mputer Systems
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following is not one of the main
applications of a supercomputer?
A. Astronomic operation controls
B. Weather forecast
C. Scientific research
D. Database management
2. Which of the following are the features of a
mainframe computer?
(1) High processing speed
(2) Able to accommodate hundreds of
network computers
(3) Low operating cost
(4) High system reliability
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1), (2) and (4) only
C. (2), (3) and (4) only
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)
3. Which of the following statements about the
relation between different computers is correct?
A. A handheld computer refers to a light-
weight notebook computer.
B. A network computer is identical to a
desktop computer with networking
capability.
C. A supercomputer may contain
microprocessors used in personal
computers.
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D. The power consumption of a notebook
computer and a desktop computer are
similar when they run at similar speeds.
C
4. Arrange the following computers in ascending
D order of their extensibility.
(1) Notebook computer
(2) Network computer
(3) Handheld computer
(4) Desktop computer
A. (1) < (2) < (4) < (3)
B. (1) < (3) < (2) < (4)
C. (2) < (3) < (1) < (4)
D. (3) < (1) < (4) < (2) C
5. Which of the following factors should be strictly
controlled for a room with mainframe
B computers?
(1) Temperature
(2) Humidity
(3) Stability of power supply
(4) Physical security
A. (1), (2) and (3) only
B. (1), (3) and (4) only
C. (2), (3) and (4) only
D
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4)
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6. In which of the following computers can (3) Auction

microprocessors be found? (4) Instant messaging
(1) Handheld computer A. (2) and (3) only
(2) Desktop computer B. (1), (2) and (4) only
(3) Mainframe computer C. (1), (3) and (4) only
(4) Supercomputer D. (1), (2), (3) and (4) B

A. (1), (2) and (3) only

10. Which of the following are applications of a
B. (1), (3) and (4) only
parallel computer?
C. (2), (3) and (4) only
(1) Responding to multiple enquiries by
D
D. (1), (2), (3) and (4) accessing a large database
(2) Running multiple, independent tasks
7. Which of the following are the advantages of a
simultaneously
supercomputer over a mainframe computer?
(3) Running a process with a high degree
(1) A supercomputer has a higher
of pipelining
processing speed.
A. (1) and (2) only
(2) A supercomputer has larger memory
size. B. (1) and (3) only
(3) A supercomputer has more choices of C. (2) and (3) only
application software. D. (1), (2) and (3) C

A. (1) and (2) only

11. Which of the following tasks are appropriate to
B. (1) and (3) only
be carried out by a distributed processing
C. (2) and (3) only system?
A
D. (1), (2) and (3) (1) Web page searching on the Internet
(2) Computer animation rendering
8. Which of the following techniques does a server
use in a multi-user computer system? (3) Printing of monthly bank statements
A. Time sharing of CPU A. (1) and (2) only
B. Batch processing B. (1) and (3) only
C. Memory caching C. (2) and (3) only
A A
D. Disk mirroring D. (1), (2) and (3)

9. Which of the following are examples of online

interactive systems?
(1) e-Banking
(2) Online shopping

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 mputer System Fundamentals

12. Video conferencing system is best supported by

a .
A. batch processing system
B. real-time system
C. parallel processing system
B
D. distributed processing system

Short Questions

1. (a) Choose the most appropriate modes of operations (batch processing system, real-time system and
online interactive system) for the following computer applications. (5 marks)

(i) Search engine Online interactive system (1)

(ii) Vehicle engine control system Real-time system (1)

(iii) Academic report generation Batch processing system (1)

(iv) Webmail system Online interactive system (1)

(v) Computer chess game Real-time system (1)

(b) Suggest two real-life applications of parallel processing systems. (2 marks)

Flight simulation program / animation rendering / book circulation system of a large library (any two × 1)

2. A courier service company is planning to acquire two new computer systems. Their uses are as follows:
System A: Processes all the delivery requests made by its customers four times a day, and print the delivery
notes and bills automatically.
System B: Links with System A. Customers can check the current status of their deliveries from this system
online anytime.

(a) Suggest one cost-saving classification of computer system that should be chosen for System A. Explain
your answer briefly. (2 marks)
Batch processing system. (1) It is because scheduled tasks are needed to be executed at a regular time only. (1)

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 15 Computer Systems

(b) Suggest one cost-saving classification of computer system that should be chosen for System B. Explain
your answer briefly. (2 marks)
Online interactive system. (1) It is because the system serves as a web server connecting to the Internet and it is required to respond to

customers’ requests in a short time. (1)

3. (a) Define the term ‘embedded system’. (2 marks)

An embedded system is a specialized microprocessor installed in common household and electronic devices. (2)

(b) Give three examples of household devices equipped with embedded systems. (3 marks)
Microwave oven (1), HDTV decoder (1) and refrigerator (1)

(c) Give three examples of handheld devices equipped with embedded systems. (3 marks)
Mobile phone (1), MP3 player (1), Global Positioning System (GPS) (1)

4. (a) State three advantages of a distributed processing system. (3 marks)

• Resources can be managed more efficiently.

