This paper concentrates on the primary theme of Explain why date of birth is held on data files in preference to age. in which you have to explain and evaluate its intricate aspects in detail. In addition to this, this paper has been reviewed and purchased by most of the students hence; it has been rated 4.8 points on the scale of 5 points. Besides, the price of this paper starts from £ 40. For more details and full access to the paper, please refer to the site.
APPLICATIONS
Instructions to candidates:
a) Time allowed: Three hours (plus an extra ten minutes’ reading
time at the start – do not write anything during this time)
b) Answer ALL of SECTION
A and any FOUR questions chosen from SECTION B
c) SECTION A and each question in SECTION B carry 20 marks. Marks
for sections of questions are shown in [ ]
d) The main application
in each question of Section B is highlighted for quick recognition
e) The number of marks
allocated for each section should determine the length of your answer and the
amount of time you spend on it. Generally ONE point gains ONE mark and is
rarely achieved by one-word answers. Note carefully that where some
questions require details of how hardware or software achieves its task, descriptions
of user actions are unlikely to earn marks
f) Ensure that you pay particular attention to words underlined,
in CAPITALS or in bold. FEW OR NO MARKS will be awarded to any
question where these are ignored
g) No computer
equipment, books or notes may be used in this examination
SECTION A – Answer ALL parts of this question
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1.
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a)
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Explain why date of birth is held
on data files in preference to age.
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[4]
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b)
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Draw a diagram to show how printed
documents pass between a retailer and their wholesale
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Supplier.
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[5]
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c)
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Distinguish between the following
methods of processing:
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[5]
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batch
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on-line
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real-time
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d)
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Describe realistic back-up systems
that a large business would use for its computer data.
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[4]
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e)
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Distinguish clearly between data and information.
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[2]
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SECTION B – Answer any FOUR questions from the
following
2. A large company owns
many SUPERMARKETS located in all the main towns of a
small country. It has two supply depots for groceries, one in the north and one
in the south. This means that any shop is within 150 kilometres of a depot. 100
staff are employed in each depot.
a) Explain how computers
could be used to assist the general running of this business, with particular
reference to supply, bearing in mind that food has a short shelf life. Your
answer should identify
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Particular software and hardware.
Explain how both are used and state by whom.
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[12]
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b) Identify statistical information that might
be obtained using the computer system that would be
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Helpful to management.
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[4]
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c) Explain how this company might
use a spreadsheet program in a ‘what-if’ context.
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[4]
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3. A LIBRARY is provided
by town authorities but is ONLY available to people who live in the town. The
people must register and pay a small annual charge to borrow books and other
items. A single library card, containing a bar code, is issued to each user
once he or she has registered and paid the enrolment fee. All administrative
processes are controlled by a computer system. Books can be borrowed for up to
three weeks.
a) Detail the data that a potential borrower
must give to register to use the library. Explain how the
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System can ensure that users of
the library are eligible to join the library.
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[5]
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b) Describe ALL the steps that the library staff
members will take when a borrower approaches the
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Counter with a library card and
four books to borrow.
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[5]
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c) Identify the computer
files that will be held in the library. For EACH FILE, use the TABLE format below
to list FOUR fields and explain how EACH will be used by the system. Ensure ALL
fields
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Are different.
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[10]
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Field Name
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How the system uses the data
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continued
overleaf
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4. A CLUB has
200 members. It meets every week in a hall which it hires – the cost of hiring
is met from membership fees. It occasionally arranges visits to out-of-town places
and hires coaches to transport the members who reserve a place in advance and
buy a ticket for these events. Members are expected to attend at least half of
the 50 meetings throughout the year and may be asked to leave if they do not.
a) Annual fees are determined by estimating the
cost of hiring the hall plus administration costs and then dividing this by the
current number of members. The figure is increased by 20% and rounded up to the
nearest dollar. Assuming a database of members is held, explain how this
calculation
b) All members are sent a personalised letter
one month before the end of the year detailing the fees for the coming year.
Members have an option NOT to rejoin or pay by the start date of the new year.
The letter has a tear-off slip for this purpose.
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i
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Design this tear-off slip.
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ii
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Explain how the letters can be
produced automatically.
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[8]
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c) Every half year, the committee asks the IT
officer to supply them with a report tabling the names
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and attendance details of members
who have below 60% attendance. Explain how this is
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achieved.
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[4]
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d) Name at least EIGHT fields that would be
necessary in any record on the member file to achieve
5. A customer visits his local branch of a large
national BANK.
a) He decides to
withdraw money at the ATM outside the bank.
I. Describe the card that enables him to withdraw the money,
particularly with relation to data that will be needed.
ii. Explain the steps in
their correct order that the customer then takes to complete the process.
ii. iExplain the steps that occur INSIDE the
system, with particular reference to the signals that
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Pass between the ATM and the
bank’s computer.
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[12]
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b) Discuss THREE reasons why the
ATM may NOT supply the money.
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[3]
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c) Explain how the system
minimises fraud.
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[2]
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d) State THREE other reasons why
the customer might use an ATM.
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[3]
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6. A UTILITY company
supplies electricity to half the homes and businesses in a country. The number
of customers exceeds one million. Discuss how the company would use computers
for handling account billing and customer enquiries. Your answer should include
a discussion of:
•the hardware needed
•the main processing applications
•data capture – consider all aspects and the
methods of capturing the data – identify what is included in each set of data
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•
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the printed outputs – explain how
they are used
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[20]
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7. a) A large retail company buys its products
in bulk and sells to customers individually. It has a
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Warehouse in which 20,000 items
could be stored at any time. Explain why STOCK CONTROL is
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a necessary requirement of THIS
company.
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[4]
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b) Data for the system normally comes from paper
documents. The system itself also produces
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printed output documents. Identify
all the documents referred to here. Discuss their purposes and
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their sources and users. You
should consider at least FIVE documents.
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[10]
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c) Draw up a table with the
following headings:
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Item
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Data Type
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Why present and how it will be
used
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Fill in the table for SIX
different items which would be found in the PRODUCT file.
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[6]
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8. a) In business, a
computer user may use two types of application software – general purpose and
special purpose.
iDistinguish between the
two.
iiAn employee uses a special-purpose package.
Explain how his subsequent actions will be
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Different from using a general-purpose package.
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