Computer Studies Paper 2, WASSCE (SC), 2017

Question 5

(a) In a tabular form, state two differences between random access memory and read only memory.
(b) State four characteristics of windows operating system environment.
(c) List two examples of utility programs.

Observation

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RAM AND ROM

S/N	RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM)	READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM)
1	Volatile	Non-volatile
2	Content of RAM can be read, changed or added	Content of ROM can only be read but cannot be changed or added to
3	RAM chips are relatively expensive	ROM chips are relatively less expensive
4	RAM chips are slow	ROM chips are fast
5	RAM is often installed with large storage	Storage capacity of ROM installed in a computer is much lesser
6	RAM stores all the applications and data when the computer is running	ROM usually stores instructions that are required for starting (booting) the computer
7	RAM chips are bigger in size	ROM chips are smaller in size
8	Processor can directly access the content of RAM	Content of ROM are usually first transferred to RAM and then accessed by processor. This is done in order to be able to access ROM content at a faster speed

CHARACTERISTICS OF WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

It is a multi-tasking environment
It is a user-friendly environment
It has usual interactive capabilities
It has object linking and embedment
It has icons which represents commands
Windows enhances easy file transfer
Ease of access of files, folders etc.
It has good security (password/encryption) features
Windows operating system promotes system upgrade
It enables easy searching /organizing of files and folders
System activities can be monitored easily
Default setting can be adjusted /customized
Windows promotes remote desktop connection by entering the IP address of the other computer
Time sharing
Abstraction
Memory management
Multi-user environment

EXAMPLES OF UTILITY PROGRAMS

Editor
Anti-virus
Disk defragmenter
Disk clean-up
Registry cleaner
Scan disk
Device drivers
Firmware

550

Backup software

The question required candidates to differentiate between Random Access Memory and Read Only Memory, state characteristics of windows Operating system and list examples of utility program.

A good number of the candidates attempted the question correctly.