CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY COMPUTING 8: LEARNER’S BOOK ANSWERS

Learner’s Book
answers
Note to the teacher: Please note that there are always answers to the Questions and Check your progress
features in the Learner’s Book. There may be suggested answers to some questions for Getting started,
Activity, Unplugged activity, Programming task and Practical task features if appropriate.

Programming task 1.7

Unit 1
Investigate 1: Condition: (colour = "red"),
Questions 1.1 if true value = 1, if false value = 2; Boolean
operator: NOT
1 To design algorithms or programs
Predict 1: 1
2 Program code has syntax that has to Investigate 2: Conditions: (colour = "red",
be followed, whereas pseudocode is colour = "blue"), if true value = 1,
language-independent if false value = 2; Boolean operator: OR
3 All are valid Predict 2: 1
4 The first is not valid because the text to be Investigate 3: Condition 1: (colour1 = "red",
output is not in double quotation marks – it is colour2 = "blue"), if true value = 1, if false check
an English statement and is not like code next condition; condition 2: (colour2 = "red",
colour1 = "purple"), if true value = 2, if false end
Unplugged activity 1.2 statement; Boolean operators: AND, OR
Predict 3:
1 value1 10 100 88
1 2
2 value2 12
2 1
3 value3 176
3 0
4 value4 44
Questions 1.3
Questions 1.2
1 (1) Condition, (2) code to run when true and
1 Any command such as OUTPUT, (3) code to run when false
PRINT, WRITE
2 IF
2 It does not use commands or syntax for one
specific language, and it can be understood 3 "Smaller"
by all programmers who can write high-level
4 a "second"
language programs
b "same"
3 Equals (=) and back arrow (←)
c When both values are the same
4 first, second, third d When the first number is the larger
5 a 10 b 15 c 99 d 0 e When the second number is the larger

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 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY COMPUTING 8: LEARNER’S BOOK ANSWERS

5 a 
"The first ever computer was as big as a room."
b "Why was the computer sneezing?"
"It had a virus."
c Nothing – there will be no output
d Include an ELSE statement

Questions 1.4
1 Looks for a value in a set of data, items or objects
2 For example: a search engine, looking for a file, looking for a user’s details
3 Computers need to find values in sets of data
4 Hundreds
5 No, it depends on the data
6 One after the other in a line
7 It looks at each item in turn from the first to the last
8 Compare search data with "cat": not found; compare it with "rabbit": not found; compare it
with "mouse": not found; compare it with "sheep": not found; compare it with "horse": found.
(Note: learners may use ‘look at’ or similar instead of ‘compare’)
9 Compare search data with 3: not found; compare it with 44: not found; compare it with 9: not found;
compare it with 50: not found; compare it with 19: not found; compare it with 2: not found; no items
left – item not found. (Note: learners may use ‘look at’ or similar instead of ‘compare’)

Questions 1.5
1 if
2 Indent the code
3 0 or 1
4 "Hamster"
5 20
6 0
7 When the first condition is false
8 For example:
year = input("Enter your year group")
if year == "7":
print("This is your first year")
elif year == "8":
print("I hope your second year is enjoyable")
else:
print("You're the oldest year now")

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Programming task 1.18 Questions 1.9

1 Both output statements or calculations 1 Breaking something down into smaller pieces
2 The declaration line for the constant ‘cost’ 2 Split it into smaller sub-problems
3 Both output statements 3 To make them easier to solve

4 The declaration line for the constant ‘message’
Questions 1.6
1 The data held in a constant cannot change,
but the data held in a variable can change
2 An identifier and a value stored in them
3 So the value cannot be accidentally changed,
to avoid mistakes by writing the data value
incorrectly and so that you only need to
change the value once and it will change in all
places it is used
4 To make them easier to program, to identify
repeated code, to divide the problem between
multiple programmers, to increase the speed
of writing the program
Questions 1.10
1 Repeating
2 Repeating development in cycles of
programming, then testing, then changing
or adding to the program, then testing and
so on . . . doing this repeatedly until the
program is finished

