SAMPLE QUESTIONS FROM EXCEL & SUCCEED

SPREADSHEET
1. Define the term electronic spreadsheet.
2. List four examples of spreadsheet programs available in the market.
3. Explain three main components of electronic spreadsheet.
4. State five advantages of electronic spreadsheet over the manual worksheet
5. Explain three disadvantages of using spreadsheet
6. Differentiate between
a. Formula and function
b. Relative and absolute cell referencing
c. Relational and arithmetic operator
d. DATE () and TODAY () function
e. Workbook and worksheet
7. The formula $A1+B$1 was entered in cell C1. How would the formula appear if copied
to F2?
8. Define the following terms
a. Range.
b. Cell
c. Row
d. Column
e. Editing
f. Worksheet formatting
9. State the effect of pressing each of the following keys on the cell pointer
a. Right arrow key
b. Shift + Tab
c. Ctrl + Home
10. Explain the arithmetic operator precedence.
11. Outline the procedure for closing Microsoft Excel workbook without exiting from the
application.
12. Explain how you will spell check a worksheet.
13. Outline the procedure for applying the following worksheet formats:
a. Change the currency symbol to K
b. Merge and centre text across columns
c. Apply cell borders
d. Rotate column headings in a worksheet to 45 ° .
14. State four data entries in spreadsheets and explain each one of them.
15. State two ways of increasing column width and row height.
16. Explain how you would easily view a worksheet that does not fit on the screen without
scrolling.
17. Describe how you would apply consistent formats to the entire workbook simultaneously.
18. Why do we need to freeze pane?
19. Describe the process of setting password to protect workbook from unauthorized users
20. How would you increase the value 50 by 30% in excel worksheet?
21. Describe the procedure of specifying list of users who can open, modify, copy or print a
protected worksheet

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22. Describe two ways of completing data entry.
23. How does Microsoft excel determine that an entry is a formula?
24. Outline the procedure for clearing contents in a cell.
25. Explain how you would copy a formula using absolute cell referencing.
26. Explain how you would print a worksheet in landscape orientation.
27. Explain steps you would follow to insert rows and columns in a worksheet.
28. Explain the important of Autoformat feature command.
29. Explain the term filter and how is a filter differs from a hide.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
30. Define device drivers.
31. State three factors to consider before installing any software.
32. Differentiate between theme and wall paper.
33. Explain the importance of screen saver.
34. Explain the importance of reding the user manual before installing new software.
35. Outline the procedure you would follow to install the following software:
a. An operating system such as Windows 7 or 10
b. Device drivers for a scanner.
36. State three limitations that would hinder the installation of Ubuntu Operating System.
37. Explain the importance of product key that comes with most proprietary software.

PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS
38. Define the following terms:
a. Computer program
b. Programming
c. Encapsulation
d. Program bug
e. Variable
f. Variant
g. String
h. Argument
i. User-define data type
j. Library function
k. Reserved word
l. Selection
m. Visual programming
39. Differentiate the following:
a. Compiler and interpreter
b. Source code and object code
c. Flowchart and pseudocode
d. Numeric and string constants
e. Integer and Single data types
f. Procedural and event-driven programming paradigms
g. Looping and selection
40. State three advantages of high-level languages over low level languages.

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41. List four examples of high-level languages and for each, state its most appropriate
application area.
42. Explain why an executable file is unique compared to source code.
43. List three examples of high-level programming languages per generation.
44. State three advantages of machine language over high-level languages.
45. Write the following in full:
a. HTML
b. OOP
46. Give two advantages of compiling a program rather than interpreting it.
47. Explain five phases of program development in their respective order.
48. Highlight two disadvantages of monolithic programs.
49. State two advantages of modular programming.
50. At what stage of the development does program documentation fall? Justify your answer.
51. Explain why it is important to test a program before implementing it.
52. Explain why variables are important in a program.
53. Explain how the number 23 can be formatted for display to appear as 23.00.
54. Write a Visual Basic statement that rounds off the integer to the nearest numeric value
2.67.
55. Explain how you would declare A as a variable for storing 6.789 in memory.
56. Convert the following statement to a comment: IF statement makes decision.
57. Explain the difference between using a comma (,) and a semi colon (;) in Print statement.
58. Write down how the following number will look like when the statement is executed:
Print format $(sQuantity, “##,##”)
59. How can you declare the value 3.14 as a numeric constant in Visual Basic?
60. Explain the purpose of Visual Basic files that have the following extensions:
a. .vbp
b. .frm
61. State three types of control structures used in programming.
62. In what circumstance does looping control depend on decision?
63. List four types of selection controls used in Visual Basic programming.
64. Explain why Visual Basic belongs to the fourth generation programming language.
65. Describe the features of fifth generation languages.
66. State two reasons for documenting all the stages of program development.
67. Give three types of program documentation in reference to programming.
68. White general syntax showing the structure of the following:
a. Nested IF.
b. For loop
c. Repeat … Until.
69. Write a program that would enable the user to enter student marks. The program should
then determine whether the mark entered is a pass or fail given that the pass mark is 50.
70. Write a program that prompts for n numbers, accumulates the sum and then computes
average. The output should be the total sum and average.
71. Write a program that reads temperature in degrees Celsius for each day of the week. The
program converts the Celsius into Fahrenheits, calculates the average weekly temperature
and displays the results in degrees Fahrenheits.

