Cambridge IGCSE · Computer Science (0478)

Data storage: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Data storage.

10 questions21 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

Which statement correctly describes how a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) stores and retrieves data?

Question 2

1 mark

An image is being stored with a resolution of \(1024 \times 512\) pixels and a colour depth of \(8\) bits. Calculate the file size of this image in mebibytes (MiB).

Question 3

1 mark

A 16-bit binary number is represented as 6AF3 in hexadecimal. What is the denary equivalent of this hexadecimal number?

Question 4

1 mark

Which type of primary storage is described as being non-volatile and is typically used to store the computer's start-up instructions (bootloader)?

Question 5

1 mark

Which technology is specifically used within Solid-State Drives (SSDs) to store data?

Question 6

2 marks

State the smallest unit of data storage in a computer system.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

Question 7

3 marks

Explain why hexadecimal is commonly used to represent memory addresses or MAC addresses in computer systems, rather than binary.

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Question 8

4 marks

Explain the operation of a Solid-State Drive (SSD) as a form of secondary storage, mentioning the technology it uses.

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Question 9

3 marks

Explain the fundamental difference between primary storage and secondary storage in a computer system, and provide one specific example for each type.

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Question 10

4 marks

A digital camera captures an image with a resolution of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels and a colour depth of 24 bits. The image is uncompressed.

a) Calculate the uncompressed file size of this image in Bytes.

b) Convert the file size from part (a) into Kibibytes (KiB).

Show your working for both parts.

Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.

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