The internet

Question
A company advertises its internet broadband speeds as follows
 Download speed of 128 megabits per second
 Upload speed of 16 megabits per second
a) Explain what is meant by the two terms download speed and upload
speed. [2]
b) Give two advantages of using broadband rather than dial-up. [2]
c) Give two different scenarios when a fast broadband connection is
essential. [2]
d) How many 4-megabyte files could be downloaded per second using
this company’s broadband? [1]
Solution
a) Download speed : speed at which information is transferred
from a server to the user’s computer
Upload speed: speed at which information is transferred
from the user’s computer to a server.
b) – by using broadband, both the internet connection and the
telephone line can be used at the same time.
-broadband has more bandwidth and much faster data
transfer speed compared to dial up.
c) – a fast broadband connection is necessary for video
conferencing and using VOIP.
- streaming video and audio files on the internet requires fast
broadband connection
Other scenarios include: uploading large files, sending emails
with large attachments, updating software, making online
transactions, using virtual learning environments
d) 128 megabits/second = 128 ÷ 8 megabytes/second = 16
megabytes/second
hence , number of 4-megabyte files downloaded per second = 16
÷ 4 = 4files

Question
Each evening a travelling salesperson uses a laptop computer and a
modem to log on to an internet service provider (ISP) to read the email.
 1. Explain why a modem is needed to communicate with an ISP (2)
2. Describe two ways that the ISP fileserver will check that the
salesperson is an authorised user (2)
3. Describe three services, other than e-mail and connection the
internet, that the ISP may offer. (3)
4. Explain what the internet is. (2)

Suggested Solution:
1. Modem converts digital signals to analogue signals so that
they could be used to sent down the telephone line (short
for modulation and de-modulation).
2. -Check the user ID
-Check the password

3. -Online news
-facility to develop your own website
-down loading software
4. it can be described as a matrix of networks. It is world
wide and data on anyone network is accessible by a computer on
other network by means of telecommunication links.

Question
A tourist information centre has its own website

(a) Explain the main purpose of the modem and the

Internet Service Provider (ISP) that the centre uses
(3)
(b) Describe two ways that information about visitors
to the web site and their requirements could be
collected by web pages. (2)

Suggested Solution:

(a) Modem: - a modem (modulation-demodulation)

is a device, which allows a computer or a terminal
to use the telephone line for communication. It
converts digital signals to analogue signals or from
analogue signals to digital signals using telephone
line.
Internet Service Provider:
 -it is used to host the web site along with
providing other services such as e-mail and online
booking. It also allows connection to the user to the
internet.
(b) -An online form can be filled by visitors stating their
particulars and requirements.
-Discussion boards/ Forums, e-mails

Question
A multi-national company allows employees to telework or work
at home and communicate with the office using the internet.
(a) State the hardware, software and services required to
access and use the internet (3)

(b) State two ways by which a report could be sent to the

office using the internet (2)
(c) State two of the additional items of hardware that would be
required for video conferencing. (2)
(d) give one benefit to the company of video conferencing
(1)
(e) Give two disadvantages for the employee of teleworking
(2)

Suggested Solutions:
(a) –hardware: modem, communication port
-Software : comm. Protocol , Internet relay chat, web
browser, Internet Navigator
-Services :Internet Service Provider, satellite
communication.
(b) -email, fax
-video conferencing
(c) -Video capture camera, cam coder
-microphone, speakers.
(d) -Virtual meeting can be done .
(e) -Lack of proper working environment
 -Less physical interaction may cause depression and
isolation.

Question
A family had purchased a computer system with the following
specifications
Processor speed 220 MHz
RAM 512 Megabyte
Hard disk drive120 gigabytes
CD ROM
DVD Writer
Modem 56k
Monitor 17”
(a) The computer had been purchased for buying
goods and services over the internet.
Explain how each of these items of hardware would
be used for this purpose
a) Hard disk drive
b) DVD Writer
c) RAM
d) Modem
(b) State the type of software that is needed for
logging onto the Internet and finding web sites
selling goods and services. (2)
(c) State one advantage and one disadvantage of
for customers of using the Internet for shopping.
(d) Describe two effects on society of an increase
in the use of internet for e-commerce.

Suggested Solutions

A)Hard disk drive : To store system software (Like

O.S. Web browser e.t.c.)
-RAM :To process data browse on to the
internet.
 -DVD Writer : To make backups of all records
through writer CD’s. putting animations, picture
on the net through writer.
-Modem: to access to the internet for ordering
goods.
b) Logging on: Internet Explorer(Netscape) web
browser.
-finding web sites: search engine (Yahoo, Google,
e.t.c.).
(c) Advantage: orders can be made by sitting at
home.
-disadvantage: payments will be made through
credit cards only and there will be possibility that cards can be
used as melafide.

