Time allowed: 30 minutes
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Use black ink.
- Answer all the questions.
INFORMATION
- The total mark for this paper is 20.
- The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
- Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
Turn over
Section A: Definitions and Core Concepts
1
Describe what is meant by
'proprietary software'.
[2]
2
Describe what is meant by
'open source software'.
[2]
3
Tick (✓)
one box in each row to identify whether the statement applies to Open Source or Proprietary software.
[3]
| Statement |
Open Source |
Proprietary |
| The source code is not made available to the user. |
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| Users can modify the source code to tailor it to their needs. |
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| The software is usually distributed only as a compiled program. |
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Turn over
Section B: Benefits and Drawbacks
4
A programmer is developing a new game. Give
two benefits to the programmer of releasing the game under a proprietary licence.
[2]
5
Give
two benefits to the
users of a programmer choosing an open source licence.
[2]
6
Identify
one advantage to a manufacturer of providing proprietary software with their hardware (e.g., an e-book reader) rather than open source software.
[1]
Turn over
Section C: Extended Response and Recommendation
7*
A school uses off-the-shelf, proprietary software for managing pupil attendance, and customised, open source software for managing pupil examinations.
Discuss the
legal and
ethical issues the school should consider when choosing between these two types of software.
In your answer, you should include:
- The fundamental differences in how the software is licensed.
- How the school might benefit from being able to customise the examination system.
- A recommendation of which licence is more appropriate for storing sensitive pupil data.
[8]
END OF QUESTION PAPER