Data Processing SS2 Examination Questions and Answers

Data Processing SS2 Examination Questions and Answers

This Data processing  SS2 Examination Questions pack is designed to test students’ understanding of database concepts, data security, indexing, normalization, file organization, and database management systems.

The questions are structured in two sections: Objective (Section A) and Theory (Section B), with complete answers provided for revision and marking purposes.

SECTION A – Objective Questions

1. Data security is mainly concerned with
   A. Increasing database size
   B. Protecting data from corruption and unauthorized access
   C. Monitoring electricity usage
   D. Deleting unused files
2. Ensuring privacy while protecting personal data is the goal of
   A. Data mining
   B. Data security
   C. System formatting
   D. Encryption alone
3. The process of identifying what could happen if data is lost is
   A. Auditing
   B. Risk assessment
   C. Debugging
   D. Authentication
4. Risk assessment helps an organization to
   A. Increase redundancy
   B. Identify possible data threats
   C. Slow down the system
   D. Delete records
5. The best security against data misuse involves
   A. Technical measures only
   B. Physical security only
   C. Trained staff only
   D. Technical, physical, and staff education combined
6. Access control refers to
   A. Allowing everyone access
   B. Restricting access to a resource
   C. Encrypting files only
   D. Increasing RAM size
7. Permission to access a resource is known as
   A. Authorization
   B. Verification
   C. Validation
   D. Formatting
8. Database auditing involves
   A. Creating extra tables
   B. Observing user activities for security
   C. Formatting the database
   D. Adding new users
9. Authentication allows a user to
   A. Log into a system with privileges
   B. Shut down the database
   C. Delete audit trails
   D. Clone user accounts
10. An example of an authentication factor is
    A. Table name
    B. Fingerprint
    C. Record size
    D. Field length
11. A database index is used to
    A. Slow down searching
    B. Speed up data retrieval
    C. Delete duplicate tables
    D. Make the database larger
12. An index entry consists of
    A. Username and password
    B. Search key and pointer
    C. Table name and size
    D. Primary key only
13. A search key in an index is used to
    A. Format the database
    B. Sort index entries
    C. Delete rows
    D. Enter passwords
14. When a table has an index
    A. Its records are sorted in some way
    B. Its columns increase automatically
    C. It cannot be queried
    D. It loses its primary key
15. Primary and unique constraints
    A. Automatically create indexes
    B. Destroy index files
    C. Prevent data retrieval
    D. Remove foreign keys
16. A clustered index determines
    A. How columns are named
    B. The physical order of table rows
    C. The file size
    D. The user password
17. A table can have
    A. One clustered index
    B. Unlimited clustered indexes
    C. No clustered index
    D. Three clustered indexes
18. A clustered index stores
    A. Random values only
    B. Related values close to each other
    C. Data in unsorted form
    D. Only primary keys
19. Clustered indexes are costly to maintain because
    A. They delete keys automatically
    B. Updates may require moving data entries
    C. They increase the number of users
    D. They remove search keys
20. The technique used by indexes to search efficiently is
    A. Tree structure
    B. Waterfall model
    C. Spiral structure
    D. Bubble sort only
21. Normalization is mainly concerned with
    A. Increasing redundancy
    B. Minimizing redundancy and removing design flaws
    C. Removing all users
    D. Slowing down searches
22. Normalization ensures
    A. Duplicate tables
    B. Logical data dependencies
    C. Multiple values in single cells
    D. No relationship between tables
23. First Normal Form (1NF) requires
    A. Atomic (single) values
    B. Multiple values per field
    C. No primary key
    D. Repeating groups
24. Second Normal Form (2NF) requires
    A. Removing subsets of data into separate tables
    B. Deleting foreign keys
    C. No unique attributes
    D. Removing tables completely
25. Third Normal Form (3NF) requires
    A. Meeting 1NF and 2NF
    B. Removing columns not fully dependent on the primary key
    C. Both A and B
    D. Removing the primary key
26. A Database Management System (DBMS) is
    A. Hardware device
    B. Software for defining and maintaining databases
    C. A computer virus
    D. A storage battery
27. A key in a database is
    A. A field used to identify records
    B. A password
    C. A file name
    D. A table title
28. A primary key
    A. Uniquely identifies a record
    B. Must contain duplicates
    C. Can be empty
    D. Changes every second
29. A foreign key is used to
    A. Link tables together
    B. Delete parent tables
    C. Erase the database
    D. Break relationships
30. A foreign key must reference
    A. A primary key or super key in another table
    B. Any random field
    C. An empty column
    D. A deleted record

Answers to Section A

1. B
2. B
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. B
11. B
12. B
13. B
14. A
15. A
16. B
17. A
18. B
19. B
20. A
21. B
22. B
23. A
24. A
25. C
26. B
27. A
28. A
29. A
30. A

SECTION B – Theory Questions and Answers

Question 1

Relational Modelling:
Relational modelling is a database design method that organizes data into tables (relations) consisting of rows and columns. It defines how data is stored, accessed, and related within a database.

Importance:

• Reduces data redundancy.
• Improves data integrity and consistency.
• Makes data easier to query and manage.

Types of Relationships:

• One-to-One (1:1): One record relates to one record (e.g., one student has one ID card).
• One-to-Many (1:M): One record relates to many records (e.g., one teacher teaches many students).

Primary Key:
A primary key is a field that uniquely identifies each record in a table.

Importance:

• Prevents duplicate records.
• Maintains entity integrity.

Entity vs Attribute:
Entity: A real-world object (e.g., Student).
Attribute: A property of an entity (e.g., Student Name).

Question 2

Sequential File Organization: Records are stored one after another in a specific order.
Direct File Organization: Records are stored at specific locations using hashing or direct access methods.

Comparison:

• Storage: Sequential – ordered storage; Direct – random storage.
• Access Speed: Sequential – slow; Direct – fast.
• Updating: Sequential – difficult; Direct – easy.
• Searching: Sequential – linear search; Direct – direct lookup.
• Uses: Sequential – payroll systems; Direct – banking systems.

Question 3

File Organization: The method of arranging records in a storage device.

• Sequential: Records stored in order.
• Direct/Random: Records accessed directly via address.
• Indexed Sequential: Uses index to speed up sequential access.
• Heap: Records stored without order.

Question 4

Normalization: Process of organizing data to reduce redundancy.
DBMS: Software used to create and manage databases.
Normal Form: A level of database structure that reduces redundancy.

1NF: All values must be atomic.
2NF: Must be in 1NF and remove partial dependency.
3NF: Must be in 2NF and remove transitive dependency.

Goals of Normalization:

• Reduce redundancy.
• Improve data integrity.