UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2018/2019
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/ APPLIED COMPUTING/ BUSINESS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1109/ BBIT 102/ BAC 1101: COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND
APPLICATIONS
FULL TIME/PART TIME/ DISTANCE LEARNING
DATE: AUGUST, 2019 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: ATTEMPT QUESTIONS ONE AND ANY OTHER TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) Kamau is an examination officer at KCA University. Currently the examination results
are kept in the computer but he read in the newspaper that data in the computer can get
lost but he did not understand how that can happen. Explain briefly the FOUR causes of
computer data loss. (4 Marks)
b) Discuss TWO circumstances under which the dot matrix printer would be a suitable
output device in an organization. (2 Marks)
c) Outline FOUR limitations of a touch screen as an output device. (4 Marks)
d) For each category listed, provide two examples: (5 Marks)
i. Operating systems
ii. Application software
iii. Freeware
iv. Utility software
v. Database management software(DBMS)
e) Discuss the THREE documents necessary in creating a mail merge document
(6 Marks)
f) Explain THREE limitations of a manual database that have since been overcome by
electronic database management system. (3 Marks)
g) Explain TWO circumstances under which an organization would install a ring topology
network. (2 Marks)
h) Outline FOUR ways you can apply word processing program within the industry.
(4 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) A computer system contains various types of memories. Explain any FIVE types of these
computer memories. (10 Marks)
b) A student wants to transfer all files in the desktop of a computer to a new folder in drive
C. state the steps he should follow. (4 Marks)
c) Off the shelf software is preferred for small/medium sized business. Discuss THREE
reasons that could inform such a decision (3 Marks)
d) Outline the procedure used in selecting the following in ms-word
i. An entire paragraph (1 Mark)
ii. An entire sentence (1 Mark)
iii. An entire document (1 Mark)
QUESTION THREE
a) A large manufacturing firm has opened distribution outlets in three regions within the
country and intends to connect them using computer networks
i. Describe the type of network that you would recommend to the firm (2 Marks)
ii. Outline THREE appropriate devices that could be used during installation of
such a network (3 Marks)
iii. Explain THREE benefits that the organization will get for installing the network
(3 Marks)
b) Using examples in each case differentiate between relative referencing and absolute
referencing. (4 Marks)
c) Describe any TWO type of user interfaces used in operating systems (4 Marks)
d) Highlight TWO health related problems that would be caused by each of the following
devices:
i. Keyboard (2 Marks)
ii. CRT visual display unit (2 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) There are FIVE computer generations. They all describe technological advancement in
both hardware and software. Describe THREE features of both the FIRST and FIFTH
generation computers. (6 Marks)
b) Mito college has created a database file to store details of the students. The database
contains the following fields; Name, Date of birth, Adm no, Passport photo, Gender and
next of kin
i. Define the term database (1 Mark)
ii. Allocate the most appropriate data type for each field (6 Marks)
iii. Write an expression that would be used to extract records for students whose age
is above 18years and below 25 years (2 Marks)
c) State the function of the following features in Ms-word:
i. Thesaurus (1 Mark)
ii. Format painter (1 Mark)
iii. Indentation (1 Mark)
iv. Watermark (1 Mark)
v. Drop cap (1 Mark)
QUESTION FIVE
a) With the aid of a diagram, illustrate THREE types of charts that might be used to
analyze business trends in spreadsheet. (6 Marks)
b) Outline FOUR characteristics of the second generation languages (4 Marks)
c) Distinguish between the following terms:
i. Worksheet and workbook (2 Marks)
ii. End note and footer (2 Marks)
iii. Operating system and application software (2 Marks)
iv. Superscript and subscript (2 Marks)
v. Printer and plotter (2 Marks)
