BT-205 Basic Computer Engineering - Dec 2023 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

1. 7 Marks
   aWhat functions do application and system software perform in a computer system? What distinguishes them from one another?
   How to answer

   • Define system software and explain its key functions (hardware abstraction, resource management).
   • Define application software and explain its functions (user-specific tasks).
   • Compare system software and application software based on execution level, dependency, and examples.
2. 7 Marks
   bCould you explain the various memory and storage techniques typically utilized by computers.
   How to answer

   • Explain the computer memory hierarchy (registers, cache, primary, secondary).
   • Describe primary storage: RAM (SRAM, DRAM) and ROM (PROM, EPROM, EEPROM).
   • Describe secondary storage techniques: magnetic storage, optical storage, flash/solid-state storage.
   • Draw memory hierarchy pyramid showing speed, cost, and capacity trends.
3. 7 Marks
   aWhat are the primary features and applications of Microsoft PowerPoint for generating presentations?
   How to answer

   • Introduce Microsoft PowerPoint as presentation software.
   • Enumerate primary features: slide templates, animations, slide transitions, multimedia integration, presenter view.
   • Discuss major applications in education, business reporting, project demonstrations, and marketing.
4. 7 Marks
   bContrast programming paradigms including procedural programming, object-oriented programming and functional programming. Discuss their benefits and drawbacks.
   How to answer

   • Define procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming paradigms.
   • Compare them across focus (functions vs objects vs pure functions), state management, and mutability.
   • Discuss advantages and disadvantages of each paradigm.
   • Provide examples of languages for each (e.g., C, C++/Java, Haskell/Lisp).
5. 7 Marks
   aDiscuss the various sorts of algorithmic complexities, such as time and space complexity, as well as how they are quantified.
   How to answer

   • Define time complexity and space complexity.
   • Explain best, average, and worst-case performance.
   • Explain asymptotic notations: Big-O ($O$), Big-Omega ($\Omega$), and Big-Theta ($\Theta$) used to quantify complexity.
   • Give brief examples of complexity classes like $O(1)$, $O(n)$, $O(n^2)$.
6. 7 Marks
   bCompare and contrast low-level programming languages (e.g., assembly language) and high-level programming languages (e.g., Python) in terms of their characteristics and use cases.
   How to answer

   • Define low-level (machine/assembly) and high-level programming languages.
   • Construct a comparison table detailing abstraction level, memory management, translator requirements, portability, and readability.
   • Discuss suitable use cases for each (e.g., embedded systems/drivers vs application development/data science).
7. 7 Marks
   aExplain what "data types" are used in C++ and what the difference is between "primitive" and "derived" data types? Give an example of each one.
   How to answer

   • Define data types in C++.
   • Explain primitive (built-in) data types: `int`, `char`, `float`, `double`, `bool` with examples.
   • Explain derived data types: arrays, pointers, references, functions with examples.
   • Summarize differences clearly in tabular form.
8. 7 Marks
   bWhat is an operating system, and what are its key responsibilities in a computer system? Also, discuss various types of operating systems now in use.
   How to answer

   • Define an Operating System as an interface between user and hardware.
   • Enumerate key responsibilities: process management, memory management, file management, device/I-O management, security.
   • Describe types of operating systems: Batch OS, Time-Sharing/Multitasking OS, Distributed OS, Network OS, Real-Time OS (RTOS).
9. 7 Marks
   aExplain the inheritance in object-oriented programming and its implications in terms of code reuse and extensibility. Discuss the various forms of inheritance, such as single inheritance, multiple inheritance and multilevel inheritance.
   How to answer

   • Define inheritance in OOP and explain advantages (code reusability, extensibility, polymorphism support).
   • Describe single inheritance with syntax/diagram.
   • Describe multiple inheritance and mention diamond problem ambiguity.
   • Describe multilevel and hierarchical inheritance with schematic class diagrams.
10. 7 Marks
    bDescribe the object-oriented programming concepts of objects and classes. Correlate how classes and objects interact and how it affects the modularity and organization of the code?
    How to answer

    • Define a class (blueprint/user-defined data type) and an object (instance of a class).
    • Explain how objects interact via methods and message passing.
    • Discuss how classes and objects enhance software modularity, encapsulation, maintainability, and code organization.
11. 7 Marks
    aIllustrate the purpose of friend functions in C++ and their importance in gaining access to a class's private and protected members. Explain how to declare and define friend functions with an example
    How to answer

    • Explain the purpose and concept of a friend function in C++.
    • Discuss access privileges to private and protected members.
    • Provide syntax for declaration (`friend` keyword inside class) and definition (outside class without class scope).
    • Provide a minimal C++ code example demonstrating its declaration and usage.
12. 7 Marks
    bIn terms of structure, layering and compatibility with existing network protocols, compare and contrast the ISO-OSI model to the TCP/IP paradigm.
    How to answer

    • Describe the 7 layers of OSI and 4/5 layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite.
    • Map corresponding layers between OSI and TCP/IP (Application, Presentation, Session vs TCP/IP Application layer).
    • Compare structure, design philosophy (theoretical model vs practical implementation), and protocol compatibility.
    • Draw side-by-side layering diagram.
13. 7 Marks
    aDetermine internetworking and the difficulties associated with joining numerous networks. Discuss the importance of technologies such as routers and switches in supporting communication within the internetwork.
    How to answer

    • Define internetworking (connecting distinct networks to form a unified network).
    • Discuss challenges: heterogeneous hardware/protocols, addressing schemes, routing scalability, traffic congestion, security.
    • Explain role of switches (Layer 2 forwarding, collision domain division) and routers (Layer 3 packet routing, logical addressing across subnets).
14. 7 Marks
    bDescribe the fundamentals of computer security as well as several types of malware such as viruses, worms, trojans and spyware. Examine their properties, mechanisms of propagation and potential effects on computer systems.
    How to answer

    • Introduce computer security fundamentals (CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability).
    • Define malware and differentiate between viruses (requires host program), worms (self-replicating/network-propagated), trojans (disguised malicious software), and spyware (unauthorized monitoring).
    • Discuss mechanisms of propagation (downloads, email attachments, network vulnerabilities) and potential harmful effects (data theft, resource consumption, system corruption).
15. 14 Marks
    Explain the following with a suitable example:

    1. a)Data dictionary
    2. b)Cloud infrastructure
    How to answer

    • Data dictionary: Define as a centralized repository of metadata containing definitions, relationships, constraints, and data types of database elements; give an example schema definition.
    • Cloud infrastructure: Define hardware and software components (servers, storage, virtualization, network) powering cloud computing; give examples like AWS EC2, Microsoft Azure with service models (IaaS/PaaS/SaaS).