Using MIS, 7e (Kroenke)
Chapter 5 Database Processing
5.1 True/False Questions
1) A spreadsheet can be used to store data if
the structure of a list is simple.
Answer: TRUE
2) The purpose of a database is to keep track
of things that involve a single theme.
Answer: FALSE
3) A database is a self-describing collection
of integrated records.
Answer: TRUE
4) A database is best described as a
collection of unrelated tables.
Answer: FALSE
5) A group of similar rows or records in a
table is called a field.
Answer: FALSE
6) Special data that describes the structure of
a database is called metadata.
Answer: TRUE
7) A key is a column or group of columns
that identifies a unique row in a table.
Answer: TRUE
8) Each table in a database must have two or
more primary keys.
Answer: FALSE
9) Metadata refers to entities of a database
that users want to process.
Answer: FALSE
10) The format of metadata depends on the
software product that is processing the
database.
Answer: TRUE
11) A database management system (DBMS)
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is a program used to create, process, and
administer a database.
Answer: TRUE
12) A DBMS and database mean the same
thing and are synonymous terms that can be
used interchangeably.
Answer: FALSE
13) MySQL is an open source DBMS
product that is license-free for most database
applications.
Answer: TRUE
14) To modify an existing table, a developer
can open the metadata form for that table
and add a new row of metadata.
Answer: TRUE
15) Most organizations develop their own
DBMS software in order to obtain control
over data.
Answer: FALSE
16) SQL is an international standard
language for processing a database.
Answer: TRUE
17) One of the functions of a DBMS is to
provide tools to assist in the administration
of a database.
Answer: TRUE
18) A user does not need user account
credentials to access and process a database.
Answer: FALSE
19) One of the developmental tasks of a
database administrator is to create a system
to record and manage the resolution of
problems.
Answer: FALSE
20) Managing the impact of database
structure changes on applications and users
is an operational task for a database
administrator.
Answer: FALSE
21) A database application is a collection of
forms, reports, queries, and application
programs that serves as an intermediary
between users and database data.
Answer: TRUE
22) Database applications must present data
to the users in the same format as the
database table.
Answer: FALSE
23) Reports refer to the structured
presentation of data using sorting, grouping,
filtering, and other operations.
Answer: TRUE
24) Browser-based applications are more
dynamic and better suited to today's world
than older database applications.
Answer: TRUE
25) Most traditional databases use the
Internet to transmit traffic back and forth
between the users' computers and the DBMS
server.
Answer: FALSE
26) In the case of single-user databases, the
application, the DBMS, and the database all
reside on the user's computer.
Answer: TRUE
27) The lost-update problem can be resolved
by implementing multi-user database
processing.
Answer: FALSE
28) Locking must be used to coordinate the
activities of users in order to prevent the
lost-update problem.
Answer: TRUE
29) Browser applications are thin-client
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applications that need to be pre-installed on
the users' computers.
Answer: FALSE
30) Browser database application forms,
reports, and queries are displayed and
processed using html5, css3, and JavaScript.
Answer: TRUE
31) Developers generally construct a logical
representation of database data, called a data
model, after building a database.
Answer: FALSE
32) A data model describes data and
relationships that will be stored in the
database.
Answer: TRUE
33) In data models, physical objects are
represented as entities, whereas logical
constructs and transactions are represented
as attributes.
Answer: FALSE
34) Attributes are used to describe
characteristics of entities.
Answer: TRUE
35) An identifier is an attribute or a group of
attributes whose value is associated with
one, and only one, entity instance.
Answer: TRUE
36) In an entity-relationship (E-R) diagram,
an entity is represented by a triangle, and the
relationships between entities are
represented by dotted lines.
Answer: FALSE
37) A line in an E-R diagram is used to
represent the attributes of the entities.
Answer: FALSE
38) A many-to-many (N:M) relationship
means that more than one entity is allowed
on each side of the relationship and that the
number of entities on each side can be independent of the corresponding data
different. model.
Answer: TRUE Answer: FALSE

