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Computer Paper 1 Practice Paper

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16 views68 pages

Computer Paper 1 Practice Paper

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chaithanya1

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Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 68

Cambridge IGCSE™

* 7 2 3 3 0 0 5 5 8 3 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/11

Paper 1 Theory May/June 2022

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● Calculators must not be used in this paper.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 75.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● No marks will be awarded for using brand names of software packages or hardware.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (PQ) 303750/3
© UCLES 2022 [Turn over
2

1 Jack has an MP3 file stored on his computer.

(a) (i) Tick (3) to show which type of data is stored in an MP3 file.

Tick (3)

Video

Sound

Image
[1]

(ii) Tick (3) to show whether the MP3 file is a lossy compressed file or a lossless compressed
file or not a compressed file.

Tick (3)

Lossy compressed file

Lossless compressed file

Not a compressed file

[1]

2 A computer is designed using the Von Neumann model for a computer system.

The computer has a central processing unit (CPU).

(a) Data is fetched from primary storage into the CPU to be processed.

(i) State the name of the primary storage from where data is fetched.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) The CPU performs a cycle to process data. Fetch is the first stage in this cycle.

State the names of the second and third stages in the cycle.

Second stage ....................................................................................................................

Third stage ........................................................................................................................

[2]

(iii) Identify two components within the CPU that are used in the fetch stage of the cycle.

Component 1 .....................................................................................................................

Component 2 .....................................................................................................................
[2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

3 Three types of storage media are magnetic, optical and solid state.

(a) One example of solid-state storage is a Solid State Drive (SSD).

Identify one other example of solid-state storage.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Optical storage uses a laser to store and read data from a disk.

Explain how the laser is used to store and read data from the disk.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(i) Give three reasons why an SSD is the most suitable secondary storage for their mobile
device.

Reason 1 ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

Reason 2 ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

Reason 3 ...........................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

(ii) Identify two examples of software that can be stored on the SSD.

Example 1 .........................................................................................................................

Example 2 .........................................................................................................................
[2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22 [Turn over

4 All data needs to be converted to binary data so that it can be processed by a computer.

(a) Explain why a computer can only process binary data.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) The denary values 64, 101 and 242 are converted to 8-bit binary values.

Give the 8-bit binary value for each denary value.

64 ..............................................................................................................................................

101 ............................................................................................................................................

242 ............................................................................................................................................
[3]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

(c) The hexadecimal values 42 and CE are converted to binary.

Give the binary value for each hexadecimal value.

42 ..............................................................................................................................................

CE .............................................................................................................................................
[4]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

5 An image is stored on a computer. The image is 16-bit colour and is 100 pixels high and
150 pixels wide.

Calculate the file size of the image in bytes. Show all your working.

..........................................................................................................................................................

Answer ................................................ bytes

[3]

6 A compiler and an interpreter are two different types of translator.

(a) One similarity between a compiler and an interpreter is that they both translate high-level
language into machine code.

(i) Give one other similarity between a compiler and an interpreter.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain two differences between a compiler and an interpreter.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [4]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22 [Turn over

7 Adele chooses to set a biometric password for her mobile device, instead of a
personal identification number (PIN).

(a) State what is meant by a biometric password.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Give two reasons why a biometric password is more secure than a PIN.

Reason 1 ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Reason 2 ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(c) Adele has a software-based firewall installed on her mobile device.

The firewall gathers data about the traffic coming into and going out of her mobile device.

Explain how the firewall uses the gathered data to keep the mobile device more secure.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(d) Adele also encrypts the data on her mobile device to keep it more secure.

State how encryption will keep the data more secure.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

8 Consider the following logic statement:

X = (((A AND NOT B) OR (NOT (B NOR C))) AND C)

(a) Draw a logic circuit to represent the given logic statement.

Do not attempt to simplify the logic statement. All logic gates must have a maximum of two
inputs.

B X

[6]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

(b) Complete the truth table for the given logic statement.

Working space
A B C X

0 0 0

0 0 1

0 1 0

0 1 1

1 0 0

1 0 1

1 1 0

1 1 1
[4]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22 [Turn over

9 Three Internet terms are browser, Internet Protocol (IP) address and
Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

Five statements are given about the Internet terms.

