Computer - II : Previous Year Questions (2025)

PART – A

Q1. What is the function of CLS command in DOS?

Ans. CLS Command clears the screen.

Q2. Write any two internal DOS commands.

Ans. Two internal DOS commands are:

1. DIR – List files and directories.
2. COPY - Copies files to another location.

Q3. Name one feature of UNIX operating system.

Ans. Multi-user and Multi-tasking - UNIX allows multiple users to access system resources simultaneously while keeping their data and processes isolated. Furthermore, it supports multi-tasking, meaning a single user can run several programs at once in the background while continuing to work in the foreground.

Q4. What is the purpose of ‘Page Orientation’ in PageMaker?

Ans. The purpose of page orientation in PageMaker (Portrait or Landscape) is to define the layout direction of a document, vertically or horizontally, to optimize how content is displayed or printed, essential for creating brochures, posters, or books.

Portrait is preferred for standard documents, letters, and reports to maximize text lines. Landscape is used for wider materials like pamphlets, calendars, or presentations.

Q5. Define a workbook in MS Excel.

Ans. The entire Excel file that contains one or more worksheets (like a notebook) is known as the workbook. By default, there are three worksheets in a workbook.

Q6. What is the use of the “SAVE” command in Excel?

Ans. The "SAVE" command in Excel is used to permanently store changes made to an active workbook, updating the file with the latest edits, formulas, and data without changing its name or location.

Q7. Name any two logical functions in MS Excel.

Ans. In Microsoft Excel, a Logical Function is a formula used to evaluate whether a specific condition or criteria is True or False. For E.g.: IF, AND, OR, NOT.

If you want to check if a student passed (score over 50), you would use: =IF(A1>50, "Pass", "Fail")

Q8. What is a Primary Key in MS Access?

Ans. A Primary Key in MS Access is a unique identifier for every record in a table (e.g., Employee ID).

Q9. Name two components of multimedia.

Ans. Text, Audio, Graphics, Video, Animation.

Q10. What is LAN in Computer Networking?

Ans. A LAN connects devices within a limited geographical area, such as a single room, a home, or an office building. It offers high data transfer speeds and is usually owned and managed by a single organization.

Example: A school computer lab or a home Wi-Fi network.

PART – B

Q11. Explain the process of creating and editing a publication in PageMaker.

Ans. Adobe PageMaker 7.0 is a sophisticated page layout software used to design and produce documents for printing. It is versatile enough to create anything from a simple business card to a complex, multi-page book. It allows users to:

• Position text and graphics with precision.
• Create professional newsletters, brochures, and reports.
• Integrate elements from other software (like MS Word or Excel) into a single layout.

Creating a New Publication

To start a new document in PageMaker, follow these steps:

1. Open Adobe PageMaker (Start > All Programs > Adobe > PageMaker 7.0).
2. Choose File > New in the menu bar (or press Ctrl + N).
3. The Document Setup dialog box will appear.
4. Enter the appropriate settings for your new document in the Document Setup dialog box.
5. Click on OK.

Now a new document called Untitled - 1 opens on the screen.

A document page is displayed within a dark border. The area outside of the dark border is referred to as the pasteboard. Anything that is placed completely in the pasteboard is not visible when you print the document. You can use the pasteboard to temporarily hold elements while designing your document.

Opening and Editing an Existing Publication

To work on a previously saved file:

• Opening: Choose File > Open (Ctrl + O), navigate to your file, and click Open.
• Editing: Once open, you can use the Pointer Tool to select and move objects or the Text Tool to modify the content within text blocks.

Q12. How can a user modify and protect a workbook in Excel?

Ans. You can modify a workbook in many ways:

1. Editing a Cell:

Editing a cell means changing the data or formula inside it.

Steps to edit a cell include: -

1. Double-click on the cell you want to edit. The cell becomes active, and the cursor appears inside.
2. Make your changes.
3. Press Enter to confirm or Esc to cancel.

