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Chapter2 WS3.Answers

AS AND A LEVEL IT CHAPTER 2 WORKSHEET ANSWERS.

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10 views

Chapter2 WS3.Answers

AS AND A LEVEL IT CHAPTER 2 WORKSHEET ANSWERS.

Uploaded by

sadia asim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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First Term-2023

Subject- IT
Chapter 2: Hardware and Software worksheet-3Answers
Name: ____________________ Year 12 A/G – Grade 11, 12 A/G
(c) Explain the purpose of an operating system.

It runs other programs and applications


It manages hardware resources
It recognises input from a keyboard/mouse
It sends output to a display screen/device
It manages files and directories
It allocates memory to software
A multi-user OS is when two or more users can run programs at the same time
A multiprocessing OS is when the system has more than one processor
A multitasking OS allows more than one program to run at the same time
A multitasking OS allocates sufficient processor time to each program
Multithreading OS allows different parts of a single program to run at the same time
Real time OS allows the computer to respond to input instantaneously
Distributed OS allows data to be stored on a number of computers in different locations
It is responsible for handling errors
(c) A developer has been asked to produce software. The software will allow a company’s
employees to enter data. The user interface will be a graphical user interface (GUI) and must
be easy to use.
Describe four features of the layout of such a user interface.
Sensible use of white space
Information that needs attending to immediately should always be displayed in a prominent position
A consistent use of screens/use similar sized/positioned icons/buttons
Must not overload the user with information
Should follow the house style of the company using it
Information should flow in a logical order to the user

3. An interpreter is a type of system software.


Describe how an interpreter operates.
Translates a high-level language program into an intermediate stage
Translates a line of source code and then executes that line/statement
Translates instructions one at a time
Reports on errors as lines of source code are processed
An interpreter has to be resident in memory in order for the program to run
Only a few lines of the program need to be in memory at any one time

4. Mainframe computers are particularly suited to carrying out the transaction processing of
online banks.
(a) Describe the features of a transaction processing system.
A transaction processing system’s performance is measured by the number of
transactions it can process in a given period of time
The system must be continuously available
The system must be able to maintain the integrity of the data and overcome hardware or
software problems
It must also be possible to individually upgrade hardware and software
components without shutting down the system
There should be controlled access, allowing only authorised users to use the system

(b) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of mainframe computers.

Advantages
They can perform hundreds of MIPS/have faster processing than PCs, laptops and other
devices.
They have a high value of mean time between failures (MTBF) so usually do not have any time
where the system is down.
PCs/laptops/other computing devices can crash more often
They have greater fault tolerance than other systems they can transfer processing from one
core to another.so hardware and software upgrades can occur while the system is still in
operation
They can run different operating systems so can handle different types of database
They are more secure than most other types of computer as they use complex encryption
systems.
Disadvantages
They are very expensive to buy/install some organisations are changing to using the cloud
rather than buying a mainframe…
there is a higher cost for the people needed to manage them which is not the case with cloud-
based computing
The software required to run a mainframe is more expensive to buy than using cloud computing
Mainframes need large rooms to accommodate them
They generate a lot of heat cooling systems are expensive to buy, install and run.

5. Describe what is meant by the term RAS (Reliability, Accessibility and Serviceability) when
Applied to mainframe computers.
• Describes the robustness/durability of mainframe computers
• Reliability is the chance of the system behaving as intended
• Accessibility refers to the mainframe being operational at all times//the operating time as a
percentage of total time
• Serviceability means it can be easily fixed within a short period of time
• Mainframes are reliable as the system will use alternative methods to carry out tasks (if there
is a failure)
• The system's software is reliable as it is extensively tested and updates are made quickly to
overcome problems
• Mean time between failures (MTBF) is quite long for mainframes
• Mainframes give months/years between system downtimes
• Even when unavailable (due to failure) a mainframe is unavailable for a very short time
• Spare components/CPU are often included in mainframes so that if one component/CPU fails
another takes over
• The mainframe can determine why a failure occurred
• This enables hardware and software components to be replaced without affecting the
mainframe’s operations
• Can be serviced while the system is still running

6 Explain why supercomputers are used for weather forecasting.


• A supercomputer is fast/powerful/run at several petaflops enough to carry out the calculations
that are required for weather forecasting
• A supercomputer can process huge amounts of data// a supercomputer is needed because a
huge amount of data is collected
• Weather forecasting is based on the use of very complex/scientific computer models (which
only supercomputers can handle)
• A sophisticated/three-dimensional model of the earth’s atmosphere/ocean/space has to be
created (which needs the processing power of a supercomputer)
• (A supercomputer is needed) because a large number of calculations have to be carried out//a
supercomputer can do a large number of calculations
• Needs to do complex/scientific calculations
7. Maria has been asked to write a word-processed report for her homework. She needs to
choose between using proprietary software and open source software.
Describe the differences between these two types of software.

• Proprietary software is owned by the copyright holder//not owned by the user


• Proprietary software users have to purchase a licence/pay to use it open source software is
usually free to download// includes a request for a donation to charity
• There are almost always restrictions on the use of proprietary software open-source software
can be used/accessed/implemented by anyone
• The specific terms of use are included in an end-user license agreement
• The source code of proprietary software is a secret open-source software source code is open
to inspection
• Usually covered by copyright which provides a legal basis for its owner to establish exclusive
rights open-source software code can sometimes be amended without breach of copyright
legislation

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