Name: _________________________________________ 5. Give two advantages of network over standalone computer.

Section: ________________________________________ 6. What is a protocol?

Date: ________________________________________ 7. What is the function of a router?
1. John is an architect. He uses a computer to prepare architectural 8. What is the function of a firewall?
plans, to communicate with his friends through the telephone lines 9. State one advantage and one disadvantage of using flash disk over a
and to search for information through Internet. He decides to buy a hard disk as a backing store.
new computer. 10. State one advantage and one disadvantage of using monitor over a
Below is a table comparing two types of microcomputer: printer as an output device.
Type Notebook Desktop 11. Although magnetic disk is faster than magnetic tape in accessing
CPU 200MHz 300MHz data, magnetic is still used nowadays for storage. Explain why.
Main Memory 64MB 128MB 12. Suggest one input device and one output device for a blind computer

Hard Disk 10GB 40GB user and explain why they are suitable.

Monitor 12" LCD 17" VGA 13. What are the advantages to the performance of a computer if the

Modem -- 56 Kbps amount of RAM is increased?

Price $10120 $7000 14. In order to construct a school network, both optical fibre and twisted

(a) After considering his needs, John chooses to buy the Desktop. wire are used. Explain what they are different and how they are

State TWO ways in which the Desktop can meet the John's arranged in a school network.

needs. 15. Explain why it is necessary to use router in DSL in computer

(b) Name ONE type of output device that John should add to the communications through telephone lines.

Desktop if he wants to produce hardcopy of documents and 16. Give two advantages and two disadvantages of networking.

photos. 17. State one advantage and one disadvantage of choosing a custom-

(c)Name ONE type of input device that John should add if he wants made software over a packaged software.

to input photo to the computer. 18. – 21 - List 3 examples of utility program.

2. Many supermarkets install bar code readers at cashier counters to
read the bar code of each item. Besides a reader, a keyboard is also
installed as an input device.
(a) Give ONE advantage of not marking prices on individual items.
(b) Describe ONE situations when a keyboard, instead of the bar
code reader, must be used to enter a bar code number.
(c) Give TWO advantages of using bar code scanners in
supermarkets.
1. Name three common network topologies for LAN and brief describe
their connections.
2. What hardware must be used for two computers communicating
through a telephone line? Also describe why it must be used.
3. Name three network media and compare their cost and quality for
networking.
Classify the above items into (1) Hardware, (2) System software or (3)
4. Give one example of a transmission medium that is a direct cable
connection and one example of transmission medium that is not a
30.
direct cable connection. Also state one advantage and one
disadvantage of direct cable connection over others.
22. Draw a diagram to show the relationship of the major hardware
components. In your diagram, you should indicate the data flow
and the control flow.
23. Explain how the following changes can improve the efficiency of
a computer.
a. Increase the RAM size;
b. Increase the clock rate of CPU;
c. Change the 56k modem to broadband modem.
24. Give one suitable application for each of the following device.
a. Image scanner;
b. Bar code scanner;
c. Magnetic Ink Character Reader;
d. Optical Mark Reader.
25. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of output data on a
printer over a VDU.
26. The access speed of a magnetic tape is significantly lower than
that of a magnetic disk. However, it is still widely used in servers.
Explain.
27. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of choosing a
custom-made software over a packaged software.
28. Browser, Unix, anti-virus program, modem, plotter, computer
games, router, editor, word processing program, image scanner.
Application software.
29. Give one difference between CD-ROM and CD-R.
Touch screen is used in kiosk to replace keyboard. Give one
advantage and one disadvantage for such arrangement.