Alternatively,

1. Click once on the cell to select it.
2. Click in the Formula Bar (above the worksheet, next to the Name Box).
3. Edit the content.
4. Press Enter to save the changes.

2. Selecting a Range:

Steps to select a range include: -

1. Click the first cell you want to select in the cell range and hold the mouse button.
2. Drag to select multiple cells. As you drag, the selected cells are highlighted.
3. Release the mouse button.

The cell range is selected.

Alternatively,

Select the first cell of the cell range. Press and hold the key and select the last cell of the cell range.

3. Deleting Cells, Rows, and Columns:

Steps to delete cells include: -

1. Select the cell(s) you want to delete.
2. Click the Home tab on the Ribbon and click the Delete list arrow in the Cells group. Select Delete Cells.

The Delete dialog box appears. Here you can tell Excel how you want to move the remaining cells to cover the hole left by the deleted cell(s) by selecting “Shift cells left” or “Shift cells up.”

You can also select Entire row or Entire column in the Delete dialog box to delete an entire row or column.

3. Select an option and click OK.

The cell(s) are deleted and the remaining cells are shifted.

Alternatively,

Right-Click the selected cells and press delete. Choose from the following options and select OK.

Steps to delete rows or columns include: -

1. Select the row or column heading(s) you want to delete.
2. Click the Home tab on the Ribbon and click the Delete button in the Cells group. The rows or columns are deleted. Remaining rows are shifted up, while remaining columns are shifted to the left.

Alternatively,

Select the column or row heading(s) you want to delete, right-click any of them, and select Delete from the contextual menu. Or, click the Delete list arrow and select Delete Sheet Rows or Delete Sheet Columns. The row or column of the active cell is deleted.

4. Deleting Worksheet:

Steps to delete a worksheet include: -

1. Right-click the sheet tab you want to delete and select Delete from the contextual menu. A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm the deletion.
2. Click Yes.

The worksheet is deleted.

Alternatively,

Select the worksheet you want to delete, click the Home tab on the Ribbon, click the Delete list arrow in the Cells group and select Delete Sheet.

5. Renaming, Moving and Copying Worksheets:

You can manipulate your workbooks by renaming worksheets and moving them into different orders and even into different workbooks.

Steps to rename a worksheet include: -

1. Double-click the sheet tab. The sheet name is selected so that it can be renamed.
2. Type a new name for the worksheet.
3. Press .

The sheet is renamed.

Alternatively,

Right-click the sheet tab, select Rename from the contextual menu, and type a new name. Or, select the worksheet you want to rename, click the Home tab on the Ribbon, click the Format button in the Cells group and select Rename Sheet. Type a new name.

Steps to move or copy a worksheet include: -

1. Select the sheet tab(s) for the worksheet(s) you want to move or copy.
2. Right-click one of the sheet tabs you want to move or copy and select Move or Copy from the contextual menu. The Move or Copy dialog box appears.
3. Select the sheet after which you want your moved or copied sheet(s) to appear in the Before Sheet list. The moved or copied sheet will be placed in front of the sheet that is selected.
4. (Optional Step) Click the Create a copy check box to copy the selected sheet. If this box is check marked, the worksheet(s) will be copied to the new location, instead of simply being moved.
5. Click OK.

The worksheet(s) are moved or copied to the new location.

Alternatively,

1. Select the sheet(s) you want to move or copy.
2. Click the Home tab on the Ribbon and click the Format button in the Cells group.
3. Select Move or Copy Sheet from the list.
4. Select the sheet after which you want your moved or copied sheet(s) to appear in the Before Sheet list. The moved or copied sheet will be placed in front of the sheet that is selected.
5. (Optional Step) Click the Create a copy check box to copy the selected sheet. If this box is check marked, the worksheet(s) will be copied to the new location, instead of simply being moved.
6. Click OK.

The worksheet(s) are moved or copied to the new location.

The entire Excel file that contains one or more worksheets (like a notebook) is known as the workbook. By default, there are three worksheets in a workbook.

