State ways in which an OS secures a computer system
Explain the function of the protect sheet feature in the spreadsheet program
For your item named in (a) describe two different tasks that the microprocessor performs.
Below is a labelled diagram of a star topology network.

(a) Other than the items labelled above state the hardware required by every computer to connect to a network
b) Describe how a packet is transmitted from computer A to computer D, including the role of the switch

(a)
(b)
Aeroplanes now use Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to determine their location.
Describe how the computer on board the aeroplane uses GPS to find its exact location
Give two benefits of using GPS in this application
Describe how the computer on board the aeroplane uses GPS to find its exact location
– satellites transmit signals to onboard computers
– computers receive/interpret these signals
– system depends on very accurate timing/use of atomic clocks
– each satellite transmits data indicating location and time
– computer in aeroplane calculates location based on at least three satellites
– at least 24 satellites in operation at any one time
– position accurate to within one metre
– can also calculate altitude of aeroplane
– ref to “triangulation”:
Give two benefits of using GPS in this application
– safer as the known location is exact/more accurate
– reduces the possibility of pilot error
– allows accurate estimation of arrival time
– display and guide the pilot to the nearest airport in case of emergency
COMPUTER STUDIES
PAPER 1
(THEORY)
OCT./NOV. 2005
2 ½ HOURS
SECTION A (40 MKS)
Answer all the questions in this section.
1. a) What is disk formatting? (1mk)
b) Indicate whether the following devices are used for input or output (2mks)
i) Plotter
ii)Light pen
iii)Mouse
iv)Visual display unit
2.a)Explain why the following and give one reason why they are not allowed in a computer laboratory. (2mks)
b) For each of the following give one reason why they are not allowed in a computer laboratory. (2mks)
i) Smoking
ii)Eating foods
3.Distinguish between Real, integer and Character data types as used in programming (3 mks)
4.The cells k3 to K10 of a worksheet contain remarks on student’s performance such as very good, good, fair and fail depending on the average mark. Write a formula that can be used to count all students who have the remark “very good” (3mks)
5.a) State the purpose of registers in a computer system (1mk)
b)Name two multiprogramming operating systems (2 mks)
6.a) A series file comprises of records placed in positions 1 to 10. State the position of the end of file marker. (1mk)
b)State the purpose of each of the following: (2mks)
i)File server software
ii)Communication software
7.a) Name the control structure depicted by the flowchart below. (1 mk)
b)Explain the following terms as used in program implementation. (2mks)
i)Parallel running
ii)Direct change over
8. Consider the linear arrays:
i) AAA (5:50)
ii)BBB (-5:10)
iii)CC (18)
Find the number of elements in each array (3mks)
9.Define the term artificial intelligence (2 mks)
10.Name two types of relationships that can be applied in database design (2mks)
11.Explain binary Coded Decimal code of data representation (1 mk)
a)Indenting
b)Alignment
c)Word wrap
12.Outline two ways in which a computer can be used in hotels (2 Marks)
13.a)Explain Binary Coded Decimal code of data representation (1marks)
b)Write the number 4110 in BCD notation (1 mk)
14.Arrange the following data units in ascending order of size.
BYTE, FILE, BIT, NIBBlE (2mks)
15.State two health issues that may result from prolonged use of computers (2 mks)
SECTION B (60 MARKS)
16. a) State the stage of program development in which (4 mk)
i) A flowchart would be drawn
ii)The programmer would check whether the program does as required
iii)The user guide would be written
iv)The requirements specifications would be written.
b)State the output of the following flow chart segment (1mk)
c) i)Draw a flowchart to compute the combined resistance ® of two resistors R1 and R2 in parallel using the formula;
(5mks)
ii)Write a program using Pascal or C languages for the flowchart in C (i) above. (5 ½ mks)
17. a)List three paragraph formatting activities in word processing (3mks)
b)Differentiate between bolding and highlighting text (2mks)
c) The following information shows the income and expenditure for “bebayote “ matatu for five days. The income from Monday to Friday was Kshs. 4,000, 9,000, 10, 000, 15,000 and 12,000 respectively while the expenditure for the same period was Kshs. 2,000, 3,000, 7,000, 5,000 and 6,000 respectively
i)Draw a spreadsheet that would contain the information. Indicate the rows as 1, 2, 3 …. And the columns as a, B, C (4mks)
ii)State the expression that would be used to obtain:
I Monday’s profit (2mks)
II Total income (2mks)
III)Highest expenditure (2mks)
18.a) Subtract 0112 from 10012 (1mk)
b)Using two’s compliment, subtract 7 from 4 and give the answer in decimal notation (4mks)
c) Convert
i) 91B16 to octal (3mks)
ii) 3768 to hexadecimal (3mks)
iii) 9.62510 to binary (4 mks)
19.a) Explain what the following DOS commands will do when executed.
