ICAS Digital Technologies 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student notices her program sometimes gives wrong answers because of rounding decimal numbers. This is MOST likely caused by:
- A syntax error
- Floating-point precision limitations (Correct answer)
- A logic error in an if-statement
- An infinite loop
Correct answer: Floating-point precision limitations
Floating-point numbers cannot represent every decimal value exactly in binary, which can cause small rounding errors in calculations.
Question 2: Which of the following sorting algorithms repeatedly finds the minimum element and places it at the beginning?
- Bubble sort
- Selection sort (Correct answer)
- Merge sort
- Quick sort
Correct answer: Selection sort
Selection sort scans the unsorted portion of the list, selects the smallest element, and swaps it into its correct position at the front.
Question 3: In cybersecurity, what does '2FA' stand for?
- Two-Factor Authentication (Correct answer)
- Two-File Access
- Total Firewall Activation
- Transfer File Authorization
Correct answer: Two-Factor Authentication
2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) requires users to provide two different types of verification before accessing an account, increasing security.
Question 4: Which of the following BEST describes an algorithm?
- A type of computer hardware
- A step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem (Correct answer)
- A programming language
- A network security protocol
Correct answer: A step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem
An algorithm is a finite, ordered set of well-defined instructions designed to perform a task or solve a problem.
Question 5: What is the main advantage of using a 'relational database' over a flat-file database?
- It stores data in a single table only
- It links related data across multiple tables, reducing duplication (Correct answer)
- It can only be accessed offline
- It automatically backs up files to the cloud
Correct answer: It links related data across multiple tables, reducing duplication
A relational database organizes data into linked tables, which eliminates redundancy and makes it easier to query and maintain large datasets.
Question 6: Which unit measures processor speed?
- Gigabytes (GB)
- Megapixels (MP)
- Gigahertz (GHz) (Correct answer)
- Terabits (Tb)
Correct answer: Gigahertz (GHz)
Processor (CPU) speed is measured in Hertz (Hz) — typically Gigahertz (GHz) — which indicates how many clock cycles per second the processor can execute.
Question 7: A student wants her website to look good on both phones and desktop computers. Which design approach should she use?
- Fixed-width layout
- Responsive web design (Correct answer)
- Black-and-white color scheme
- Flash-based animation
Correct answer: Responsive web design
Responsive web design uses flexible grids and media queries to adapt the layout automatically to different screen sizes and devices.
ICAS Digital Technologies 5
A student notices her program sometimes gives wrong answers because of rounding decimal numbers.
This is MOST likely caused by: