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This document describes a new computer fundamentals specification for an advanced subsidiary GCE exam. The exam will cover topics such as hardware, software, operating systems, and computer networks. It provides sample exam questions testing understanding of these topics.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)

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2010 May

Uploaded by

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THIS IS A NEW SPECIFICATION

ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY GCE

COMPUTING F451
Computer Fundamentals

Thursday 14 January 2010

* O C E / 1 8 6 9 7 *

Candidates answer on the Question Paper

OCR Supplied Materials:

Afternoon
None
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Other Materials Required:
None

* F 4 5 1 *

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
• Write your name clearly in capital letters, your Centre Number and Candidate Number in the boxes above.
• Use black ink. Pencil may be used for graphs and diagrams only.
• Read each question carefully and make sure that you know what you have to do before starting your answer.
• Answer all the questions.
• Do not write in the bar codes.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided, however additional paper may be used if
necessary.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

• The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
• The total number of marks for this paper is 100.
• This document consists of 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

© OCR 2010 [J/500/7955] OCR is an exempt Charity

DC (NF) 18697/2 Turn over
2
1 (a) (i) Define the term hardware.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Some hardware items are called peripherals.

Explain what is meant by a peripheral.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) (i) Define the term software.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain the difference between system software and applications software.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

Application .........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

Justification ........................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

© OCR 2010
3
(ii) Workers in a factory each have a swipe card which contains their identification number.
This card is swiped through a reader when they arrive at work in the morning and again
when they leave at night. The workers are paid on Friday each week.

Explain why a batch operating system is used to produce the payroll.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [5]

© OCR 2010 Turn over

4
2 (a) When data is transmitted between machines on a network, the data can be sent using either
packet switching or circuit switching.

(i) Describe what is meant by packet switching.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Describe what is meant by circuit switching.

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using packet switching rather than circuit
switching.

Advantage .........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

Disadvantage ....................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

The quality of written communication will be assessed in your answer to this question.

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [8]

© OCR 2010 Turn over

6
3 A firm of solicitors has been using a computer system which keeps records of its clients and other
information necessary for the running of the business.
It has been decided to replace the system with a more up-to-date one.
A systems analyst has been appointed to supervise the replacement.

(a) The systems analyst will need to carry out a feasibility study.

Describe the function and purpose of a feasibility study.

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [5]

(b) The analyst produces user and technical documentation for the new system.

(i) State three items which would be contained in the user documentation.

1 .........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 .........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

3 .........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [3]

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [4]

Describe two methods of capturing the pictures for the system.

Method 1 ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Method 2 ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(d) Explain the need for legislation to govern the use of computers for storing personal data.

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]
© OCR 2010 Turn over
8
4 (a) Describe what each of the following parts of a computer does.

(i) Control unit

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) Memory unit

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [3]

(iii) ALU

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [3]

Name and describe the functions of two different types of bus.

Type 1 .......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Type 2 .......................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]

© OCR 2010 Turn over

10
5 A library directs all members to an area where they can have their loans input into the computer
system.
The membership number is read from the member’s card.

(a) Describe two ways that the membership number can be input to the computer system.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(b) Describe two forms of output which could be produced by the system following the input of
the membership number.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [4]

Explain the changes to the staff’s work expectations following the introduction of the
computerised system.

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [5]

12
6 An author works from home using a computer system.
She uses a number of pieces of utility software.
State the purpose of each of these types of utility and describe how the author would use them in
her work.

(i) Compression software

Purpose ....................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Use ...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(ii) File handlers

Purpose ....................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Use ...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(iii) Hardware drivers