Protecting a Workbook:

Steps to protect a workbook include: -

1. Go to the File tab
2. Select Info, then click Protect Workbook.
3. Choose an option like,

• Encrypt with Password to require a password to open the file, or
• Protect Workbook Structure on the Review tab to prevent changes to the workbook's structure like adding or deleting sheets. 

4. Enter a strong password if you choose option 1 and for option 2, password is optional.
5. Click OK.
6. Save Workbook.

Your workbook is protected now.

Q13. Describe the use of “Validation” while creating a table in MS Access.

Ans. Microsoft Access is a Database Management System (DBMS) that integrates the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface (GUI) and various software-development tools. It is primarily used to develop application software and is a staple for data architects, software developers, and power users.

Adding Validation Rules

Validation ensures that the data entered meets specific criteria.

1. Open the table in Design View.
2. Select the field you wish to validate (e.g., "Price").
3. In the Field Properties section below, locate the Validation Rule box and type the rule (e.g., > 0 to prevent negative prices).
4. In the Validation Text box, type the error message you want to appear if the rule is violated.
5. Save the table to apply the validation.

Q14. What is Ring Topology? Mention one advantage and one disadvantage.

Ans. In ring topology, each host machine connects to exactly two other machines, creating a circular network structure. When one host tries to communicate or send message to a host which is not adjacent to it, the data travels through all intermediate hosts. To connect one more host in the existing structure, the administrator may need only one more extra cable. Failure of any host results in failure of the whole ring. Thus, every connection in the ring is a point of failure. There are methods which employ one more backup ring.

A key advantage of ring topology is that it offers equal access to network resources for all connected devices, preventing data collisions by using a token-based system to manage traffic. A major disadvantage is that a single node failure or cable break can cause the entire network to go down.

PART – C

Q15. Explain DOS and its commands. Differentiate between internal and external DOS commands with examples.

Ans. A Disk Operating System (abbreviated DOS) is an operating system specifically designed to reside on and utilize disk storage devices. These devices traditionally include:

• Floppy disks.
• Hard disk drives.
• Optical discs.

Operational Requirements and Context:

A DOS must inherently provide a file system. This system is responsible for organizing, reading, and writing data files onto the storage media. While the term "DOS" is strictly used for older generations of operating systems and does not accurately describe modern versions of Microsoft Windows, it remains a foundational concept in computing history.

How DOS Works?

The operation of DOS follows a specific cycle of communication between the user and the hardware:

1. Command Input: Users enter commands via the keyboard or mouse.
2. Translation: DOS translates these human-readable inputs into electronic signals that the computer's circuitry can interpret.
3. Processing: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) receives these signals, processes them, and calculates the result.
4. Feedback: The system returns the final result to be displayed on the monitor.
5. Hardware Driving: The "System Unit," which contains the brain of the PC (the CPU and hard disk), is driven by DOS, which in turn follows the specific directions provided by the user's typed commands.

Classification of DOS Commands

DOS commands are split into two categories: Internal and External. The primary difference lies in how they are stored and loaded into the computer's memory.

1. Internal Commands

Internal commands are considered "resident DOS" because they are loaded into the computer's internal memory (RAM) the moment the system is powered on. DOS does not need to load these from a disk before execution; they are always ready. They do not require any additional files to run. To execute them, the user simply types the command at the prompt.

2. External Commands

External commands are not part of the resident DOS and are stored individually on the disk. Each command is saved in a specific "command file". On MS-DOS systems, these files carry a .COM or .EXE extension. Before execution, DOS must locate the file (usually in a specific DOS directory) and load it into the internal memory.

These commands are version-specific. Using an external command file from a different DOS version than the one installed can result in an "Incorrect version" error message.

Internal vs. External Commands

MS-DOS commands are categorized based on where they are stored and how they are loaded into the computer's memory.

Q16. What are the main components of MS Excel? Explain how to format, edit, and print a worksheet.

Ans. Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application for creating tables to store, organize, and analyse numerical and statistical data using formulas and functions. It features a grid of cells organized in rows and columns, where data can be entered and manipulated to perform calculations, create charts, and visualize information.

