GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE OCR EXAM UPDATED PAPER 2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Lossless Compression - ✔✔Various algorithms are used to find parts in the data that
are repeated
✔✔Ring Topology - ✔✔Fast data transfer but if one machine fails the whole network will
fail.
✔✔Bus Topology - ✔✔Easy and cheap to install but if the main cable fails the whole
network will crash
✔✔Star Topology - ✔✔Reliable and high-performing but expensive to install and if a
hub/switch fails the devices will not have network connection
✔✔CPU - ✔✔Brains of the computer. Mainly processes and uses data to perform taks
✔✔GPU - ✔✔A chip/processor designed to boost the performance of games and
graphics
✔✔RAM - ✔✔Primary Storage device which allows data to be stored and retrieved on
the machine
✔✔Volatile Memory - ✔✔Memory which only maintains it's storage while the machine is
active
✔✔Non-Volatile Memory - ✔✔Memory which maintains it storage whether or not the
machine is active
✔✔Logic Gate - ✔✔A diagram which represents boolean logic
✔✔Virtual Memory - ✔✔Memory that appears to be main storage although most if it is
held in secondary storage
✔✔Cache - ✔✔Memory that is easily accessed by the CPU and is very fast
✔✔Secondary Storage - ✔✔Non-Volatile memory that is not directly accessible by the
CPU
✔✔Optical - ✔✔Data is recorded by making marks in a pattern that can be read back
with the aid of light.
✔✔Magnetic - ✔✔A mechanical device in which the media is inserted
,✔✔Solid State - ✔✔A grid of electrical cells which quickly send and receive data
✔✔NOT gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 1 input & outputs the opposite
✔✔AND gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 2 inputs and only outputs True if both
inputs are True
✔✔OR gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 2 inputs and outputs True if either inputs are
True
✔✔Truth table - ✔✔A table which holds possible states on inputs and shows the
corresponding final output of a logic diagram
✔✔Logic Diagram - ✔✔A diagram combining multiple logic gates to show the inputs and
final output of a system
✔✔Boolean Logic - ✔✔Logic which can only produce a True or False outcome
✔✔Hardware - ✔✔The physical elements of a computer system
✔✔Sotware - ✔✔The logical programmed parts of a computer system that tells the
hardware how to function
✔✔Embedded system - ✔✔A system developed for a single, or set purpose. E.g. A
washing machine, microwave, digital watch
✔✔General Purpose System - ✔✔A computer system that can change its purpose by
adding more software
✔✔ROM - ✔✔Non Volatile. Small area of memory which holds the boot up program.
✔✔Device Driver - ✔✔A program stored on the hard drive that tells the computer how to
communicate with a hardware device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard.
✔✔Defragger - ✔✔System software which tidies up the physical locations of where data
is saved on a storage device.
✔✔Scheduler - ✔✔System software which establishes the order in which instructions
are executed by the processor
✔✔GUI - ✔✔A User Interface which incorporates the four elements of Windows, Icons,
Menus, & Pointers
, ✔✔System Software - ✔✔software responsible for the general operation of a computer
system, including the operation of hardware, running application software, and file
management
✔✔Application Software - ✔✔computer software created to allow the user to perform a
specific job or task. eg. Word, Excel, browsers, games
✔✔Autoupdate - ✔✔A scheduled patch to software (usually system software) to ensure
that it is completely up to date with the latest features.
✔✔Firewall - ✔✔A security system consisting of a combination of hardware and
software that limits the exposure of a computer or computer network to attack from
crackers
✔✔Spyware - ✔✔A computer program which is installed without permission, sometimes
through a virus or sometimes as part of the installation of a program. It works by
collecting information and sending it back to another source. The information collected
could include the websites you have been visiting or what you have been downloading.
This can be used for marketing purposes but also for fraud.
✔✔Antivirus - ✔✔System software that is specifically designed to detect viruses and
protect a computer and files from harm
✔✔Computer Virus - ✔✔a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually
capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer
✔✔Computer Worm - ✔✔Self-replicating program designed to carry out some
unauthorised activity on a victim's computer. This software can spread themselves from
one computer to another without any assistance from victims.
✔✔Trojan - ✔✔A piece of software that appears to be a legitimate application, utility,
game, or screensaver that performs malicious activities surreptitiously
✔✔Phishing - ✔✔An attack that sends an email or displays a Web announcement that
falsely claims to be from a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to trick the user into
surrendering private information
✔✔Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle - ✔✔This is the process that all Stored Program
Computers follow in order to run instructions within the machine.
Instructions are stored within main memory as a combination of both instruction & data.
✔✔Microprocessor - ✔✔Another name for the central processing unit that is generally
made from a single integrated circuit.
