Programming Paradigms

Question 1

What are the three basic control structures?

Answer 1

Sequence
Selection
Iteration

Question 2

Describe the features of Imperative Programming

Answer 2

Set of commands which can be called by name
Pass parameters between blocks of code
Modularity

Question 3

Give two advantages of modular coding

Answer 3

• Can be tested independently of the main program
• Can be re-used within the program
• Split up large programming problems
• Makes code more readable

Question 4

List the main features of Object Orientated Programming

Answer 4

Classes
Objects
Methods
Encapsulation
Instance Variables
Inheritance

Question 5

What can be used to describe a class?

Answer 5

Class Diagram

Question 6

What is Instantiation?

Answer 6

Creating an object from a class(blueprint) that is already defined

Question 7

Give a benefit of inheritance

Answer 7

Once a class has been defined and tested, sub-classes can then be created which share the main characteristics of parent class
-Saves testing and development time

Question 8

What is the ability to redefine methods in object orientated programming?

Answer 8

Polymorphism

Question 9

Describe what happens in Concurrent Programming

Answer 9

Several streams of operations may execute simultaneously

Question 10

Describe a ‘race condition’

Answer 10

When two threads both try to change the value of a variable simultaneously resulting in unpredictable results

Question 11

What is it called when two threads are competing for the same resource resulting in neither of them completing their operations?

Answer 11

Deadlock

Question 12

What is done to prevent race conditions occurring?

Answer 12

Placing a lock on shared data so only one thread can access it at a time

Question 13

What is resource starvation?

Answer 13

Priority is constantly given to one thread, preventing other lower priority threads accessing the data needed for completion

Question 14

What is resource starvation caused by?

Answer 14

Poor scheduling

Prioritizing

Question 15

What is concurrency control?

Answer 15

Ensuring operating happens in the correct order and access to resources is co-ordinated so they are shared among threads according to their priority

Question 16

State some advantages of concurrent programming

Answer 16

A user can interact with applications while other tasks are running
Long running tasks need not delay short running ones
Complex programs can make better use of multiple resources in multi core processors

Question 17

Concurrent programming is a feature in what type of languages?

Answer 17

Declarative

Object Orientated

Question 18

Give examples of languages designed with concurrent programming in mind

Answer 18

Java, Salsa

Question 19

The role of setting up groups of program instructions as threads to run concurrently is managed by?

Answer 19

Translation software

Question 20

In what environment is concurrent programming particularly relevant to?

Answer 20

Multi Core Processor Architecture

Question 21

What can the three main control structures be combined to form?

Answer 21

More powerful computational constructs

Question 22

What does imperative programming focus on?

Answer 22

Describing how a program operates

Question 23

Define ‘Sequence’

Answer 23

One command is executed followed by another

Question 24

Define ‘Selection’

Answer 24

If a condition is true then one command is executed else if the condition is not true then another command is executed

Question 25

Define ‘Iteration’

Answer 25

Repetition

Question 26

What is the difference between formal and actual parameters?

Answer 26

Formal - In the subroutine definition

Actual - In the subroutine call

Question 27

What is declarative programming?

Answer 27

Programming paradigm that describes the desired results without listing the steps to be performed

Question 28

What is Object Orientated Programming?

Answer 28

A style of programming allowing a program to be separated into blocks of related data, and the operations which apply to that data

Question 29

What is a Class?

Answer 29

Definitions for the data format and the avaliable procedures for a given type of object
(Blueprint for an object)

Question 30

What is an Object?

Answer 30

Instance of a class, block of related data and the operations which apply to that data

Question 31

Who can access the data in an object?

Answer 31

Associated Operations of the Class

Question 32

What is Inheritance?

Answer 32

Sharing of characteristics between a super class and a newly created subclass, where subclass inherits all the methods and variables from super class and can add it’s own as well

Question 33

What is Encapsulation?

Answer 33

Bundling of data with methods that operate on that data

Hides the values of data within class, can only be accessed by methods of that object

Question 34

What is a benefit of encapsulation?

Answer 34

Allows you to change part of the code without affecting other parts
Prevents unintended changing of data

Question 35

What is Polymorphism?

Answer 35

When you can treat an object as a generic version of something, but when accessing it, the code determines which exact type it is and calls the associated code.

Question 36

What is a stream of data called in concurrent programming?

Answer 36

Thread

Question 37

What is a disadvantage of concurrent programming?

Answer 37

Code is difficult to write and debug

Question 38

What are scripting languages typically used to do?

Answer 38

Add extra functionality or automate an application program/operating system

Question 39

What is a macro?

Answer 39

Sequence of operations that can be invoked as a single task

Question 40

What are Domain Specific Languages?

Answer 40

Subset of procedural languages that have been designed with one specific type of task in mind

Question 41

Give an example of a domain specific language and what is was designed for?

Answer 41

SQL which was designed to formulate database queries