PORTMORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

CARIBBEAN EXAMINATION COUNCIL

CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL PROFICIENCY

2 hrs 15mins

Instructions: DO NOT open this examination paper until instructed to do so.

Answer ALL questions in your answer booklet.

Answer ALL questions from the THREE sections.

- SECTION I -

Instructions: This section consists of SIX questions. Answer ALL questions.

Question 1

A user interface allows us to communicate with the computer‟s operating system to get some task done.

a) List ONE hardware user interface. [1 mark]

b) Give an example of where the hardware interface (you have listed above) is used. [1 mark]

c) State TWO types of software user interface. [2 marks]

d) Indicate which software interface (you have listed above) is more suitable for use by someone

who is learning to use a computer. [1 mark]

e) Computer systems may process data using the real-time processing method. List ONE advantage

and ONE disadvantage of using real-time processing. [2 marks]

f) Using the table below, write the correct application software with its matching software type.

Application Type of Software

Microsoft Office 2003 Operating system software

Ubuntu (Linux) Specialized software

Spanish for beginners Integrated application software

[3 marks]

Question 2

a) If the ASCII code for the letter „f‟ is 1100110, find the ASCII code for the letter „k‟. Show all

calculations. [3 marks]

b) Convert the binary number 01011110 to hexadecimal. [1 mark]

c) Using two‟s complement, find the 8-bit representation of -72. [1 mark]

d) Derrick has an external hard drive with a capacity of 1 terabyte (TB) and Tianna has a USB flash

drive with a capacity of 16 gigabytes (GB). Calculate how many flash drives of information,

similar to Tianna‟s, can be accommodated on Derrick‟s external hard drive. [2 marks]

e) For EACH of the following storage media, indicate whether it is a secondary or primary storage

media:

Flash Memory Card

Random Access Memory

Programmable Read Only Memory [3 marks]

Question 3

Information Processing can be found in automation, science, commercial or even industrial fields.

a) Give THREE advantages and THREE disadvantages of Information Processing. [6 marks]

b) Explain, using ANY TWO fields, how Information Processing is conducted in that area. [4 marks]

Question 4

A computer supplies company has eight technicians who travel to businesses and homes to sell computer

supplies and accessories. Each technician has the ability to complete purchase transactions using debit or

credit cards at any client‟s location.

a) Explain the type of transaction media that is described above. [2 marks]

b) What is a hotspot? [1 mark]

c) Give ONE disadvantage of having aces to a hotspot. [1 mark]

d) Name TWO devices that can connect to a Wi-Fi. [2 marks]

e) Explain the difference between „line-of-sight communication‟ AND „scattered infrared

communication‟. [2 marks]

f) Explain whether line of sight communication or scattered infrared communication is MORE

effective in transmitting data. [2 marks]

Question5

a) For EACH of the file access methods listed below, state whether the record arrangement is:

ordered (O), unordered (U), or either ordered/unordered (OU).

i. Direct Access File

ii. Indexed-Sequential File

iii. Random Access File

iv. Sequential File

v. Serial File [6 marks]

b) State whether EACH of the following files is a temporary or permanent file:

i. Grandfather File

ii. Master File

iii. Transaction File

iv. Transaction Log [4 marks]

Question 6

a) Name THREE types of errors that can occur within information systems. [3 marks]

b) What is the difference between the terms data validation and data verification, as it relates to

Information Technology. [4 marks]

c) List THREE types of validation checks. [3 marks]

[Total: 60 marks]

- SECTION II -

Instructions: This section consists of TWO questions. Answer ALL questions.

Question 7

The account depart of a beverage company has prepared a summary sheet showing beverages for 2010.

