Cambridge IGCSE™

* 5 0 1 5 4 0 7 3 5 7 *

COMPUTER SCIENCE 0478/12

Paper 1 Computer Systems February/March 2024

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● Calculators must not be used in this paper.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 75.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● No marks will be awarded for using brand names of software packages or hardware.

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (DE) 327909/3
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1 Computers represent different types of data in binary.

(a) Tick (✓) one box to show the reason why computers use binary to represent data.

A Computers only allow 1s and 0s to be entered.

B Computers are made of switches and gates that can only be on or off.

C Binary does not need to be converted into other forms of data to be displayed.

D Both computers and humans can quickly process binary data.

[1]

(b) One form of data is characters.

The American standard code for information interchange (ASCII) denary number for the
character ‘N’ is 78.

(i) Tick (✓) one box to identify the ASCII denary number for the character ‘Q’.

A 81

B 80

C 79

D 77
[1]

(ii) Give the binary number for the ASCII denary number for ‘N’.

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Working space

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(iii) Explain how the word ‘RED’ is represented using a character set.

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(c) Sound can be represented as binary.

(i) Explain why recording sound with a higher sampling resolution creates a more accurate
recording.

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(ii) Give one other way that the accuracy of a sound recording can be improved.

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2 A computer has a central processing unit (CPU).

The CPU includes the registers:

• Program counter (PC)
• Memory address register (MAR)
• Memory data register (MDR)
• Accumulator (ACC)
• Current instruction register (CIR).

(a) The table contains five statements about the role of registers in the fetch–decode–execute
cycle of a CPU.

Letter Statement
A PC stores the address of the next instruction to be accessed
B MAR stores the instructions of the program that is running
C MDR stores the data passed to it from the PC
D ACC stores the result of each calculation
E CIR stores the instruction currently being executed

Two of the statements are not correct.

Identify the letter of each incorrect statement.

Suggest a corrected statement for each.

Incorrect statement 1 .........................................

Corrected statement .................................................................................................................

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Incorrect statement 2 .........................................

Corrected statement .................................................................................................................

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[4]

(b) The computer has a single core 3.5 GHz processor and an 8 kB cache.

(i) State what is meant by a 3.5 GHz processor.

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(ii) The CPU is changed to a dual-core 3.5 GHz processor.

Explain how the number of cores affects the performance of a CPU.

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(iii) The amount of cache is increased to 64 kB.

Explain how the amount of cache affects the performance of a computer.

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(c) The computer has both primary and secondary storage.

(i) Random access memory (RAM) is one example of primary storage.

Describe what is meant by RAM.

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(ii) Read only memory (ROM) is another example of primary storage. ROM often stores the
start-up instructions for a computer.

Identify one other item of data that is commonly stored in ROM.

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(iii) Some computers make use of virtual memory.

State the purpose of virtual memory.

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3 A computer has an operating system (OS).

(a) Complete the table by writing each missing OS function name and description.

Function name Description

……………………………………………………………………………

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managing memory
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allows application software to run on the computer
……………………................…

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managing peripherals
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[3]

(b) The OS handles interrupts.

(i) State the purpose of an interrupt.

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(ii) Identify one input device and one example of an interrupt that it can generate.

Input device .......................................................................................................................

Interrupt .............................................................................................................................
[1]

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(iii) A processor is currently executing a program. The processor receives an interrupt.

Explain how the processor manages the current program and the interrupt.

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4 A student enters a uniform resource locator (URL) into their web browser.

Draw and annotate a diagram to show the process from the user entering the URL to the web
browser displaying the web page.

[5]

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5 Complete the description of digital currencies using the terms provided.

blockchains changed datachains decentralised

deleted encryption passport physical address

physically records time-stamp traced

transaction-chains virtually

A digital currency does not exist ........................................................... , it can only be accessed

electronically.

Some digital currencies have digital ledgers called ........................................................... .

These are decentralised databases where each transaction is stored as a new set of data with

a ........................................................... and is linked to the previous set of data. This means that

transactions cannot be altered, only new transactions added, which allows the location of the data

to be ........................................................... .
[4]

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6 A self-driving tractor sows seeds and harvests crops for a farmer. The self-driving tractor moves
automatically through the field, turning at each end and stopping when it has finished.

(a) One reason the self-driving tractor is a robot is because it has a mechanical structure that
includes wheels, an engine, and a framework.

Give one other reason why the self-driving tractor is an example of a robot.

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(b) If a person is detected within 3 metres whilst the tractor is moving, the self-driving tractor
must stop.

(i) Explain how an infra-red sensor, microprocessor and actuator can be used to stop the
self-driving tractor if a person is detected within 3 metres.

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(ii) Identify one other sensor that the self-driving tractor might use and how it will use the
sensor.

Sensor ...............................................................................................................................

Use ....................................................................................................................................

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[2]

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(c) Explain the drawbacks of a farmer using a self-driving tractor to sow seeds and harvest crops.

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(d) The self-driving tractor has an in-built expert system that the farmer can use to solve any
errors with the tractor.

Identify three components of an expert system.

1 ................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................

3 ................................................................................................................................................
[3]

(e) At the end of each day the self-driving tractor transmits the data it has collected to the farmer’s
computer in their house.

The transmission uses an echo check.

(i) Describe the role of the self-driving tractor and the farmer’s computer in the echo check.

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(ii) Another method of error checking is a parity block check.

The table shows 7 bytes that are transmitted using odd parity. The parity bit has been
completed for each byte.

Complete the parity byte for the data.

parity
bit 7 bit 6 bit 5 bit 4 bit 3 bit 2 bit 1
bit

byte 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0

byte 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0

byte 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

byte 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1

byte 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

byte 6 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

byte 7 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1

parity
byte
[3]

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7 Data is transmitted using the internet.

(a) The data is encrypted before transmission.

(i) State the purpose of encrypting data.

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(ii) Describe the differences between symmetric and asymmetric encryption.

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(b) The data is transmitted using packet switching.

(i) Identify two items of data contained in a packet header.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[2]

(ii) Give the purpose of a router in the packet-switching process.

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8 (a) Hexadecimal can be used to represent binary numbers.

(i) Convert the denary number 236 into hexadecimal.

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Working space

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(ii) Give one benefit of using hexadecimal instead of binary to represent data.

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(b) Two’s complement can be used to represent positive and negative binary integers.

(i) Convert the two’s complement integer 10110111 into denary.

Show all your working.

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(ii) Convert the denary number 45 into an 8-bit two’s complement integer.

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Working space

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(c) Logical shifts are performed on binary integers.

State the mathematical effect of a right shift of four places on a positive binary integer.

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© UCLES 2024 0478/12/F/M/24