Cambridge University Press 2011

4Systems and
communications
Answers to Revision questions: 4 Systems & communications 1 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies
Below each answer there is a page reference for the coursebook. Tis is there to help you focus
your revision. If you fnd that you get an answer wrong, you can use this guide to return to the
coursebook to revise the areas that need some extra attention. Please note these are example
answers only and do not represent the only possible answers.
1 An operating system is a set of programs and data fles that manages a computers hardware
and the other programs that run on the computer. It controls the peripheral devices, allocates
memory between application programs, performs housekeeping tasks on the backing storage,
shares the processor between application programs.
See Functions of an operating system on page 93.
2 a A command line interface requires the user to type commands at a keyboard. Te user
needs to remember the commands (although help is usually available) and the string
of options can be complex to get right. Only one command (program) at a time can
beexecuted.
b A graphical user interface enables the user to use a pointing device to select commands and
options from menus. Several programs can be open in various windows.
See User interface on page 98.
3 a A graphical user interface uses windows, icons, menus and a pointing device.
b In the future, user interfaces may use voice commands or gestures to control the computer.
See User interface on page 98.
4
See File management on page 101.
Disk
C:\
Folders Files and sub-folders
Programs
My Documents
Letter 2011-Jan.doc
Photos
Homework
Recycle Bin
France 2010
John birthday
Hampton Court
timetable.doc
tudors.doc
ICT survey.xls
Cambridge University Press 2011 Answers to Revision questions: 4 Systems & communications 2 Cambridge IGCSE Computer Studies
5 A fle manager enables the user to print, copy, move and list fles.
See File management on page 101.
6 a A bufer is an area of memory that holds data temporarily ready to be sent to a program or
peripheral device.
b A peripheral device is a device that links to the processor, such as a printer, a monitor or
a webcam. (See page 93 and glossary.)
c An interrupt is a signal from a peripheral device or a program to the processor asking for
some service (e.g. a printer may send an interrupt to ask for more data).
d Polling is a process in which the processor asks each peripheral device in turn if it needs
a service.
e Handshaking is a process in which a peripheral device and the processor (or two computers
on a network) establish communication.
See Peripheral device control on page 102.
7 Te operating system handshakes with the peripheral device (e.g. a printer) to establish initial
communication. Te printer driver flls the print bufer and requests the host controller to send
the data to the printer. When the printer has dealt with the data, it tells the driver to fll the
bufer again. Tis means that data is not sent too quickly and does not get lost.
See Peripheral device control on page 104.