CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.1: Translator

Below is a short program written in a high-level language:
var x = 10
if x < 20 then
output x
else
output x * x
endif
A list of the binary codes that the computer understands are given in this table:
Command or statement Binary code
var 10000000
if 10000001
else 10000010
then 10000011
endif 10000100
output 10000101
< 10000110
> 10000111
input 10001000
x 10001001
+ 10001010
- 10001011
/ 10001100
* 10001101
10 00001010
20 00010100
= 10001110

Convert the program into binary:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.2: System software

crossword
Complete this crossword puzzle:

Across
2 An example utility program, changes a disk or data storage device so that it can be written to/read by
the Operating System (10)
4 Translates high-level language to low-level language, translates all of the code in one go, creates an
executable file (8)
7 Software that allows users to communicate with the hardware, e.g. performs memory management (15)
8 An example utility program, reduces the size of a file (15)
9 An example utility program, moves files so that they are contiguous, moves all free space together (15)
10 Combines code from different modules into one file when required at run-time (6)

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Down
1 Performs housekeeping tasks such as anti-virus (15)
3 Software that allows hardware to run on an operating system, translates the peripheral's language to
one the operating system can run (12)
5 Translates high-level language to low-level language, translates one line then runs it (11)
6 An example utility program, makes a copy of data in case the original is lost (6)

Cambridge International AS & A Level IT – Ellis © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.3: System software

Complete the table below:

Name Purpose Features Benefits Drawbacks

compiler

interpreter

linked

device driver

operating
system

utility
software

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.4: Utility software

Complete the table below:

Type Purpose Benefits Drawbacks

anti-virus

back-up

data compression

disk defragmentation

formatting

file copying

deleting

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.5: Custom-written vs

proprietary software
Complete the mind map below about custom-written and proprietary software:

Custom
Written

Software
licences

Off-the-shelf

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 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL IT

Worksheet 2.6: Types of interface

Listed in the table below are examples of types of interfaces or experiences you may have used.
Study these and complete the rest of the table.

Command line GUI Dialogue Gesture-based

interface interface

Can include drop-down

boxes

The user speaks commands

Commands are entered as

text

Has minimal memory

requirements

An example is tracking eye

movement

Can struggle to differentiate

between accents

The user clicks buttons

Contains windows

The user types commands

Is memory intensive

Can include tick boxes

Can be made of menus

The user moves to input

commands

Cambridge International AS & A Level IT – Ellis © Cambridge University Press 2020