Grade 12 Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Theory Review

Practice questions and answers covering all major topics of the Grade 12 Computer Applications Technology (CAT) theory curriculum, including hardware, software, networking, security, and information management.

What does the term ICT refer to?

Technology that gives access to information by using telecommunication, obtained from either a telephone or a computer network.

Which five basic principles do all computers operate under?

Input, processing, storage, output, and communication.

What is the difference between data and information?

Data is raw, unorganised numbers, signals, or facts, whereas information refers to facts and numbers that have been organised so they are useful to people.

What is technological convergence?

A term used to describe a situation where multiple technologies are combined to deliver a new and more exciting product, such as a smartphone.

What is meant by 'green computing'?

The study of designing, manufacturing, using, and disposing of hardware, software, and networks in a way that reduces their environmental impact.

What are the four levels of the information management hierarchy referred to as the DIKW pyramid?

Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom.

What are the five main steps of the information-processing cycle?

Input, Processing, Storage, Output, and Communication.

What does the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) do?

It is a specialised processing unit responsible for rendering and displaying images on the screen.

How much faster can RAM typically be compared to the fastest storage devices?

As much as $90 \times$ faster.

What is the standard measurement for processor speed?

$GHz$ (Gigahertz), which refers to the CPU frequency.

What is the storage capacity of a standard Blu-ray disc?

$50\,GB$.

What are the common rotational speeds for internal hard drives?

A starting point is $7\,200$ revolutions per minute ($RPM$).

What does OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software do?

It converts text on a scanned document into text that can be used in a word-processing application.

What are the three main factors to consider when evaluating a computer screen?

Pixels (resolution), screen size (measured in inches), and refresh rate (measured in $Hz$).

What characterizes a 2.1 speaker system?

It has two channels (left and right) for higher frequencies and a subwoofer that produces lower frequencies (bass).

What is the role of an operating system?

Controlling a computer’s hardware and software, providing a user interface, and managing the computer’s resources.

What is the purpose of the Task Manager in Windows?

It allows the user to see which tasks and applications are running, ending non-responsive programs, and monitoring resource usage like CPU and memory.

What is the difference between a software patch and a service pack?

A patch is a small update to fix specific problems, while a service pack is a bundle of several update patches.

What is User-centred design (UCD)?

A design process where developers design software based on the focus and needs of the users.

What is the function of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP)?

A standard network protocol used to transfer files between a computer and a network server.

What is the difference between grid computing and cloud computing?

Grid computing coordination uses a group of networked computers to solve a common problem, while cloud computing uses remote servers on the internet to store data or run software.

What is 'throttling' in the context of internet connections?

A purposeful slowing of available bandwidth, often used by ISPs to decrease congestion during certain times of the day.

What is the purpose of a firewall?

Monitoring all incoming and outgoing traffic on a network and blocking any traffic that does not meet security rules.

What is 'phishing'?

A type of attack that tries to obtain sensitive information, like usernames and passwords, by sending emails that look like official company emails.

What are the five steps of the problem-solving cycle?

1. Define the problem, 2. Identify possible solutions, 3. Choose a solution, 4. Implement the solution, 5. Review the solution.

In a spreadsheet, what does the $VLOOKUP$ function do?

It searches for a value in the left-most column and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.

What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication?

Synchronous requires both parties to be available at the same time (e.g., phone calls), while asynchronous allows messages to be sent regardless of availability (e.g., email).

What is the 'boot process'?

The process of starting a computer, which involves loading software into memory before it can be executed.

What is disk defragmentation?

A utility that reorganises the data on a hard drive so that file pieces are closer to each other, improving drive speed.

What does the acronym RSS stand for?

Really Simple Syndication; it is used to easily distribute headlines, update notices, and content to many people.

Define 'geotagging'.

The process of attaching geographical data (latitude, longitude, altitude) to media like photos, videos, and websites.

What is 'cyber bullying'?

Using internet technology to bully, harass, or ridicule someone, often taking advantage of online anonymity.