Computer Science Topic 1.1 Questions
Computer Science Topic 1.1 Questions
Topic Questions
This document is to help consolidate knowledge and review topics after learning the
content. A time has been given if you want to time yourself you don’t need to and you
should do at your own pace if you wish. The time adds roughly 10 minutes extra just like
the exam. Aim for a mark a minute if doing this timed.
Some Questions may overlap with other topics. If you don’t know the
knowledge for that overlap question or cannot be asked just skip it.
I don’t have OCR ExamBuilder so I cannot do much about overlap questions
(same applies with the mark scheme at the end of the document)
Not all topics can be covered given the timeframe of papers I have used so it is still up to
you to go through the specification and practice content from the other papers.
2017 Questions 2
Answer all questions.
(a) The firm uses high end computers with high performance CPUs, GPUs and large amounts of
RAM.
(i) Give one use the firm might have for GPUs.
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(i) State the name of and describe two methods that the operating system can use to divide
the contents of RAM.
Method 1
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Method 2
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(ii) Explain, giving an example, why the firm’s computers use operating systems capable of
multi-tasking.
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(c) The computers in the office are connected to a LAN which is connected to the Internet.
Give one advantage and one disadvantage to the architects’ firm of a client-server set
up rather than a peer to peer setup.
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(ii) The LAN is connected to the Internet via a firewall. Describe the term ‘firewall’.
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ten DAT 10
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(ii) Complete the table below determining whether the program branches to pass or fail
given the following values in the Accumulator when it is run.
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(b) The complete program is shown below:
INP
main STA entry
BRA test
fail LDA entry
ADD one
BRA main
entry DAT
ten DAT 10
one DAT 1
(i) Give one instruction in the program that when executed, changes the value in the
Accumulator.
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(ii) Give one instruction in the program that when executed, changes the value in the Program
Counter.
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(iii) State the value the code outputs for the input 18.
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(iv) State the value the code outputs for the input 37.
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© OCR 2017 Turn over
2018 Questions 2
Answer all the questions.
1 A digital coffee making machine has a CPU that uses the Little Man Computer Instruction Set.
(a) Little Man Computer operates on a computer system based on the Von Neumann Architecture.
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(ii) Describe one feature, not part of the standard Von Neumann Architecture, which
contemporary CPUs may have in order to improve performance.
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(b) Part of the coffee making machine’s code asks the user to press a button to select strength.
The code outputs 1 which will switch on a green light to indicate a valid selection or outputs 0
to indicate an invalid selection.
INP
STA entry
LDA max
SUB entry
BRP accept
LDA redLight
BRA printAndEnd
accept LDA greenLight
printAndEnd OUT
HLT
greenLight DAT 1
redLight DAT 0
max DAT 5
entry DAT
Fig. 1
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(i) Tick the appropriate boxes below to indicate which inputs will result in a green light
(i.e. code outputs 1) and which with a red light.
(ii) Explain which registers and buses are used, and the values they store/carry, when the
line LDA redLight is executed (after it has been fetched and decoded). You should
assume the address redLight refers to memory location 11.
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(iv)* Discuss the differences between assembly code and high-level languages. You should
refer to:
• the advantages and disadvantages of writing programs in assembly code rather
than a high-level language
• when each approach might be used
• why the coffee machine was programmed in assembly code.
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2019 Questions 2
1 A company releases an in-home virtual assistant called ‘Bertie Butler’.
The device, when placed in a room, listens out for the phrase “Hey Bertie”. When someone says
that phrase it then listens to the question that follows and tries to give a relevant answer.
(a) Name one input device and one output device that might be part of Bertie Butler. For each
device give a reason for it being built into the virtual assistant.
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(c) Bertie Butler’s circuitry is designed to only listen out for “Hey Bertie” under certain
circumstances, which are:
The privacy button (P) must be off and the microphone must generate a signal (S) to say a
sound has been heard.
(i) Complete the truth table for whether the device is listening (L).
P S L
False False
False True
True False
True True
[2]
[3]
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INP
STA num
loop LDA total
ADD num
STA total
LDA count
ADD one
STA count
SUB num
BRZ end
BRA loop
end LDA total
OUT
HLT
one DAT 1
num DAT 0
count DAT 0
total DAT 0
(a) State what the program outputs are for the following inputs.
Input Output
1
2
3
[3]
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(c) Explain which registers are used and their values when the line STA count is executed and
the accumulator is holding the value 9. The label count refers to memory location 16.
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Whilst the line STA count is being executed, the CPU receives a signal from another process,
requiring its attention.
(d) State the name for the signal received by the CPU.
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(e) The code uses direct addressing. Describe one other mode of addressing.
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(a) Giving an example other than DVDs, describe what is meant by the term ‘optical media’.
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(b) Give one advantage of films being distributed using optical media.
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Adding a DVD drive to a computer would often require the installation of a piece of software called
a device driver.
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It is now common for people to purchase films which, rather than having a physical copy of, they
can stream or download over the internet whenever they want.
(d) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of owning films that are streamed or downloaded
on demand rather than owning a physical copy.
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Being able to stream high resolution films is only possible due to improvements in compression.
(e) Explain why compression is important for the streaming of high resolution films.
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Mnemonic Instruction
ADD Add
SUB Subtract
STA
LDA Load
Branch always
BRZ
BRP
INP Input
OUT Output
End program
(a) Complete the table above to show the missing mnemonics and instructions. [5]
(b) Write a program using the Little Man Computer instruction set that will allow a user to input
two numbers and then output the larger of the two numbers. The program should loop
continuously.
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© OCR 2020
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ii Multitasking allows the user to run more than 2 Accept any reasonable work related answer
one program at the same time. (1)
E.g. running CAD software whilst checking (AO1.1 –
emails. (1) 1 mark
AO1.2 – 1
mark )
some pages may contain other questions, you can logically assume what questions on the MS you need
to mark and those you need to ignore.
4
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2017
Disadvantage:
- Central point of failure. (1)
iii Prevent unauthorised access to a network. (1) 1 Accept for MP1 malicious attacks/traffic
To restrict applications that are used internally that
have internet access. (1) (AO 1.2)
To restrict websites that can be accessed from within
the company. (1)
To protect the company’s data/intellectual property.
(1)
(Max 1)
5
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2017
ii (F∨G) ∧ E 2 Accept:
(AO2.2) (G∨F) ∧ E
Send the key/password out on the release date (1) (AO2.2) Use Digital Rights Management/DRM…
b i LDA (1) 1
SUB (1)
ADD (1) (AO1.2)
INP (1)
(Max 1)
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H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2017
ii BRA (1) 1
BRP (1)
BRZ (1) (AO1.2)
(Max 1)
iii 20 1
(AO2.1)
iv 40 1
(AO2.1)
v Rounds up (the number input)… (1) 2 Rounds to multiple of ten gets one mark.
6 a i 10111100 1
(AO1.2)
ii BC 1
(AO1.2)
b i 10101100 1
(AO1.2)
12
2018 Question Mark Scheme
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
9
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
Virtual cores/Hyper-threadingTM …
…Treating a physical core as two virtual cores.
Multiple Cores…
…Each core acts as a separate processing unit.
Onboard Graphics…
…Built in circuitry for graphics processing.
10
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
11
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
12
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
The candidate is able to apply their knowledge and As high level code is more intuitive and easier to read it
understanding directly to the context provided although is easier to follow, debug and build as part of a team. It
one or two opportunities are missed. can also be written in a much shorter time frame.
Evidence/examples are for the most part implicitly The high level code can be recompiled for different
relevant to the explanation. architectures.
High level languages come in a variety of paradigms so
The candidate provides a sound discussion, the programmers can choose according to the
majority of which is focused. Evaluative comments are problem/their preference.
for the most part appropriate, although one or two
opportunities for development are missed. AO3
Assembly language is best suited to situations such as:
13
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2018
0 marks
No attempt to answer the question or
response is not worthy of credit.
