Chapter 9

—
Database Management Systems

TRUE/FALSE

1. The database approach to data management is sometimes called the flat file approach.

ANS:
F

2. The Database Management System provides a controlled environment for accessing the database.

ANS:
T

3. To the user, data processing procedures for routine transactions, such as entering sales orders, appe
ar to be identical in the database environment and in the traditional environment.

ANS:
T

4. An important feature associated with the traditional approach to data management is the ability to

produce ad hoc reports.

ANS:
F

5. The Data Definition Language is used to insert special database commands into application progra
ms.

ANS:
F
6. There is more than one conceptual view of the database.

ANS:
F

7. In the database method of data management, access authority is maintained by systems programmi
ng.

ANS:
F

8. The physical database is an abstract representation of the database.

ANS:
F

9. A customer name and an unpaid balance is an example of a one-to-many relationship.

ANS:
F

10. In the relational model, a data element is called a relation.

ANS:
F

11. Data normalization groups data attributes into tables in accordance with specific design objective
s.

ANS:
T
12. Under the database approach, data is viewed as proprietary or “owned” by users.

ANS:
F

13. The data dictionary describes all of the data elements in the database.

ANS:
T

14. A join builds a new table by creating links.

ANS:
F

15. The deletion anomaly is the least important of the problems affecting unnormalized databases.

ANS:
F

16. A deadlock is a phenomenon that prevents the processing of transactions.

ANS:
T

17. Timestamping is a control that is used to ensure database partitioning.

ANS:
F

18. A lockout is a software control that prevents multiple users from simultaneous access to data.
ANS:
T

19. Logical database design is the foundation of the conceptual design.

ANS:
F

20.
An entity is any physical thing about which the organization wishes to capture data.

ANS:
F

21. An ER diagram is a graphical representation of a data model.

ANS:
T

22. The term occurrence is used to describe the number of attributes or fields pertaining to a specific
entity.

ANS:
F

23. Cardinality describes the number of possible occurrences in one table that are associated with a si
ngle
occurrence in a related table.

ANS:
T
24. A table in third normal form is free of partial dependencies, multiple dependencies, and transitive

dependencies.

ANS:
F

25. Improperly normalized databases are associated with three types of anomalies: the update anomal
y, the
insertion anomaly, and the deletion anomaly.

ANS:
T

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. All of the following are basic data management tasks except

a.
data deletion
b.
data storage
c.
data attribution
d.
data retrieval

ANS:
C

2. The task of searching the database to locate a stored record for processing is called
a.
data deletion
b.
data storage
c.
data attribution
d.
data retrieval

ANS:
D

3.
Which of the following is not a problem usually associated with the flat-file approach to data
management?
a.
data redundancy
b.
restricting access to data to the primary user
c.
data storage
d.
currency of information

ANS:
B

4.
Which characteristic is associated with the database approach to data management?
a.
data sharing
b.
multiple storage procedures
c.
data redundancy
d.
excessive storage costs

ANS:
A

5.
Which characteristic is not associated with the database approach to data management?
a.
the ability to process data without the help of a programmer
b.
the ability to control access to the data
c.
constant production of backups
d.
the inability to determine what data is available

ANS:
D

6.
The textbook refers to four interrelated components of the database concept. Which of the following i
s
not one of the components?
a.
the Database Management System
b.
the Database Administrator
c.
the physical database
d.
the conceptual database