Chapter 3: Database concepts I

Question 1

Data redundancy:

a. can lead to a number of data anomalies.
b. is useful in ensuring the integrity of data.
c. provides a useful backup function in a database.
d. none of the options are correct.

Answer 1

Data redundancy:

*a. can lead to a number of data anomalies.

b. is useful in ensuring the integrity of data.
c. provides a useful backup function in a database.
d. none of the options are correct.

Question 2

Answer 2

Question 3

Answer 3

Question 4

Answer 4

Question 5

Data anomalies:

a. are inconsistencies or errors that exist in a database because of entry or changes.
b. are useful in ensuring the integrity of data.
c. provide a useful backup function in a database.
d. none of the options are correct.

Answer 5

Data anomalies:

*a. are inconsistencies or errors that exist in a database because of entry or changes.

b. are useful in ensuring the integrity of data.
c. provide a useful backup function in a database.
d. none of the options are correct.

Question 6

In relational database, a connected set of fields that describe a person, place or thing is referred to as:

a. a table.
b. a record.
c. a file.
d. a matrix.

Answer 6

In relational database, a connected set of fields that describe a person, place or thing is referred to as:

a. a table.

*b. a record.

c. a file.
d. a matrix.

Question 7

Answer 7

Question 8

A ________ key allows the user to search on an attribute other than the attribute(s) that form the primary key:

a. secondary
b. composite
c. foreign
d. subordinate

Answer 8

A ________ key allows the user to search on an attribute other than the attribute(s) that form the primary key:

*a. secondary

b. composite
c. foreign
d. subordinate

Question 9

The limitations of poor file systems come from:

a) data management.
b) structural independence.
c) database redundancy.
d) all the above.

Answer 9

The limitations of poor file systems come from:

a) data management.

b) structural independence.
c) database redundancy.
d) all the above.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an instance of data anomalies?

a. Creation anomalies.
b. Insertion anomalies.
c. Deletion anomalies.
d. Modification anomalies.

Answer 10

Which of the following is NOT an instance of data anomalies?

*a. Creation anomalies.

b. Insertion anomalies.
c. Deletion anomalies.
d. Modification anomalies.

Question 11

Information is:

a. the same as data.
b. data that is processed in a meaningful form.
c. less useful than data.
d. raw facts describing an event.

Answer 11

Information is:

a. the same as data.

*b. data that is processed in a meaningful form.

c. less useful than data.
d. raw facts describing an event.

Question 12

How can data about customer contact details and data about their orders be stored in a database?

a. Using a single table called an entity.
b. Only the customer data can be stored in the database.
c. Using at least two tables because there are two entities.
d. By storing the customer details in a table and the orders as a relationship.

Answer 12

How can data about customer contact details and data about their orders be stored in a database?

a. Using a single table called an entity.
b. Only the customer data can be stored in the database.

*c. Using at least two tables because there are two entities.

d. By storing the customer details in a table and the orders as a relationship.

Question 13

Answer 13

Question 14

Which of the following is listed in the order from smallest to largest?

a. Field, data, record, file.
b. File, field, data, record.
c. Record, file, data, field.
d. Data, field, record, file.

Answer 14

Which of the following is listed in the order from smallest to largest?

a. Field, data, record, file.
b. File, field, data, record.
c. Record, file, data, field.

*d. Data, field, record, file.

Question 15

The advantage of a relational database is:

a) structural dependence.
b) its powerful and flexible query language.
c) a data dictionary.
d) all the above.

Answer 15

The advantage of a relational database is:

a) structural dependence.

b) its powerful and flexible query language.

c) a data dictionary.
d) all the above.

Question 16

A table is:

a. a collection of attributes that describe an entity.
b. a collection of objects that describe an entity.
c. smaller than a field.
d. none of the options are correct

Answer 16

A table is:

a. a collection of attributes that describe an entity.
b. a collection of objects that describe an entity.
c. smaller than a field.

*d. none of the options are correct

Question 17

Answer 17

Question 18

An entity relationship diagram is a method for depicting:

a. the logical view of a database.
b. the physical view of a database.
c. the relationship between the user interface and the DBMS.
d. an implementation of a client-server system.