i) A: \copy *.* B: (2 mks)
ii) C: \> ERASE*. DOC (2mks)
iii) b: \> Md EXAMS (2mks)
b) i) With the aid of a diagram, explain hierarchical (tree) network topology (3mks)
ii)List two advantages and two disadvantage of hierarchical network topology. (4 mks)
Advantages:-
Disadvantages:
20. a)Name and explain the function of the keyboard keys represented by the following symbols.
b) Simulation is one of the application areas of computers
i) What is meant by the term simulation (1mk)
ii)Name two application areas of simulation (2 mks)
iii) State three advantages of computer based simulation (3 mks)
c) Explain three ways in which computers have impacted education (3mks)
Compare and contrast CLI and GUI
CLI
GUI
Comparison
A company has decided to use a computer for stock control. Describe the process of systems development from the time the decision was made to proceed with computerisation until final testing.
specify output requirements
design documents/screen displays
data for input/storage
form design
storage devices
file structures/access/design
data security/back up files
systems flowchart etc.
implementation i.e. pilot/intermediate/parallel running
testing strategy
training
hardware/software
programming/algorithms
validation
user manual
technical documentation
entering data into system
Explain the Fetch – Execute cycle and provide an example of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) component for each stage of the cycle
The Fetch – Execute cycle is a sequence of actions, performed by the processor as it fetches
a program instruction from its memory, determines what the instruction wants to do and
carries out those actions. The stages of the cycle are provided below.
A school opted to use direct changeover approach when installing a new system. Explain three challenges that the school may face as a result of this approach (KCSE 2019)
What is repetitive strain injury?
Give one application of each type of data transmission. Each application must be different
Parallel
Serial
State four threats that compromise data integrity and state ways that can be used to minimise these threats
State four threats that compromise data integrity
How threats to data integrity can be minimised:
5 Artificial intelligence is an emerging trend in computer science.
(a) Discuss the use of artificial intelligence by describing some of its characteristics, the ways in which it may be used and the ethical issues associated with its use.
Branch of computer science based on enabling computers to
behave like humans/mimic aspects of human intelligence
• AI is implemented in software.
• Combines psychology, biology, linguistics, mathematics, neuroscience,
and philosophy (ethics)
• AI is not the same as the general intelligence of human beings
Uses – Any of the following:
• Game playing (chess, quiz, video games)
• Analytics (analyse buying patterns, predicting behaviours, predictive
text, financial markets)
• Image processing (recognising objects/patterns)
• Logistics (scheduling, order fulfilment)
• Control systems (cars, manufacturing, weapons, navigation)
• Expert systems (medical, mechanical, electrical diagnosis)
• Neural networks (simulating neuron behaviours as in brains)
• Natural languages processing (chatterbots, chatbots, speech
recognition)
• Robotics (dangerous situations, help aged or disabled)
Ethical issues – Any of the following:
• Take the work of humans, thereby affecting employment rates
• Is a computer to be trusted to make decisions (life-death)?
• If a computer discovers something that humans can’t prove, should it be
accepted as truth?
• Do AI machines have rights?
• Will people be comfortable interacting with machines that are
considered intelligent?
Describe the function of the Cache memory
State the functions of the following registers
Program counter // PC
• Stores the address of the next instruction to be fetched
Memory address register // MAR
• Stores the address where data/instruction is to be read from or saved to
Memory data register // MDR
• Stores data that is about to be written to memory // Stores data that has just been read from memory
Current instruction register // CIR
• Stores the instruction that is currently being decoded/executed
Give two examples of each of the following application packages
a)Spreadsheets (2mks)
Any 2 @ 1mk
b) Word processors (2mks)
Any 2 @ 1mk
Distinguish between application and system software
Which files are backed up in an incremental backup scheme?
State advantages of solid state storage media