Question
A school library has purchased some multimedia notebook
computers for students to connect to the internet to search for
information.
a) State two advantages and one disadvantage of using the
internet for searching for information
b) Explain why a school could have chosen Broadband instead
of a standard modem connection
c) The notebook computers are linked to a server by a wireless
connection. Give one benefit and one disadvantage of using
wireless connection.
d) State one suitable and portable storage media for saving
data and multimedia files.
e) Give two precautions that the school must take to ensure
that there is no risk to the students’ health and safety from
the users of computer

Suggested solutions
a) Advantage 1: graphical images, sounds, animations and
rich text documents can be loaded for seeking the
information the internet
 -advantage2: information can be retrieved faster from
internet as notebooks provide good hardware
specifications.
(b) Broadband supports a wide range of frequencies and
provide a digital transmission and can carry many channels of
information , whereas the standard modem transmit the signals
at a slow rate, it works on a telephone line.
(c) Benefit: the notebook can be placed anywhere because
they are small in size, portable and uses a radio link within its
range.
-disadvantage: the wireless connection can only work
within its range of transmission. In wireless systems the range is
predetermined and limited and it is also affected by other objects
like magnetic devices, other frequencies etc.
(d) Flash disk or USB
(e) – a low radiation monitor screen can be used to prevent
headache
-proper and comfortable sitting places can be provided
to prevent the backache
-the connection should be properly cabled, so that it
should not trail the floor

Question
A company has bought laptop computers for training purposes
and for information retrieval. These computers will use the
internet and have multimedia capabilities.
(a) State two advantages and one disadvantages of using
the Internet to search for information when compared to the
using of CD-ROMs or paper based systems.
(b) The company has chosen to use Broadband for Internet
connections. Why was broadband chosen rather than dial up
modem connections?
(c) The laptops are linked to the network using wireless
connections. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of
using a wireless connections
Suggested solutions
(a) Advantage 1: huge amount of information is available
on the internet as compared to a CD-ROM.
Advantage 2: information on websites is constantly updated,
unlike a CD-ROM where the data cannot be modified.
Disadvantage: the user needs to know how to search
properly, otherwise, he won’t be able to retrieve the
information.
(b) Broadband connection gives very fast data transfer
speeds compared to dial up. Broadband is always on, unlike
the dial up in which connection has to be made before
browsing the internet.
(c) Advantage: user can sit anywhere in the room as per
their comfort and are not fixed to a single location.
Disadvantage: the transmission range is limited based on
the strength of the signals.

Question 10
Online banking using the Internet is now increasing.
(a) Give one advantage to the customer for using online
banking.
(b) Give one advantage to the bank of providing online
banking.
(c) Online banking has an impact to the society as the
whole. Give one positive impact and one negative impact
of online banking to the society.
(d) Describe two concerns that people might have regarding
to online banking.

Suggested solutions
a) Customers don; to travel to the bank, which is suitable
especially for people who are disabled OR customers
don’t have to stand in long queues.
b) Banks have large customer base as they can get
customers from all over the world. Or banks need to
employ fewer staff, which results in increased profits for
the bank.
c) – Lesser traffic on the road, which results in less
pollution.
-jobs are lost as banks close branches because they
don’t need to have multiple branches.
 (d) -Rogue web sites
-concern about fraud.

Question
A student decide to use an Internet search engine at home to
help her work on geography projects. she types in: COUNTRIES
EXPORTS 2007 and she gets over 11 million results.
(a) She wanted to know which South American countries
exported coffee in 2007. How would her be refined to reduce
the number of results.
(b) Give one advantage for searching for information on the
internet rather than using books.
(c) Many people have fears for searching information on
the internet. Give two reasons for these fears.
(d) The student wishes to use files stored on her home
computer when she is back in class using one of the school’s
computers. How would she do this?

Suggested solutions
(a) SOUTH AMERICAN CONTRIES COFFEE EXPORT 2007
(b) Information available on the internet is usually up-to-
date as it is continuously changing.
(c) – information available on the internet is usually not
reliable
-risk of computer getting infected on accessing material
from web site
(d) She can email the files herself and download onto her
school computer later to work on it

Question
Many people now bank through the internet rather than using
banks located in towns.
(a) Give one advantage to the bank for offering internet
banking.
(b) Give one disadvantage to the bank that offers internet
banking.
 (c) Give two advantages to the customers for internet
banking.
(d) Give two disadvantages to the customers who use
internet banking.

Suggested solutions
(a) Fewer branches need to be opened
(b) There are more chances of fraud as hackers might get
hold of confidential information and misuses it to their
benefit.
(c) –convenient for the disabled customers as they do not
have to travel to the bank branch.
-customers can still carry out transactions even when the
banks are closed.
(d) Increase in phone bills.
-loss of personal touch as they interact with machines.