14
2019 Question Mark Scheme
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2019
Output Device
Speaker…
…To play the device’s responses
LEDs…
…To indicate the device is on/listening
Screen…
…To show visual information
− CCC AO1.2
− ... followed by MMMCCCC
(1 per -, max 2)
− 4C1O AO1.2
− Followed by 3L5C
− Followed by 1M1O5C
d − Correct function name and parameter 5 E.g.
AND the function returns a value. function longest(sequence)
− Use of a loop to correctly iterate AO3.2 currentRun = 0
through the sequence biggestRun = 0
− Adds one to a running total when a C is for i = 0 To sequence.length - 1
encountered if sequence.substring(i, 1) == "C" then
− -when character changes from a C if currentRun = currentRun + 1
running total is > maximum, overwrites else
maximum… if currentRun > biggestRun then
− …correctly reset running total biggestRun = currentRun
end if
1 mark per -, max 5 currentRun = 0
endif
next i
return biggestRun
endfunction
3 a Input Output 3
1 1
2 4 AO3.3
3 9
1 per row, max 3
b Squares a number / multiplies a number by 1
itself AO3.3
c − The value 16 is copied to the MAR 2
− The contents of the of the ACC (i.e. 9)
are copied to the MDR AO2.2
− The value 9 is copied to location
16/count
1 per -, max 2
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2019
d Interrupt 1 cao
AO1.1
e − Immediate addressing… 2
− …operand is the value to be used.
− Indirect Addressing… AO1.1
− …operand is the memory location
holding a value representing the
memory location to be used.
− Indexed Addressing…
− …Operand is added to contents of
Index Register to get memory location
of value needed.
(1 mark for naming addressing mode, 1 mark
for correct description)
4 a One from 2 Accept legacy media such as laserdisc and videodisc.
− read/written to, using a laser Do not accept DVD variants (DVD-R, DVD-RW etc)
− read/written onto a reflective surface AO1.1
− data is stored using pits and lands
Plus example
− Eg. Blu-Ray/CD
(1 per - , max 2)
b − Cheap to produce/buy 1
− Capacity big enough to hold film AO1.1
− Robust enough to be used over long
periods/ moved around
− Portable
− Does not need an internet connection
(1 per - , max 1)
c A program that enables communication 1
between an operating system and a AO1.1
(hardware) device.
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2019
d Advantages 4
− Can access film (and indeed entire AO1.2
library) from anywhere with an internet
connection
− No physical storage needed
− No risk of films being
stolen/damaged/lost
− Optical/disk player hardware not
required to play film
Disadvantage
− Reliant on having an (fast enough)
internet connection.
− Need enough storage for download
− Reliant on servers of the company
providing the connection.
− People like having a physical copy
− If the company providing the stream
goes out of business, copy is lost.
(1 per -, max 4. If only advantages or
disadvantages, max 3)
H446/01 Mark Scheme June 2019
(1 per -, max 3)
5 a tuple / record / list 1 Don't accept array
AO2.1
b 228 1 cao
AO2.1
2020 Question Mark Scheme
H446-01 Mark Scheme November 2020
Question Answer Mark Guidance
7 (a) • Store value in accumulator at address given 5
• BRA // BR Mnemonic Instruction
• Branch if zero AO1.1
ADD Add
• Branch if zero or positive SUB Subtract
• HLT // COB // END Store value in
STA accumulator at
address given
Load (to
LDA
accumulator)
BRA Branch always
BRZ Branch if zero
Branch if zero or
BRP
positive
INP Input
OUT Output
HLT End program
7 (b) • Inputs two numbers 6 Example answer
• ..stores at least one of them start INP
• Comparison / subtraction to decide which is larger AO3.2 STA x
• Jump / output if num1 larger INP
• Jump / output if num2 larger or nums equal STA y
• Loops back to start after either output SUB x
BRP first
LDA x
OUT
BRA start
first LDA y
OUT
BRA start
x DAT
y DAT