39) The crow's-foot notation in an E-R
diagram shows the maximum number of
entities that can be involved in a
relationship.
Answer: TRUE
40) Minimum cardinalities represent the
lower limit on the number of entities
required in a relationship.
Answer: TRUE
49) Users are the final judges as to what data
the database should contain and how the
records in that database should be related to
one another.
Answer: TRUE
50) The easiest time to change the database
structure is after the data modeling stage.
Answer: FALSE

41) 1:N, N:M, and 1:1 are common
examples of minimum cardinalities.
Answer: FALSE
42) The small oval on a line in an E-R
diagram means that the relationship must
have an entity of that type.
Answer: FALSE
43) Normalization is the process of
combining two or more tables into a single
table.
Answer: FALSE
51) Changing a relationship from one-to-
many to many-to-many in a functional
database is simply a matter of changing the
N:N notation to N:M.
Answer: FALSE
52) NoSQL means nonrelational databases
that support very high transaction rates
processing relatively simple data structures,
replicated on many servers in the cloud.

44) The data integrity problem occurs only

if data are duplicated.
Answer: TRUE

45) The general goal of normalization is to

construct tables such that every table has a
single topic or theme.
Answer: TRUE

46) Normalized tables are faster to process

than tables that haven't been normalized.
Answer: FALSE

47) A foreign key is essential in relational

databases to represent the relationship
between two tables.
Answer: TRUE

48) The accuracy of a database design is

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5.2 Multiple-Choice Questions B) files
C) fields
1) A database is required instead of a D) attributes
spreadsheet when ________. Answer: B
A) professionals need to keep a track of
things 7) Which of the following data elements is
B) a user requires control over data placed higher than records in the database
C) lists involve data with multiple themes hierarchy?
D) one or more users want to access the A) file
same data B) field
Answer: C C) character
D) byte
2) Which of the following is the smallest Answer: A
data element in a database?
A) field 8) A primary key used in a database is a
B) record ________.
C) byte A) group of rows that are formed to identify
D) file a unique table or file
Answer: C B) column or group of columns that
identifies a unique row in a table
3) In a database, ________ are grouped into C) character or byte that represents fields or
columns. columns
A) fields D) group of tables or files formed to identify
B) records a unique field or row
C) bytes Answer: B
D) files AACSB: Information Technology
Answer: C Difficulty: Easy
Course LO: Discuss best practices for using
4) The columns in a database are called and managing databases
________. Chapter LO: 2
A) records
B) tables 9) Albert creates a relational database to
C) files store employee performance statistics. He
D) fields stores each employee's data in independent
Answer: D rows and creates a column named
"Employee Number" to assign unique
5) The rows in a database are called numbers to each employee. This column is
________. referred to as a(n) ________.
A) records A) primary key
B) tables B) identifier
C) files C) foreign key
D) fields D) functionally dependent record
Answer: A Answer: A

6) The tables that appear in a database are 10) Columns that are keys to different tables
known as ________. than the ones in which they reside are called
A) records ________.
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A) attributes A) It is offered by Oracle.
B) foreign keys B) It is license-free for most applications.
C) primary keys C) It is a closed-source database product.
D) internal records D) It is yet to be widely adopted.
Answer: B Answer: B

11) Relational databases represent 17) When you modify or delete data present
relationships using ________. in a database, you are ________.
A) foreign keys A) creating a new database
B) file systems B) forming a data model
C) metadata C) simplifying the data structure
D) unique identifiers D) processing the database
Answer: A Answer: D

