Productivity Tools & Operating Systems

CAPE IT · UNIT 2 · MODULE 2 · OBJ. 2, 3, 4 & 5
Step 1 of 5
EXPLORE IN 3D

The layers of a computer system in 3D

Explode the layers between the hardware and the user.

REVISION · PAST-PAPER PRACTICE

Test yourself

Multiple-choice items in Paper 1 style and structured questions in Paper 2 style, adapted from CAPE Information Technology Unit 2 past papers. Your score and answers are saved on this device. When you have finished, submit them to your teacher at the end of this section.

MCQ best –Structured –

Paper 1 practice · 8 multiple-choice items

Choose one answer for each item, then check. Aim for 80% or better.

Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 18; 2024 Item 21
1. Which software is MOST suitable for combining advertisement text with a company logo in an annual report?
Answer: B. Desktop publishing controls page layout, mixing text and graphics precisely for print.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 17; 2024 Item 30
2. Which statements about application software are TRUE?
I. It cannot run without system software
II. It performs a specific task for the user
III. It includes the utilities that help programmers manage the hardware
Answer: A. Applications run on top of the operating system and do user tasks. Tools that manage the computer itself are system software.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 21
3. Which of the following is a MOBILE operating system?
Answer: C. iOS (iPhone/iPad) and Android are mobile operating systems. macOS, Unix and Windows are desktop OSs.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 23; 2020 Item 21
4. In a spreadsheet, a predefined operation such as =TODAY() or =AVERAGE(B2:B9) is called a
Answer: D. A function is a built-in operation. A formula is any calculation the user writes, which may contain functions.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 16; 2020 Item 19
5. A spreadsheet lists Ava (41), Ben (77), Cleo (58) and Dev (63). After sorting in DESCENDING order of score, the first and last names are
Answer: A. Descending means highest to lowest: Ben 77, Dev 63, Cleo 58, Ava 41.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2022 Item 26; 2024 Item 26
6. A manager urgently asks each sales rep for a one-off report on selected products in their territory. This is BEST described as
Answer: B. An ad hoc report is produced on request for a specific, unscheduled need.
Adapted from CAPE U2 P1 2019 Item 24; 2020 Item 17
7. In most desktop applications, the bar at the bottom of the window that shows messages such as page count or “Ready” is the
Answer: C. The status bar reports the application’s current state. The title bar at the top shows the document’s name.
EduTech practice item · Module 2 Obj. 2
8. A teacher must send the same letter to 120 parents, each with that parent’s name and child’s grade. Which word-processing feature is MOST appropriate?
Answer: D. Mail merge combines one template letter with a data source to personalise every copy.

Paper 2 practice · structured questions (22 marks)

Write a full answer to each part, then show the mark scheme and tick every point you earned. Marks for a part are capped at its maximum. Mark schemes are EduTech’s own; CXC does not publish them.

Based on CAPE U2 P2 May/June 2021, Question 3(a); 2022, Question 3(c); 2026, Question 3(b)

Question 1 [11 marks]

A research unit at a Caribbean university analyses survey data and publishes a newsletter.

(a) State ONE example of EACH of the following types of software package: statistical, database management, desktop publishing. [3]

MARK SCHEME (a) · max 3

(b) Outline TWO functions of a statistical software package. [4]

MARK SCHEME (b) · max 4

(c) Describe TWO features of spreadsheet applications that make them more appropriate than database applications for statistical work. [4]

MARK SCHEME (c) · max 4
Based on CAPE U2 P2 May/June 2023, Question 3(a),(d) and 2026, Question 3(c)

Question 2 [11 marks]

Malik runs a home cake business and tracks orders in a word-processor table. He now wants a device for the business and better software.

(a) Recommend a more suitable productivity tool for tracking cake orders and give TWO reasons. [3]

MARK SCHEME (a) · max 3

(b) Give ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of a device running (i) Android and (ii) macOS. [4]

MARK SCHEME (b) · max 4

(c) Compare a mobile OS and a desktop OS in terms of (i) functionality and (ii) multitasking. [4]

MARK SCHEME (c) · max 4

Submit to your teacher

Send your multiple-choice choices and written answers to your teacher for marking. Your teacher will also see whether you opened the mark scheme or checked your answers before submitting. You can submit again if you improve your answers.

Items are adapted from CAPE® Information Technology Unit 2 Papers 01 and 02 (2019–2026) for practice. © Caribbean Examinations Council for the original papers.