CAIE AS Level Computer Science

Front

What is the binary representation of the decimal number 65?

Back

01000001

Answer explanation

The decimal number 65 converts to binary as 01000001. This is the correct representation, matching choice A. Choices B, C, and D represent different decimal values.

Front

The ASCII character encoding standard uses ___ bits per character.

Back

7

Answer explanation

The ASCII character encoding standard uses 7 bits per character, allowing for 128 unique symbols. This is why the correct answer is 7, as it defines the basic set of characters used in text representation.

Front

Elsa is editing a photo for her school project and decides to increase the color depth of the image. What effect will this have?

Back

Improves color quality but increases file size

Answer explanation

Increasing color depth enhances the range of colors an image can display, resulting in improved color quality. However, this also leads to larger file sizes due to the increased data required to represent the additional colors.

Front

During a graphic design class, Elsa and William learned that vector graphics are made up of ______.

Back

Drawing objects

Answer explanation

Vector graphics are composed of drawing objects, such as shapes and lines, which are defined mathematically. Unlike raster graphics made of pixels, vector graphics can be scaled without losing quality.

Front

What is the main difference between lossless and lossy compression?

Back

Lossless compression reduces file size without losing any data, while lossy compression reduces file size by eliminating unnecessary data.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that lossless compression retains all data while reducing file size, whereas lossy compression achieves smaller sizes by discarding some data deemed unnecessary.

Front

Fill in the blank: Sue set up a LAN to connect devices within a ______ geographical area in her office.

Back

small

Answer explanation

A LAN (Local Area Network) is designed to connect devices within a small geographical area, such as a home, office, or building. This distinguishes it from larger networks like WANs, which cover broader areas.

Front

William and Elsa are setting up a new internet connection for their office. They are considering using fiber-optic cables. What is one of the benefits they can expect from using fiber-optic cables?

Back

Greater bandwidth and improved security

Answer explanation

Fiber-optic cables offer greater bandwidth, allowing for faster data transmission, and improved security due to their resistance to electromagnetic interference, making them a superior choice over traditional cables.

Front

In a bus topology, if Elsa and William are communicating, other computers can read the data being sent between them. This topology is unsuitable for heavy traffic due to frequent ______.

Back

Collisions

Answer explanation

In a bus topology, multiple computers share the same communication line. When two devices transmit simultaneously, it leads to collisions, causing data loss and requiring retransmission, making it unsuitable for heavy traffic.

Front

William and Rianne are setting up a new office network. What is the most common wired medium for data transmission in LANs or WANs?

Back

Ethernet

Answer explanation

Ethernet is the most common wired medium for data transmission in LANs and WANs due to its reliability, speed, and cost-effectiveness, making it the standard choice for networking.

Front

During a group project, Elsa and William are using a shared online document. If both try to edit the same section at the same time, what should happen next?

Back

They wait a random time before retrying.

Answer explanation

In CSMA/CD, when a collision occurs, the device does not stop transmitting permanently. Instead, it waits a random time before retrying to avoid repeated collisions, making 'waiting a random time' the correct response.