Databases Intro - Yr 10

Which of the following is NOT true of databases?

• You can store large amounts of data.

• You have to use a computer.

• You can search the data.

Answer explanation

Many modern databases use computers but a common non-ICT example is the phone book.

Which of the following is a piece of software used to create databases?

• Google Chrome

• Powerpoint

• Microsoft Access

Answer explanation

Microsoft Access is the most common database software. Other examples include OpenOffice Base.

What term describes a personalised letter which can be sent to customers of a supermarket?

• Report

• Mail Merge

• Macro

Answer explanation

A mail merge allows you to insert fields into documents to print letters with customer details on.

Which of the following is an advantage to paper-based databases?

• It is easy to add or amend records.

• You do not need any training on how to use the database.

• Data can be sorted and re-sorted easily.

Answer explanation

Paper based databases are usually simple to use. ICT databases quite often require trained users.

Thinking of data, information and knowledge - which of the following is an example of information?

• The average men's shoe size is nine.

• 9

• 
  If you are to open a shoe shop, you must stock plenty of size nine shoes.

Answer explanation

Information gives the data meaning.

Which of the following holds a single piece of data?

• Table

• Record

• Field

Answer explanation

A field stores a single piece of information such as name, hair colour or postcode.

Which field would be inappropriate in a database of countries?

• Continent

• First Name

• Population

Answer explanation

Countries tend not to have first names. Name would be more appropriate.

What is the correct definition of primary key?

• The first field in a table.

• A field that contains unique data in each record.

• The field which we will use to search with.

Answer explanation

Each record must have a unique primary key so that the database knows each record is unique.

What database feature checks to see if data meets certain rules when entered to a table?

• Table

• Query

• Validation

Answer explanation

Validation checks the rules of data. For example, a date of birth field can have any valid (or real) date.

Which validation rule would you use to limit what a user can enter to only a few options, e.g. male or female?

• List check

• Presence check

• Range check

Answer explanation

A list check allows you to create a list of options to choose from when entering data.