Weaknesses

Question 1

What is utility software?

Answer 1

Software designed to maintain or optimise a computer system, e.g. antivirus, backup, defragmentation.

Question 2

What does disk defragmentation do?

Answer 2

It rearranges fragmented data on a hard disk to improve read/write speed.

Question 3

Why is disk defragmentation not useful for SSDs?

Answer 3

SSDs have no moving parts; defragging reduces their lifespan and gives no speed boost.

Question 4

Give two types of backup and how they differ.

Answer 4

Full backup (everything) vs Incremental (only changes since last backup).

Question 5

What does compression software do?

Answer 5

Reduces file size to save storage or speed up transfer (e.g. ZIP files).

Question 6

How many bits in a nibble?

Answer 6

4 bits.

Question 7

How many colours can 8-bit colour depth store?

Answer 7

2⁸ = 256 colours.

Question 8

How do you calculate file size for a bitmap image?

Answer 8

Width × Height × Colour depth (in bits).

Question 9

What is the difference between lossy and lossless compression?

Answer 9

Lossy = data lost (JPEG); Lossless = no data lost (PNG, ZIP).

Question 10

Why is Unicode used instead of ASCII?

Answer 10

Supports more characters (e.g. for different languages).

Question 11

What are the three types of secondary storage?

Answer 11

Optical (CD), Magnetic (HDD), Solid-state (SSD).

Question 12

Advantage of SSD over HDD?

Answer 12

Faster, quieter, more durable (no moving parts).

Question 13

Disadvantage of optical storage?

Answer 13

Low capacity, easily damaged.

Question 14

Which storage is best for backing up large files regularly? Why?

Answer 14

Magnetic HDD – cheap, high capacity, reliable.

Question 15

What does volatile mean in storage?

Answer 15

Loses data when power is off (e.g. RAM).

Question 16

What is the difference between LAN and WAN?

Answer 16

LAN = local (home/school); WAN = wide area (Internet).

Question 17

Why use a star topology over bus?

Answer 17

Faster and easier to isolate faults; but more cabling needed.

Question 18

What is a protocol?

Answer 18

A set of rules for communication (e.g. HTTP, TCP/IP).

Question 19

Why is HTTPS better than HTTP?

Answer 19

HTTPS encrypts data; HTTP does not.

Question 20

What does a switch do?

Answer 20

Connects devices on a LAN and sends data only to the correct device.

Question 21

Difference between a variable and a constant?

Answer 21

Variable can change; constant stays the same during program execution.

Question 22

What is the purpose of a loop?

Answer 22

Repeats a block of code (e.g. FOR, WHILE).

Question 23

What is the difference between syntax and logic errors?

Answer 23

Syntax = code rules broken; Logic = code runs but wrong result.

Question 24

What does an IDE provide to help programmers?

Answer 24

Code editor, error detection, debugger, translator.

Question 25

What is defensive design?

Answer 25

Anticipating misuse – e.g. input validation, authentication.

Question 26

What does SQL stand for?

Answer 26

Structured Query Language.

Question 27

Write an SQL query to select all data from a table called 'Students'.

Answer 27

SELECT * FROM Students;

Question 28

How do you search for students aged 16 in SQL?

Answer 28

SELECT * FROM Students WHERE Age = 16;

Question 29

How do you sort students by name in SQL?

Answer 29

SELECT * FROM Students ORDER BY Name;

Question 30

How would you select only names and grades?

Answer 30

SELECT Name, Grade FROM Students;

Question 31

What is social engineering?

Answer 31

Tricking people into giving up sensitive data (e.g. phishing, pretexting).

Question 32

What is penetration testing?

Answer 32

Legally hacking into a system to find vulnerabilities.

Question 33

Name two types of malware.

Answer 33

Virus and ransomware.

Question 34

What does a firewall do?

Answer 34

Monitors and controls incoming/outgoing network traffic.

Question 35

Why are software updates important?

Answer 35

Patch security vulnerabilities, fix bugs.

Question 36

What are the four main parts of the CPU?

Answer 36

ALU, CU, Cache, Registers.

Question 37

What is the fetch-decode-execute cycle?

Answer 37

The process of retrieving, understanding, and executing instructions.

Question 38

What is clock speed?

Answer 38

Number of instructions a CPU can process per second (measured in GHz).

Question 39

What does RAM do?

Answer 39

Temporary memory for programs being run.

Question 40

Difference between RAM and ROM?

Answer 40

RAM = volatile, editable; ROM = non-volatile, stores BIOS.

Question 41

What is open-source software?

Answer 41

Free to use and modify (e.g. Linux).

Question 42

What is proprietary software?

Answer 42

Owned and protected – users can’t change code (e.g. Microsoft Word).

Question 43

Advantage of open-source software?

Answer 43

Free, flexible, community support.

Question 44

Disadvantage of open-source software?

Answer 44

May lack professional support and polish.

Question 45

What’s the purpose of an operating system?

Answer 45

Manages hardware and software – provides user interface, memory and file management.

Question 46

Give an advantage and disadvantage of cloud storage.

Answer 46

Adv: Accessible anywhere; Disadv: Needs internet, privacy concerns.

Question 47

Why is cache memory faster than RAM?

Answer 47

Closer to the CPU and stores frequently used instructions.

Question 48

Give one reason for using hexadecimal.

Answer 48

Easier to read and debug than binary.

Question 49

Describe one real-life use of sensors in embedded systems.

Answer 49

Thermostat: uses temperature sensor to control heating.

Question 50

Why is layered protocol model (like TCP/IP) useful?

Answer 50

Breaks communication into manageable layers – easier to troubleshoot and develop.