking up data regularly
  4. Dinstallation of a firewall

Question 11

Networks
Which of these types of network cable is not affected by interference from other cables?
  1. AUTP
  2. BCo-axial
  3. Cfibre-optic
  4. Dthin ethernet

Question 12

Networks
What name is given to a work station on a network?
  1. Aa terminator
  2. Ba terminal
  3. Ca server
  4. Da hub

Question 13

Programming
Some of the characteristics of good programming are
  1. Asimplicity, naturalness, efficiency and compactness.
  2. Bhard to understand, lengthy and incompact.
  3. Ccomplex, English-like and non-modular.
  4. Dunstructured, inefficient and complex.

Question 14

Programming
Which one is not true about indentation?
  1. AIt can be staggered while writing a program.
  2. BIt makes programs simpler to understand.
  3. CIt is compulsory while writing a program.
  4. DIt makes programs more readable.

Question 15

Systems analysis
When a new system is installed for only a small number of users to test and evaluate, this is called
  1. Aparallel running.
  2. Bpilot running.
  3. Call at once.
  4. Dmodule.

Question 16

Security
Hacking is an attempt to
  1. Aaccess files without authorisation.
  2. Binfect files with a virus.
  3. Cdamage data.
  4. Dalter data.

Question 17

Communications
A mobile telephone that is able to access internet pages uses which type of protocol?
  1. AFTP
  2. BIPX
  3. CSMP
  4. DWAP

Question 18

Communications

Video conferencing is often of poor quality when internet connectivity is used.

The most likely reason for this is

  1. Athe operating system of some personal computers is incompatible with video conferencing.
  2. Bmany users do not have broadband connections.
  3. Cweb cameras do not have enough pixel density.
  4. Dthe internet cannot send moving pictures.

Question 19

Databases
Why is it wrong to use a text data type to store money values?
  1. AThe pound or dollar sign cannot be displayed.
  2. BThe decimal point cannot be displayed.
  3. CCalculations cannot be performed.
  4. DThe data cannot be sorted.

Question 20

Control systems

A small computer is used in a car to show how far the driver can expect to go before needing to refuel.

This computer system is called

  1. Ainteractive.
  2. Ba simulation.
  3. Cprocess control.
  4. Dan embedded system.

Question 21

Data capture
The device used to input data into a burglar alarm system is the
  1. Alight pen.
  2. Bscanner.
  3. Creader.
  4. Dsensor.

Question 22

Internet
Which of these instructions embedded in a web page would cause the text following it to be displayed in the largest letters?
  1. A<H1>
  2. B<H6>
  3. C<HEAD>
  4. D<TITLE>

Question 23

Programming
'IF... Then ... Else' structures are called
  1. Aselection logic structures.
  2. Bsequence logic structures.
  3. Citeration logic structures.
  4. Dprogram logic structures.

Question 24

Programming

An algorithm can be described by using a series of program-like statements, but without writing the program.

This is called

  1. Ahigh level code.
  2. Blow level code.
  3. Cobject code.
  4. Dpseudocode.

Question 25

Flowcharts
What shape represents a process in a flow chart?
  1. Aa cylinder
  2. Ba diamond
  3. Ca rectangle
  4. Da parallelogram

Question 26

Internet
A small program designed to run in a web page is called
  1. Aa hyperlink.
  2. Ban anchor.
  3. Can applet.
  4. Da frame.

Question 27

Systems analysis
Deciding where the data will come from in a project is looked at during the
  1. Aimplementation stage.
  2. Banalysis stage.
  3. Cproblem identification stage.
  4. Ddesign stage.

Question 28

Number systems
What is -6 in one's complement?
  1. A1001
  2. B111
  3. C010
  4. D101

Question 29

Number systems
201020_{10} to base 2 is
  1. A00100
  2. B10100
  3. C11000
  4. D10101

Question 30

Number systems
Given 10002+100021000_2 + 1000_2, the correct answer is
  1. A100001
  2. B10000
  3. C10001
  4. D0001

Question 31

Modelling and simulation

A biologist uses a computer to model the growth of an insect population.

What is the main advantage of using computer modelling in this case?

  1. AMore generations can be tested in a limited time.
  2. BThere are very few variables to take into account.
  3. CThe results are likely to be very accurate.
  4. DThe results will always be the same.

Question 32

Modelling and simulation

A computer game allows the player to simulate driving cars around city streets.

Which of these is an input into the system?

  1. Amovement of a paddle on the console
  2. Bthe detection of a crash
  3. Carrival at a cross-road
  4. Dthe car engine sound

Question 33

Number systems
Convert 781078_{10} to octal.
  1. A117
  2. B116
  3. C115
  4. D114

Question 34

Programming
Which of the following types of error cannot be detected by a compiler?
  1. Asemantic errors
  2. Brun time errors
  3. Clogical errors
  4. Dsyntax errors

Question 35

Programming
Variable declarations are made in which section of a program?
  1. Aend-of-job routine
  2. Bhousekeeping
  3. Cfile opening
  4. Dmain loop

Question 36

Programming
In a 'do ... while' loop, the loop condition is checked at the
  1. Astart of program.
  2. Bend of program.
  3. Cstart of loop.
  4. Dend of loop.

Question 37

Databases

An electrical store needs to keep data of its products in a relational database. One of the tables is called STOCK; its structure is shown.

The store currently has 500 products in stock. The minimum file size required to store all the necessary data is

  1. A21.972 bytes
  2. B43.9 bytes
  3. C21 972 kB
  4. D43.9 kB

Question 38

Databases

An electrical store needs to keep data of its products in a relational database. One of the tables is called STOCK; its structure is shown.

Which field will be suitable for a key field?

  1. ANumber In Stock
  2. BSupplier_code
  3. CStock_Number
  4. DItem_Name

Question 39

Computer system structure
The section of the CPU that selects, interprets and deals with the execution of program instructions is called the
  1. Aarithmetic logic unit.
  2. Bmemory unit.
  3. Cregister unit.
  4. Dcontrol unit.

Question 40

Flowcharts

A car park has a sensor that detects each car as it enters through the barrier. A computer controls the barrier. The computer software uses an algorithm to operate this function. The algorithm contains the following statements.

1. is counter = maximum?
2. set counter to 0
3. car detected
4. close barrier
5. add 1 to counter

The flow chart shown represents the algorithm.

Which group of statements is the correct sequence of the flow chart diagram given?

  1. A3, 2, 1, 4, 5
  2. B2, 3, 5, 1, 4
  3. C1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  4. D5, 4, 3, 2, 1

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