Topic 6

Question 1

What does a computer require to create a functional solution?

Answer 1

Hardware and software

Question 2

Name the 4 types of system software

Answer 2

Operating systems (OS)
Library programs
Utility programs
programming language translators

Question 3

What are the 3 types of application software?

Answer 3

General purpose (GP)
Specialised applications (SA)
Bespoke applications (BA)

Question 4

What is the operating system

Answer 4

The operating system is the software that controls the hardware and hides the complexity of the hardware by creating a platform to run application software

Question 5

Name the benefits of an operating system?

Answer 5

Hiding the complexity of the hardware with a Windows -based operating system helps create a virtual machine that has a user-friendly interface and operates in the same manner irrespective of the manufacturer or the computer system.

Question 6

What are library programs?

Answer 6

Library programs are pre-written software that is stored in compiled format and can be included by by the programmer. Library functions are used to assist the programmer.

Question 7

What are utility programs?

Answer 7

Utility programs are a range of systems software that is designed to help the user to manage, maintain and optimise the system

Question 8

What are programming language translators?

Answer 8

Programming language translators translate the code into different languages while maintaining the functionality of the code.

Question 9

What are the three types of programming language translators?

Answer 9

Assembler - used for assembly language programs
Compiler - All in one go
Interpreter - Line by line

Question 10

What level language is machine code?

Answer 10

Low (1st Generation)

Question 11

What level language is assembly language?

Answer 11

Low (2nd Generation)

Question 12

What level language is python, java, C+ etc?

Answer 12

High

Question 13

What level language is declarative language? For example, SQL or CSS

Answer 13

High

Question 14

What level language is imperative language?

Answer 14

High

Question 15

Why would you write in low level code?

Answer 15

It can create faster and more efficient as you control the performance level of the code.

It also is more memory efficient as there is less abstraction than high level languages

Question 16

Why would you write in high level code?

Answer 16

It is easier to learn

It not is specific to processors unlike assembly language or machine code

Question 17

What is source code?

Answer 17

It is the language instructions written by the programmer. It cannot be executed directly by the computer

Question 18

What is object code?

Answer 18

It is code translated from the source code using a compiler or assembler that can be executed by the computer

Question 19

What is the difference between a compiler and an interpreter?

Answer 19

Compiler does it as a whole whereas interpreter does it line by line

Question 20

How are binary numbers stored in a computer system?

Answer 20

Binary numbers are stored in a computer system in a computer system as different voltage levels where low is 0 and high voltage is 1.

Question 21

Explain half adder logic

Answer 21

Half adder circuit carries out addition on two numbers only

Question 22

Explain full adder logic

Answer 22

Full adder circuit carries out addition on two numbers and a carry bit

Question 23

A series of half/full adders can be used to add one/two binary numbers, as the carry bit is available at each/one stage of the calculation

Answer 23

A series of full adders can be used to add two binary numbers, as the carry bit is available at each stage of the calculation