Tick (3) to show which statements apply to each Internet term. Some statements may apply to
more than one Internet term.

Browser IP address URL

Statement
(3) (3) (3)

it contains the domain name

it is a type of software

it converts Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

to display web pages

it is a type of address

it stores cookies

[5]

10 Many devices have a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Give three features of a MAC address.

Feature 1 ..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

Feature 2 ..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................

Feature 3 ..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................................
[3]

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

11 (a) The paragraph describes the process of printing a document using an inkjet printer.

Complete the paragraph using the most appropriate terms from the list. Not all of the terms in
the list need to be used.

• binary
• buffer
• drum
• information
• interrupt
• laser
• liquid
• nozzles
• operating system
• powder
• thermal bubble
• toner

Data is sent from the computer to the printer. The data is held in a print

........................................................................ that is temporary storage until the data is

processed to be printed.

Inkjet printers operate by having a print head that moves

........................................................................ side to side across the page. These

spray ........................................................................ ink droplets onto the page. These ink

droplets can be created using piezoelectric or ........................................................................

technology.

If the paper jams in the printing process, the printing stops and an

........................................................................ is sent to the computer.

[5]

(b) A printer is one example of an output device.

Give three other examples of output devices.

Example 1 .................................................................................................................................

Example 2 .................................................................................................................................

Example 3 .................................................................................................................................
[3]

(c) Give three examples of input devices.

Example 1 .................................................................................................................................

Example 2 .................................................................................................................................

Example 3 .................................................................................................................................
[3]
© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22 [Turn over
12

12 Computer ethics are a concern for any users of the Internet.

Identify and describe three ethical issues that could be a concern when using the Internet.

..........................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................... [6]

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2022 0478/11/M/J/22

Cambridge IGCSE™
* 4 9 1 4 2 9 0 2 3 5 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 Theory May/June 2022

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

This document has 12 pages.

DC (RW) 303775/2
© UCLES 2022 [Turn over
2

1 (a) Denary values are converted to binary values to be processed by a computer.

Draw one line from each denary value to the correctly converted 8-bit binary value.

Denary 8-bit binary

00100001

41
10100110

00101001

174

10000110

10101110
86

01010110

[3]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

(b) Binary values can also be converted to denary values.

Give the correct denary value for the 12-bit binary value 000101010111
Show all your working.

...................................................................................................................................................

Denary value ..........................................................

[2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

2 Hexadecimal is used for Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) colour codes.

An HTML colour code is:

#2F15D6
Each pair of digits is stored as binary in an 8-bit register.

(a) Give the 8-bit binary value that would be stored for each pair of hexadecimal digits.

[6]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

(b) HTML colour codes and Media Access Control (MAC) addresses are two examples of where
hexadecimal is used in Computer Science.

Give two other examples of where hexadecimal can be used in Computer Science.

Example 1 .................................................................................................................................

Example 2 .................................................................................................................................
[2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22 [Turn over

(c) Websites can be created using HTML structure and presentation.

State what is meant by HTML structure and presentation.

Give an example of each in your answer.

Structure ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Presentation .............................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[4]

(d) Explain why presentation is often separated from structure when creating a web page.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

3 Joelle is a student who uses the Internet.

(a) The table contains five terms or definitions that relate to the Internet.

Complete the table by writing each missing term or definition.

Term Definition

........................................................................................

browser ........................................................................................

........................................................................................

this is the company that provides a user with a

...................................................
connection to the Internet

this is a protocol that is used to send data for web

...................................................
pages across the Internet

........................................................................................

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) ........................................................................................

........................................................................................

cookie ........................................................................................

........................................................................................

[5]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22 [Turn over

(b) Joelle uses a firewall to keep her data safe when she uses the Internet.

Tick (3) to show which statement about firewalls is true.

Tick (3)

Firewalls can only be hardware-based

Firewalls can only be software-based

Firewalls can be hardware-based or software-based

[1]

Explain how the firewall is used to limit the websites that Joelle can access.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

4 Jason is a programmer who writes computer programs in a high-level language.

(a) Describe what is meant by a high-level language.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Jason wants to distribute a computer program he has written. He is considering distributing it
to users as freeware or free software.