• It provides much better computation performance than any single computer in the network.

• It is more fault tolerant than a single powerful computer.

• It is more cost effective than a single powerful computer.

• It is scalable. (any three × 1)

(b) State two disadvantages of a distributed processing system. (2 marks)

• More technical skills are required in coordinating the tasks. (1)

• More communication channels are needed. (1)

5. Suggest one possible kind of computers for each of the following cases. Explain your answer briefly.
(a) Mary will be taking a short course in England for half a year, and she will bring a kind of computer
with her. (2 marks)
Notebook computer. (1) It is a portable personal computer for data storage and manipulation. (1)

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 mputer System Fundamentals

(b) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States uses a kind of
computer to control astronomical operations and manage space research projects. (2 marks)
Supercomputer. (1) It can handle extremely complicated calculations. (1)

(c) A kind of computer is used in banks to store all customers’ account information and transaction data.
(2 marks)
Mainframe computer. (1) It can manage large-scale database systems. (1)

Long Questions

1. Peter is going to have a business trip. He wants to buy a portable computer so that he can deal with word
documents and e-mails during the trip.

(a) Suggest two appropriate kinds of computers for Peter. (2 marks)

Notebook computer (1) and netbook (or handheld computer) (1)

(b) State four differences between the two kinds of computers you have suggested in part (a). (4 marks)
• A netbook (or handheld computer) is physically smaller than a notebook computer, and hence more portable. (1)

• A netbook (or handheld computer) consumes less power. (1)

• The cost of a netbook (or handheld computer) is lower. (1)

• The processing capability of a notebook computer is higher. (1)

(c) After studying a number of computers in a computer shop, Peter decides to buy a notebook computer.
Below are the specifications of two models of notebooks:

Model A
CPU: Intel Atom Processor N270 Single Core (1.60 GHz, 533 MHz, 512 KB)
OS: Windows XP Home (English)
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Memory: 1 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (667 MHz)
Display: 10.1″″ WSVGA Glossy TFT
Hard drive: 160 GB, 5,400 rpm
Network card: Broadcom 11b/g Wi-Fi wireless
Others: Card reader, Web cam
Weight: 1.17 kg

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Model B
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6570 (2.4 GHz, 1,066 MHz, 2 MB L2 cache)
OS: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic (English)
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce G105M 256 MB
Memory: 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 (2 DIMM)
Display: 15.4″″ WXGA LED AntiGlare
Hard drive: 250 GB hard disk drive, 5,400 rpm
Network card: 1,000 Mbps LAN, 11b/g/n III Wi-Fi wireless LAN
Others: DVD-RW writer, card reader
Weight: 1.88 kg

Suggest one appropriate model for each of the following cases. Briefly explain your suggestion.

(i) During Peter’s business trip, he needs to have video conferences with his manager every day.
(2 marks)
Model A. (1) It is equipped with a web cam, which is necessary for video conferences. (1)

(ii) During Peter’s business trip, he needs to back his business data up from time to time using
DVD-Rs. (2 marks)
Model B. (1) A DVD writer is equipped with this notebook computer. (1)

(iii) Peter uses the notebook computer to play online interactive games. (2 marks)
Model B. (1) It is equipped with larger memory size, a more powerful CPU and a LAN card which supports a much higher data

transmission speed. (1)

2. A certain global bank has two major computer systems, A and B. Computer system A is a server for
managing the large-scale database systems of the bank, and it is connected to a network of 500 computer
systems B, which allow users to access all kinds of banking information provided by computer system A
through the Internet.

(a) What are the classifications of computers used in computer systems A and B respectively? (2 marks)
Computer system A: mainframe computers (1)

Computer system B: network computers / desktop computers (any one × 1)

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 mputer System Fundamentals

(b) The Information and Technology Department of the bank finds that the loading of computer system A
is too heavy and there is little room for it to be expanded. Some engineers of the Department propose
that the bank should replace computer system A with another classification of computer system. The
new system, known as computer system C, should be cost effective and flexible in task management.
Suggest one possible kind of computer system for computer system C. Explain your answer briefly.
(2 marks)
Distributed processing system. (1) It is because it is highly scalable and more cost effective than a single powerful computer. (1)

(c) At the end of each month, the bank uses computer system D to print bank statements to its customers.
Which kind of computer system does computer system D belong to? (1 mark)
Batch processing system (1)

(d) The bank is going to establish a web server, known as computer system E, to provide e-banking service
for its customers. Which kind of computer system does computer system E belong to? (1 mark)
Online interactive system (1)

(e) Arrange computer systems A, C, D and E in ascending order of each of the following aspects
respectively.

(i) The response time of the systems (1 mark)

D < E < A < C (1)

(ii) The set-up cost of the systems (1 mark)

D < E < C < A (1)

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