C175 DATA MANAGEMENT
FOUNDATIONS MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS.
2026/2027
1. Which component of a database system is responsible for ensuring that a transaction is
either completed in its entirety or not at all?
A. The Data Dictionary
B. The Optimizer
C. The Buffer Manager
D. The Transaction Log
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The transaction log records all changes to the database to
support the ACID property of Atomicity, allowing for rollback if a transaction fails.
2. In the context of the Relational Model, what characterizes a ‘Relation’?
A. A mathematical set of tuples where the order of rows and columns is irrelevant
,B. A multi-dimensional array of data pointers
C. A set of ordered tuples containing duplicate rows
D. A hierarchical tree structure where child records have only one parent
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A relation is defined as a set, meaning it contains no duplicate
tuples and the order of rows/columns does not change the identity of the relation.
3. Which normal form specifically addresses the removal of transitive dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Third Normal Form (3NF)
C. Second Normal Form (2NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Third Normal Form requires the table to be in 2NF and that no
non-prime attribute is transitively dependent on the primary key.
4. What is the primary purpose of a surrogate key?
A. To provide a meaningful business identifier for users
B. To combine multiple attributes to ensure row uniqueness
C. To enforce referential integrity between two unrelated tables
, D. To act as a unique, system-generated identifier that has no business meaning
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Surrogate keys are artificial keys (usually integers) used to
uniquely identify a record when no natural key is suitable or for performance efficiency.
5. A ‘Partial Dependency’ exists when an attribute is functionally dependent on:
A. A non-key attribute
B. Part of a composite primary key
C. The entire primary key only
D. A foreign key in a different table
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Partial dependency occurs when a non-key attribute is
dependent on only a portion of a composite primary key, which violates 2NF.
6. Which level of the ANSI-SPARC three-schema architecture describes how data is actually
stored on magnetic disks?
A. Internal Level
B. Conceptual Level
C. External Level
D. Logical Level
FOUNDATIONS MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS.
2026/2027
1. Which component of a database system is responsible for ensuring that a transaction is
either completed in its entirety or not at all?
A. The Data Dictionary
B. The Optimizer
C. The Buffer Manager
D. The Transaction Log
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The transaction log records all changes to the database to
support the ACID property of Atomicity, allowing for rollback if a transaction fails.
2. In the context of the Relational Model, what characterizes a ‘Relation’?
A. A mathematical set of tuples where the order of rows and columns is irrelevant
,B. A multi-dimensional array of data pointers
C. A set of ordered tuples containing duplicate rows
D. A hierarchical tree structure where child records have only one parent
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A relation is defined as a set, meaning it contains no duplicate
tuples and the order of rows/columns does not change the identity of the relation.
3. Which normal form specifically addresses the removal of transitive dependencies?
A. First Normal Form (1NF)
B. Third Normal Form (3NF)
C. Second Normal Form (2NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Third Normal Form requires the table to be in 2NF and that no
non-prime attribute is transitively dependent on the primary key.
4. What is the primary purpose of a surrogate key?
A. To provide a meaningful business identifier for users
B. To combine multiple attributes to ensure row uniqueness
C. To enforce referential integrity between two unrelated tables
, D. To act as a unique, system-generated identifier that has no business meaning
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Surrogate keys are artificial keys (usually integers) used to
uniquely identify a record when no natural key is suitable or for performance efficiency.
5. A ‘Partial Dependency’ exists when an attribute is functionally dependent on:
A. A non-key attribute
B. Part of a composite primary key
C. The entire primary key only
D. A foreign key in a different table
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Partial dependency occurs when a non-key attribute is
dependent on only a portion of a composite primary key, which violates 2NF.
6. Which level of the ANSI-SPARC three-schema architecture describes how data is actually
stored on magnetic disks?
A. Internal Level
B. Conceptual Level
C. External Level
D. Logical Level