(i) Explain one drawback to a user if the program is distributed as freeware.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain one benefit to a user if the program is distributed as free software.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22 [Turn over

5 Consider the following logic statement:

X = ((A OR B) AND (NOT (B XOR C)) AND C)

(a) Draw a logic circuit to represent the given logic statement.

Do not attempt to simplify the logic statement. All logic gates must have a maximum of two
inputs.

B X

[5]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

(b) Complete the truth table for the given logic statement.

Working space
A B C X

0 0 0

0 0 1

0 1 0

0 1 1

1 0 0

1 0 1

1 1 0

1 1 1
[4]

6 Millions of emails are sent between users on a daily basis.

(a) Identify two online security attacks that can be carried out using email.

Describe how email is used to enable the attack.

Online security attack 1 ............................................................................................................

Description ................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Online security attack 2 ............................................................................................................

Description ................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[6]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22 [Turn over

(b) Online security attacks can maliciously damage data.

One security method to keep data safe from online attacks is a firewall.

Identify two other security methods that keep data safe from online attacks.

Security method 1 .....................................................................................................................

Security method 2 .....................................................................................................................

[2]

(c) Data can also be damaged accidentally.

One example of how data can be damaged accidentally is by shutting down a computer
before saving data. To prevent this from happening, a user should make sure they have
saved all data before shutting down a computer.

Complete the table by giving three other examples of how data can be damaged accidentally.

Give a method of prevention for each example.

Example Method of prevention

...................................................................... ......................................................................

......................................................................

...................................................................... ......................................................................

......................................................................

...................................................................... ......................................................................

......................................................................

[6]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

7 Cassie stores data for her business every day. She stores the data using optical data storage.

(a) Identify three examples of optical data storage.

Example 1 .................................................................................................................................

Example 2 .................................................................................................................................

Example 3 .................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) Six statements are given about the operation of three different types of storage.

Tick (3) to show which statements apply to each type of storage. Some statements may
apply to more than one type of storage.

Type of storage
Magnetic Optical Solid state
Statement
(3) (3) (3)

this storage has no moving parts

this storage uses a laser to read and write data

this storage uses a read/write head

this storage burns pits onto a reflective surface

this storage uses NAND and NOR technology

this storage stores data in tracks and sectors

[6]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22 [Turn over

8 Sam develops a software application. He distributes a version of the software as shareware.

(a) Describe what is meant by shareware.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

(b) Identify three ethical issues that may need to be considered when developing and distributing
software.

Ethical issue 1 ..........................................................................................................................

Ethical issue 2 ..........................................................................................................................

Ethical issue 3 ..........................................................................................................................

[3]

© UCLES 2022 0478/12/M/J/22

Cambridge IGCSE™
* 3 5 3 6 2 6 2 7 9 2 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/13

Paper 1 Theory May/June 2022

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (CJ) 303905/4
© UCLES 2022 [Turn over
2

1 (a) The table lists five devices.

Tick (3) to show if each device is an example of an input device, an output device or a
storage device.

Input Output Storage

Device
(3) (3) (3)

keyboard

microphone

headphones

hard disk drive (HDD)

actuator
[5]

(b) There are three different types of storage device. One type is magnetic.

State the other two types of storage device.

Type 1 .......................................................................................................................................

Type 2 .......................................................................................................................................
[2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

2 An aeroplane has a small display screen above each seat, to display the seat number.

(a) The seat number is a hexadecimal value. A 12-bit binary register is used to store the data to
display each seat number.

Three seat numbers, 05A, 18C and 29F, are allocated to passengers.

Give the 12-bit binary value that would be stored for each hexadecimal seat number.

05A ...........................................................................................................................................

18C ...........................................................................................................................................

29F ...........................................................................................................................................
[6]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

(b) The display screen used above each seat is a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) display screen.

Give two reasons why an LED display screen has been used.

Reason 1 ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Reason 2 ..................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

Give the hexadecimal seat number that would be displayed on the screen for each of these
binary values.

010000001101 ....................................................................................