Components of MS Excel:

1. Workbook - The entire Excel file that contains one or more worksheets (like a notebook). By default, there are three worksheets in a workbook.
2. Worksheet - A single "page" or tab inside the workbook where you enter and work with data. A worksheet contains 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns.
3. Cell - A small box where a row and a column intersect — where you enter data (e.g., A1).
4. Row - Horizontal lines in the worksheet, numbered (1, 2, 3…).
5. Column - Vertical lines in the worksheet, labelled with letters (A, B, C…).
6. Cell Address - The unique name of a cell based on its column and row (e.g., B4).
7. Formula Bar - The area above the worksheet where you can enter or view data/formulas in the selected cell.
8. Name Box - Displays the address (or name) of the currently selected cell.
9. Ribbon - The toolbar at the top of Excel that contains tabs and buttons for commands (like Home, Insert, etc.).
10. Quick Access Toolbar - A small toolbar above the Ribbon with common commands like Save, Undo, Redo.
11. Worksheet Tabs - Tabs at the bottom that let you switch between different sheets in your workbook.
12. Status Bar - Found at the bottom, it shows information like the average, sum, or count of selected cells.
13. Scroll Bars - Used to move up/down or left/right through the worksheet.
14. Zoom Control - Located at the bottom-right corner, it lets you zoom in or out of the worksheet.
15. File Tab - Clicking this opens options like New, Open, Save, Print, and Excel settings.

Formatting a Worksheet

Formatting changes the appearance of your data without changing the actual values.

• Font Styling: Use the Home tab to change font type, size, colour, or apply Bold, Italic, and Underline styles.
• Alignment: Adjust how text sits within a cell (Top, Middle, Bottom, Left, Centre, Right) or use Merge & Center to combine multiple cells.
• Number Formats: Change how numbers appear (e.g., Currency, Percentage, Date, or Decimal places) using the Number group on the Home tab.
• Cell Borders and Shading: Use the Borders icon to add lines and the Fill Colour (paint bucket) icon to add background colours to cells.

Editing a Worksheet

Editing involves modifying the content or structure of the data.

• Entering/Modifying Data: Click a cell and type to overwrite, or double-click (or press F2) to edit existing text.
• Inserting/Deleting: Right-click on a row or column header to Insert new space or Delete existing rows/columns.
• Find and Replace: Press Ctrl + F to find specific data or Ctrl + H to replace it across the sheet.
• Undo/Redo: Use Ctrl + Z to revert a mistake and Ctrl + Y to reapplied an action.

Printing a Worksheet

Before printing, you must ensure the data fits correctly on the paper.

• Page Setup: Go to the Page Layout tab to set Orientation (Portrait or Landscape), Margins, and Paper Size.
• Print Area: Highlight a specific range of cells and select Print Area > Set Print Area to print only that selection.
• Scaling: If your data is too wide, use the Scale to Fit options to "Fit Sheet on One Page."
• Print Preview: Press Ctrl + P to open the Print menu. Here, you can see a preview of how the document will look on paper before hitting the Print button.

Q17. Explain multimedia in detail. Describe its components and at least four real-life applications.

Ans. The term Multimedia is a linguistic blend of two words: "Multi," meaning many, and "Media," referring to the material or medium through which information is transmitted or sent. It is defined as the integration of various media elements, such as text, graphics, audio, and video, to present information in a more effective, engaging, and attractive manner.

Components of Multimedia

Multimedia is comprised of five primary elements that work in synergy to represent data:

1. Text

The most common medium for representing information It is primarily utilised for titles, headlines, and navigation menus.

Common extensions include .DOC and .TXT.

Software: Microsoft Word, Notepad, and WordPad.

2. Audio

Encompasses speech and music to increase the "understandability" and clarity of concepts. The MP3 format is the industry standard for storing compressed sound and music.

Software: QuickTime, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player.

3. Graphics

The foundation of every multimedia presentation, making concepts more presentable and professional. Often viewed via Windows Picture viewer or web browsers like Internet Explorer.

