Primary & Secondary Storage (OCR GCSE Computer Science)

Exam Questions

1 hour12 questions
1a3 marks

Nina wants to transfer photos from a digital camera to an external secondary storage device.

Identify the three common types of storage Nina can choose from.

1b4 marks

State four characteristics of secondary storage devices that Nina should consider when choosing a device.

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22 marks

Ali’s tablet computer has ROM (read only memory).

Describe the purpose of ROM in Ali’s tablet computer.

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3a5 marks

Both computers have RAM and ROM.

The table has five statements describing RAM and/or ROM.

Tick (✓) one or more boxes in each row to identify if that statement describes RAM and/or ROM.

RAM

ROM

Stores data

The memory is volatile

Data will not be lost when the computer is turned off

Data is read-only, cannot be changed

Stores currently running data and instructions

3b1 mark

Give one difference between RAM and flash memory.

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1a1 mark

A smart television allows the user to search the Internet and watch videos online.

The smart television has both RAM and ROM.

State the difference between RAM and ROM.

1b2 marks

Give two examples of data that the smart television could store in RAM.

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2a2 marks

The smart television has secondary storage.

State, using an example, why the smart television needs secondary storage.

2b4 marks

Identify one appropriate type of secondary storage for the smart television. Justify your choice.

Secondary storage type

Justification

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31 mark

Nina wants to transfer photos from a digital camera to an external secondary storage device.

Define what is meant by ‘secondary storage’.

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43 marks

Tick (✓) one box in each row to show whether each of the statements is true for the RAM or ROM in a Sat Nav.

RAM

ROM

Stores the boot up sequence of the Sat Nav.

The contents are lost when the Sat Nav is turned off.

Holds copies of open maps and routes.

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58 marks

A computer system has a 2.5 GHz processor and 5 GB of RAM.

Complete the paragraph about memory by writing the missing terms in the spaces, using the words provided.

cache

data

hard drive

write

instructions

changed

closing

memory stick

operator

primary

random

virtual

read

secondary

start-up

translator

ROM stands for ................................. only memory.

This stores the ................................. instructions for a computer and cannot be ................................. .

RAM stands for ................................. access memory. This stores the instructions and ................................. that are currently being used. If the computer does not have enough RAM to run a process it can make use of ................................. memory.

RAM and ROM are both examples of ..................memory.

Memory located close to the processor that allows faster access than from RAM is called ........................memory.

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6a2 marks

Charlie has purchased a new tablet computer. The tablet has an internal secondary storage device.

Describe what the internal secondary storage device will store.

6b3 marks

The storage device is a solid state device.

Give three benefits of the tablet having a solid state device instead of a magnetic device.

6c2 marks

Give two drawbacks of the tablet having a solid state device instead of a magnetic device.

Drawback 1

Drawback 2

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1a1 mark

Kerry has 5GB of files to transfer from her laptop at work to her new computer. She has been told to buy an external solid state device to do this.

Give one example of a solid state device.

1b1 mark

Identify whether the device given in part (a) is an example of primary or secondary memory.

1c8 marks

Kerry was originally going to use an optical storage device to transfer her files.

Discuss whether an optical or solid state device is the most appropriate media to transfer these files.

You may want to consider the following characteristics in your answer:

  • portability

  • robustness

  • capacity

  • cost

1d2 marks

The filesizes of Kerry’s files are usually displayed in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

Calculate how many MB are in 5GB. Show your working.

MB

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2a2 marks

William is creating a film for a school project using a digital video camera.

The digital video camera has a secondary storage device.

Explain why the digital video camera needs secondary storage.

2b4 marks

The digital video camera uses solid state storage.

Explain why solid state storage is the most appropriate type of storage for the digital video camera.

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3a3 marks

Alicia's computer only has 2GB of RAM, but she says that virtual memory can be used instead of adding more RAM.

Explain how virtual memory can compensate for the lack of RAM in Alicia’s computer.

3b2 marks

Explain why it would be beneficial for Alicia to get more RAM instead of relying on virtual memory.

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