000001111110 ....................................................................................
[4]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22 [Turn over

3 AND, OR and XOR are three examples of logic gates.

(a) Four statements are given about these logic gates.

Tick (3) to show which statements apply to each logic gate. Some statements may apply to
more than one logic gate.

AND OR XOR
Statement
(3) (3) (3)

if both inputs are 0, the output is 0

if both inputs are different, the output is 1

if both inputs are 1, the output is 1

if both inputs are the same, the output is always 0

[4]

(b) NOT, AND, OR and XOR are all examples of logic gates.

State the name of two other logic gates and complete a truth table for each.

Logic gate 1 ............................................................ Truth table:

A B Output

0 0

0 1

1 0

1 1

Logic gate 2 ............................................................ Truth table:

A B Output

0 0

0 1

1 0

1 1
[4]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

4 Freddie types a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into the address bar of his browser.

(a) A URL is a text-based version of a website address. It is made up of several different parts.

State the names of three different parts of a URL.

Part 1 ........................................................................................................................................

Part 2 ........................................................................................................................................

Part 3 ........................................................................................................................................
[3]

(b) Explain how the URL is converted into an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the website.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(i) State the name of this protocol.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Identify how this protocol changes the data to transmit the data securely.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22 [Turn over

5 Harriet has a computer that is based on a Von Neumann model for a computer system.

The computer has a central processing unit (CPU).

(a) Explain the purpose of the CPU.

Identify the three stages of the cycle performed by the CPU in your answer.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [5]

(b) The memory address register (MAR) is one component built into the CPU.

(i) Identify four other components that are built into the CPU.

Component 1 .....................................................................................................................

Component 2 .....................................................................................................................

Component 3 .....................................................................................................................

Component 4 .....................................................................................................................
[4]

(ii) Describe the purpose of the MAR in the CPU.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

(c) Harriet’s computer has both primary and secondary storage.

(i) Explain what is meant by primary storage.

Give three examples of what is stored in primary storage in your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [7]

(ii) The secondary storage in Harriet’s computer is damaged, so it is removed for repair.
This means the computer will no longer work.

Explain why the secondary storage is needed for the computer to work.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22 [Turn over

6 Frida has a JPEG file stored on her computer.

(a) Tick (3) to show which type of data is stored in a JPEG file.

Tick (3)

Video

Sound

Image

[1]

(b) Compression can be used to reduce the size of a file.

Tick (3) to show whether the JPEG file is a lossy compressed file or a lossless compressed
file or not a compressed file.

Tick (3)

Lossy compressed file

Lossless compressed file

Not a compressed file

[1]

(c) Frida scans a text document into her computer so that she can store a digital version. She
uses a 2D scanner to do this.

Describe how the text document is scanned by the 2D scanner to create the digital version.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

(d) Frida compresses the document for storage.

The compression algorithm she uses recognises repeating patterns in the data and indexes
these patterns. No data is permanently removed.

Identify the type of compression Frida has used.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22 [Turn over

7 Umar is a manager in an office. The data that he uses on a daily basis is stored on a file server
close to his computer.

Data is sent from his computer to the file server using parallel simplex data transmission.

(a) Describe how the data is sent using parallel simplex data transmission.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) The file server is moved to another building that is 1 km away.

Explain why the parallel simplex data transmission method that Umar uses is no longer
suitable.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(c) Checksum and Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) are both used when transmitting the data
from a computer to the file server.

Explain why checksum and ARQ are both used.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

8 The paragraph provides information about translators.

Complete the paragraph using the most appropriate terms from the list. Not all terms in the list
need to be used.

• all at once
• assembler
• assembly language
• binary
• commenting
• compiling
• debugging
• executable file
• high-level language
• interpreted
• is not required
• is required
• line by line
• low-level language

A compiler and an interpreter translate ...................................................................... into machine

code. An interpreter does this by translating and executing the code

...................................................................... and a compiler does this by translating and executing

the code ...................................................................... .

One benefit of a compiler is that it creates an ...................................................................... , which

means that a translator ...................................................................... each time to run the file.