Questions 1.7 Questions 1.11

1 True and false, or 1 and 0 1 Normal, invalid and boundary
2 "True" is a string while True is a Boolean 2 To make sure it always works with different
data type test data types
3 a string b real 3 To make sure all valid data is accepted,
c integer d Boolean all boundary data is accepted or rejected as
e string f string required and that all invalid data is rejected
4 cost = real (or float), afford = Boolean 4 For example: it must include multiple numbers
that are the same, the smallest number
Questions 1.8 in different positions (first to fourth) and
the largest number in different positions
1 A set of pre-written sub-routines that you can (first to fourth)
use in your program
2 To save programmers time, so programmers Questions 1.12
do not need to write sub-routines that have
1 Wirelessly, using radio waves
already been written by someone else
2 Numbers and strings (and others)
3 Anyone can write one and you don’t know
what the code does, so you need to make sure 3 So that you do not pick up transmissions
they do not contain malware like viruses from other micro:bits, or transmit data to
other micro:bits
4 import
5 math.floor(44.56) 4 In a variable

6 Round the number in the brackets up to the 5 Any way you would use any other data,
next whole number for example, in calculations, in selection
statements and in conditional statements
7 9999
10000 Check your progress 1
8 Random 1 All four answers (A, B, C and D)
are correct. One mark per correct answer. [4]
9 100, 101, 102, 103

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 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY COMPUTING 8: LEARNER’S BOOK ANSWERS

2 11 [1]
3 C 1005 [1]
4 It searches a set of data in a program for a specific value [1]
5 It starts by checking the first item in the list, then it checks each item in turn until the item is
found or no items are left [2]
6 The first number (12) is checked; this is not 33, so the next number (3) is checked; this is not 33,
so the next number (33) is checked; this is 33, so the search stops [2]
7 D == [1]
8 B != [1]
9 a The program written should take one user’s name as input, take that user’s age as input,
convert to integer or other appropriate data type, then take a second user’s name and age in
the same way.
For example:
user1Name = input("Enter user 1's name")
user1Age = int(input("Enter user 1's age"))
user2Name = input("Enter user 2's name")
user2Age = int(input("Enter user 2's age")) [4]
b The program written should use an IF statement, check if the ages are the same, output that
they are the same if so, check if user 1 is older and output a name if true, check if user 2 is
older and output name if true.
For example:
user1Name = input("Enter user 1's name")
user1Age = int(input("Enter user 1's age"))
user2Name = input("Enter user 2's name")
user2Age = int(input("Enter user 2's age"))
if user1Age == user2Age:
print(user1Name, "and", user2Name, "are the same age")
elif user1Age > user2Age:
print(user1Name, "is older")
else:
print(user2Name, "is older") [5]
10 Radio [1]
11 a 10 [1]
b 20 [1]
c No data would be transferred because micro:bit 2 does not have a Button A [1]
d An image of a heart is displayed [1]
e An X is displayed [1]
12 Write a section or part of the code; test the section of code; edit the section of code to fix
errors or write the next section of code; and repeat until finished [4]
13 a Problems are broken down or split into smaller sub-problems [1]
b Any two from: Sub-problems are easier to solve and manage. Problems can be divided between
different people. Different sub-problems can be solved at the same time, which saves time. [2]

