Types and components of

1 computer systems
1 Name the parts of a computer system shown below:

a  
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b  
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c  
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d  
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e  
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 1 Types and components of computer systems

2 Choose items from the following list to identify the definition in the table.
» compiler » graphics editing software » source code
» control and measurement » linker » spreadsheet
software » operating system » utilities
» database » sensor software » video editing software
» device driver

Definitions Item from list

Software used to edit bitmap and vector images
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Software that obtains data from sensors allowing

computers to monitor and control external activities ....................................................................................

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Software used to manipulate and organise numerical

data; data is put into grid of numbered rows and lettered ....................................................................................
columns
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Software running in the background of a computer that

manages most of the basic functions, such as user ....................................................................................
interface and memory management
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Software that translates a program written in a high level

language into machine code so that it can be directly run ....................................................................................
on the computer
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Software that takes one or more object files produced by

a language translator and combines them into a single ....................................................................................
program that can be run on a computer
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Software that enables one or more hardware devices to

communicate with the computer’s operating system ....................................................................................

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3 Some of the statements that follow are true and some are false. Tick (✓) the appropriate
column to indicate which are true and which are false.
Statement True (✓) False (✓)
A network interface card allows a user to access websites on the World Wide Web
Read-only memory (ROM) is a type of non-volatile memory
Spreadsheets and word processors are examples of applications software
Video cards and sound cards are typical examples of computer software
Solid-state drives make use of laser light to read and write data

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

4 Computers can have command line interfaces (CLI) and graphical user interfaces (GUI).

a Give two advantages and two disadvantages of both types of user interface.

Advantages Disadvantages

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

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CLI
2 ......................................................... 2 .........................................................

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

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GUI
2 ......................................................... 2 .........................................................

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b Give one example of who might use each type of user interface.

CLI: ....................................................................................................................................................................

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GUI: ...................................................................................................................................................................

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5 Three types of device are shown below. In each case:

i Name the device.

ii Give two features of each device which makes it different to the other devices.

iii Give two uses of each device; all six uses given must be different.

i Name: ......................................................................................................................

ii Feature 1: ....................................................................................................................................................

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Feature 2: ....................................................................................................................................................

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

iii Use 1: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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Use 2: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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i Name: ......................................................................................................................

ii Feature 1: ....................................................................................................................................................

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Feature 2: ....................................................................................................................................................

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iii Use 1: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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Use 2: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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i Name: ......................................................................................................................

ii Feature 1: ....................................................................................................................................................

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Feature 2: ....................................................................................................................................................

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

iii Use 1: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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Use 2: ..........................................................................................................................................................

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6 a i Describe what is meant by a dialogue-based user interface.

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ii Give two uses of a dialogue-based user interface.

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b i Describe what is meant by a gesture-based user interface.

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ii Give two uses of a gesture-based user interface.

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

7 Eight statements are given in the following table. Indicate, by placing a tick (✓) in the
appropriate box, which of the statements are true and which are false.
Statement True (✓) False (✓)
Analogue data is made up of a series of discrete,
discontinuous values
Random-access memory (RAM) contents cannot
be altered by a computer user
Read-only memory (ROM) contains parts of the
operating system currently in use
Input devices are necessary to allow computers to
receive commands from a user
Output devices are needed by a computer so it can
share the results of its processing with a human
Read-only memory (ROM) can be increased in size
to improve the operational speed of a computer
Solid state drives (SSD) have a much faster
data access time than internal memory, such as
random-access memory (RAM)
Before data on a hard disk drive (HDD) can be read
by the CPU, it must first be moved into random-
access memory (RAM)

8 Artificial intelligence (AI) is having an impact on our everyday lives.

a Give three examples of the use of AI.

i  
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ii  
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iii  .......................................................................................................................................................................

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

b Discuss the positive and negative effects of the impact of AI on our everyday lives.

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9 Discuss how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will have an impact in many areas of
everyday life in the future. Your answer should include:
» features of AR and VR
» areas where AR and VR will have an impact
» how and why AR and VR will have an impact on the areas you have named.

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 1 Types and components of computer systems

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10 In each of the following questions, only one of the responses is correct. Choose one of the
four options given.

a What is the meaning of BIOS?

A Basic input-output system
B Binary input-output system
C Binary interface operating system
D Basic interface operating system ...................................

b What is the meaning of NIC?

A Network integration card
B Network input controller
C Network interface card
D Numerical integer converter ...................................

c What is the meaning of CPU?

A Control processor unit
B Control (of) peripherals unit
C Central programming unit
D Central processing unit ...................................

d What is the meaning of CLI?

A Computer logic interface
B Core logic interface
C Command line interface
D Complex logical interface ...................................

e What is the meaning of ADC?

A Augmented digital connection
B Analogue to digital converter
C Analogue to digital connection
D Amplified digital connection ...................................

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