...................................................................... is easier to do with an interpreter because it stops

translating and reports an error at the place where it occurs in the code.
[6]

© UCLES 2022 0478/13/M/J/22

Cambridge IGCSE™
* 8 4 5 6 7 7 9 7 4 9 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/11

Paper 1 Computer Systems May/June 2023

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (EF) 313965/2
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
2

1 Binary is a number system used by computers.

(a) Tick (3) one box to show which statement about the binary number system is correct.

A It is a base 1 system

B It is a base 2 system

C It is a base 10 system

D It is a base 16 system
[1]

(b) Denary numbers are converted to binary numbers to be processed by a computer.

Convert these three denary numbers to 8-bit binary numbers.

50 ..............................................................................................................................................

102 ............................................................................................................................................

221 ............................................................................................................................................
[3]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

(c) Binary numbers are stored in registers.

Negative denary numbers can be represented as binary using two’s complement.

Complete the binary register for the denary number –78

You must show all your working.

Working space ..........................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

[2]

(d) Two 8-bit binary numbers are given.

Add the two 8-bit binary numbers using binary addition.

Give your answer in binary. Show all your working.

00110011
+01100001

[3]

(e) Two binary numbers are added by a computer and an overflow error occurs.

Explain why the overflow error occurred.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23 [Turn over

2 A student has a sound file that is too large to be stored on their external secondary storage device.
The student compresses the sound file to make the file size smaller.

The compression method used reduces the sample rate and the sample resolution of the sound
file.

(a) State what is meant by the sample rate and sample resolution.

Sample rate ..............................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Sample resolution .....................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Identify which type of compression has been used to compress the sound file.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(i) Identify two pieces of data that would be included in the header of each packet.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Explain how the file is transmitted using packet switching.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [5]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

3 Secondary storage devices are used to store data in a computer.

(a) Circle three components that are secondary storage devices.

central processing unit (CPU) compact disk (CD)

hard disk drive (HDD) random access memory (RAM) read only memory (ROM)

register sensor solid-state drive (SSD)

[3]

(b) Tick (3) one box to show which statement about secondary storage is correct.

A It is directly accessed by the CPU.

B It is magnetic storage only.

C It is used to permanently store software and data files.

D It is volatile.
[1]

4 Complete the statements about different types of software.

Use the terms from the list.

Some of the terms in the list will not be used. You should only use a term once.

application assembly language bootloader central processing unit (CPU)

firmware hardware operating output system user

........................................................................ software provides the services that the computer

requires; an example is utility software.

........................................................................ software is run on the operating system.

The ........................................................................ system is run on the firmware, which is run on

the ........................................................................ .
[4]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23 [Turn over

5 A farm has an automated drinking system for its animals. The drinking system has a water bowl
that contains the water. When the water bowl is empty, it is automatically refilled.

The system uses a sensor and a microprocessor.

(a) Identify the most appropriate sensor for this system.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Describe how the sensor and the microprocessor are used to automatically refill the water
bowl.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [6]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

6 A user wants to connect their computer to a network.

(a) (i) Identify the component in the computer that is needed to access a network.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Identify the type of address that is allocated to the component by the manufacturer,
which is used to uniquely identify the device.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) A dynamic internet protocol (IP) address is allocated to the computer when it is connected to
the network.

(i) Identify the device on the network that can connect multiple devices and automatically
assign them an IP address.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe what is meant by a dynamic IP address.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

7 A programmer uses a low-level language to write a computer program for a vending machine.

(a) Describe what is meant by a low-level language.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Give two reasons why the programmer would choose to write the computer program in a
low-level language instead of a high-level language.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]
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8

8 A manager at a company is concerned about a brute-force attack on its employee user accounts.

(a) Describe how a brute-force attack can be used to gain access to the employee user accounts.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) One possible aim for carrying out a brute-force attack is to install malware onto the company
network.

(i) State two other aims for carrying out a brute-force attack to gain access to the employee
user accounts.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Identify three types of malware that could be installed.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

3 ........................................................................................................................................
[3]

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

9 A company uses robots in its factory to manufacture large pieces of furniture.

(a) One characteristic of a robot is that it is programmable.