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5
Unit 2 Helps us gather data
Field
from people
Practical task 2.2
1 Profit increases to $38, so $3 more profit A collection of all the
fields about a single
2 Profit decreases to $39, so $3 less profit Record
object in the database –
3 Profit increases to $40.50, so $13.50 a single row in the table
more profit
A collection of the data
Practical task 2.3 Validation
about one aspect of
every record – a single
1 $2.90 column in the table
2 50
Data
Rules for the data that
collection
Questions 2.1 form
is entered into a field
1 The data will not be useful if it is not suitable  [4]
2 It may not be possible to use the data for 6
its intended purpose, or it could lead to
Validation Description
something negative happening, for example
rule
a person being given the wrong task
Length This rule checks how many
Questions 2.2 check characters have been entered.
This rule checks whether the
1 A paper-based or digital form that is used to Range
data entered is within a range
collect data for a purpose check
of values.
2 Any three from: presence check, format check, Presence This rule checks whether data
length check, range check check has been entered into a field.
3 To make sure that the data collected [3]
is accurate 7 Any two from: Whether all the data that
is stored is necessary; whether the data is
Check your progress 2 accurate; whether validation has been set
for the data that will be entered to make
1 To provide a realistic copy of how a
sure that all of the data is complete and
real-life system or scenario works [1]
correct; whether the data collection form
2 Any two from: flight simulator, is easy to use and has clear instructions
surgery simulator, driving simulator [2] for entering the data [2]
3 The information that is output and the
options that are given by the simulator [1]
Unit 3
4 It changes the values in a spreadsheet to
see what effect the changes have on other Questions 3.1
values in the spreadsheet in order to find
the outcome to a what-if question [2] 1 A small number of devices
2 Close together, normally in the same room
3 The user or company that created the PAN

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Questions 3.2 5 Any three from: It can be hardware- or

software-based. It checks data coming
1 Two or more devices into the computer. It uses rules for data –
if the data does not meet the rules the
2 Normally in the same building
firewall will block it. It can help prevent
3 The user or company that created the LAN hackers stealing data. [3]
6 It will quarantine it or delete it [1]
Questions 3.3
1 Any number of devices
Unit 4
2 Normally in different buildings across a town,
city or country Questions 4.1
3 Some may belong to the user or company, 1 RAM and ROM
and some may belong to the internet
service provider 2 RAM
3 ROM
Questions 3.4
4 a ROM
1 Wired
b The computer needs the same instructions
2 Wired to boot up each time
3 Wireless
Questions 4.2
4 Wired
1 Any two from: Providing an interface, memory
management, managing user accounts,
Check your progress 3 managing files, running application software,
1 Any one from: They both usually use at managing input and output devices
least some wired connections. A small 2 Interface
WAN could contain a similar number of
devices to a large LAN. [1] 3 Utility software
2 Any one from: The user or company owns
all the network hardware. They can
Questions 4.3
contain a similar number of devices. 1 0011 (or 11)
They can both be created using only
wireless connections. [1] 2 0111 (or 111)

3 Any two from: The network hardware 3 1100

belongs to the user in a PAN, but it may
4 15
belong to someone else in a WAN.
The devices are all in the same room in
a PAN, but they are usually in different
Unplugged activity 4.3
buildings in a WAN. A PAN contains • 00110011 in denary is 51.
only a small number of devices, but a • 10101010 in denary is 170.
WAN can contain a large number
of devices. [2]
Activity 4.4
4 sender; receiver; copy; compares;
YOU ARE AWESOME!
original; errors [6]

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 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY COMPUTING 8: LEARNER’S BOOK ANSWERS
Questions 4.4
1 A standard set of binary values, one to
represent each character (letter, number
or symbol)
2 Because every character needs to have a
different binary value, and uppercase letters
and lowercase letters are different characters
3 Data compression
Questions 4.5
1 To show the outputs that will result from all
the possible inputs into a logic gate
2 Because the NOT gate only has 1 input so
there can only be two possible input values
Questions 4.6
1 It can use the data it collects to adapt its own
rules to make different decisions
2 No
3 Yes
Check your progress 4
1 Any one from: They both store data.
They are both examples of primary memory.
The CPU accesses both directly. [1]
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2 Any one from: RAM is volatile and ROM
is non-volatile. RAM stores data currently
in use and ROM stores instructions to boot
up the computer. The data in RAM
changes all the time, but the data in
ROM never changes. [1]
3 It allows the user to interact with the
hardware of the computer [1]
4 Any three from: Provides an interface;
memory management; managing user
accounts; managing files; running
application software; managing input
and output devices [3]
5 a A standard set of binary values,
one to represent each character
(letter, number or symbol) [1]
b Any one from: ASCII;
extended ASCII; Unicode [1]
6 AND [1]
7 A standard AI system uses preprogrammed
rules to make decisions, whereas an AI
system with machine learning capabilities
is able to adapt its own rules based on
what it experiences and can make
different decisions in future [2]