Eca0001:Computer Applications Question Paper
Eca0001:Computer Applications
Course:Diploma In Civil Engineering
Institution: Meru University Of Science And Technology question papers
Exam Year:2013
a. With the aid of an example explain clearly the difference between operating systems software and
application software. (4 Marks)
b. Give two examples of:
i. An input device. (2 Marks)
ii. An output device (2 Marks)
c. Describe any two features of desktop publishing software that makes it more suitable for producing
magazines than word processing software. (4 Marks)
d. Name any two secondary storage devices. (2 Marks)
e. State two advantages of a word processor over a typewriter. (2 Marks)
f. Explain any two reasons why some applications are only suited to run in mainframe computers.
(4 Marks)
g. A teacher has decided to increase the end semester mark of each student by 2%. If 2% is in cell A1
and students marks are in cells C2 to C20. Using spreadsheets explain how he can make use of
absolute cell addressing to do this. (4 Marks)
h. State three advantages of buying software instead of writing one. (3 Marks)
i. State an instance in which written software would be preferred over buying one. (1 Mark)
j. Describe how you would use a word processor to search and replace every occurrence of the word
woman with word person. (2 Marks)
QUESTION TWO – 15 MARKS
a. One of the functions of computers is to process and provide storage for information.
i. Explain any three ways in which doctors and nurses would benefit from the use of
computers in the hospitals. (6 Marks)
ii. Explain any three ways in which a car industry would benefit the customers from the use of
computers. (6 Marks)
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b. Susan a student in form one would like to carry out the following tasks using a keyboard:
i. Quickly display the start menu
ii. Create a blank space between two characters
iii. Remove a character to the left of the cursor
For each of the tasks, state the appropriate key she can use to achieve her objective. (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE – 15 MARKS
a. Input devices can be categorized according to how they are used to enter data namely keying
devices, pointing devices, scanning devices, speech recognition devices and digital devices. Give
one example of each of the following devices:
i. Scanning devices (1 Mark)
ii. Digital devices (1 Mark)
iii. Pointing devices (1 Mark)
iv. Scanning devices (1 Mark)
v. Speech recognition devices (1 Mark)
b. Explain any five functions of an operating system. (10 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR – 15 MARKS
a. Choge entered the value 23455675656 in a cell of a spreadsheet. After pressing enter the cell
displayed ############.
i. Explain why the numbers entered were not displayed as expected (3 Marks)
ii. Suggest two things that you would do to correct the situation so that entered numbers can be
displayed as expected. (4 Marks)
b. The figure below shows an extract of students data created in a spreadsheet program. Use it to
answer the questions that follows:
A B C D E F G
1 STUDENT ENG MATHS CHEM TOTAL MEAN COMMENT
2 JOHN 40 43 65
3 JAMES 70 45 45
4 MARK 90 67 78
5 JUNE 78 54 56
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Using cell addresses only, write a formula that would be used to obtain the following: (8 Marks)
i. Highest score in Mathematics
ii. Lowest score in English
iii. Total score for John
iv. Mean score for June
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QUESTION FIVE – 15 MARKS
a. The following is a description of a computer a school intends to buy:
1.2gHz processor
512MB of RAM
1.2GB harddisk
DVD ROM
Explain the meaning of:
i. 1.2GHZ (1 Mark)
ii. 512MB (1 Mark)
iii. 1.2GB (1 Mark)
iv. DVD (1 Mark)
b. Distinguish between LAN and MAN network. (2 Marks)
c. How would you hide a ruler guide while using a desktop publisher like Microsoft publisher?
(2 Marks)
d. In what way is cropping different from resizing? (2 Marks)
e. Object wrapping is defining how text behaves around an object for example a picture. Identify five
object wrapping options available in desktop publishing. (5 Marks)
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