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 72. Funsani deposited 2,000,000 Kwacha in a bank at an interest rate of 11% per annum. T
the end of each year, the interest earned is added to the principal and the new amount
becomes the principal amount for the next year. Write a program that calculates principal
amount and interest after seven years.
73. Mesi took a loan of K1,200,000 from a bank at an annual interest rate of 12% payable in
four years. To develop a computer program that will keep track of monthly repayments:
a. Identify the input, processing and output requirements for the program.
b. Write a program in Visual Basic that would be used to track monthly repayments.

INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

74. Describe five networking devices.
75. List four network system that are not computer-based networks.
76. Define the following:
a. Communication network.
b. Computer networks.
c. Information Communication Technology.
77. Define the term data communication.
78. Briefly describe the history of development of telephones.
79. State four uses of communication networks.
80. Give two disadvantages of networks.
81. Differentiate between network server and workstation.
82. Explain the concept of distributed processing in networking.
83. Why is network more reliable than standalone computer?
84. Explain the three most common types of computer networks in use today.
85. What is a “resource” in networking?
86. Differentiate between rotary dial and push button phone.
87. What is a touch tone phone?
88. Write the following in full
a. ARPANET
b. Internet
c. SIM
89. State three functions of a SIM card.
90. Define the term communication channel.
91. Differentiate between a router and a gateway.
92. Why is a switch preferred to a hub on the network?
93. Compare and contrast a brouter and a router.
94. Highlight two advantages of packet switching.
95. Describe at least five devices used in data communications.
96. What is the function of a repeater on a network.
97. Give three disadvantages of a hub on a network.
98. Give one application area of infra-red transmission.
99. What is a wireless access point?
100. Explain the importance of a gateway on networking
101. State two disadvantages of circuit switching
102. Give one disadvantages of message switching
103. Explain how you can reduce broadcast storm on a network that uses hubs.

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104. Identify a device that can be inserted in a laptop to connect it to wireless network.
105. Explain the function of a network interface card (NIC).
106. How can you reduce a broadcast domain on a network that uses a hub
107. What device is inserted in a laptop or PC to make it a wireless compliant?
108. Draw a diagram depicting elements of a communication system.
109. Differentiate between DTE and DCE.
110. Differentiate between remote client and remote host.
111. Define the term bandwidth.
112. Define the term transmission media.
113. State two differences between single mode and multimode fibre optical cable.
114. If you want to link networks separated by long distance, what fibre optic cable would you
use and why?
115. Satellite communication relies on_________ and ___________ stations.
116. Describe waves available in electromagnetic spectrum.
117. Highlight two advantages of satellite communication system.
118. What type of radio communication relies on earth’s ionosphere?
119. Describe one technology that can be used to set up a piconet.
120. Name the parts of a twisted pair cable.
121. State one application area where coaxial cables are used.
122. Two-line open cables are virtually obsolete. True or false?
123. Give two advantages of fibre optic cables over UTP.
124. Define the term pitch as used in twisted pair cabling.
125. Define the term double helix as used in twisted pair cabling.
126. Give two advantages of coaxial cables.
127. Differentiate between single mode and multimode fibre cable.
128. Describe VSAT technology.
129. Explain the concept of line of sight in wireless communication.
130. Explain the concept of a geostationary satellite.
131. Explain the importance of the wire mesh in a coaxial cable.
132. Differentiate between parallel and serial transmission.
133. How is a serial transmission converted to parallel on reception of data?
134. With the help of a well labelled diagram and at least one example in each, describe the
following:
a. Simplex communication
b. Half duplex communication
c. Full duplex communication

USING DESKTOP PUBLISHING SOFTWARE

135. Differentiate between crop marks and cropping a graphical object
136. Differentiate between object linking and object embedding
137. State five advantages of DTP software over word processor

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