Answer 18

An entity relationship diagram is a method for depicting:

*a. the logical view of a database.

b. the physical view of a database.
c. the relationship between the user interface and the DBMS.
d. an implementation of a client-server system.

Question 19

Answer 19

Question 20

Answer 20

Question 21

Answer 21

Question 22

A record is:

a. a connected set of fields that describe a person, place or thing.
b. a connected set of tables that describe a person, place or thing.
c. smaller than a field.
d. none of the options are correct.

Answer 22

A record is:

*a. a connected set of fields that describe a person, place or thing.

b. a connected set of tables that describe a person, place or thing.
c. smaller than a field.
d. none of the options are correct.

Question 23

If data are captured and stored at their most basic level, then:

a. these data can be used to answer a very limited number of questions when they are aggregated at a certain level.
b. these data can be used to answer quite a few questions when they are aggregated at a certain level.
c. these data cannot be used to answer any question unless they are combined with some other data at a higher aggregated level.
d. these data are not suitable for answering questions.

Answer 23

If data are captured and stored at their most basic level, then:

a. these data can be used to answer a very limited number of questions when they are aggregated at a certain level.

*b. these data can be used to answer quite a few questions when they are aggregated at a certain level.

c. these data cannot be used to answer any question unless they are combined with some other data at a higher aggregated level.
d. these data are not suitable for answering questions.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a database model?

a. Network.
b. Relational.
c. SQL.
d. Hierarchical.

Answer 24

Which of the following is NOT a database model?

a. Network.
b. Relational.

*c. SQL.

d. Hierarchical.

Question 25

What is the use of the Course_ID in the student table?

a. To link the student table to the course table.
b. To back up Course_ID information in the student table.
c. Both to link the student table to the course table and to back up Course_ID information in the student table.
d. Neither linking the student table to the course table nor backing up Course_ID information in the student table.

Answer 25

What is the use of the Course_ID in the student table?

*a. To link the student table to the course table.

b. To back up Course_ID information in the student table.
c. Both to link the student table to the course table and to back up Course_ID information in the student table.
d. Neither linking the student table to the course table nor backing up Course_ID information in the student table.

Question 26

Answer 26

Question 27

An employee in one department such as sales wanting to check on inventory levels would have to contact the inventory department and enquire about inventory balances. This indicates an absence of:

a. a centralised database system.
b. information sharing.
c. a DBMS.
d. a distributed database system.

Answer 27

An employee in one department such as sales wanting to check on inventory levels would have to contact the inventory department and enquire about inventory balances. This indicates an absence of:

*a. a centralised database system.

b. information sharing.
c. a DBMS.
d. a distributed database system.

Question 28

The particular values for a customer are stored in the ____ of a ____ within the customer ________.

a. fields, record, table
b. record, fields, table
c. fields, record, entity
d. fields, table, database

Answer 28

The particular values for a customer are stored in the ____ of a ____ within the customer ________.

*a. fields, record, table

b. record, fields, table
c. fields, record, entity
d. fields, table, database

Question 29

DBMS stands for:

a. Database Management Scheme.
b. Database Management Structure.
c. Database Management Software.
d. Database Management System.

Answer 29

DBMS stands for:

a. Database Management Scheme.
b. Database Management Structure.
c. Database Management Software.

*d. Database Management System.

Question 30

Data can be described as:

a. the same as information.
b. the raw facts relating to or describing an event.
c. the primary output of an AIS.
d. more useful than information.

Answer 30

Data can be described as:

a. the same as information.

*b. the raw facts relating to or describing an event.

c. the primary output of an AIS.
d. more useful than information.

Question 31

Data or facts that are processed in a meaningful form become:

a. intelligence.
b. information.
c. knowledge.
d. wisdom.

Answer 31

Data or facts that are processed in a meaningful form become:

a. intelligence.

*b. information.

c. knowledge.
d. wisdom.

Question 32

What is the highest normal form?

a. Third.
b. Fourth.
c. Fifth.
d. Sixth.

