KNEC KCSE Computer Studies Paper 1 Question Paper / 2016 Pre KCSE

Give importance of having the following in computer laboratory;-
i) Standard furniture in the laboratory
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ii) Antiglare screen/ monitor
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iii) UPS
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Distinguish between ROM and RAM
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Explain the following computer crimes
(i) Fraud.
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(ii) Alteration
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(a) Define
(i) Firewalls (1mark)
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(ii) Data encryption (1mark)
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Differentiate between the following terms as used in word processing
(a) Drop Cap and Case
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(b) Superscript and subscript
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(a) State and explain any one type of computer processing file (1mark)
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(b) List any two file organization methods (2marks)
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Describe the following terms as used in internet.
(a) Webpage (1mark)
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(b) Blog (1mark)
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(c) Hyperlinks (1mark)
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(d) Web portal (1mark)
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(a) Give four advantages of DTP over a word processor (2marks)
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(b) Differentiate between the following
(i) Kerning and tracking (2marks)
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(ii) Margins and column guides (2marks)
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Define the term simulation
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Differentiate between baseband and broadband signal as used in networking
a) Baseband signal
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b) Broadband signal
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Explain how the operating system controls the following resources
i) Processor
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ii) Main memory
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iii) Input and output devices
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What is deadlock in reference to operating systems
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(a) The most popular type of electronic data storage currently us magnetic disk storage such as hard disk or Winchester disk. Give reasons as to why they are popular. (2marks)
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(b) Outline two advantages of hard disk over floppy disk. (2marks)
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Define the following computer crimes
a) Piracy (1mark)
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b) Industrial espionage (1mark)
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Explain two ways of protecting data and information against unauthorized access
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(a) list two examples of
(i) Third generation languages (2marks)
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(ii) Object oriented languages (2marks)
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(b) Define (2marks)
i) Object code
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ii) Source code
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(c) Differentiate between a compiler and an interpreter (2marks)
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(e) A car rental firm leases its cars for Kshs. 2500.00 per day. The manager gives a discount based on the number of days that the car is rented. If the rental period is greater than or equals to 7 days then a 25% discount is given. Write a peudocode to accept a car number and the rental period, and calculate the total amount earned by the company when a car is leased. (7marks)

(a) Subtract 0111₂ from 1001₂ (2marks)
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(b) Using two’s compliment, subtract 7 from 4 and give the answer in binary notation. (4marks)
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(c) Convert
i) 91C₁₆ to octal (3marks)
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ii) 377₈ to hexadecimal (3marks)
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iii) 9.625₁₀ to binary (3marks)
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A school computer laboratory is scheduled to undergo major renovations. The lab is schedule to receive new computer whose specifications are given below:-
Pentium IV 2.8GHz processor
40GB HDD
3 ½ FDD
256MB RAM
56 x CD ROM
17” SVGA TFT monitor
The computers are going to be networked and will be able to browse the internet.

a) Explain what is meant by the terms:- (2marks)
i) FDD
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ii) HDD
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iii) SVGA
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iv) TFT
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b) The computer is to be networked, name one extra device that should be fitted on every computer to
enable this to happen (1mark)
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c) The computer is to receive internet facilities through the server on a dial; up system. Name and describe
the function of a special device that needs to be connected to the server to complete the connection.
(1mark).
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d) (i) The school has to apply star topology to link up the computer. List two advantages of this type of
topology. (1mark)
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(ii) Name the central device used to connect the computers in this topology. (1mark)
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e) List two other types of topologies that the school could have opted for (1mark)
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f) List four advantages of using a network (2marks)
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g) (i) Data transmission via the internet is done using a mode known as packet switching. Describe this
data transmission mode (1mark)
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(ii) Name two other modes of transmission (1mark)
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h) (i) The school’s LAN is done using UTR cable. List two advantages of using this type of cable.
(1mark)
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(ii) List two advantages of using fibre cable in networking (1mark)
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i) Data flows in the school’s LAN in a duplex manner. Discuss two other types of data transmission in
network giving examples (2marks)
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(a) Consider the topologies demonstrated in the diagram below.

(i) Identify the network topologies (3marks)
A
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B
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C

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(ii) In topology A, identify the network device that should be at the end point 1 and 2 (1mark)
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(iii)Which of the above topologies is likely to be used in a wide area network? (1mark)
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(iv)Highlight three disadvantages of topology B. (3marks)
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(v) Identify the device labeled X in topology A (1mark)
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(b) State two main classes of network software (2marks)
(c) Briefly describe the following as used in networking (4marks)
i) Repeaters
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ii) Network hub
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iii) Fibre optic cables
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iv) Network interface card (NIC)
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(a) Define the following terms
(i) Database ( ½mark)
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(ii) Database management system ( ½ mark)
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(iii)Hierarchical database (1mark)
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(iv)Relational database (1mark)
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(v) Network database (1mark)
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(b) List the advantages of using an electronic database system for storage of data over the file approach.
(4marks).
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(c ) Study the spreadsheet below and answer the questions that follow

i) Write down the formula that can be used to find the price of the most costly book (1mark)
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ii) Write down the formula that can be used to determine the total sales for the book titled COMPUTER
STUDIES (1mark)

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iii) Write down the formula that can be used to determine the average price of the books. (1mark)
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iv) Write down the formula in cell D6 that can be used to find the new price per book if they went up by a
percentage written in cell B 10 and the formula has to be entered only in cell D3 then be copied to
others. (1mark)
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v) Write down the output in D7 if in B6 is 10% (1mark)
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(d) State any four advantages of using an electronic spreadsheet as compared to a traditional worksheet.
(2mark)
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