12) Metadata are ________. 18) Which of the following is an

A) code used for server-side processing international standard language for
B) error logs of databases processing a database?
C) data that describe data A) Cassandra
D) encrypted data transmissions B) DB2
Answer: C C) SQL
D) MS Access
13) A(n) ________ is a program used to Answer: C
create, process, and administer a database.
A) operating system 19) Which of the following is a
B) DBMS developmental task of database
C) information system administration?
D) data mart A) creating and staffing the DBA function
Answer: B B) monitoring backup procedures
C) conducting training for users
14) Which of the following is an example of D) managing configuration changes in
a database management system? systems
A) MS Excel Answer: A
B) BigData 20) Identify the type of task that a database
C) NoSQL administrator is performing when validating
D) Access the data model to be used in a database
Answer: D management system.
A) development
15) Identify the open source DBMS product B) adaptation
among the following. C) backup and recovery
A) MySQL D) operation
B) DB2 Answer: A
C) Access 21) The database administrator of an
D) Oracle Database organization constantly manages the
Answer: A processing rights and responsibilities of
employees. This is an example of a(n)
16) Which of the following is true of ________ task.
MySQL? A) development
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B) recovery A) report
C) adaptation B) data model
D) operational C) database administrative function
Answer: D D) query
Answer: D
22) Which of the following database
administration tasks is related to adaptation? 27) Which of the following is true of single-
A) monitoring backup procedures user databases?
B) conducting training for users A) They are displayed and processed using
C) monitoring database performance html5, css3, and JavaScript.
D) managing configuration changes in B) They use JavaScript for user-side
systems processing.
Answer: D C) The Internet is used to access the DBMS
AACSB: Information Technology server computer.
D) The application, the DBMS, and the
23) A ________ is a collection of forms, database all reside on the user's computer.
reports, queries, and programs that serves as Answer: D
an intermediary between users and database
data. 28) Which of the following is true of
A) database application traditional database application programs?
B) database design A) Application forms, reports, and queries
C) data field are displayed and processed using a browser.
D) data model B) All of the application logic is contained
Answer: A in a program on the database server.
C) They are written in object-oriented
24) ________ are used by users to read, languages such as C++ and VisualBasic.
insert, modify, and delete data in a database. D) They are thin-client applications that
A) Reports need not be pre-installed on the users'
B) Forms computers.
C) Queries Answer: C
D) DBMS
Answer: B 29) Traditional database applications
programs are ________.
25) A(n) ________ is a request for data from A) browser-based and display dynamic
a database. content
A) form B) written in languages such as html5 and
B) report JavaScript
C) query C) entirely dependent on the database server
D) application for application logic
Answer: C D) thick applications that need to be
installed on users' computers
26) Brenda, the sales manager of a firm, Answer: D
wants to generate a particular report
containing sales analyses of the second and 30) Browser applications are thin-client
third quarter of the year. She should use a applications that ________.
________ to obtain the information that she A) mostly display static content
wants from the database. B) are processed using VisualBasic and C++
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C) need not be pre-installed on the users' B) query model
computers C) data model
D) depend on internal networks and not the D) data application
Internet to transmit data Answer: C
Answer: C
36) An administrator should create a
31) Which of the following is used to ________ before developing a database
process and display browser database design.
application forms, reports, and queries? A) data aggregator
A) C++ B) query model
B) html C) data model
C) COBOL D) data application
D) VisualBasic Answer: C
Answer: B
37) A data model is a ________.
32) Browser-based applications ________. A) logical representation of database data
A) are thick-client applications B) repository of unprocessed data
B) can only display static content C) collection of isolated databases
C) support querying using graphics D) set of programs used to retrieve data
D) process queries using C++ Answer: A
Answer: C
38) In a data model, a(n) ________ is
33) Browser-based applications ________. something that a user wants to track.
A) need to be pre-installed on the users' A) record
computers B) byte
B) run within a corporate network that is C) entity
protected from the Internet D) primary key
C) eliminate the need to check for data Answer: C
consistency
D) are more vulnerable to security threats 39) Brad, a project manager, wants to build
than are traditional applications a database to integrate information about
Answer: D employees and tasks that they handle. Brad
