stem Software and Application

Software

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is an example of (2) Application software which runs on a

application software? Microsoft Windows OS can also run on
a Mac OS.
A. Anti-virus software
(3) Command line interface is a user
B. Computer-aided design (CAD) software
interface available in Microsoft
C. System upgrade Windows.
B
D. Software uninstaller A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
2. Which of the following is not a function of an
operating system? C. (2) and (3) only
B
A. Allocating system resources to different D. (1), (2) and (3)
programs
5. DOS is a (i) operating system for (ii) .
B. Controlling peripheral devices
()
(i) ( )
(ii)
C. Scheduling the execution of programs
D A. single-tasking a single user
D. Checking for viruses
B. multi-tasking a single user
3. Which of the following is the reason for some C. single-tasking multi-users
files of an operating system to be hidden? A
D. multi-tasking multi-users
A. Avoid virus attacks.
B. Prevent competitors from accessing those 6. Which of the following are examples of network
files. operating systems?
C. Prevent users from accidentally modifying (1) Microsoft Windows NT
those files. (2) DOS
C
D. Save storage space. (3) UNIX

4. Which of the following statements about an (4) Linux

operating system (OS) are correct? A. (1) and (2) only
(1) Application software cannot run on a B. (3) and (4) only
computer without an OS. C. (1), (3) and (4) only
C
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

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7. Software is defined as cross-platforming when
it has the ability of
A. running on more than one type of operating
platform.
B. running more than one application at the
same time.
C. running on a computer system with different
hardware configurations.
A
D. showing more than one type of fonts.
8. What is the main function of a disk scanning
program?
A. It detects and removes viruses on a hard
disk.
B. It scans scattered data on a hard disk and
restores the data in contiguous locations.
C. It fixes physical errors on a hard disk.
D. It detects and corrects logical errors on a
hard disk.
D
10. A programmer wants to set up a database server
for a small bookshop. Which of the following
software is the most suitable for the server?
A. Microsoft Access
B. MySQL
C. Quicken
D. OpenOffice.org Base B
11. Which of the following statements about Linux
and Microsoft Windows are correct?
(1) The source code of Linux is open to the
public.
(2) We are allowed to fix the bugs of
Microsoft Windows ourselves.
(3) A computer system can be installed
with both Linux and Microsoft
Windows operating systems.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only

C. (2) and (3) only

9. Which of the following pairs are correct D. (1), (2) and (3) B

matches of application type and product name?

(1) Media management software: Apple 12. Which of the following can be used to transfer
iTunes files over the Internet?

(2) Spreadsheet: OpenOffice.org Calc (1) Windows Live Messenger

(3) E-mail program: Microsoft Outlook (2) Foxy

A. (1) and (2) only (3) Apple Safari

B. (1) and (3) only A. (1) and (2) only

C. (2) and (3) only B. (1) and (3) only

D. (1), (2) and (3) D C. (2) and (3) only

D
D. (1), (2) and (3)

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Short Questions

1. The following diagram shows the interrelation of software working between a user and computer hardware.
User

User interface

Hardware

(a) What are labels A and B? (2 marks)

A: Application software (1), B: System software (1)

(b) Suggest two types of software which belong to B. (2 marks)

Operating system / utility program / driver program (any two × 1)

2. State one example of current operating systems for each of the following computing devices.
(a) Macintosh computer (1 mark)
Mac OS X (1)

(b) PDA phone (1 mark)

Microsoft Windows Mobile (1)

(c) Network server, where its structure is needed to be modified (1 mark)

UNIX / Linux (any one × 1)

(d) Personal computer, which acts as a temporary FTP server, providing download service through the
Internet (1 mark)
Linux (1)

(e) Desktop computer for playing computer games (1 mark)

Microsoft Windows (1)

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3. Utility programs are designed to enhance the performance of an operating system. State the main function of
each of the following utility programs.

(a) Data recovery utility (1 mark)

It recovers data that is corrupted or accidentally deleted. (1)

(b) File manager (1 mark)

It systematically organizes files and directories so as to facilitate efficient file access. (1)

(c) Program uninstaller (1 mark)

It removes an application and all of its associated system files from an operating system. (1)

(d) Disk defragmenter (1 mark)

It reorganizes scattered data on a hard disk and restores a file in a contiguous location. (1)

(e) System monitoring software (1 mark)

It tunes and monitors the system performance and resources activities of CPU disks and memory. (1)

4. Which type of application program or software should be used in each of the following cases? Give one
example for each case as well.