Answer 32

What is the highest normal form?

a. Third.
b. Fourth.

*c. Fifth.

d. Sixth.

Question 33

Given that the relationship between the student and the course is 1:1, which of the following statement is correct?

(i) Only the Course_ID should be added to the student table.
(ii) Only the Student_ID should be added to the student table.
(iii) Course_ID should be added to the student table and Student_ID should be added to the course table.
a. Either (i) or (ii)
b. Both (i) and (ii)
c. Both (ii) and (iii)
d. Both (i) and (iii)

Answer 33

Given that the relationship between the student and the course is 1:1, which of the following statement is correct?

(i) Only the Course_ID should be added to the student table.
(ii) Only the Student_ID should be added to the student table.
(iii) Course_ID should be added to the student table and Student_ID should be added to the course table.

*a. Either (i) or (ii)

b. Both (i) and (ii)
c. Both (ii) and (iii)
d. Both (i) and (iii)

Question 34

In relational database, the columns and rows in a table represent, respectively:

a. attributes and objects.
b. entities and relationships.
c. objects and attributes.
d. relationships and entities.

Answer 34

In relational database, the columns and rows in a table represent, respectively:

*a. attributes and objects.

b. entities and relationships.
c. objects and attributes.
d. relationships and entities.

Question 35

Which of the following statements is true?

a) Implementation models show how the data are represented in the database.
b) Conceptual models focus on what is represented in the database.
c) Implementation and conceptual models can be either logical or physical.
d) All the above.

Answer 35

Which of the following statements is true?

a) Implementation models show how the data are represented in the database.
b) Conceptual models focus on what is represented in the database.
c) Implementation and conceptual models can be either logical or physical.

d) All the above.

Question 36

Answer 36

Question 37

Relational databases typically store data:

a. in a number of files.
b. in a number of tables.
c. in a number of fields.
d. none of the options are correct.

Answer 37

Relational databases typically store data:

a. in a number of files.

*b. in a number of tables.

c. in a number of fields.
d. none of the options are correct.

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true?

a) Normalisation should eliminate all redundancies every time.
b) Controlled redundancies should not be allowed in database design.
c) Data anomalies cause data integrity problems.
d) All the above.

Answer 38

Which of the following statements is true?

a) Normalisation should eliminate all redundancies every time.
b) Controlled redundancies should not be allowed in database design.

c) Data anomalies cause data integrity problems.

d) All the above.

Question 39

If Course_ID is removed from the student table, then when a query is performed on the student table:

(i) it is unable to determine the name of the course related to the student.
(ii) it is unable to determine the ID of the course related to the student.
(iii) it is unable to determine the course_semester related to the student.
a. (ii)
b. (i) and (iii)
c. (i), (ii) and (iii)
d. (ii) and (iii)

Answer 39

If Course_ID is removed from the student table, then when a query is performed on the student table:

(i) it is unable to determine the name of the course related to the student.
(ii) it is unable to determine the ID of the course related to the student.
(iii) it is unable to determine the course_semester related to the student.
a. (ii)
b. (i) and (iii)

*c. (i), (ii) and (iii)

d. (ii) and (iii)

Question 40

A database system consists of:

a. software, hardware, and data.
b. software, hardware, people and data.
c. software, hardware, procedures and data.
d. software, hardware, people, procedures and data.

Answer 40

A database system consists of:

a. software, hardware, and data.
b. software, hardware, people and data.
c. software, hardware, procedures and data.

*d. software, hardware, people, procedures and data.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is false?

a) Good decision-making and reporting are vital for organisational performance.
b) Good decision-making and reporting require accurate information.
c) Accurate information comes from quality data capture, storage and use.
d) None of the above.

Answer 41

Which of the following statements is false?

a) Good decision-making and reporting are vital for organisational performance.
b) Good decision-making and reporting require accurate information.
c) Accurate information comes from quality data capture, storage and use.

d) None of the above.

Question 42

The process of developing ER diagrams is:

a. iterative.
b. non-discretionary.
c. linear.
d. discrete.

