Part A: Multiple Choice Choose the option with the best fit. [20 Marks]

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1 Part A: Multiple Choice Choose the option with the best fit. [20 Marks] 1. Who were the original computer users with problems to solve? A. Business professionals B. Programmers C. Graduate students D. Civil servants 2. The discipline of computing consists in. A. Mathematics B. Science C. Engineering D. All of the above 3. This aspect of computing relates to problem-solving using such techniques as numerical computations, databases and information retrieval, artificial intelligence, robotics, graphics, organizational informatics and bioinformatics. A. Applications B. Systems C. User interfaces D. Personal computing 4. This statement is true with respect to a machine language. A. It is built into the electrical circuitry of a computer. B. It is a language made up of mnemonic codes. C. It requires a compiler. D. It requires an assembly program. 5. This became available in the Fourth generation of software development. A. FORTRAN B. BASIC C. SPSS D. World Wide Web. 6. This is a rationale behind the development of operating systems. A. The human systems operator was too slow. B. Computers were inefficiently utilized. C. Computers could organize themselves. D. All of the above. 7. This is true with respect to the SPSS program. A. It introduced an important feature unlike any other program that preceded it. B. It was written for use by non-programmers. C. The user could enter data and specify the processing of the data. D. All of the above. 8. The integrated circuits developed in the Third generation were associated with this. Apr. 7, of 5

2 A. Assembly B. Networks C. Processors D. Applications 9. The first successful commercial spreadsheet program debuted in the Generation. A. Second B. Third C. Fourth D. Fifth 10. Bandwidth use is typically improved by adopting this. A. Protocol B. Data compression C. CPU performance D. None of the above. 11. The term "directory" refers to this. A. A named group of files B. A file path C. All files in a logical drive. D. A single file 12. This is an alternative floating-point notation. A. Two s complement B. Excess C. Scientific D. Exponentiation 13. Computers' fundamental strengths include these except. A. Accuracy B. Correctness C. Speed D. Memory 14. This refers to methods used to shrink the size of a movie file. A. Temporary compression B. Video codec C. Spatial bit map D. Run-length compression 15. This format refers to graphics that store image information pixel by pixel. A. Linear graphics B. Vector graphics C. Spatial graphics D. Raster graphics 16. This is the act of breaking information down into discrete pieces. A. Analog compression Apr. 7, of 5

3 B. Pulse-code modulation C. Digitize D. High resolution 17. The technique in which data in a file is accessed in series one after the other is referred to as. A. Direct file access B. File access streaming C. Sequential file access D. File pointer access 18. This is a means to compensate for degradation in transmission signal. A. Reclock B. Pulse-code modulation C. Lossless compression D. Digitize 19. This refers to the number of bits that can be transmitted from one place to another in a fixed amount of time. A. Frequency modulation B. Bandwidth C. Compression ratio D. Digital data 20. The positional number system is possible because of this. A. Natural number B. Mathematics C. Signs D. Number Zero Part B - Complete the tables below. [15 Marks] For the next 4 questions, given the binary number 11101, 21. Its Base 4 equivalent is: 22. Its Octal equivalent is: 23. Its Hexadecimal equivalent is: 24. Its Decimal equivalent is: D 29 For the next 6 questions, refer to the 8-bit normalized floating-point number, where the sign bit is followed by the exponent expressed in 3-bit excess notation. Apr. 7, of 5

4 The original 8-bit floating-point number is: The sign of the number represented is: (-) [1] 26. The value represented by the mantissa before the exponent is considered is: 27. The value represented by the exponent component is: 28. The direction to which the radix should move from the original position is: 29. The fully decoded value represented by is: 30. The kind of numbers this notation represent are: 7/8 [1] -1 [1] Left [1] -7/16 [1] Rational number [1] 31. Perform the subtraction, 8 6, by preserving addition using the 2's complement notation with minimum required bits. What is the result represented as a decimal value? Show all steps for full marks. [5] (+8) (+8) -6 = +(-6) (+6) => (-6) = = +2 Convert Add two numbers & Final Result +6 to -6 Truncate Extra bit. Apr. 7, of 5

5 Part C: Short Answers Use only the space provided. [15 Marks] 32. MS Excel stores all dates and times as. [1] serial numbers 33. Computation provided by Excel that can be incorporated into a formula is called a(n). [1] function 34. Which format type in MS Excel aligns the data to the left by default? [1] Text (also accept "label") 35. Name two types of "literal" data that can be entered in to an Excel worksheet. [2] a. label/text/string b. number/numeric 36. In Excel, what is a "range"? [2] One or more contiguous cells 37. Name an example of an "information system" as defined by Dale and Lewis. [2] Excel (or any software designed to aid the organization and analyses of data.) 38. Identify the two components that make up a typical function expression in a formula. [2] The function name e.g., SUM, and the argument (list) e.g. =SUM(A1:A10) 39. Describe the process involved in an "what-if analysis". [2] A what-if analysis involves modifying values that represent assumptions to see how those changes affect related data. 40. Times New Roman and Courier represent two distinct kinds of fonts. What is the basis of the distinction? [2] Times New Roman is a proportional font where characters takes only as much horizontal space as required; Courier is a mono-spaced fonts where characters take up exactly the same width on the page. Apr. 7, of 5