This summary is given in the spreadsheet listed below:

A B C D

1 Type Sales Status VAT

2 Rum Bar 200,000.00

3 Street Vybz 50,000.00

4 Grey Goose Vodka 10,000.00

5 Alozade 185,050.00

6 Smirnoff 25,150.00

7 T O T A L 470,200.00

a) List TWO types of data that can be entered into a spreadsheet cell. [2 marks]

b) Write the formula that was inserted in cell B7 to compute the TOTAL Sales. [1 mark]

c) What formatting feature was used on the Sales figures? [1 mark]

d) All beverages with sales under 100,000.00 are given a status of „POOR‟ while others are given a

status of „GOOD‟. Write the function that should be entered into cell C2 to show the status of the

beverage „Rum Bar‟. [3 marks]

Question 8

A school uses a database with two tables to store information on courses that are being offered by the

various departments. The data in the two tables are shown below:

Table 1: Course Table 2: Department

Course ID Course Title Credit Department Department Dean

MTH200 Mathematics II 3 NS NS Douglas

ECN100 Economics I 4 SS SS Chambers

HST100 History I 6 EH EH McEwan

CSI400 Computer Science IV 8 NS

a). What field in the COURSE table is used to sort the records? [1 mark]

b). State the field that would be the primary key for the COURSE table. [1 mark]

c). The two tables have been joined by a common field. State the name of the Dean of the faculty that is

offering the course with Course ID being „ECN100‟. [1 mark]

d). Write a query to show ALL courses in the NS faculty with MORE than 5 credits. [2 marks]

e). In the COURSE table it is required to insert a calculated field named FEE to compute the fee for

EACH course. If the cost per credit is $250, write a formula for the calculated field. [2 marks]

f). State the field in the COURSE table that would be MOST appropriate to use to group the data when

preparing a report. [1 mark]

[Total: 15 marks]

– SECTION III –

Instructions: This section consists of FOUR questions. Answer ALL questions.

Question 9

Explain the difference between EACH of the following pair of terms:

a). Low-level AND high-level languages [2 marks]

b). Looping structure AND conditional structure [2 marks]

c). Testing AND debugging [2 marks]

d). Variable AND constant [2 marks]

e). „:=‟ AND „< >‟ [2 marks]

f). Integer AND Real [2 marks]

g). Pseudo-code AND flowchart [3 marks]

Question 10

START

ACCEPT mark

IF ( mark < 40 )

THEN PRINT “The student has failed”

ELSE PRINT “Let us see”

WHILE ( mark < > 50 ) DO

Begin

mark := mark + 2

PRINT “Increased grade by 2”

PRINT “Student may pass”

End ENDIF

STOP

Draw a flowchart to represent the pseudo-code above. [10 marks]

Question 11

a. Explain the difference between a compiler AND an interpreter. [2 marks]

b. One phase of convert one‟s source code to a running program is editing. Name AND explain THREE

OTHER phases that are involved. [6 marks]

c. Describe the editing phase of converting a program‟s source code to an executable program. [2 marks]

Question 12

The TWO arrays below contain four numbers each:

List1 2 4 5 8

List2 1 3 5 7

.

a). Write a code in Pascal programming language that will declare the array List1. [5 marks]

b). Write the contents of the TWO arrays after execution of the following code fragment:

for x := 1 to 4 do List1[x] := List1[x] – List2[x] [5 marks]

[45 marks]

END OF EXAMINATION

PORTMORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

CARIBBEAN EXAMINATION COUNCIL

CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

GENERAL PROFICIENCY

1hr 30mins

Instructions: DO NOT open this examination paper until instructed to do so.

This paper consists of SIXTY multiple choice questions; answer ALL

questions in your answer booklet.

Instructions: Choose the answer that BEST corresponds as the answer for the question.

Answer all questions.

1. All of the following are roles that a database

administrator may perform, EXCEPT?

a. database definition

b. modification

c. granting access

d. documentation of project

2. ___ real world situations is a primary use for a

spreadsheet.

a. modeling

b. broadening

c. calculating

d. searching

3. The moving head in a hard disk relates to _____ .

a. a virus destroys data on the disk

b. read/write heads that are attached to a

movable arm c. the ability to easily insert/detach hard disks

d. the means by which track-sectors can be

erased

4. Finding and correcting programming errors is

called:

a. anti-aliasing

b. error tracking

c. debugging

d. logic tracing

5. The smallest unit of storage within a computer

may best be described as:

a. byte b. small-unit

c. nibble

d. bit

6. Using >= together means:

a. less than or equal to

b. greater than and equal to

c. greater than or equal to

d. you cannot combine these symbols

7. All of the following are examples of optical discs,

EXCEPT? a. Hard Disk

b. Compact Disc

c. Digital Versatile Disc

d. Blu-ray Disc

8. The basic unit of information in a database,

such as a name or a phone number, is called

a(n):

a. field

b. record

c. file

d. key

9. The four basic functions of computers are:

a. input, output, memory, communication

b. typing, saving, editing, printing

c. input, output, processing, storage d. email, processing, printing, typing

10. A gigabyte is equal to approximately how

many characters?