Answer 42

The process of developing ER diagrams is:

*a. iterative.

b. non-discretionary.
c. linear.
d. discrete.

Question 43

With regards to a database system, which of the following statements is NOT true?

a. Database systems are being phased out in favour of new legacy systems.
b. A database system allows managers to access and evaluate the data they require to make decisions.
c. A database system enables all the data of the organisation to be contained within one system.
d. A database system helps breaking down functional barriers and facilitates data-sharing.

Answer 43

With regards to a database system, which of the following statements is NOT true?

*a. Database systems are being phased out in favour of new legacy systems.

b. A database system allows managers to access and evaluate the data they require to make decisions.
c. A database system enables all the data of the organisation to be contained within one system.
d. A database system helps breaking down functional barriers and facilitates data-sharing.

Question 44

Answer 44

Question 45

Data redundancy occurs when the same information is stored in multiple locations in an organisation. Which of the following is NOT true?

a. Data redundancy can lead to data inconsistency.
b. Data redundancy can lead to data anomalies.
c. Data redundancy can lead to repeated data.
d. Data redundancy can provide benefits through having two sources of information.

Answer 45

Data redundancy occurs when the same information is stored in multiple locations in an organisation. Which of the following is NOT true?

a. Data redundancy can lead to data inconsistency.
b. Data redundancy can lead to data anomalies.
c. Data redundancy can lead to repeated data.

*d. Data redundancy can provide benefits through having two sources of information.

Question 46

The Course_ID in the student table is best described as:

a. an attribute.
b. a foreign key.
c. a primary key.
d. a composite primary key.

Answer 46

The Course_ID in the student table is best described as:

a. an attribute.

*b. a foreign key.

c. a primary key.
d. a composite primary key.

Question 47

Which of the following statement regarding ER diagrams is correct?

a. ER diagrams look at entities and their relationships from a very detailed perspective.
b. ER diagram is a bottom-up way of viewing the organisation.
c. ER diagram is a bottom-up approach of developing a database model.
d. Understanding how to read and interpret E-R diagrams is critical for accountants.

Answer 47

Which of the following statement regarding ER diagrams is correct?

a. ER diagrams look at entities and their relationships from a very detailed perspective.
b. ER diagram is a bottom-up way of viewing the organisation.
c. ER diagram is a bottom-up approach of developing a database model.

*d. Understanding how to read and interpret E-R diagrams is critical for accountants.

Question 48

Data redundancy occurs when:

a. we keep data that has not been used by an organisation for a number of years.
b. the same data is stored in multiple locations.
c. emails are stored by an organisation for longer than six months.
d. when we have the wrong information stored on a customer file.

Answer 48

Data redundancy occurs when:

a. we keep data that has not been used by an organisation for a number of years.

*b. the same data is stored in multiple locations.

c. emails are stored by an organisation for longer than six months.
d. when we have the wrong information stored on a customer file.

Question 49

Which of the following is less likely to be the job of a database administrator?

a. Define what data is required and how it should be defined and captured.
b. Control access by users to the database.
c. Maintain the data dictionary.
d. Oversee backup and recovery in the DBMS.

Answer 49

Which of the following is less likely to be the job of a database administrator?

*a. Define what data is required and how it should be defined and captured.

b. Control access by users to the database.
c. Maintain the data dictionary.
d. Oversee backup and recovery in the DBMS.

Question 50

An attribute (or column) that uniquely identifies a particular object (or row) in the table is called:

a. foreign key.
b. unique key.
c. primary key.
d. composite key.

Answer 50

An attribute (or column) that uniquely identifies a particular object (or row) in the table is called:

a. foreign key.
b. unique key.

*c. primary key.

d. composite key.

Question 51

Database systems are designed to:

a. eliminate the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in multiple locations.
b. eliminate the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in only one location.
c. increase the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in multiple locations.
d. increase the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is unstructured but that it is stored in only one location.

Answer 51

Database systems are designed to:

a. eliminate the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in multiple locations.

