May 2019

Question 1

Describe purpose of Random Access Memory (RAM)

Answer 1

• it stores data/instructions temporarily
• it has volatile memory (temporary)

Question 2

Describe purpose of Hard Drive

Answer 2

it has a magnetic disk, to store data permanently which can be externally/internally.

Question 3

What are the types of legislation for when you’re disposing old components

Answer 3

The Data Protection Act / General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR) (1)
* The Environmental Protection Act (1)
* The Environment (Waste) Act (1)
* Hazardous Waste Directive (1)
* Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment directive
(WEEE) (1)

Question 4

List some output devices (on screen data)

Answer 4

Monitor/Display, Printer, Speakers, Headphones/Earphones, Projectors, Plotters

Question 5

benefits of open source software

Answer 5

• customise the layout of the software
• it is flexible - code can be changed/edited
• can have support & work with other users/collab with them on the code in a public domain
• costs : it is much cheaper than closed software

Question 6

disadvantages of open source software

Answer 6

• Security – code is viewable – vulnerabilities open
• Expertise required to maintain the code and adapt it.
• Configuration: lots of errors can be made in the code
• Maintenance

Question 7

Advantages of using a client server network

Answer 7

It provides centralised control, which could be for backups/updates in the network.

You can share resources - such as software

It’s scalable: you can add more clients/users to the network

Question 8

Disadvantages of using client server network

Answer 8

• If the server fails/experiences an error: whole network goes down
• It requires technical knowledge/staff to use the network
• Viruses can travel around the network

Question 9

E5RQ films is considering introducing WAN network, to link all cinemas together.

Explain the purpose of a web server. - 4 mark

Answer 9

• to STORE. PROCESS. DELIVER. webpages using HTTP.

Question 10

Explain the purpose of a hypervisor server. - 4 mark

Answer 10

To have multiple virtual machines on one host machine, to optimise the hardware. By sharing the resources.

Question 11

characteristics of PSTN - public switched telephone network

Answer 11

PSTN is fixed into position or has limited range

PSTN does not rely on distance form a cell tower for connection

PSTN quality of connection does not affected/intercepted as it is wired.

Question 12

characteristics of cellular

Answer 12

a cellular has a greater range as long as it has a signal.

cellular may become unreliable due to distance from the
tower/ the environment of the location.

cellular quality can vary due to tunnels/ thick walls / signal blockers

Question 13

compare to use of PSTN and cellular methods to make telephone calls. - 4 marks

Answer 13

PSTN is fixed into position or has limited range where cellular has a greater range as long as it has a signal.

PSTN does not rely on distance form a cell tower for connection but cellular may become unreliable due to distance from the tower/ the environment of the location.

PSTN quality of connection rarely an issue where cellular quality can vary due to tunnels/ thick walls / signal blockers

Question 14

the WAN network will provide the cinemas with access to an intranet which will allow staff to order film merchandise items in different colour options.

Explain using an example, how each colour can be stored as a hexadecimal value. - 4 marks.

Answer 14

• Colours are made up of Red/Green/Blue values (1)
• Red/Blue/Green all have different hex values (1)
• Intensity of each value scales from 0 to 255 (1)
• Means exact colour can be displayed/used/defined (1)
• 255 requires only 2 digits of Hex (1)
• Less storage required for values (1)
• Less processing is needed (1) for searches to be carried

out (1)
* Using hex allows a developer to use large range/exact
colour (1)
* E.g. #FFAABB / FF (1)