State two other characteristics of a robot.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) Give two advantages to company employees of using robots to manufacture large pieces of
furniture.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23 [Turn over

10 A student uses the internet for their schoolwork to research what is meant by pharming.

(a) State the aim of pharming.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Draw and annotate a diagram to represent the process of pharming.

[4]

Explain the purpose of the web browser.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

(d) Storing cookies is one function of the web browser.

Give three other functions of the web browser.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(e) A student visits a website that uses session cookies, instead of persistent cookies.

Explain the difference between session cookies and persistent cookies.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [4]

© UCLES 2023 0478/11/M/J/23

Cambridge IGCSE™
* 8 1 0 7 6 2 2 0 5 5 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 Computer Systems May/June 2023

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (EF) 313966/2
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
2

1 Output devices are used to output data from a computer.

Circle three devices that are output devices.

actuator digital versatile disk (DVD) keyboard

microphone mouse printer scanner

sensor solid-state drive (SSD) speaker

[3]

2 Binary numbers can be converted to hexadecimal.

(a) Convert the two binary numbers to hexadecimal.

10010011 ..................................................................................................................................

00001101 ..................................................................................................................................
[4]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

(b) A value is stored as a binary number in a register.

0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

A logical right shift of three places is performed on the binary number.

(i) Complete the binary register to show its contents after this logical right shift.

[1]

(ii) State one effect this logical shift has on the binary number.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

© UCLES 2023 0478/12/M/J/23

1 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(d) Denary numbers can also be converted to hexadecimal.

Convert the denary number to hexadecimal.

301 ...................................................................................................................................... [2]

Working space

...................................................................................................................................................

© UCLES 2023 0478/12/M/J/23 [Turn over

3 When keys are pressed on a keyboard, the text is converted to binary to be processed by the
computer.

(a) Describe how the text is converted to binary to be processed by the computer.

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(b) Text that is input into a computer can be stored in a text file.

A text file can be compressed using lossless compression.

(i) State what effect this has on the file size.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe how lossless compression compresses the text file.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [4]

(iii) Give two reasons why the text file may have been compressed.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

4 A student uses a mobile phone to take photographs for a school project.

The student needs to transmit the photographs to their computer. They could use serial data
transmission or parallel data transmission to transmit the photographs.

(a) (i) Describe how the photographs would be transmitted using serial data transmission.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Give two benefits of transmitting the photographs using serial data transmission.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(iii) State one benefit of the student using parallel data transmission instead of serial data
transmission.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The photographs are also transmitted across a network to cloud storage. A device on the
network forwards the data towards its correct destination.

(i) State the name of this device.

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe what is meant by cloud storage.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(iii) Give one disadvantage of storing the photographs in cloud storage instead of storing
them locally.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
© UCLES 2023 0478/12/M/J/23 [Turn over
6

5 A programmer writes a computer program using a high-level language.

(a) Tick (3) one box to show which statement is correct about writing computer programs in a
high-level language.

A Mnemonics are used to create instructions.

B The computer program is harder to debug than a low-level language program.

C The computer program is machine independent.

D The hardware of the computer can be directly manipulated.

[1]

(b) The programmer uses a compiler to translate the computer program.

(i) Describe how the compiler translates the computer program.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [3]

(ii) Describe how the compiler reports errors.

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

One function of the IDE is that it has the built-in compiler.

Give three other common functions of an IDE.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................
[3]

6 (a) Complete the statements about cookies.

Use the terms from the list.

Some of the terms in the list will not be used. Some terms may be used more than once.

compression executable hypertext markup language (HTML)

hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) image internet protocol (IP) address

persistent session sound text

uniform resource locater (URL) web browser web server

Cookies are small ........................................................... files that are sent between a

........................................................... and a ........................................................... .

........................................................... cookies are stored in memory and not in the user’s

secondary storage.

When the web browser is closed a ........................................................... cookie is lost,

whereas a ........................................................... cookie is not lost.

[6]

(b) Give three functions of a cookie.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................
[3]

7 A distributed denial of service attack (DDoS) is a cyber security threat.

(a) Draw and annotate a diagram to represent the process of a DDoS.

[6]

(b) State two aims of carrying out a DDoS attack.