Name three of the stages in the system life cycle
– fact finding
– feasibility study
– analysis
– design
– testing
– documentation
– implementation/changeover/installation
– evaluation
– maintenance
Distinguish between a file and a folder
A file is a collection of related data given a unique name while a folder is named storage location on a storage media that contains related files
State advantages and disadvantages of Solid State Drives and Hard Disk Drives
Advantages of of Hard Disk Drive
Disadvantages of Hard Disk Drives
Advantages of Solid State Drives
Disadvantages of SDD
Computer Studies Paper 1 KCSE 2021 Prediction
Section A
1.State two reasons for the increased use of laptop computers in government offices. [2]
They are small and fit in a small storage space
They are light weight hence can be carried to areas where their services are required
The monitor, system unit, keyboard units are integrated together
Easy to share
Have rechargeable battery
Have low power consumption
2.Computer network technicians prefer to use command-line based operating systems when configuring networks. State three reasons for the preference. [3]
Do not take up a lot of memory
Have direct access to most hardware devices/provide complete control during configuration
Cheaper to acquire as some are freeware/shareware
Faster to execute commands
Difficult to hack/more secure
More stable
3.State three measures that should be put in place in a computer laboratory to safeguard users’ health. [3]
4.State three ways in which barcode readers may be used in schools. [3]
Take inventory of items
Transactions in the school library
Keep track of movement of goods
Track students in and out of school
Used to register roll call
5.State three advantages of flat panel monitors over cathode ray tube monitors as used in computers. [3]
6.State three possible reasons for the extinction of daisy wheel printers in the market. [3]
7.State three ways in which an operating system secures a computer system. [3]
8.A law firm prefers to use hard copy output when handling documents for legal matters. State two reasons for this preference. [2]
9.State the function of each of the following feature in a word processor
a. Thesaurus [1]
Feature that suggests words with similar or opposite meanings to the selected word
b. Comments [1]
Feature that allows a user to attach remarks
10. With the aid of an example, explain the term multi-level list as used in word processing. [3]
Formatting style that shows listed items at different level instead of using one line
11. Distinguish between real-time operating system and distributed operating system. [3]
Accept answers based on data processing concept
12. Explain the function of protect sheet feature in a spreadsheet program. [2]
A tool/feature that prevents unwanted changes to the spreadsheet. Requires a user to key in a password inorder to make changes
13. State four computer based careers introduced as a result of computerized data processing method at the airport. [2]
NB/ Accept any computer based career
14. In a spreadsheet, the formula = If(A1>10,A1*77,A1*50) is entered in a cell. Interpret the results. [3]
Checks the value in cell A1if it is more than 10, if the comparison is true then the outcome of the value in cell multiplied by 77 is displayed, else if it is false the results of the value in cell A1 multiplied by 50 are displayed.
15. State a stage in systems development cycle where each of the following activities are carried out:
a. Identifying the technologies that may be used in a proposed system. [1]
Accept any sub stage within system analysis e.g. requirement specification, problem definition, information gathering, etc
b. Identifying shortcomings of a system. [1]
All stages of system development
c. Preparing the system migration plan. [1]
Implementation stage
Define an end user license agreement (EULA).
Explain the purpose of each of the following features of a spreadsheet chart (KCSE 2021, Q19 (a))
A data series
Data Marker
Legend
A data series
Data Marker
Distinguish between a formula and a function as used in spreadsheets
Compare the use of a compiler with the use of an interpreter to translate code
Both translate source code written in high level programming languages into machine code.
Compiler: Produces a single executable file that is portable between machines
Interpreter: Source code needs a special environment to run
Compiler: Needs to be compiled for a particular architecture
Interpreter: Can run on any architecture that has the translator/interpreter
Complier: Entire source code file is translated at once
Interpreter: Code is translated line by line
Compiler: Provides error report at the end of the compilation
Interpreter: Errors more obvious in the sequence
Compiler: The program source code is not available (so helps protect IP)
Interpreter: Source code is available
Compiler: Only has to be translated once (affecting the speed of execution)
Interpreter: Has to be translated each time, therefore (affecting the speed of execution)
Compiler: Requires two files to be maintained (one for execution and for editing purposes)
Interpreter: Requires only one file to be maintained
Differentiate between action query and select query
An action query is used to modify, add, or delete data in a database whereas a select query is used to retrieve data from a database based on specified criteria but does not make any changes to the data.
Many organisations provide free public access to a wireless network.
Explain three ethical, legal or data privacy issues that an organisation should be aware of when allowing this access
State the type of software that is needed for logging onto the Internet and finding websites selling goods and services.
logging on
finding websites
State three ways of transforming a picture embedded in a DTP program in order to fit on a designated space on a document (kcse 2019 paper 1)
State the characteristics of each of the following network topologies (KCSE COMPUTER STUDIES 2021 )
i) Mesh Topology (2mks)
(ii) Ring Topology (2mks)
State the characteristics of each of the following network topologies (KCSE COMPUTER STUDIES 2021 )
i) Mesh Topology (2mks)
(ii) Ring Topology (2mks)
Distinguish between microwave and a radiowave transmission and a microwave transmission (KCSE 2017 PP1)
Microwaves can cover shorter distances. On the contrary, radio waves can travel a long distance. Radio wave is usually propagated through sky mode while microwave uses the line of sight propagation.
Explain why it is beneficial to get more RAM instead of relying on virtual memory.
What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a program designed to damage other programs or causes irregular behaviour in a computer system.
Explain why a developer, who is good at both low-level and high-level programming, would normally use high-level languages when writing programs.
(ii) State what ROM and RAM store.
ROM stores BIOS / bootstrap / start-up
RAM stores currently executing programs and data