M10/5/COMSC/HP1/ENG/TZ0/XX
22107011
Computer science
HIGHER level
Paper 1
Thursday 6 May 2010 (afternoon)
2 hours 15 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Do not open this examination paper until instructed to do so.
Section A: answer all the questions.
Section B: answer all the questions.
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© International Baccalaureate Organization 2010
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Section a
Answer all the questions.
1. State two items that would be included in a requirements specification in addition to
inputs and outputs. [2 marks]
2. (a) Calculate DE + 3C , giving your answer in hexadecimal. [2 marks]
(b) State the answer to part (a) in binary. [1 mark]
(c) State the error that would occur when this result is stored in an 8 bit register. [1 mark]
3. Outline the function of the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) in the central processing
unit (CPU). [2 marks]
4. Compare magnetic tape with flash memory as media for backing up data. [4 marks]
5. Describe the difference between private class members and public class members. [2 marks]
6. (a) Outline one use of a macro within an application. [2 marks]
(b) State two advantages of using the macro from part (a). [2 marks]
7. Describe how a check sum could ensure data integrity in the transmission of data. [3 marks]
8. Outline one advantage of creating a prototype during the design stage of software
development. [2 marks]
9. (a) State two examples of the use of an interrupt. [2 marks]
(b) Outline how the operating system processes an interrupt. [2 marks]
10. Describe the use of key words by Internet search engines. [3 marks]
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11. (a) (i) Outline the characteristics of serial transmission. [2 marks]
(ii) State one suitable example of its use. [1 mark]
(b) (i) Outline the characteristics of parallel transmission. [2 marks]
(ii) State one suitable example of its use. [1 mark]
12. (a) Define the term virtual memory. [2 marks]
(b) Outline the use of virtual memory in the running of a program. [2 marks]
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Section b
Answer all the questions.
13. Software is used to design a road bridge. The software allows the user to simulate
small changes to the thickness of the materials used to build the bridge.
(a) Describe the data type needed to represent the thickness of the materials. [2 marks]
An important factor in bridge safety is the amount of traffic that uses the bridge.
(b) Outline one method for collecting data on the amount of traffic that would be
using the bridge. [2 marks]
(c) Suggest how the results of this data collection would be used to influence the
design of the bridge. [4 marks]
(d) Outline one advantage of using a computer and appropriate software to design
the bridge. [2 marks]
14. An insurance company has over 50 000 customers, whose details are stored in records
within a database. Two of the fields in the customer record are customer name
and customer ID. The records are held in order of customer ID.
(a) Identify the search method used to access the record of a customer when the
name is known and state the BigO efficiency of this search. [2 marks]
(b) Identify the search method that should be used to access the record of a customer
when the customer ID is known and state the BigO efficiency of this search. [2 marks]
Another field in the customer record is date payment due. At the end of each month,
the database is searched to find all customers whose payment is due.
(c) Identify the type of processing used in this search. [1 mark]
The company implements a completely new computer system with a better designed
database. This is implemented overnight.
(d) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a direct changeover method. [5 marks]
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15. A washing machine which has several different programs can be set to start working
at a specified time. The time to start and the required program are input by a user.
The washing machine is controlled by a microprocessor.
(a) Identify two items that would need to be held in read-only memory (ROM). [2 marks]
(b) Identify two items that would need to be held in random access memory (RAM). [2 marks]
The microprocessor controls water input (W), heating (H) and rotation (R).
The following table shows the state of these controls for whether or not the
washing machine is operating (M).
W H R M
0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 1 0 1
0 1 1 1
1 0 0 0
1 0 1 1
1 1 0 0
1 1 1 1
(c) Use the truth table to state the logical conditions that define when the
washing machine is operating and simplify the expression as far as possible. [3 marks]
(d) Construct the logical circuit from the simplified expression you obtained
in part (c). [3 marks]
16. Study the recursive method below.
public int question(int n, int b)
{
if (n / 10 > 0)
{
int y = (n % 10) * b;
return (y + question(n / 10, b * 2));
}
else
return (n % 10) * b;
}
(a) Identify the terminating condition. [1 mark]
(b) By showing the result of each recursive call, determine the output of this method
when n = 1011 and b = 1. [5 marks]
(c) Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of solving this kind of problem
recursively rather than using an iterative method. [4 marks]
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17. An online dictionary translates between English and German. When a user knows the
German word they can find the English word and when a user knows the English word
they can find the German word.
A sample of the word pairs that are stored is as follows:
GERMAN ENGLISH
Fisch Fish
Spinat Spinach
Ei Egg
Lamm Lamb
Karotte Carrot
Assume that these five pairs are input in the order shown.
(a) Construct the binary tree which stores the above list of pairs in alphabetical
order by German word, showing the information which would need to be held at
each leaf of the tree. [4 marks]
This data could also be represented as a single linked list in alphabetical order by
German word.
(b) (i) Explain one advantage of using a binary tree. [2 marks]
(ii) Explain one advantage of using a single linked list. [2 marks]
(c) Suggest how this single linked list could be modified to allow translation from
English to German as well as from German to English. [2 marks]
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18. A website allows members to place orders for products. A person may become a
member by completing an online form with their details, including payment method,
email address and password. To order from the site a member must enter a username
and a password.
(a) Outline the use of verification and validation in the completion of the
membership form. [2 marks]
(b) Outline the way in which encryption should be used in this system. [3 marks]
(c) Explain the role of protocols when a member accesses the site. [2 marks]
Two members are logged onto the site at the same time and both want to buy the same
product but there is only one left.
Some products are in limited supply and cannot be replaced.
(d) Outline a way in which the web server could be updated on the number of
products in stock. [1 mark]
(e) Suggest how the web server would avoid the situation of two people buying the
last item at the same time. [2 marks]
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