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Q&A-KCSE Computer Studies Paper 1

State three types of optical disks

  • compact disks
  • DVDs
  • Blue Ray
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State the formatting features used in Ms Excel

  • Font Formatting:

    • Font Style: You can change the font style (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman) for cell content.
    • Font Size: Adjust the size of the text within cells.
    • Bold, Italic, and Underline: Apply these formatting options to emphasize text.
    • Font Color: Change the color of the text.
  • Cell Formatting:

    • Number Formats: Apply various number formats, such as currency, percentage, date, and time.
    • Cell Borders: Add or remove borders around cells or cell ranges.
    • Fill Color: Change the background color of cells.
    • Text Alignment: Control how text is aligned within cells (left, right, center, top, bottom).
    • Text Wrapping: Allow text to wrap within a cell if it's too long to fit in one line.
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Describe two methods used to assist in finding program errors.

  • Use of debugging utilities
  • Use of test data
  • Dry run / Desk checking
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Distinguish between a formula and a function as used in spreadsheets

  • A formula is a mathematical expression that returns a value
  • A function is an excel inbuilt formula that returns a value given a range of values or arguments
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Explain the difference between main memory and secondary storage.

  • Main memory is transitory/temporary/volatile, secondary storage is (semi-)permanent
  • The processor can only use data/instructions that are in the main memory
  • Main memory is directly accessible to the processor, secondary storage is not directly accessible to the processor 
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Explain why a developer, who is good at both low-level and high-level programming, would normally use high-level languages when writing programs.

  • High-level languages have built-in functions;
  • High-level languages have built-in libraries;
  • High-level languages have more support/help;
  • High-level languages have structures (such as selection and iteration);
  • High-level languages can be less machine-dependent/more portable;
  • It (usually) requires fewer lines of code to be written;
  • It is (usually) quicker to develop code in high-level languages;
  • It is easier to find mistakes in code;
  • The code is easier to maintain//understand;
  • It is easier to structure code in high-level languages;
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Outline any 2 Examples of wireless transmission media       (2marks)

  • Radio waves
  • Microwaves
  • Infrared waves
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Internet and E-mail Questions

Define the term internet      1mk

  • The global interconnection of computer networks for purpose of communication and resource sharing

Explain the term web page    1mk

  • A hypertext  page prepared to display the content on the web

Explain the following internet address http://www.google.co.us in reference to the structure of a URL    3mks

  • HTTP- hypertext transfer protocol or simply protocol
  • WWW – subdomain
  • google – the name of the computer with the web content/domain name
  • .co – top level domain for commercial organization
  • .us- a TLD extension for the country US

 

What is the world wide web                                       1mk

  •  A virtual space on the internet that allows web pages and sites to be accessed

Define the term browser                                    1mk

  •  A software that used viewing of web content

Explain the meaning of the word hyperlink     1mk

  • A text or picture that is a link to another webpage on the internet

What is a search engine?     1mk

  • Is a special program that collects and stores links to information websites allowing users to search its database for them
  • A specialized web-based application that help the user to search for specific information on the internet.

Explain the meaning of the term internet service provider            1mk

  • A company that offers internet services to end-users

Identify three elements apart from a computer that is required for one to be connected to the internet    3mk

  • Modem
  • Internet software
  • Internet service provider
  • Telecommunication lines
  • TCP/IP protocols

 

Define the term modem 1mk

  • Stands for modulator-demodulator
  • A device that enables telecommunication to use telephone lines

What is a protocol? Write the following in full: TCP/IP, HTML, HTTP and FTP           5mks

  • Protocols – are special communication rules that govern sending and receiving of messages by computers on a network
  • Html – hypertext markup language
  • Hypertext transfer protocol
  • Transmission Control Protocol
  • Internet Protocol
  • File Transfer Protocol

What would you do if a website refused to load on the browser within the first attempt?   1mk

  • Click the refresh button on the toolbar

 State three internet services                         3mks

  • Instant messaging
  • E-mails
  • E-commerce
  • Social media and networks
  • E-learning

 

Define the term internet telephony      1mk

  • Transmission of voice data over the internet

State three benefits of the internet in our society

  • Provides a platform for conducting business and marketing
  • Provides many platforms such as social media through which people can contact each other
  • Cost saving
  • Efficient communication

Identify three ways in which this new technology has affected employees. In each case, explain why it has had an impact.

