1999 CXC Past Papers

Attempt ALL questions.

1. A computer system consists of several hardware devices and software components. The
Keyboard, mouse and printer are all peripheral devices connected to the system unit. The system unit
comprises a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a component, (A) that holds the data and programs
that are currently being used. The CPU in turn consists of two components. One component, (B),
directs the internal operations within the CPU; and the other component, (C) is responsible for the
manipulation of the data. In addition, there is another storage component. (D) Which stores data and
programs that are not currently being used by the CPU.

State the component that performs EACH of the functions named A to D and underlined above.
(4 marks)
Total marks 4

2. Match EACH characteristic, listed A to H below with MOST appropriate device. Write the
Letter (A, B, etc.) to represent the characteristic and next to EACH letter write the name of the device
that matches it.

CHARACTERISTIC DEVICE

A. Modulates and Demodulates signals Plotter

B. Accepts Voice inputs Keyboard
C. Allow users to input architectural plans Modem
D. Reads in graphics data Graphics tablet
E. Used for printing architectural plans Microphone
F. Used for entering text documents Barcode reader
G. Retrieves pricing data from grocery item Joystick
H. Used to move the cursor Scanner
(8 marks)
Total marks 8

3. (a) State THREE function of an operating system. (3 marks)

(b) Identify the type of processing mode that would be suited for the following applications:
(i) Monthly payroll (1 mark )
(ii) Transactions at an automatic Teller Machine (1 mark )
(iii) Processing electricity bills (1 mark )
Total marks 6

4. (a) List THREE ways in which a teacher can use computers in the classroom. (3 marks)
(b) Suggest TWO reasons why computers mat NOT be used in the classroom. (2 marks)
(c) State TWO advantages of using computers in the classroom. (2 marks)
Total marks 7

5. (a) Convert the decimal number 9010 to a binary number. (2 marks)

(b) Convert the binary number 110112 to a decimal number. (2 marks)
(c) Add the two binary numbers 11012 and 101012 giving your answer as a binary number.
(2 marks)
(d) Determine the BCD representation of 8710. (2 marks)
Total marks 8

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 1999 CXC Past Papers

6. (a) (i) Identify ONE application of robots in industry. (1 mark )

(ii) State TWO advantages of using robots in industry. (2 marks)
(iii) State ONE disadvantage of using robots in industry. (1 mark )
(b) For EACH of the following devices, state ONE application in which the use of the
device is essential:
(i) Scanner (1 mark )
(ii) Plotter (1 mark )
(iii) Modem (1 mark )
(iv) Magnetic ink-Character reader (1 mark )
Total marks 8

7. (a) In order to secure its data, a company uses the following method for encrypting text:

A letter is replaced by the letter five letters later in alphabetical order. For example, the
letter “A” is replaced by “F”, “B” is replaced by “G”, and so on. Note that the letter “A”
is considered to follow the letter “Z”.

(i) What would the word “ESSAY” be stored as? (2 marks)

(ii) What is the meaning of the following text?
N LTY NY (2 marks)

(b) (i) What is the purpose of a password? (1 mark )

(ii) What is meant by the term archiving? (1 mark )
(iii) Within many organisations, data on personnel are stored in a central location
from which various departments can access relevant information. State THREE
problems that may arise because of the sharing of this type of data. (3 marks)
Total marks 9

8. Programs are written with the general purpose of solving problems. However, it is unlikely that a
program will run completely error-free on the first attempt. The process whereby a program is checked
to ensure that it dose what it was designed for is important in the development of the program. There
are two main types of errors that can occur: one type of error occurs when the programmer fails to
properly think through the solution to the problem, and the other occurs when the programmer does not
adequately know the rules of the programming language. It is good practice to perform a manual trace
on the program, using appropriately selected input values, which checks each segment of the program.

State the proper technical term for EACH of the underlined phrases. (5 marks)

Suggested Response

(A) Testing
(B) Logic errors
(C) Syntax errors
(D) Dry run (or Structured walkthrough)
(E) Test data

Total marks 5

9. (a) DIFFERENCE = 0
Input A, B
If A <= B Then
DIFFERENCE = A – B
Else
DIFFERENCE = B – A
Endif

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 1999 CXC Past Papers

Print DIFFERENCE

What is printed by the algorithm above if the input values are the following?
(i) 20 30 (1 mark )
(ii) 100 100 (1 mark )
(iii) 50 10 (1 mark )

Suggested Response

(a) (i) -10 A B Difference

(i) 20 30 0
(ii) 0 -10
(ii) 100 100 0
(iii) -40 0
(iii) 50 10 0
-40

Note: Trace table used to determine the values printed by the algorithm

(b) Write a structured algorithm to prompts a user to input two values which are then stored
in A and B. The algorithm must divide A by B and print the result. The algorithm must
keep prompting for the second number as long as the user enters 0 (zero) for the second
number. (7 marks)

PRINT “Enter two values”

INPUT A, B
DO WHILE B = 0
Input B
LOOP
RESULT = A/B
PRINT RESULT

Total marks 10

10. (i) Write a structured algorithm which prompts a user to enter an integer value which is then
stored in a variable N. The algorithm must the print each integer from 1 to N and its
corresponding square. Each output line must show the integer and its square. You may
assume that the user would enter an integer value. (5 marks)

Suggested Response

(i) (QBasic program)

Print “ENTER A POSITIVE INTEGER”

Input N
Print “NUMBER SQUARE”
For i = 1 to N
SQUARE = i * i
Print i, SQUARE

(ii) Modify the algorithm in (i) to determine the sum of all the squares. Print this sum if it is
less than or equal to 1000. Otherwise, print the following message:

THE SUM IS GREATER THAN ONE THOUSAND

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 1999 CXC Past Papers

Print “ENTER A POSITIVE INTEGER”

Input N
Print “NUMBER SQUARE”
SUM = 0
For i = 1 to N
SQUARE = i * i
Print i, SQUARE
SUM = SUM + SQUARE
Next i
If SUM <=1000 then
Print “SUM IS ”, SUM
Else

(5 marks)
Total marks 10

Overall Mark 75

END OF TEST

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