Multi-core CPUs are made up of more than one microprocessor.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Lossless Compression - ✔✔Various algorithms are used to find parts in the data that
are repeated
✔✔Ring Topology - ✔✔Fast data transfer but if one machine fails the whole network will
fail.
✔✔Bus Topology - ✔✔Easy and cheap to install but if the main cable fails the whole
network will crash
✔✔Star Topology - ✔✔Reliable and high-performing but expensive to install and if a
hub/switch fails the devices will not have network connection
✔✔CPU - ✔✔Brains of the computer. Mainly processes and uses data to perform taks
✔✔GPU - ✔✔A chip/processor designed to boost the performance of games and
graphics
✔✔RAM - ✔✔Primary Storage device which allows data to be stored and retrieved on
the machine
✔✔Volatile Memory - ✔✔Memory which only maintains it's storage while the machine is
active
✔✔Non-Volatile Memory - ✔✔Memory which maintains it storage whether or not the
machine is active
✔✔Logic Gate - ✔✔A diagram which represents boolean logic
✔✔Virtual Memory - ✔✔Memory that appears to be main storage although most if it is
held in secondary storage
✔✔Cache - ✔✔Memory that is easily accessed by the CPU and is very fast
✔✔Secondary Storage - ✔✔Non-Volatile memory that is not directly accessible by the
CPU
✔✔Optical - ✔✔Data is recorded by making marks in a pattern that can be read back
with the aid of light.
✔✔Magnetic - ✔✔A mechanical device in which the media is inserted
,✔✔Solid State - ✔✔A grid of electrical cells which quickly send and receive data
✔✔NOT gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 1 input & outputs the opposite
✔✔AND gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 2 inputs and only outputs True if both
inputs are True
✔✔OR gate - ✔✔A logic gate that takes in 2 inputs and outputs True if either inputs are
True
✔✔Truth table - ✔✔A table which holds possible states on inputs and shows the
corresponding final output of a logic diagram
✔✔Logic Diagram - ✔✔A diagram combining multiple logic gates to show the inputs and
final output of a system
✔✔Boolean Logic - ✔✔Logic which can only produce a True or False outcome
✔✔Hardware - ✔✔The physical elements of a computer system
✔✔Sotware - ✔✔The logical programmed parts of a computer system that tells the
hardware how to function
✔✔Embedded system - ✔✔A system developed for a single, or set purpose. E.g. A
washing machine, microwave, digital watch
✔✔General Purpose System - ✔✔A computer system that can change its purpose by
adding more software
✔✔ROM - ✔✔Non Volatile. Small area of memory which holds the boot up program.
✔✔Device Driver - ✔✔A program stored on the hard drive that tells the computer how to
communicate with a hardware device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard.
✔✔Defragger - ✔✔System software which tidies up the physical locations of where data
is saved on a storage device.
✔✔Scheduler - ✔✔System software which establishes the order in which instructions
are executed by the processor
✔✔GUI - ✔✔A User Interface which incorporates the four elements of Windows, Icons,
Menus, & Pointers
, ✔✔System Software - ✔✔software responsible for the general operation of a computer
system, including the operation of hardware, running application software, and file
management
✔✔Application Software - ✔✔computer software created to allow the user to perform a
specific job or task. eg. Word, Excel, browsers, games
✔✔Autoupdate - ✔✔A scheduled patch to software (usually system software) to ensure
that it is completely up to date with the latest features.
✔✔Firewall - ✔✔A security system consisting of a combination of hardware and
software that limits the exposure of a computer or computer network to attack from
crackers
✔✔Spyware - ✔✔A computer program which is installed without permission, sometimes
through a virus or sometimes as part of the installation of a program. It works by
collecting information and sending it back to another source. The information collected
could include the websites you have been visiting or what you have been downloading.
This can be used for marketing purposes but also for fraud.
✔✔Antivirus - ✔✔System software that is specifically designed to detect viruses and
protect a computer and files from harm
✔✔Computer Virus - ✔✔a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually
capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer
✔✔Computer Worm - ✔✔Self-replicating program designed to carry out some
unauthorised activity on a victim's computer. This software can spread themselves from
one computer to another without any assistance from victims.
✔✔Trojan - ✔✔A piece of software that appears to be a legitimate application, utility,
game, or screensaver that performs malicious activities surreptitiously
✔✔Phishing - ✔✔An attack that sends an email or displays a Web announcement that
falsely claims to be from a legitimate enterprise in an attempt to trick the user into
surrendering private information
✔✔Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle - ✔✔This is the process that all Stored Program
Computers follow in order to run instructions within the machine.
Instructions are stored within main memory as a combination of both instruction & data.
✔✔Microprocessor - ✔✔Another name for the central processing unit that is generally
made from a single integrated circuit.
Multi-core CPUs are made up of more than one microprocessor.
