Cambridge IGCSETM

CANDIDATE
NAME

CLASS

Computer Science 0478

Paper 1 Theory March, 2023

Mock Test 2 1 hour & 30 minutes
SPECIMEN PAPER
You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS

Answer all questions.

1. A computer stores data in binary form. Binary numbers can be represented as hexadecimal and
denary numbers.
(a) Convert the 8-bit binary number 01010101 to denary
..............................................................................................................................................[2]
Working space
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(b) Convert the binary number 11000000 to hexadecimal.
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Working space
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(c) Convert the hexadecimal number 1A to denary
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(d) An 8-bit binary register contains the following value:

0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

The contents of this register undergo a logical shift one place to the right.

[Turn over
 (i) Complete the binary register to show its contents after this logical right shift.

[1]

(ii) Write down the denary value following this right shift. [2]

Denary value: ………………

(iii) Two 8-bit binary values are given. Add the two 8-bit binary values.
Give your answer in denary. Show all your working.
00111001
+ 01001010

Denary Value: ……………………. [3]

2. Negative denary numbers can also be represented as binary using two’s complement.
Complete the binary register for the denary value −104.
You must show all your working.

Working space...........................................................................................................................
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Register: [2]

3. Nadia creates a digital image for a school project.

(a) Give one example of an image format
...................................................................................................................................…… [1]
(b) Describe how a digital image file is stored by a computer.
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 ............................................................................................................................................ [3]
(c) Nadia compresses the digital image file before emailing it to a friend.
(i) State what is meant by data compression.
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(ii) Explain why Nadia compresses the digital image file before emailing it
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(iii) Nadia’s email service uses parity bits as a method of error detection during the
transmission of data.
Describe how the parity bits are used to detect errors
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4. (a) State what is meant by the terms

Parallel data transmission ......................................................................................................
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Serial data transmission .........................................................................................................
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................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(b) Give one benefit of each type of data transmission.
Parallel data transmission Benefit
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Serial data transmission Benefit
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(c) Give one application of each type of data transmission. Each application must be different.
Parallel data transmission Application
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 .................................................................................................................................................

Serial data transmission Application

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5. Maisey purchases a new printer and connects it to her computer using the USB port.
Explain two benefits of using a USB connection.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………… [4]

6. Jessica wants to store a large number of small thumbnail images on a USB flash memory drive.
Each thumbnail image is 16‑bit colour and is 100 pixels wide and 100 pixels high.
She has 5MB of storage space available on her USB flash memory drive.

Calculate how many images she can store in the 5MB of storage space.
Show all your working.
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Number of images .................................................. [4]

7. Six statements are shown on the left and six computing terms are shown on the right
in the diagram below.
Draw lines to connect each statement to the correct computer term. [6]

Result of adding two binary numbers that Run-length encoding

exceeds the maximum size of a number which
can be stored

Number of sound samples taken per second when Overflow error

representing sound digitally in a computer

Sampling rate
A 7-bit code used to represent letters, numbers
and characters found on a standard keyboard plus
32 control codes
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 Lossless file compression, which reduces the size Plaintext
of a string of adjacent, identical data, is called:

The MP3 format removes redundant sound from a American standard code
file. Which type of file reduction being used by for information
the MP3 format? interchange (ASCII)

The term which is used to describe the message Lossy files compression
before encryption

8. Jamelia has a greenhouse that she uses to grow fruit and vegetables. She needs to make sure
the temperature in the greenhouse stays between 25°C and 30°C (inclusive).
A system that has a temperature sensor and a microprocessor is used to maintain the temperature
in the greenhouse. The system will:
• open a window and turn a heater off if it gets too hot
• close a window and turn a heater on if it gets too cold.
Describe how the system uses the temperature sensor and the microprocessor to maintain the
temperature in the greenhouse.
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9. Three Internet terms are browser, Internet Protocol (IP) address and Uniform Resource Locator
(URL).
Five statements are given about the Internet terms.
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 Tick ( ) to show which statements apply to each Internet term. Some statements may apply to
more than one Internet term.

[4]

10. Phil has a computer that is designed using the Von Neumann model. The computer has a central
processing unit (CPU).
(a) One type of component within the CPU is an address bus.
Identify one of the other types of bus and state what is responsible for transmitting in the CPU.
Bus....................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) The computer also has a single core CPU.

State one purpose of a core in a CPU.
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(c) The CPU performs a cycle that has three stages. One of these stages is execute.
Identify one of the other stages of the cycle that is performed by the CPU.
………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]
(d) 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]

11. Cassie stores data for her business every day. She stores the data using optical data storage.
(a) Identify one example of optical data storage.
Example1 ......................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Three types of storage media are magnetic, optical and solid state.
(One example of solid‑state storage is a Solid State Drive (SSD).

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 Identify one other example of solid‑state storage.
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(c) Pradeep stores his collection of films and his work files on his personal computer.
Pradeep wants to save a copy of all his films and files onto a single storage device.
Identify an appropriate storage device to store the copies.

Storage device ............................................................................................................... [1]

12. Sensors are used at the entrance to count the number of people entering the stadium.
(i) Identify two sensors that could be used to count the number of people entering the stadium.
Sensor 1 ............................................................................................................................
Sensor 2 ....................................................................................................................…… [2]
(ii) Tick (✓) one box to show if a sensor is an example of an input device, storage device or
output device.

Device Tick ( ✓ )

Input

Storage

Output

[1]

13. (a) Name one of the computer memory which can be accessed directly from the CPU.
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(b) Describe the differences between SRAM and DRAM
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(c) The computers use virtual memory.
Describe what is meant by virtual memory
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 ......................................................................................................................................... [2]

14. Tammy is buying a new computer that has an LED display.

Four statements about LED displays are given.
Tick (✓) to show if each statement is True or False.
Statement True False
It creates images using red, green and blue diodes
It is not very energy efficient and gives off heat
It is a front-lit display
It is also used in mobile devices such as smartphones and
tablets
[4]

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