wants to track information such as task
34) Which of the following refers to the name, percentage completed, and employee
problem that exists in database applications name. These aspects that Brad wants to track
when two users modify the same data item, are called ________.
but only one of those changes is recorded? A) identifiers
A) lost-update problem B) records
B) crow's-foot paradigm C) primary keys
C) bullwhip effect D) entities
D) update query problem Answer: D
Answer: A
40) Entities in a data model have ________
35) A ________ describes the data and that describe the characteristics of the entity.
relationships that will be stored in a A) characters
database. B) primary keys
A) data aggregator C) codes
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D) attributes C) N:M
Answer: D D) M:1
Answer: C
41) Each entity in a database has a unique
attribute called a(n) ________. 46) ________ in an E-R diagram refer to the
A) public key least number of entities required in a
B) identifier relationship.
C) foreign key A) One-to-one relationships
D) index field B) Primary keys
Answer: B C) Foreign keys
D) Minimum cardinalities
42) In an E-R diagram, a line between two Answer: D
entities represents a(n) ________.
A) attribute 47) Constraints on the number of entities in
B) identifier a relationship are called ________
C) cardinality cardinalities.
D) relationship A) specific
Answer: D B) minimum
C) primary
43) The forked lines on the right side of a D) critical
line on an E-R diagram that indicate a 1:N Answer: B
relationship between two entities are
referred to as ________. 48) In an E-R diagram, a(n) ________ on a
A) identifiers line means that at least one entity of that
B) foreign keys type is required.
C) crow's feet A) small oval
D) entities B) vertical bar
Answer: C C) arrow
D) triangular block
44) Which of the following is true of N:M Answer: B
relationships?
A) They are the same as N:N relationships. 49) Which of the following formations on a
B) They represent minimum cardinalities in line in an E-R diagram means that the
a relationship. relationship need not have an entity of that
C) They are also called one-to-many type?
relationships. A) vertical bar
D) They can have more than one entity on B) arrow
each side of the relationship. C) double line
Answer: D D) small oval
Answer: D
45) A student management system allows
students to have multiple majors, and 50) ________ is the process of converting a
advisers are assigned to handle multiple data model into tables, relationships, and
students and courses. This is an example of data constraints.
a(n) ________ relationship. A) Database design
A) 1:N B) Database querying
B) 1:1 C) Data mining
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D) Database aggregation A) add a foreign key to one of the tables
Answer: A B) have more than two identifiers in the
model
51) ________ is the process of converting a C) establish only N:M relationships between
poorly-structured table into two or more the tables
well-structured tables. D) use metadata instead of foreign keys
A) Optimization Answer: A
B) Normalization
C) Refactoring 57) Which of the following is true about the
D) Standardization database development process?
Answer: B A) The easiest time to change the database
structure is during the data modeling stage.
52) In a database, when data items disagree B) Changing a relationship from 1:N to N:M
with one another, it leads to a(n) ________. in an existing database is simply a matter of
A) data integrity problem changing notations.
B) crow's-foot paradigm C) User review of the data model is avoided
C) adaptation conflict as it is not helpful in data modeling.
D) lost-update problem D) A database is a model of how the
Answer: A developers view their business world.
Answer: A
53) A data integrity problem will occur only 58) ________ are the final judges as to what
if ________. data the database should contain and how
A) a database has multiple administrators the records in that database should be related
B) data are duplicated in a database to one another.
C) the database is very large A) Administrators
D) there are complex relationships between B) Developers
entities in a database C) Users
Answer: B D) Designers
Answer: C
54) Every table in a normalized database has
a ________. 59) Which of the following is a
A) one-to-one relationship between entities nonrelational data store developed by
B) single theme Amazon?
C) foreign key A) Cassandra
D) specialized query format B) Dynamo
Answer: B C) SharePoint
D) Bigtable
55) Identify the first step in transforming a Answer: B
data model into a relational database design.
A) representing the data relationships 60) Which of the following is a
B) normalizing the data and files nonrelational data store developed by
C) creating foreign keys Google?
D) creating a table for each entity A) Cassandra
Answer: D B) Dynamo
C) SharePoint
56) When using the relational model to D) Bigtable
represent two tables, one must ________. Answer: D
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 A) BigData
61) ________ is the term used to describe B) NoSQL
data collections that are characterized by C) Dynamo
huge volume, rapid velocity, and great D) Hadoop
variety. Answer: A