  • deskilling – software has removed the need for some of the more traditional skills e.g. using CAD
  • (re-)training – work practices have changed; need to learn how to use the new software/computer
  • redundancy – new technology allows work to be completed by fewer staff/out-sourced to “cheaper” work forces in foreign countries
  • work from home (etc.) – use of emails, VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, etc. allows working away from the office
  • – nicer/safer workplace – quieter (no noisy typewriters) and safer (no heavy filing cabinets)
  • – health (& safety) – RSI, headaches, backaches
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Describe the role of the one-dimensional array in programming

  • holds an indexed sequence of variables of the same data type
  • Arrays can be used to store values of the same data type and the array is then used as a singular variable to increase efficiency
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Describe one effect of not having primary keys in tables in a relational database

Without a primary key, a table in a database may have duplicate rows, making data not uniquely identifiable. This can lead to issues with data integrity and challenges in maintaining relationships between tables. Retrieving and updating specific records becomes problematic, and setting referential integrity constraints is impossible, potentially leading to loss of data.

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Describe three possible threats to the computers connected to the network and give one way each threat can be reduced or prevented

Virus / trojan / worm / malware

  • Piece of software/code/a program that replicates itself  or causes damage e.g. editing/deleting files

Prevention

  • Running anti-virus/anti-malware software 
  • don’t download from unknown sources
  • don’t click on unknown links

Spyware / malware / keylogger

  • Piece of software/code/a program that records actions/key presses and sends this data to a third party analysis

Prevention

  •  Running anti-spyware/anti-malware software/firewall

Data interception / passive

  • Data is sent to another device and is intercepted by a third party

Prevention

  • Encryption

Phishing

  • An e-mail has a link that when clicked directs the user to a fake website that collects personal data

Prevention

  • Network policy // firewall

Pharming

  • A piece of code installed that redirects user to fake website that collects personal data

Prevention

  • Anti-malware or firewall

Hacker

  • Person attempting to gain unauthorised access to the network/computers/ data/files 
  • unauthorised access and then deleting/editing data/files

Prevention

  • Firewall
  • strong password 
  • biometrics
  • penetration testing
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The Unicode character set is used to represent text that is typed into a computer.
(a) Describe what is meant by a character set.

(b) One disadvantage of using the Unicode character set, instead of the ASCII character set, is
that the text stored takes up more storage space.

  • All the characters and symbols that can be represented by a computer system.
  • Each character and symbol is assigned a unique value.

(b) One disadvantage of using the Unicode character set, instead of the ASCII character set, is

that the text stored takes up more storage space

  • Each character is encoded using more bits

 

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State three functions of  a network  operating system

  • Allows creation and management of user accounts
  • Helps in troubleshooting of the network
  • controls access to network resources
  • Provides communication services
  • configures network resources
  •  

 

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 Complete the data dictionary below for the Student entity.

  • StudentID: String
  • FirstName: Required 1
  • Year: 2 1
  • Email: Email address containing @ sign 1
  • AccountBalance: Real
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Describe two health risks associated with the increased use of computers.

  • RSI in wrists or fingers from prolonged typing or repeated clicking of mouse button
  • headaches/eyestrain/dry eye from staring at a monitor for long periods of time/glare from monitor
  • back ache/strain from sitting in the  same position for a long time/using chair with no adjustment
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Differentiate between distributed data processing and time-sharing.

  • Distributed data processing is where computers located in physically separate location transmit data after processing to a server computer that updates the master file. Time-sharing on the other hand is where various terminals transmit data to be processed by a central computer's CPU. Each terminal's tasks are allocated a time slice of the CPU
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Differentiate between active matrix and passive matrix LCDs

 

  • Passive matrix create images by scanning the entire screen whereas active matrix displays are made using thin-film transistors technology(TFT)
  • active matrix  display has a higher resolution compared to passive matrix
  • Active matrix consume more energy than passive matrix
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State advantages of star network topology

  • Easy to add nodes
  • Managed centrally
  • Fewer data collisions
  • A single node failure does not affect the rest of the network
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State two benefits of using computerised traffic control systems

  • Detecting congestion.
  • Synchronizing activity between traffic lights.
  • Updating traffic light timing in real time.
  • Updating and informing drivers of ideal speeds.
  •  Prioritizing transportation flow.
  •  Reduce congestion and time spent on the road
  • By reducing congestion it will decrease pollution
  • Prioritize traffic based on changes in traffic conditions in real time.
  • This system is also helpful to reduce infrastructure damage. It is possible to identify overloaded vehicles and provide them with appropriate ways or roads, which will reduce road damage.