Software: Adobe Photoshop is a leading tool for editing graphics to make them more attractive.

4. Video

A combination of moving pictures with synchronized sound. It is considered the most effective way to communicate, as it saves time and enhances presentation. The MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) format is widely used for video files.

5. Animation

The process of altering images in a sequence so they appear as moving pictures to the human eye. It shows a specific number of frames per second to produce the effect of motion.

Applications of Multimedia

Nowadays the applications of Multimedia are observed in various fields such as Education, Entertainment, Business and so on. To communicate the message in the form of picture, sound, video, animation is the primary role of multimedia. Some of the application of multimedia are as follows:

1. Business and Engineering

1. Videoconferencing: Enables real-time audio and video communication between distant locations, saving time and money.
2. Marketing: Used to create dynamic advertisements on television and the internet.
3. Engineering: Tools are used for designing and testing new products and components.

2. Entertainment

1. Movies: Multimedia enables special effects and high-action sequences that were previously impossible.
2. Gaming: Provides immersive experiences through 3-D effects and high-quality sound.

3. Education and "Edutainment"

1. Edutainment: A hybrid of education and entertainment that makes learning engaging for students.
2. Interactive Multimedia: Applications that allow users to actively participate rather than being passive recipients of information.

Multimedia in Foreign Language Learning

Multimedia creates a rich, interactive environment that simulates real-life language use, through features like native speaker conversations, visual context, and interactive exercises, ultimately enhancing comprehension, pronunciation, and fluency. It addresses all four core skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Key Benefits in Language Acquisition

1. Natural Exposure: Podcasts and online news provide exposure to native accents and colloquialisms.
2. Visual Context: Images and videos provide cues that help learners understand new vocabulary and cultural nuances.
3. Pronunciation Mastery: Audio clips allow learners to mimic native speakers, while speech recognition software provides instant feedback.
4. Adaptive Learning: Digital tools allow students to adjust the pace and difficulty level to suit their individual needs.

Essential Tools

1. Language Apps: Feature gamified elements and flashcards.
2. VR/AR: Immersive environments for practicing speaking in simulated real-world scenarios.
3. Exchange Platforms: Video call services that connect learners directly with native speakers globally.

Q18. Define networking and explain different types of networks and their applications.

Ans. Computer networking refers to the practice of connecting two or more computers or electronic devices (nodes) together for the purpose of sharing resources, exchanging files, or allowing electronic communications. These connections are established using either wired media (like Ethernet cables) or wireless media (like Wi-Fi).

In a network, devices use a set of common communication protocols to transmit data over digital interconnections. This system allows for the centralized management of data, increased storage capacity, and efficient resource sharing (such as printers and internet connections).

Classification by Geographical Area:

1. PAN (Personal Area Network)

A PAN is the smallest type of network, typically used by a single person within a very small range (about 10 meters). It connects personal devices like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches.

Example: Connecting a Bluetooth headset to a phone or syncing a smartwatch.

2. LAN (Local Area Network)

A LAN connects devices within a limited geographical area, such as a single room, a home, or an office building. It offers high data transfer speeds and is usually owned and managed by a single organization.

Example: A school computer lab or a home Wi-Fi network.

3. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A MAN covers a larger area than a LAN but is smaller than a WAN. It typically connects multiple LANs across a city or a large campus.

Example: A cable TV network or a city-wide public Wi-Fi system.

4. WAN (Wide Area Network)

A WAN spans a large physical distance, such as a country, a continent, or even the entire globe. It uses leased telecommunication lines, fiber optics, or satellites to link smaller networks together.

Example: The Internet is the largest and most well-known WAN.

Classification by Topology:

A Network Topology is the arrangement with which computer systems or network devices are

connected to each other. Topologies may define both physical and logical aspect of the network. Both logical and physical topologies could be same or different in a same network.

Types of Network Topology:

Various types of network topologies include: -

1. Point-to-Point Topology –

Point-to-point networks contains exactly two hosts such as computer, switches or routers, servers connected back to back using a single piece of cable. Often, the receiving end of one host is connected to sending end of the other and vice-versa.