a. 1,000,000

b. 8,000,000

c. 1,000,000,000

d. 8,000,000,000

11. A graphic representation of an algorithm

which shows the order in which operations

will be performed is a:

a. decision table

b. flowchart

c. pseudo-code

d. top-down chart

12. The __ is used to uniquely identify a complete

record within a table in a database. a. relationship

b. primary key

c. data type

d. query

13. Which of the following is not a high-level

programming language?

a. COBOL

b. Pascal

c. Assembly language

d. Java

14. A type of computer error in which the

programmer types in a command improperly

is called a/an ____ error.

a. syntax

b. semantic

c. runtime

d. logic

15. Data __ refers to completeness and accuracy

of data.

a. security

b. integrity

c. redundancy

d. correctness

16. Fax machines are most like which of the

following in terms of their scanning

technology?

a. CRT screens

b. flatbed plotters

c. vector graphics screens

d. digitizing scanners

17. Which of the following is an example of a solid

state device?

a. Floppy diskette drive b. CD-ROM drive

c. DVD-RW drive

d. Flash/Jump drive

18. In a spreadsheet, the formula +A3+A4

a. moves the contents of A3 into A4

b. is incorrect because there is no cell name to

the left of the plus sign

c. places the sum of A3 and A4 into cell A3

d. writes the sum of A3 and A4 into the cell

where the rule is located

19. What is the value of the following

expression?

10 * (20 MOD 10) + (200 DIV 5)

a. 40.0

b. 20.0

c. 40

d. No value, this is an invalid expression

20. The unit of a megabyte, in relation to bytes, is

approximately:

a. 1 byte

b. 1, 000, 000 bytes c. 1, 000 bytes

d. 10 bytes

21. Transferring a file from a host computer on a

network to one's local computer is called: j

a. uploading

b. licensing

c. downloading

d. networking

22. The _____ device of a computer system allows the

user to give commands for tasks to be completed.

a. Output

b. Processing c. Communication

d. Input

23. What is the output of the following program?

Program FindTheRightOutput;

var anInteger: integer;

var aReal: real;

Begin

anInteger := 41;

aReal := -144.28011;

write('1ST: ', anInteger, ' and 2ND: ', aReal:6:1);

End.

a. 1ST: 41 and 2ND: -144.2

b. 1ST: 41 and 2ND: -144.3

c. 1ST: 41 and 2ND: -144.28011

d. 1ST: -41 and 2ND:144.3

24. All of the following is true about ROM storage,

EXCEPT? ROM is

a. usually non-volatile.

b. generally slower to access than RAM.

c. most commonly used to store the full

Operating System

d. normally found in all computers.

25. __ is an example of an input device.

a. Trackball

b. Plotter

c. Speaker

d. Projector

26. Which step in the machine cycle identifies

what circuitry needs to be activated to perform

the specified instruction?

a. Fetch

b. Decode

c. Execute

d. Analysis

27. A bi-stable device can be best described as a

device that:

a. is capable of browsing two websites

b. changes a binary value to two‟s complement c. outputs values in two states

d. is capable of multi-processing

28. The compiler creates:

a. source code

b. pseudo code

c. object code

d. transaction code

29. Problem solving involves the following phases,

EXCEPT?

a. documenting the program b. defining the problem

c. develop an algorithm

d. determine an alternative

30. The host computer and software that make

data available over a network is called a(n):

a. downloading software

b. file server

c. site license

d. value-added network

31. Documentation___

a. assists the compiler

b. assists people reading the code

c. contains instructions to be executed

d. prevents programming errors

32. Which of the following is a method used to test a

solution in the problem solving phase?

a. debugging b. re-design the solution

c. drawing trace-tables

d. looking for run-time errors

33. A system that automates the drafting process

with interactive computer graphics is called:

a. computer-aided engineering (CAE)

b. computer-aided design (CAD)

c. computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

d. computer-aided instruction (CAT)

