D426 DATA MANAGEMENT
FOUNDATIONS - COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM PRACTICE
1. Which normal form requires that all non-key attributes must be fully functionally
dependent on the entire primary key, eliminating partial dependencies?
A. Second Normal Form (2NF)
B. First Normal Form (1NF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: 2NF deals with the removal of partial functional dependencies. A
table is in 2NF if it is in 1NF and every non-prime attribute is fully dependent on the whole
candidate key.
2. In relational algebra, which operation is used to select a subset of columns from a table?
A. Selection (σ)
B. Union (∪)
,C. Join (⨝)
D. Projection (π)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The projection operator (π) extracts specified columns
(attributes) from a relation, effectively narrowing the table vertically.
3. A ‘Transitive Dependency’ is specifically addressed in which stage of normalization?
A. Third Normal Form (3NF)
B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
C. First Normal Form (1NF)
D. Fourth Normal Form (4NF)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: 3NF requires that the table is in 2NF and that no non-key
attribute is transitively dependent on the primary key (i.e., non-key attributes should only
depend on the key).
4. Which SQL command is used to add a new column to an existing table?
A. UPDATE TABLE
B. INSERT INTO
C. ALTER TABLE
, D. MODIFY TABLE
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ALTER TABLE command is part of DDL (Data Definition
Language) and is used to add, delete, or modify columns in an existing table.
5. What is the primary difference between the DELETE and TRUNCATE commands?
A. DELETE can be rolled back; TRUNCATE generally cannot be in many systems.
B. DELETE is a DDL command; TRUNCATE is a DML command.
C. TRUNCATE allows for a WHERE clause; DELETE does not.
D. DELETE removes the table structure; TRUNCATE only removes data.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: DELETE is a DML command that removes rows one by one and
records them in the log, allowing rollback. TRUNCATE is a DDL command that deallocates
pages and is faster but usually lacks row-level logging.
6. Which of the following describes ‘Entity Integrity’?
A. Every foreign key must match a primary key in a related table.
B. Data must fall within a specific range of values.
C. No part of a primary key can be NULL.
D. Tables must be linked via associative entities.
FOUNDATIONS - COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM PRACTICE
1. Which normal form requires that all non-key attributes must be fully functionally
dependent on the entire primary key, eliminating partial dependencies?
A. Second Normal Form (2NF)
B. First Normal Form (1NF)
C. Third Normal Form (3NF)
D. Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: 2NF deals with the removal of partial functional dependencies. A
table is in 2NF if it is in 1NF and every non-prime attribute is fully dependent on the whole
candidate key.
2. In relational algebra, which operation is used to select a subset of columns from a table?
A. Selection (σ)
B. Union (∪)
,C. Join (⨝)
D. Projection (π)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The projection operator (π) extracts specified columns
(attributes) from a relation, effectively narrowing the table vertically.
3. A ‘Transitive Dependency’ is specifically addressed in which stage of normalization?
A. Third Normal Form (3NF)
B. Second Normal Form (2NF)
C. First Normal Form (1NF)
D. Fourth Normal Form (4NF)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: 3NF requires that the table is in 2NF and that no non-key
attribute is transitively dependent on the primary key (i.e., non-key attributes should only
depend on the key).
4. Which SQL command is used to add a new column to an existing table?
A. UPDATE TABLE
B. INSERT INTO
C. ALTER TABLE
, D. MODIFY TABLE
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ALTER TABLE command is part of DDL (Data Definition
Language) and is used to add, delete, or modify columns in an existing table.
5. What is the primary difference between the DELETE and TRUNCATE commands?
A. DELETE can be rolled back; TRUNCATE generally cannot be in many systems.
B. DELETE is a DDL command; TRUNCATE is a DML command.
C. TRUNCATE allows for a WHERE clause; DELETE does not.
D. DELETE removes the table structure; TRUNCATE only removes data.
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: DELETE is a DML command that removes rows one by one and
records them in the log, allowing rollback. TRUNCATE is a DDL command that deallocates
pages and is faster but usually lacks row-level logging.
6. Which of the following describes ‘Entity Integrity’?
A. Every foreign key must match a primary key in a related table.
B. Data must fall within a specific range of values.
C. No part of a primary key can be NULL.
D. Tables must be linked via associative entities.
