Paper 1: Software

Question 1

System Software

Answer 1

Software designed to operate the computer hardware and provide a platform for running application software. Examples include operating systems.

Question 2

Operating System (OS)

Answer 2

System software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. Examples include Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Question 3

Memory Management (Operating System)

Answer 3

The function of the OS that controls and coordinates the computer’s memory, allocating space to programs and data.

Question 4

File Management (Operating System)

Answer 4

The function of the OS that manages the storage, retrieval, and organization of files and directories.

Question 5

Input/Output (I/O) Management (Operating System)

Answer 5

The function of the OS that controls communication between the computer and input/output devices (like keyboards, mice, and displays).

Question 6

User Interface (UI)

Answer 6

The means by which a user interacts with a computer system.

Question 7

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Answer 7

A type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as windows, buttons, and menus.

Question 8

Command-Line Interface (CLI)

Answer 8

A type of user interface where users interact with the computer by typing commands.

Question 9

Interrupt

Answer 9

A signal from a device or software that causes the operating system to stop its current task and handle the event.

Question 10

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)

Answer 10

Firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process (power-on startup), and to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs.

Question 11

Application Software

Answer 11

Software designed to perform a specific task for the user. Examples include word processors, web browsers, and games.

Question 12

High-Level Language (HLL)

Answer 12

A programming language designed to be easy for humans to read and write. Examples include Python, Java, and C++.

Question 13

Low-Level Language (LLL)

Answer 13

A programming language that is closer to machine code, providing little or no abstraction from a computer’s instruction set architecture. Examples include assembly language.

Question 14

Compiler

Answer 14

A program that translates high-level language source code into machine code that can be executed by a computer. It translates the entire program at once.

Question 15

Interpreter

Answer 15

A program that translates high-level language source code into machine code, but it translates and executes the code line by line.

Question 16

Assembler

Answer 16

A program that translates assembly language code into machine code.

Question 17

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Answer 17

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. An IDE normally consists of at least a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger.

Question 18

What is a low-level programming language?

Answer 18

A type of programming language that is close to the hardware of the computer. It often deals directly with the computer’s registers and memory locations.

Question 19

Give examples of low-level programming languages.

Answer 19

Assembly language and machine code.

Question 20

What are some advantages of low-level programming languages?

Answer 20

Can provide very efficient and fast code execution, allows for direct control over hardware.

Question 21

What are some disadvantages of low-level programming languages?

Answer 21

Difficult to write and understand, programs are often machine-dependent (not portable), take longer to develop.

Question 22

What is a high-level programming language?

Answer 22

A type of programming language that is more abstract and closer to human language. It is designed to be easier to read, write, and understand.

Question 23

Give examples of high-level programming languages.

Answer 23

Python, Java, C++, JavaScript.

Question 24

What are some advantages of high-level programming languages?

Answer 24

Easier to learn and use, faster development time, programs are more portable (can run on different types of computers).

Question 25

What are some disadvantages of high-level programming languages?

Answer 25

Generally less efficient and slower execution compared to well-written low-level code (as they need to be translated).

Question 26

What is assembly language?

Answer 26

A low-level programming language that uses symbolic codes (mnemonics) to represent machine instructions. Each mnemonic typically corresponds to a single machine instruction.

Question 27

What is an assembler?

Answer 27

A program that translates assembly language code into machine code that the computer can directly execute.

Question 28

Why might someone still use assembly language today?

Answer 28

For tasks requiring very fine-grained control over hardware, optimizing critical sections of code for maximum performance, or programming very resource-constrained embedded systems.

Question 29

What is a compiler?

Answer 29

A program that translates the entire source code of a high-level programming language into machine code (or an intermediate code) before the program is executed. The resulting machine code is then saved and can be run multiple times without re-translation

Question 30

What is an interpreter?

Answer 30

A program that translates and executes the source code of a high-level programming language line by line during runtime. Each line is translated and executed before moving to the next line.

Question 31

What is a key difference in when compilation and interpretation occur?

Answer 31

Compilation happens before execution, while interpretation happens during execution.

Question 32

How does compilation affect execution speed?

Answer 32

Compiled programs generally run faster because the translation is done beforehand, and the machine code can be executed directly.

Question 33

How does interpretation affect execution speed?

Answer 33

Interpreted programs generally run slower because each line of code needs to be translated every time it is executed.

Question 34

How does compilation affect error detection?

Answer 34

Compilers typically detect syntax errors in the entire program before execution begins.

Question 35

How does interpretation affect error detection?

Answer 35

Interpreters typically detect errors during runtime, stopping execution when an error is encountered.

Question 36

How does compilation affect portability?

Answer 36

Compiled programs are often machine-dependent because they are translated into a specific machine code. To run on a different platform, the code needs to be recompiled for that platform.

Question 37

How does interpretation affect portability?

Answer 37

Interpreted programs can be more portable if there is an interpreter available for the target platform. The same source code can often run on different operating systems without recompilation.

Question 38

What does IDE stand for?

Answer 38

Integrated Development Environment.

Question 39

What is an IDE?

Answer 39

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. It typically consists of a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger.

Question 40

Name some common features of an IDE.

Answer 40

Source code editor with syntax highlighting and autocompletion, compiler/interpreter integration, debugger, build automation tools, version control integration, class browser, object inspector.