If the hosts are connected point-to-point logically, then may have multiple intermediate devices. But the end hosts are unaware of underlying network and see each other as if they are connected directly.

2. Bus Topology –

In case of Bus topology, all devices share single communication line or cable. Bus topology may have problem while multiple hosts sending data at the same time. Therefore, Bus topology either uses CSMA/CD technology or recognizes one host as Bus Master to solve the issue. It is one of the simple forms of networking where a failure of a device does not affect the other devices. But failure of the shared communication line can make all other devices stop functioning.

Both ends of the shared channel have line terminator. The data is sent in only one direction and as soon as it reaches the extreme end, the terminator removes the data from the line.

3. Star Topology –

All hosts in Star topology are connected to a central device, known as hub device, using a point to-point connection. That is, there exists a point to point connection between hosts and hub. The hub device can be any of the following:

• Layer-1 device such as hub or repeater
• Layer-2 device such as switch or bridge
• Layer-3 device such as router or gateway

As in Bus topology, hub acts as single point of failure. If hub fails, connectivity of all hosts to all other hosts fails. Every communication between hosts, takes place through only the hub. Star topology is not expensive as to connect one more host, only one cable is required and configuration is simple.

4. Ring Topology –

In ring topology, each host machine connects to exactly two other machines, creating a circular network structure. When one host tries to communicate or send message to a host which is not adjacent to it, the data travels through all intermediate hosts. To connect one more host in the existing structure, the administrator may need only one more extra cable. Failure of any host results in failure of the whole ring. Thus, every connection in the ring is a point of failure. There are methods which employ one more backup ring.

5. Mesh Topology –

In this type of topology, a host is connected to one or multiple hosts. This topology has hosts in point-to-point connection with every other host or may also have hosts which are in point-to point connection to few hosts only.

Hosts in Mesh topology also work as relay for other hosts which do not have direct point-to point links.

Mesh technology comes into two types:

• Full Mesh: All hosts have a point-to-point connection to every other host in the network. Thus for every new host n(n-1)/2 connections are required. It provides the most reliable network structure among all network topologies.
• Partially Mesh: Not all hosts have point-to-point connection to every other host. Hosts connect to each other in some arbitrarily fashion. This topology exists where we need to provide reliability to some hosts out of all.

6. Tree Topology –

Also known as Hierarchical Topology, this is the most common form of network topology in use presently. This topology imitates as extended Star topology and inherits properties of bus topology.

This topology divides the network in to multiple levels/layers of network. Mainly in LANs, a network is bifurcated into three types of network devices. The lowermost is access-layer where computers are attached. The middle layer is known as distribution layer, which works as mediator between upper layer and lower layer. The highest layer is known as core layer, and is central point of the network, i.e. root of the tree from which all nodes fork.

All neighbouring hosts have point-to-point connection between them. Similar to the Bus topology, if the root goes down, then the entire network suffers. Even though it is not the single point of failure. Every connection serves as point of failure, failing of which divides the network into unreachable segment.

7. Daisy Chain –

This topology connects all the hosts in a linear fashion. Similar to Ring topology, all hosts are connected to two hosts only, except the end hosts. Means, if the end hosts in daisy chain are connected then it represents Ring topology.

Each link in daisy chain topology represents single point of failure. Every link failure splits the network into two segments. Every intermediate host works as relay for its immediate hosts.

8. Hybrid Topology –

A network structure whose design contains more than one topology is said to be hybrid topology. Hybrid topology inherits merits and demerits of all the incorporating topologies.

The combining topologies may contain attributes of Star, Ring, Bus, and Daisy-chain topologies. Most WANs are connected by means of Dual-Ring topology and networks connected to them are mostly Star topology networks. Internet is the best example of largest Hybrid topology.

Classification by Network Architecture:

1. Client-Server Network: A powerful central computer (server) provides resources to less powerful computers (clients).
2. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network: Every computer has equal status and shares resources directly without a central server.