34. All which of the following are service offered

through the Internet, EXCEPT?

a. the World Wide Web

b. Telnet

c. Data mining

d. e-mail

35. How does word-size relates to computers? The:

a. length of a document to be stored b. transfer of data over the Internet

c. amount of data that can be processed at a

time

d. grouping of words in a document to store

36. In Pascal, the operator „:=‟ is the ___ .

a. equal operator

b. store operator

c. set operator

d. assignment operator

37. Floppy diskettes are useful for all of the following,

EXCEPT?

a. data cannot be accessed randomly

b. easy transfer of data between local computers c. data can be write-protected from changes

d. medium is inexpensive and portable

38. The speed of data transmission over

communications lines is measured as the rate,

which is expressed in ____.

a. bit, bits per second

b. baud, bits per minute

c. baud, bits per second

d. byte, bytes per minute

39. Using a spreadsheet as a prediction device, by

making changes to data in some cells to see

what impact they have on the overall

spreadsheet, is called:

a. value-added software

b. what-if scenario

c. using a macro

d. dynamic prediction

40. A general-purpose computer is used to:

a. provide users with a variety of tasks

b. accommodate special tasks for all users

c. provide batch processing for companies

d. accommodate online tasks for users

41. A company employing an extranet must be

sure to put a(n) ____ in place.

a. web browser

b. firewall

c. applications protocol

d. very large secondary storage area

42. To find where a file has been saved on disk,

the user should ____.

a. use the directory search tools

b. search each file in turn

c. use the backup facility

d. use find and replace

43. A diamond-shaped symbol in a flowchart

represents

a. decision

b. process

c. start

d. end

44. www.prenhall.com is a(n):

a. Web navigator name.

b. surf address.

c. IP address.

d. domain name.

45. An electronic meeting is known as ___ .

a. tele-banking

b. tele-officing

c. tele-shopping

d. tele-conferencing

46. The two main standards for the Wireless Web

are:

a. HTML and TCP/IP

b. WAP and HTTP

c. HTTP and HTML

d. WAP and I-mode

47. In a flowchart, a rectangular box is a/an ___ .

a. start symbols

b. end symbols

c. decision symbols

d. process symbols

48. The software which can be used to detect and

clean viruses is:

a. Anti-Virus

b. Operating System

c. Microsoft Office

d. Packet Sniffer

49. Primary storage devices serve the purpose of:

a. supplying the CPU with immediate data

for processing

b. permanently storing user‟s data for future

use

c. immediately backing-up user‟s data

d. holding data that should be outputted to

user

50. __________ is measured in hertz and refers to

how quickly a processor can work.

a. Clock speed

b. ROM speed

c. A kernel cycle

d. Register speed

51. The base-16 number system is also called

a. hexadecimal notation.

b. decimal notation.

c. binary notation.

d. unary notation

52. The advantage of company posting a price list

of its products on its website to the customer

is that the company can?

a. set its prices very high

b. limit access to computer owners only

c. stop its competitors seeing their prices

d. update its prices as soon as they are

changed

53. What programming language is now used to

create small, self-contained applications,

called applets, suitable for distribution on the

World Wide Web?

a. Java

b. Pascal

c. HTML

d. XML

54. A chip which only ultraviolet rays can erase

previous memory is referred to as:

a. EEPROM

b. URAM

c. PRIM

d. EPROM

Questions 55 to 60 refer to the image below.

55. If the trends over the period April to May

continue into June, who will have the shortest

performance time?

a. Sanjay Rachid

b. Sasha Wilson

c. Paul Oakes

d. Eric Jones

56. „Seconds‟ is the title for the

a. Chart

b. Legend

c. x-axis

d. y-axis

57. All performance times increased from

a. April to May

b. January to May

c. February to March

d. January to February

58. The type of chart being displayed is a ___.

a. bar chart

b. pie chart

c. line graph

d. column chart

59. Which other type of chart would be best used

to display the information being showed?

a. bar chart

b. pie chart

c. line graph

d. column chart

60. Which application/productivity tool software

would be best to design the chart presented?

a. Database Management

b. Spreadsheet

c. Presentation

d. Word Processor