(a) Have an instant chat with others on the Internet. (2 marks)

Instant messaging program. (1) Example: Windows Live Messenger (1)

(b) Create a video clip. (2 marks)

Video editing software. (1) Example: Windows Movie Maker (1)

(c) Produce a document which is to be published on the Web. The document consists of Chinese text and
should be readable by most users running on non-Chinese operating systems. (2 marks)
Presentation software. (1) Example: Adobe Reader (1)

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(d) Produce a static web site which contains 20 web pages. (2 marks)
Web authoring software. (1) Example: Adobe Dreamweaver (1)

5. Most computer systems nowadays can be manipulated with the use of a graphical user interface (GUI).
However, we can still find a command line interface on them.

(a) State two advantages of a GUI over a command line interface. (2 marks)
• It is easier to manipulate a computer with a GUI.

• A GUI is visually more attractive.

• Using GUIs, users need not memorize complex command languages.

(any two × 1)

(b) State two advantages of a command line interface over a GUI. (2 marks)
• It is faster for an experienced user to execute a command by typing. (1)

• It requires less system resources to run. (1)

(c) Give one real-life example of computer operation in which a command line interface is more preferable
to a GUI. (1 mark)
Creating a large number of new user accounts in a mail server from a text file containing the user information. (1)

Long Questions

1. Jason has a very tight budget for buying a new desktop computer. He has the following two options:
(1) Purchase a low-end computer with pre-installed Microsoft Windows Vista Home Edition.
(2) Purchase a mid-level computer with pre-installed Linux.
He finds that both operating systems are using GUIs, which have similar features on the desktop.

(a) (i) State two common features of the desktops of the two operating systems. (2 marks)
• There are icons on the desktops. (1)

• Both allow the drag-and-drop operation. (1)

(ii) State two aspects which are different in the two operating systems. (2 marks)
• Linux allows multi-users to operate at the same time while Microsoft Windows only allows a single user to operate. (1)

• Linux is free-of-charge while Microsoft Windows is not. (1)

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(b) Jason has decided to buy a mid-level computer running on Linux. Moreover, he has bought a new
printer for his computer. However, the printer does not work although it has been properly connected to
the computer.

(i) It is known that there is no problem with the computer and the printer, and the reason why the
printer does not work is that some software has not been installed. What kind of software is it?
(2 marks)
The printer driver of the printer (1) specifically for the Linux operating system (1)

(ii) Jason cannot find the required software answered in part (b)(i) in the package of the printer.
Suggest two possible sources where he can obtain the software. (2 marks)
• The web site of the manufacturer of the printer (1)

• Discussion forums about Linux (1)

(c) A few months later, Jason finds that the speed for accessing data from the hard disk becomes very low.
Suggest two methods to improve the performance of his computer without upgrading the hardware.
(4 marks)
• He can use a disk defragmenter (1) to restore fragmented files in contiguous locations (1).

• He can scan and remove any unused or temporary files (1) so as to free more space in the hard disk (1).

2. (a) A school principal wants to construct a computer network in his school so that all the administrative
documents of the school can be centralized in a file server and all desktop computers in the school can
access the files in the server through the network. Terry, who is the IT coordinator of the school, has
ordered a new computer for storing the files.

(i) What kind of operating system should be used on the new computer? State three functions that
the computer should provide in differentiating its operating system from one used on an ordinary
desktop computer. (4 marks)
A network operating system should be used. (1)

• Allocate disk quota for different groups of users on the network. (1)

• Back up data files on the network. (1)

• Provide security controls on file access. (1)

(ii) Other than Microsoft Windows Server, state two other examples of the kind of operating systems
you have answered in part (a)(i). (2 marks)
UNIX (1) and Linux (1)

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(b) Terry has also ordered a number of netbooks for classroom use. The netbooks are not equipped with
any disc drives for software installation, so Terry buys a plug-and-play external DVD drive for
installing software into the netbooks.

(i) Briefly explain the meaning of the term ‘plug-and-play’ (PnP). (2 marks)
It refers to the ability of adding a new hardware component to a system (1) without having to install the driver manually and the

hardware will work automatically (1).

(ii) Suggest two other plug-and-play devices that can be used on the netbooks. (2 marks)
External hard disk (1) and external Bluetooth transmitter (1)

(iii) Suggest one way that Terry can make use of the file server to install software into the netbooks.
(2 marks)
Terry can store the required software in the file server (1) and log on to the server on a netbook to execute the installation through the

network (1).

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