Name:………………………….……………………… Admission Number :………….……....

Index No. …………..…………… Class …….…………………………………

451/1
COMPUTER STUDIES
Paper 1
THEORY
Thursday 12, October 2023
Time: 11:00 am – 1:30Pm

Makueni Girls High School

FORM 3 MID TERM 1 EXAMINATION
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E)
451/1
COMPUTER STUDIES - Paper 1
THEORY
OCT 2023
Time: 2 ½ Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
 Answer ALL the questions in section A
 Answer question 16 (compulsory) and ANY OTHER ONE question from section B.
 Indicate the Questions you have attempted in section B, below
For Official Use Only
Question Maximum score Actual score
1-15 40
16 15
15

TOTAL SCORE

This paper consists of 14 printed pages. Candidates should check the question paper to ensure that
all the printed pages are printed as indicated and no questions are missing.

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 SECTION A: (40 MARKS)

Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided

1. Name four categories of input devices (2 marks)

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2. State two ways in which computers were used to fight the spread of corona virus in Kenya.
(2marks)

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3. A Form four student wants to send a large document to a printer.

a) State the name for the area of memory that the document is sent to immediately from RAM.
(1 mark)
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b) As the printer runs out of paper during printing, the operating system sends a signal back to
the computer to stop temporarily. Name this function of the operating system (1 mark)

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4. i) Give two advantages of the higher number of pixels per square centimeter. (2 mark)

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ii) Explain the difference between serial and parallel communication ports of a computer.
(2 marks)
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iii) Name the documents used in mail merging (2marks)

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5. What is line spacing as used in word processing? (1 mark)

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6. Give two ways of minimizing the effects of radiation from the display screen (2 marks)

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7. What is the meaning of Electronic Funds Transfer? (2 marks)

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8. Define the term cold booting as used in computing. (2 mark)

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9. i) Differentiate between cropping and grouping. (2 marks)

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10. Other than flow chart, state two other tools that can be used to represent an algorithm . (2 marks)

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11. Securem is a company that deals with providing security services to its clients. Name any two

Ways the company can protect its computer network from hackers. (2 marks)

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12. State two characteristics of a suitable password. (2 marks)

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13.i) During system development the system analyst should consider the correct requirement
Specifications for the new system. State any two outcomes that may result from using incorrect
requirement specifications. (2 marks)

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ii) State four ways in which a programmer can make program code easy to follow. (4marks)

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14. Give three factors to consider when selecting an Operating System to install in your computer
(3marks)

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15. Explain two arithmetic errors that may occur during computerized data processing. (4 marks)

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 SECTION B (60 marks)

Answer question 16 and ANY OTHER THREE questions from this section in the spaces provided.

16. (a) Give two examples of syntax errors in programming. (2 marks)

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(b) With aid of a diagram, explain the “Repeat Until” construct as used in structured programming

(3 marks)

(c) Classify the following programming languages according to their category: (3 marks)

Programming language Category

HTML

JAVA

JAVASCRIPT

PASCAL

VISUAL BASIC

C++

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d) Study the pseudocode below and answer the questions that follow.
Start
N=0
X=0
While N < 3 Do
Repeat
X=X+1
Until X < 2
N = N +1
End while
Print N, X
Stop

(i) What will be the output from the program (2 marks)

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(ii) Draw a flowchart that was used to come up with the following pseudo code (5marks)

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17. (a) State the stage in system development life cycle where each of the following activities are
Carried out:

i. Identifying shortcomings of a system. (1 mark)

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ii. Preparing the system migration plan (1 mark)

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iii. Identifying the technologies that may be used in the proposed system. (1 mark)

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(b) State and explain three feasibility studies carried out during system development. (3 marks)

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(c) E-mail technology has become a very important part of today’s communication. List any
three problems associated with using e-mail technology for communication. (3 marks)

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(d) Sarafina wants to download her favorite movie from YouTube. State any three factors that
may determine how long it will take her to complete the download. (3 marks)

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e). Most computerized security systems make use of biometric analysis. Name three physical
features of human beings that can be considered for this analysis. (3 marks)

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18. (a) Give three advantages of electronic word processor over manual typewriters. (3marks)

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(b) State two characteristics of a word processor which makes it user friendly. (2marks)

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(c) The following is an extract from a spreadsheet created to manage sales. Use it to answer the
questions that follow.

A B C D

1 ITEM NAME UNIT PRICE UNITS SOLD

2 HDD 300 GB 7,500 2

3 Optical Drive 4,500 8

4 DELL Latitude core i5 44,500 3

5 DDR4 8GB RAM 10,000 4

6 Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab 28,953 1

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(i) Write a formula that will compute the number of items whose unit price whose price more than
10,000 (3 marks)

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(ii) If the formula =$B2*C$2 was placed in D2, state the output if copied to D3. (2 marks)

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(iii) Write the cell referencing used in c(ii) above. (1 mark)

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(iv) Write the data type that is stored in cell C5 and A6 respectively (2 marks)

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(v) Write a function in B7 to display the highest price charges per unit. (2 marks)

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19. a) Define the term attenuation as used in networking and data communication. (1 mark)

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b) The following are figures of networking cables. Identify each. (2 marks)

Figure 1 Figure 3

Figure 2 Figure 4

Figure 1 ________________________________ Figure 2 ________________________________

Figure 3 _________________________________ Figure 4 ________________________________

c) Give two examples of network software (2 marks)

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d) In a network setup, list any two effects attenuation. (2 marks)

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e) Explain the following terms as used in networking (4 marks)

(i) Remote Communication

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(ii) Distributed processing

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f) State four functions of a server in a network (4 marks)

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20. a (i) Define file organization (2marks)

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(ii) List two factors you would consider when selecting an input device. (2marks)

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b) Describe three guidelines that should be followed when conducting an interview during
information gathering (3marks)

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c) Convert the following number systems (4 marks)

37.62510 to binary

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d) Using Two’s compliment, perform the following arithmetic operation leaving your answer in
decimal.
3910-1910 (4 marks)

*THIS IS THE LAST PRINTED PAGE*

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