*b. eliminate the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in only one location.

c. increase the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is structured so that it is stored in multiple locations.
d. increase the repetition of data and the incidence of inconsistent data by ensuring data is unstructured but that it is stored in only one location.

Question 52

Refer to the following ER diagram:

The “Charges time to” shape represents a:

a. relationship.
b. linking entity.
c. data flow.
d. attribute.

Answer 52

Refer to the following ER diagram:

The “Charges time to” shape represents a:

a. relationship.

*b. linking entity.

c. data flow.
d. attribute.

Question 53

Which of the following is not a problem that a normalisation process is designed to overcome?

a. Repeating groups.
b. Data anomalies.
c. Missing data.
d. Data redundancies.

Answer 53

Which of the following is not a problem that a normalisation process is designed to overcome?

a. Repeating groups.
b. Data anomalies.

*c. Missing data.

d. Data redundancies.

Question 54

Accurate, relevant and timely information comes from:

a. a properly designed database management system.
b. sound data transformation and manipulation processes.
c. quality data capture, storage and management.
d. correctly normalised data.

Answer 54

Accurate, relevant and timely information comes from:

a. a properly designed database management system.
b. sound data transformation and manipulation processes.

*c. quality data capture, storage and management.

d. correctly normalised data.

Question 55

Answer 55

Question 56

Which of the following is a step to developing an ER diagram?

a) Develop a general narrative of a business’s operations.
b) Construct a working version of the ER diagram for review by the business.
c) Make the necessary modifications for newly discovered entities or relationships.
d) All the above.

Answer 56

Which of the following is a step to developing an ER diagram?

a) Develop a general narrative of a business’s operations.
b) Construct a working version of the ER diagram for review by the business.
c) Make the necessary modifications for newly discovered entities or relationships.

d) All the above.

Question 57

Originally, an organisation has sourced all its products from one supplier. Now, the organisation has changed its mind and started to source all its products from various suppliers. This is reflected on an ER diagram as:

a. a change in the relationship between the organisation entity and the supplier entity.
b. a change in the cardinality associated with the supplier side relationship.
c. a change in the number of supplier entities.
d. a change in the cardinality associated with the organisation side of the relationship.

Answer 57

Originally, an organisation has sourced all its products from one supplier. Now, the organisation has changed its mind and started to source all its products from various suppliers. This is reflected on an ER diagram as:

a. a change in the relationship between the organisation entity and the supplier entity.

*b. a change in the cardinality associated with the supplier side relationship.

c. a change in the number of supplier entities.
d. a change in the cardinality associated with the organisation side of the relationship.

Question 58

In terms of data redundancy, an important aspect of a relational database is that the tables must be carefully defined to provide __________ with minimum issues.

a. expandability
b. functionality
c. flexibility
d. scalability

Answer 58

In terms of data redundancy, an important aspect of a relational database is that the tables must be carefully defined to provide __________ with minimum issues.

a. expandability
b. functionality

*c. flexibility

d. scalability

Question 59

The database model of choice for the development of most new information systems today is:

a. relational.
b. hierarchical.
c. network.
d. object-oriented.

Answer 59

The database model of choice for the development of most new information systems today is:

*a. relational.

b. hierarchical.
c. network.
d. object-oriented.

Question 60

Database modelling is used for:

a) describing and representing complex real-world data structures.
b) improving understanding of an organisation’s existing database.
c) providing a blueprint for developing new database structures.
d) all the above.

Answer 60

Database modelling is used for:

a) describing and representing complex real-world data structures.
b) improving understanding of an organisation’s existing database.
c) providing a blueprint for developing new database structures.

d) all the above.

Question 61

“Data that provide a consistent and correct representation regardless of where they are sourced from within a file system” is referred to as:

a. data consistency.
b. data integrity.
c. data reliability.
d. data uniformity.

Answer 61

“Data that provide a consistent and correct representation regardless of where they are sourced from within a file system” is referred to as:

a. data consistency.

*b. data integrity.

c. data reliability.
d. data uniformity.

