Basics of computer science 2011 questions and answer for the Alagappa university B.Sc C & HA students.

1. 1) What are the major functions of a computer?
Computer:
Meaning:
Computer is a electronic device. Computer is a designed to automatically accept and store input
data manipulates them and produces out put through step-by-step instructions which is stored in
a program.
Functions of a computer:
1 . Input:
Enter Data into machine through input devices i.e key board, mouse etc.,
2. Processing:
Manipulate Data or the data is process using the device called processer.
3. Output
"View" Processed Data through output devices i.e monitor, printer etc.,
4 Storage:
Store Data or the output can be saved the computer memory like hard disk.
There are two types of storage devices are available. There are as follow as below:
1. Primary storage
2. Secondary storage
2) What is a DOS directory? How it is maintained?
DOS directory:
Meaning:
The dir command allows you to see the available files in the current and/or parent
directories.
Availability
The dir command is an internal command and is available in the below Microsoft operating
systems.

2. Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
Syntax:
DIR [drive:][path][filename]
Explain:
Drive - Specifies drive
Path – directory
File name - and/or files to list. (Could be enhanced file specification or multiple filespecs.)
3) How can you display the taskbar properties?
Meaning:
Task bar is a gray bar at the bottom edge of the desk top. The button and icons in the task
bar are always available. The main purpose of task bar is to enable the user to launch programs
quickly. The figure given below shows the taskbar.
One of the taskbar is the start button and on the others end of the system tray. Between
the start button and the system tray, one or more tool bar and program tool bar are available.
Diagram:
4) What is the use of Thesaurus?
Meaning:
A thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms; that is, words that have similar meanings (for
example: correct, accurate, and exact). Sometimes it gives you antonyms (words with
opposite meanings) as well.
Use of Thesaurus:
To find the words you need to express yourself more effectively and more
interestingly

3. To avoid repeating the same words monotonously
To avoid clichés (overused expressions)
To recall the word that is on the tip of your tongue
To find the word that suits the genre (type of writing eg: a letter), purpose,
intended audience and context of what you are writing.
In different situations, the same idea might be most effectively expressed by a different
word. A thesaurus helps you make the right choice.
5) How can you use ruler to set indents?
The indent markers on the horizontal ruler show how the current paragraph is indented.
When more than one paragraph is selected, some of the markers may appear dimmed. This
indicates that the indent settings differ among the selected paragraphs. The horizontal ruler
shows the indent settings for the first paragraph in the selection.
The final two options on the tab selector are actually for indents. You can click these and
then click the ruler to position the indents, rather than sliding the indent markers along the ruler.
Click First Line Indent
, and then click the upper half of the horizontal ruler where you
want the first line of a paragraph to begin. Click Hanging Indent
, and then click the lower
half of the horizontal ruler where you want the second and all following lines of a paragraph to
begin.
6) What are the header and footer?
Header and footers are typically used in printed documents.
Header:
Header text will appear at the top of the page.. You can create headers that include text or
graphics - for example, page numbers, the date, a company logo, the document’s title of file
name, or the author’s name – that are usually printed at the top of the page in a document.
Header means text will appear at the top of the page.
Footer:
Footer text will appear at the bottom of the page. You can create headers that include text
or graphics - for example, page numbers, the date, a company logo, the document’s title of file
name, or the author’s name – that are usually printed at the top of the page in a document.
Header means text will appear at the top of the page.

4. 7) Classify the languages and explain?
Languages
Language is defined as a means of communication. Computer language provides a
communication between man and the machine. The language is in the form of instructions
named as program. There are three types of languages used in writing programs. They are
1. Low Level Language or Machine Language
2. Assembly Language
3. High Level Language
Low Level Language:
The language known to the computer is called low level language. So low level language
is defined as a set of instructions written with 0’s and 1’s only.
Advantages:
1. Translation not needed.
2. Execution speed is high. Because CPU directly understood the instructions.
Disadvantages:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Very difficult to program.
It is very difficult to understand.
Machine language varies from machine to machine
Error correction is very difficult.
Assembly Language:
Assembly language is a language which uses mnemonic codes (symbolic codes). In this
instructions are written in codes instead of 0’s and 1’s.
Example:
ADD
- Addition
Add A,B
- A = A+B
SUB
- Subtraction
MOV
- move a field

5. Advantages:
1. It is very easy to understand
2. Modification is easy.
Disadvantages:
1. it is machine dependent.
2. Very difficult to program.
3. It needs transaltion.
High Level Language:
A high language is a language which has meaningful words and statements. So ordinary
person can easily understand and write programs. It resembles English language.
Advantages:
1. Very easy to program.
2. Machine independent.
3. Error correction is easy.
Disadvantages:
1. Execution time is high.
2. It needs translation.
8) Describe the functions of any four external commands in DOS?
External Commands:
An external command in MS-DOS is one that is not built into the command interpreter
(COMMAND.COM) but rather is launched by running a different program. For instance, EDIT
is an external command, while ECHO is not.
External Commands
DISKCOPY
Makes an exact copy of a diskette.
Syntax
DISKCOPY [d:] [d:]