5.3 Essay Questions

1) What is the purpose of a database?

Answer: The purpose of a database is to keep track of things. Lists of data involving a single
theme can be stored in a spreadsheet; lists that involve data with multiple themes require a
database. Thus, the purpose of a database is to keep track of things that involve more than one
theme.

2) Describe a database and its various elements.

Answer: A database is a self-describing collection of integrated records. A byte is a character of
data. In databases, bytes are grouped into columns, which are also called fields. Columns or
fields are grouped into rows, which are also called records. Finally, a group of similar rows or
records is called a table or a file. A database is thus a collection of tables plus relationships
among the rows in those tables, plus special data, called metadata, that describes the structure of
the database.

3) Define primary key, foreign key, and metadata.

Answer: A primary key is a column or group of columns that identifies a unique row in a table.
Columns that are primary keys in a table other than the one in which they reside are called
foreign keys. Metadata are data that describe data in the database.

4) Describe a DBMS and its functions. List some of the popular DBMS products.
Answer: A database management system (DBMS) is a program used to create, process, and
administer a database. The first function of DBMS is that database developers use the DBMS to
create tables, relationships, and other structures in the database. The second function of the
DBMS is to process the database. Applications use the DBMS for four operations: to read, insert,
modify, or delete data. A third DBMS function is to provide tools to assist in the administration
of the database.
Popular DBMS products are DB2 from IBM, Access and SQL Server from Microsoft, and
Oracle from Oracle Corporation. Another popular DBMS is MySQL, an open source DBMS
product that is license-free for most applications.

5) What is a database application?

Answer: A database application is a collection of forms, reports, queries, and application
programs that serves as an intermediary between users and database data. Database applications
reformat database table data to make it more informative and more easily updated. Application
programs also have features that provide security, maintain data consistency, and handle special
cases.

6) Explain the different types of database applications.

Answer: Database applications fall into two broad categories: traditional database applications
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and browser-based applications.
Traditional database applications programs are written in object-oriented languages such as C++
and VisualBasic (and even in earlier languages like COBOL). They are thick applications that
need to be installed on users' computers. In some cases, all of the application logic is contained
in a program on users' computers and the server does nothing except run the DBMS and serve up
data. In other cases, some application code is placed on both the users' computers and the
database server computer.
Browser applications are thin-client applications that need not be pre-installed on the users'
computers. In most cases, all of the code for generating and processing the application elements
is shared between the users' computers and the servers. Browser-based applications can support
traditional queries as well as graphical queries in which query criteria are created when the user
clicks on a graphic. Browser database application forms, reports, and queries are displayed and
processed using html and most recently, using html5, css3, and JavaScript.

7) Describe entities in the context of data models.

Answer: An entity is something that the users want to track. Examples of entities are Order,
Customer, Salesperson, and Item. Some entities represent a physical object, such as Item or
Salesperson; others represent a logical construct or transaction, such as Order or Contract.
Entities have attributes that describe characteristics of the entity. Example attributes of Order are
OrderNumber, OrderDate, SubTotal, Tax, Total, and so forth. Entities have an identifier, which is
an attribute (or group of attributes) whose value is associated with one, and only one, entity
instance. For example, OrderNumber is an identifier of Order, because only one Order instance
has a given value of OrderNumber.
8) How does normalization resolve the data integrity problem?
Answer: Normalization is the process of converting a poorly-structured table into two or more
well-structured tables. If an attribute is entered correctly in one row and incorrectly in another,
this leads to a problem called a data integrity problem.
The data integrity problem can occur only if data are duplicated. Because of this, one easy way
to eliminate the problem is to eliminate the duplication of data. The general goal of
normalization is to construct tables such that every table has a single topic or theme. Database
practitioners classify tables into various normal forms according to the kinds of problems they
have. Transforming a table into a normal form to remove duplicated data and other problems is
called normalizing the table.

9) What are the steps involved in transforming a data model into a relational database
design?
Answer: First, the database designer creates a table for each entity. The identifier of the entity
becomes the key of the table. Each attribute of the entity becomes a column of the table. Next,
the resulting tables are normalized so that each table has a single theme. The next step is to
represent relationships among the tables that are normalized. This includes adding foreign keys
and additional tables for N:M relationships.

10) Explain the role of users in the database development process.

Answer: A database is a model of how the users view their business world. This means that the
users are the final judges as to what data the database should contain and how the records in that
database should be related to one another. Thus, user review of the data model is crucial. When a
database is developed, users must carefully review the data model. If they do not understand any
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aspect of it, they should ask for clarification until they do. Entities must contain all of the data
they need to do their jobs, and relationships must accurately reflect their view of the business. If
the data model is wrong, the database will be designed incorrectly, and the applications will be
difficult to use, if not worthless. Developers should not proceed with the database design unless
the data model is accurate.

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