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Computer Science for IGCSE & O level - Hardware (Section 4)

1
What type of light activates the barcode scanner?
Answer
(A)
Red laser
2
What is the role of the tunnel oxide layer in a flash memory cell?
Answer
(B)
To allow electrons to tunnel to and from the floating gate.
3
When referring to Blu-Ray, what is meant by the term 'single layer'?
Answer
(B)
A disc with only one physical data layer.
4
What is an example of an advantage of using barcodes in a supermarket checkout?
Answer
(B)
Reduces queuing.
5
In an optical mouse, what component detects changes in the surface being tracked?
Answer
(A)
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
6
What is the purpose of 'disk defragmentation'?
Answer
(B)
To organize fragmented files and improve performance.
7
What is the role of the 'fuser' unit in a laser printer?
Answer
(B)
To melt the toner onto the paper and fix it.
8
What are the main components in a hard disk drive?
Answer
A
B
C
9
Which of the following are typically found in an instruction set?
Answer
A
B
10
What function does the red light in an optical mouse serve?
Answer
(C)
To illuminate the surface for tracking.
11
Which type of touch screen technology utilizes an electrically conductive layer and a glass substrate?
Answer
(C)
Capacitive
12
What happens to the number of items in the stock when the barcode is scanned?
Answer
(B)
The number of items decreases.
13
In a central heating system, what happens if the measured temperature is less than the pre-set temperature?
Answer
(C)
The heater is turned on.
14
Which process in laser printing comes *before* the 'fusing' stage?
Answer
(B)
Transferring
15
What happens if the amount of RAM required to run a program exceeds the available physical RAM, and virtual memory is enabled?
Answer
(C)
Data will be moved between RAM and the hard drive.
16
What is the function of the 'key field' in the context of barcode systems at the checkout, as per the provided text?
Answer
(B)
To uniquely identify the stock item in the database.
17
What is one of the primary disadvantages of using HDDs?
Answer
(C)
Higher power consumption than SSDs
18
What feature of a barcode is used to uniquely identify an item?
Answer
(B)
The key field
19
What is an example of an input device?
Answer
(C)
A touchscreen
20
Which device translates domain names into IP addresses?
Answer
(C)
DNS Server
21
When a barcode is scanned, what is used by the system to retrieve the item's details?
Answer
(B)
The key field.
22
What type of light does a barcode scanner use?
Answer
(C)
Red laser.
23
What is the difference between the data access characteristics of SSDs and HDDs?
Answer
B
C
24
What is the consequence of 'disk thrashing' in the context of virtual memory?
Answer
(B)
Slowed performance due to excessive hard drive activity.
25
What is the primary function of the Instruction Register (IR)?
Answer
(B)
To hold the current instruction being executed.
26
Which sensor is commonly used to measure the amount of water vapor in the air?
Answer
(C)
Humidity Sensor
27
What is the primary function of the Control Unit (CU) in a CPU?
Answer
(D)
Synchronize and control the operations of all other components.
28
Which is the primary function of a MAC address?
Answer
(B)
To uniquely identify a device on a local network.
29
Which of the following are benefits of a fiber optic cable?
Answer
A
B
C
30
In a barcode system, what are the advantages to the customers?
Answer
A
B
31
Which of the following statements is true regarding SRAM?
Answer
(A)
SRAM is a volatile form of memory.
32
How are the results of a photograph displayed after it has been taken in a digital camera?
Answer
(D)
On the camera's LCD screen.
33
What is one of the advantages of having barcodes for customers?
Answer
(B)
Makes checkout queues easier and quicker.
34
In the context of computer memory, what does 'volatile' mean?
Answer
(B)
The memory loses its data when power is removed.
35
What types of memory are most commonly associated with being non-volatile?
Answer
B
C
36
Which device is primarily responsible for converting digital signals into analog signals and vice versa?
Answer
(C)
Modem
37
In what way does the ink-jet printer use thermal bubble technology to produce an image?
Answer
(B)
Ink is heated to form a bubble, forcing ink droplets onto the paper.
38
What is the function of the amplifier in the audio output pathway?
Answer
(B)
To increase the current to drive the loudspeaker.
39
What differentiates a switch from a router?
Answer
(A)
A switch connects devices within a network, while a router connects different networks.
40
What component in a laser printer is charged with static electricity to attract toner particles?
Answer
(B)
The drum
41
What are the advantages of QR codes over traditional barcodes? (Select all that apply)
Answer
A
B
C
42
What is the function of a 'network address'?
Answer
(A)
To uniquely identify a device on a network.
43
What does 'fixation' refer to in the context of laser printing?
Answer
(C)
Bonding the toner to the paper using heat and pressure.
44
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using LED screens over older LCD technology?
Answer
(D)
LEDs are cheaper to manufacture.
45
What is the role of the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) in a CPU?
Answer
(B)
To perform arithmetic and logical operations.
46
Which of the following is a benefit of using fiber optic cable?
Answer
(B)
Higher data transfer rates than copper cables.
47
Which of the following is NOT a type of secondary storage?
Answer
(D)
RAM
48
What type of touch screen is often used in ATMs due to its durability and resistance to wear and tear?
Answer
(B)
Resistive
49
What is the purpose of the Memory Data Register (MDR)?
Answer
(B)
To hold the data being read from or written to memory.
50
What does an LCD projector use to generate the color image?
Answer
(B)
Liquid crystals