6. FORMAT
Formats a disk to accept DOS files.
Syntax
FORMAT d:
LABEL
Creates or changes or deletes a volume label for a disk.
Syntax
LABEL [d:][volume label]
RESTORE
Restores to standard disk storage format files previously stored using the BACKUP
command.
Syntax
RESTORE d:[d:][path]filename
Backup
Makes a backup copy of one or more files.
Syntax:
BACKUP [d:][path][filename]
9) Explain how can you cut, paste and rename a file?
Cut:
Cutting text removes the text so you can move it to another part of your document.
Step: 1
You have a block of the text or select the text from the document.
Step: 2
To cut the text, you can do any of the following:
1. Choose Edit – Cut (or)
2. Press Ctrl + X (or)

7. 3. Click the Cut button on the standard toolbar. (or)
4. Click right mouse button and choose cut from the pop-up menu.
Copy:
Copy text lets you keep the original text in its current location but paste a copy of that text in
another part of your document.
Step: 1
You have a block of the text or select the text from the document.
Step: 2
To copy the text, you can do any of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Choose Edit – Copy (or)
Press Ctrl + C (or)
Click the Copy button on the standard toolbar. (or)
Click right mouse button and choose copy from the pop-up menu.
Paste:
Inserts the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point, and replaces any selection.
This command is available only if you have cut or copied and object, text, or contents of a cell.
Choose the paste command in one of the following ways:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Choose Edit – Paste (or)
Press Ctrl + V (or)
Click the Paste button on the standard toolbar. (or)
Click right mouse button and choose Paste from the pop-up menu.
Rename a file:
The following steps are followed for renaming files and folders.
1. Select the file or folder to be renamed.
2. From the selected file or folder right click the mouse button. It displays the pull down
menu. From this select rename option.
3. Now type the new name over the old name and press enter key.
10) What are the different ways to create a document? Explain each.
To create a new document based on the default template (Blank Document). By using
various method. There are as follow as below:

8. Way 1:
Click the new blank document icon on the standard tool bar. Word will open a new
document named Document1, Document2, Document 3, and so on.
Way 2:
Choose File – New
Word will display the new dialog box.
Way 3:
By using shortcut key – Ctrl + N
Word will open a new document named document.
12) Describe the different ways in which a document can be viewed.
We can view the documents with the followings:
1. Normal Views
2. Web Layout View
3. Outline View
4. Print Preview
5. Full Screen View
Normal Views:
Under Normal View, you can display a single page with simple text formatting but
without any drawings, comments or columns.
This view is useful for quickly entering text and for simple and basic text editing purposes.
On the View menu, Click Normal View
Web Layout View:
In Web Layout View, MS Word displays page width, format and text position as it would
appear on the web.

9. This view is useful for testing a page under a simulated web environment. This view would be
especially useful when you are using MS Word for developing web page layout.
On the View menu, Click Web Layout View
Outline View
In Outline View, MS Word displays the headings and sub-headings providing an easy way to
plan and organize the document.
This view is used for structuring the content of the document at a broad level and arranging the
document in various sections and sub-sections.
On the View menu, Click Outline View
Print Layout View
Under MS Word Document Views, Print Layout View is the most frequently used layout.
This view is useful for ensuring that what-you-see-on-screen is what-you-get-in-print . This view
is also used as a proofing method before it is sent to the printer .
On the View menu, Click Print Layout View
Full Screen View
To display as much of your document as possible on the screen, you can switch to full
screen mode. In this mode, word removes distracting screen elements, such as tool bar and scroll
bars.
On the View menu, Click Full Screen.
13) Describe the features of windows operating system. Also compare with DOS.
Operating system:
An operating system (OS) is a program that allows you to interact with the computer -- all of the
software and hardware on your computer.
Basically, there are two ways.

10. 

With a command-line operating system (e.g., DOS), you type a text command and the
computer responds according to that command.
With a graphical user interface (GUI) operating system (e.g., Windows), you interact with the
computer through a graphical interface with pictures and buttons by using the mouse and
keyboard.
Features of Windows operating system:
1. Windows performs DOS related tasks such as creating directories, copying files,
deleting files etc.,
2. Windows provides multitasking facility. The user can have more than one
application programs active in separate windows.
3. Clipboard facility helps us to copy documents between different applications. For
example between paint and word.
4. It provides a facility to join different application programs.
5. Write facility helps word processing.
6. Paint brush facility helps drawing pictures. Etc.,
Windows operating system Vs. DOS:
S.NO
DOS Operating systems
Windows Operating systems
1. Windows used GUI (graphical user
interface).
1.
DOS uses CLI (command line
interface).
2.
DOS does not support
networking.
Supports Networking.
3.
DOS is a single user Operating
System.
Windows is Multiuser Operating System.
4.
DOS is a single tasking Operating
System.
Windows is Multitasking Operating System.
5.
DOS is a single threading
Operating System.
Windows is a Multithreading Operating
System.

11. 6.
DOS supports 2 GB of maximum
partition size.
Windows supports 2 TB or more.
7.
DOS uses FAT 16 file system.
Windows uses FAT 32.
8.
Server administration is not
possible in DOS
Server administration is possible in windows
operating system.
9.
DOS is the system that runs the
PC.
Windows was created as a GUI (graphical
user interface) making the running of the
computer much easier and safer.
10.
DOS operating system used by
very few people.
Windows Operating System is used by
majority of the people in the world.
These are the difference between windows operation and DOS operation.