1996 CXC Past Papers 1 Of 4

Attempt All Questions

1. State ONE difference between EACH of the following:

(a) Command-line interface and graphical user interface (2 marks)

(b) Impact printers and non-impact printers (2 marks)

(c) Character printers and line printers (2 marks)

(d) General purpose software package and specialized software package (2 marks)

(e) Simplex and duplex transmission (2 marks)

Total 10 marks

2.

(a) Convert the decimal number 5710 to a binary number. (2 marks)

(b) Convert the binary number 110111012 to a decimal number. (2 marks)

(c) Explain the term ‘parity’, as it relates to the coding of characters. (2 marks)

(d) Add the binary numbers 1101012 and 1011102 (2 marks)

Total 8 marks

3. Name the hardware component that performs EACH of the following functions:

(a) Stores programs and data that are currently being used by the CPU (1 mark)
(b) Performs the logical operation within the CPU (1 mark)
(c) Stores programs and data that are not currently being used by the CPU (1 mark)
(d) Modulates and demodulates signals (1 mark)
(e) Reads from disks (1 mark)
(f) Directs internal operation within the CPU (1 mark)
(g) Allows users to move the cursor (1 mark)

Total marks 7

The Statistics Department holds confidential information on the citizens of a country. Since its databases are online
and are connected to the telephone company via a modem, any person with a computer and a modem can potentially
access data from the databases. Outdated data are usually stored at other locations.

(a) State ONE method, which can be used to prevent unauthorised users from accessing data stored in the
databases. (1 marks)

(b) Stare TWO methods, which can be used to prevent users from accessing data from files to which they do not
have access. (2 marks)

(c) State ONE potential danger that may exist when legitimate users within the statistics department import data
into the department's computer. (1 mark)
 1996 CXC Past Papers 2 Of 4

(d) State TWO strategies to protect the archived data from physical damage. ( 2 marks)

Total marks 6

5a) The increase in the level of computerisation in offices, together with the decrease in the cost and the availability
of data communications services have created new ways of conducting business. Some employees now have an
opportunity to perform their work from home - a process known as 'telecommuting'.

(i) State TWO items of hardware that an employee must have if he/she is telecommuting. (2 marks)

(ii) State ONE advantage to the employee of telecommting. (1 mark)

(iii) State ONE disadvantage to the employee of telecommuting. (1 mark)

(b) The owner of a large department store in the city center is planning to offer telemarketing services to the general
public. Currently, his retailing business customers are encouraged to browse in the store. They are normally offered
assistance by sales clerks. If a customer is satisfied with a particular item, he/she takes the item to the cashier where
the customer must pay in cash. After the transaction is completed, the customer must take away the item(s)
purchased.

(i) State TWO additional services that the owner should now offer so that he could introduce telemarketing. (2
marks)

(ii) State ONE change that the owner must make in the operation of his business so that he could introduce
telemarketing. (1 mark)

(iii) State ONE reason why a customer might still choose to visit the store to make a purchase even though the
customer might have to travel a long distance to get to the store. (1 mark)

Total marks 8

6. (a) State THREE functions that are likely to be computerised when the Board of Directors of a private hospital
installs the computers at the hospital. (3 marks)

(b) A local bank with several branches has decided to computerise its operations.

(i) State TWO new job positions that would be created in the bank. (2 marks)

(ii) State two additional services that the bank would now be able to provide. (2 marks)

Total marks 7

7. (a) The Computer Science teacher in a secondary school is attempting to convince the
Chemistry teacher to use Computer Aided Learning (CAL) software in the teaching of
Chemistry.

(i) State TWO benefits that the Computer Science teacher could cite to convince
the Chemistry teacher. (2 marks)

(ii) State TWO obstacles that would prevent the Chemistry teacher from using the
computer in teaching. (2 marks)
Total marks 4

8. (a) Copy the following trace table in your answer booklet.

 1996 CXC Past Papers 3 Of 4

X M Y Z
4 1
4 8
4
4
Complete the trace table for the following algorithm, given that the number 4 is the input
value for X.

Read X
For M = 1 to X do
Y=X–M
Z=5*Y–M
End
Print Z

Suggested Response

(a)
X M Y Z
4 1 3 14
4 2 2 8
4 3 1 2
4 4 0 -4

(4 marks)

(b) What is printed by the algorithm? (1 mark)

(b) -4
Total marks 5

9. (a) Write an algorithm which prompts the user to enter the price of an item and which
calculates and prints the new price after a discount of 12%. (5 marks)

PRINT “Enter item price”

INPUT itemPrice
newPrice itemPrice – (itemPrice * 0.12)
PRINT newPrice

(b) Write an algorithm to read in TWO numbers into A and B. The algorithm should store
the smaller in A and the larger in B, and then print A and B. (5 marks)

READ A, B
IF A > B THEN
C B
B A
A C
END IF
PRINT A, B
 1996 CXC Past Papers 4 Of 4

Total marks 10

10. Write an algorithm to read ELEVEN numbers, find their average and print it. The
algorithm should also print the number of times the number 6 occurs in the data.

For example, given the input data:

8 4 6 9 6 5 6 10 7 0 16
The algorithm should print 7 as the average and 3 as the number of times 6 occurs.

Suggested Response

sum 0
average 0
sixCount 0

FOR count = 1 TO 11 DO
INPUT number

IF number = 6 THEN
sixCount sixCount + 1
END IF

sum sum + number

END FOR
average sum / 11
PRINT “Average is: “, average
PRINT “Number of times six occurs: “, sixCount

(10 marks)
Total marks 10
END OF TEST