Question 62

In any organisation, what three characteristics of information are crucial for good decision-making and reporting?

a. Abundant, qualitative and quantitative.
b. Accurate, relevant and timely.
c. Frequently collected, broadly covered and up-to-date.
d. Rich, complete and precise.

Answer 62

In any organisation, what three characteristics of information are crucial for good decision-making and reporting?

a. Abundant, qualitative and quantitative.

*b. Accurate, relevant and timely.

c. Frequently collected, broadly covered and up-to-date.
d. Rich, complete and precise.

Question 63

In database terms, the instructions and rules that govern the design and use of the software outside programming are referred to as:

a. procedures.
b. policies.
c. processes.
d. routines.

Answer 63

In database terms, the instructions and rules that govern the design and use of the software outside programming are referred to as:

*a. procedures.

b. policies.
c. processes.
d. routines.

Question 64

Which one of the following is not a crucial factor for maximising the benefits offered by relational databases?

a. Careful data collection.
b. Careful data relationship design.
c. Careful database modelling.
d. Careful systems implementation.

Answer 64

Which one of the following is not a crucial factor for maximising the benefits offered by relational databases?

*a. Careful data collection.

b. Careful data relationship design.
c. Careful database modelling.
d. Careful systems implementation.

Question 65

How is the design of a relational database determined in an organisation?

a. Each department is given an allocation of tables.
b. Senior management decide how many tables are needed.
c. IT professionals advise on the best design.
d. By modelling the rules that describe how the business works.

Answer 65

How is the design of a relational database determined in an organisation?

a. Each department is given an allocation of tables.
b. Senior management decide how many tables are needed.
c. IT professionals advise on the best design.

*d. By modelling the rules that describe how the business works.

Question 66

“Inconsistencies or errors that exist in a database because of entry or changes” are referred to as:

a. data inaccuracies.
b. data anomalies.
c. data abnormalities.
d. data irregularities.

Answer 66

“Inconsistencies or errors that exist in a database because of entry or changes” are referred to as:

a. data inaccuracies.

*b. data anomalies.

c. data abnormalities.
d. data irregularities.

Question 67

Which of the following statement regarding normalisation is incorrect?

a. Normalisation is the process of assigning attributes to entities to eliminate repeating groups and data redundancies.
b. The goal of normalisation is to form tables representing entities that promote structural and data independence.
c. Normalisation maximises the efficiency of structure.
d. Normalisation is the top-down view of designing a database.

Answer 67

Which of the following statement regarding normalisation is incorrect?

a. Normalisation is the process of assigning attributes to entities to eliminate repeating groups and data redundancies.
b. The goal of normalisation is to form tables representing entities that promote structural and data independence.
c. Normalisation maximises the efficiency of structure.

*d. Normalisation is the top-down view of designing a database.

Question 68

Answer 68

Question 69

Answer 69

Question 70

Refer to the following ER diagram:

The “charges time to” entity is a result of:

a. the resolution of a many-to-many relationship.
b. the resolution of a one-to-many relationship.
c. the resolution of a one-to-one relationship.
d. the resolution of an un-normalised relationship.

Answer 70

Refer to the following ER diagram:

The “charges time to” entity is a result of:

*a. the resolution of a many-to-many relationship.

b. the resolution of a one-to-many relationship.
c. the resolution of a one-to-one relationship.
d. the resolution of an un-normalised relationship.

Question 71

When all data are stored in a central place, which of the following is not essential to ensure data are protected?

a. Data privacy.
b. Data security.
c. Data backup.
d. Data normalisation

Answer 71

When all data are stored in a central place, which of the following is not essential to ensure data are protected?

a. Data privacy.
b. Data security.
c. Data backup.

*d. Data normalisation

Question 72

Examine the database tables in question 44. Which of the following statement is true?

a. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as 1:1.
b. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as 1:M.
c. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as M:N.
d. The relationship between student and course cannot be determined.

Answer 72

Examine the database tables in question 44. Which of the following statement is true?

*a. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as 1:1.

b. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as 1:M.
c. The relationship between student and course is best interpreted as M:N.
d. The relationship between student and course cannot be determined.