All 40 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Data Processing 2025 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
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The Difference Engine was developed by
The Difference Engine was conceptualized and designed by Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, philosopher, and mechanical engineer, in the early 1820s.
Convert A0B(hex) to a number in binary.
To convert the hexadecimal number A0B to binary, each hex digit is replaced by its 4-bit binary equivalent: A=1010, 0=0000, B=1011. Combining gives 1010 0000 1011 = 101000001011.
Audio data are produced from
Audio data are produced from sound waves by converting them into electrical signals, then digitizing those signals into data.
Which of the following variables is an example of numeric data?
568 is a numeric value made up entirely of digits and can be used in mathematical operations like addition or averaging. The other options contain letters or symbols and are not pure numeric data.
The generation of computers in which transistor was first introduced is the
The Second Generation of computers (mid-1950s to mid-1960s) introduced transistors, which were smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient than vacuum tubes used in the First Generation.
One application of ICT in medicine is
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT or CT scan) is a medical imaging technique that uses computers and X-rays to create detailed images of the body, a direct application of ICT in medicine.
Which one of the following reasons justifies the prevalence of Personal Digital Assistance devices? They
PDAs and their modern equivalents like smartphones and tablets became popular because they are small, lightweight, and easy to carry, allowing users to access data, check emails, schedule tasks, and use apps on the go.
Which one of the following actions can be achieved by right-clicking a computer mouse?
When you right-click with a computer mouse, it typically opens a contextual menu - a small menu that shows options related to the item clicked (e.g. file, folder, text, or desktop).
The manipulation of digitized information by computer or other digital equipment is known as
Data processing is the correct term for the manipulation of digitized data by a computer or other digital devices. It involves steps such as collecting, storing, retrieving, analyzing, and presenting data to make it useful.
Which one of the following statements does not explain information processing?
Saving a document is a single action and does not by itself describe the broader process of information processing, which involves collecting, changing, converting, and handling data end-to-end.
The part labelled X in Figure 1 is called
The part labelled X in Figure 1 (Information Cycle) is called feedback - it is the loop that returns output information back into the cycle to refine future input or decision-making.
Which one of the following gadgets allows the transmission of both visual and audio information?
Television transmits both visual (video) and audio (sound) information, making it the correct answer.
The underlying technology in the network connection in Figure 2 is called
Figure 2 shows multiple devices (e.g. headphones, phones, laptops, printer) connected wirelessly to a central symbol representing Bluetooth, a short-range wireless technology used to connect devices.
One limitation of the network type in Figure 2 is that
Bluetooth has a limited range (typically about 10 meters), making distance covered a known limitation of the network type shown.
The interface in Figure 3 is used for
The interface in Figure 3 is an email interface, clearly used for sending and receiving emails, as seen from the email client layout used for managing email communications.
The part labelled III in Figure 3 is used for
Part III in Figure 3 is the Drafts folder, which stores emails that are composed but not yet sent.
What happens when the Shift key is pressed down while deleting a file from the computer in windows?
In Windows, holding the Shift key while deleting a file (i.e. Shift + Delete) bypasses the Recycle Bin, permanently deleting the file from the system unless special recovery software is used.
A user who was typing a document in portrait orientation decided to complete the next few pages in landscape orientation. Which one of the following options illustrates the correct order of steps the user must follow by clicking on the labelled parts to achieve this?
To change page orientation to landscape for select pages: click on Landscape (labelled I), then in “Apply to” select the appropriate scope (labelled IV), then click OK (labelled V).
Which one of these options gives the correct order of steps to revert to portrait orientation after typing in landscape orientation for a while?
To revert to portrait orientation: select Portrait (labelled I), choose where to apply it (labelled III), then click OK (labelled V).
What happens when a user clicks on the Microsoft Excel menu bar icon shown in Figure 5?
The icon in Figure 5 represents the Copy function in Excel, which places selected content onto the clipboard.
To add a new row above EKITI on the MS Excel interface shown in Figure 6, the user would
To insert a row above EKITI (row 6), the user must right-click on row 6 itself, then choose Insert.
Which one of the following points is not considered when designing a database in Microsoft Access? Determine
How forms will be used is not part of the core database design phase in Microsoft Access; design focuses on purpose, data needed, and table relationships, while forms are built afterward.
Tables in Microsoft Access are created using the following methods except
Tables in Access are created (not “inserted”) using Datasheet View, Design View, or the Table Wizard. “Table insertion” is not a standard method in Access.
The keyboard shortcut for adding a new slide to Microsoft PowerPoint application is
Ctrl + M is the most universally recognized shortcut in PowerPoint for inserting a new slide.
An example of web design software is
MS Publisher is a desktop publishing tool by Microsoft that includes basic web design capabilities, allowing users to create simple web pages or convert publications to HTML format.
The part labelled VII in Figure 7 is used to
In the CorelDraw Toolbox (Figure 7), the icon labelled VII represents the Shape Tool, used to edit shapes such as modifying nodes, curves, and lines on vector objects.
The erratic movement of the mouse pointer is usually caused by
Erratic mouse pointer movement is most commonly caused by a dirty mouse ball (traditional ball mice) or dirty optical sensor (optical/laser mice), where dust or debris disrupts motion tracking.
The suitable method of removing particles from the keyboard is by
Compressed air safely blows dust, crumbs, and debris out from between keys without physical contact, avoiding damage to sensitive components.
Which one of the following statements is true about preventing phishing?
Phishing is a cyberattack that tricks users into clicking malicious links or revealing sensitive information (like passwords or bank details), often through fake emails; avoiding suspicious links directly addresses this.
Preventive maintenance measures in the computer room include the following except
The use of rugs on the floor is incorrect because rugs can generate static electricity (harmful to electronic components) and trap dust that can harm hardware.
When cleaning the computer system, it is advisable to
Safety is paramount when cleaning computer hardware. Powering off and disconnecting eliminates risks of electric shock, short circuits from liquids/conductive materials, and hardware damage from accidental button presses or static discharge.
A system analyst is a professional who
A systems analyst is primarily responsible for analyzing business/technical requirements, designing solutions (software, workflows, databases), and overseeing implementation, coordinating with developers, testing, and deployment.
Which one of the following programs is not a type of virus?
Trojan horses are malicious programs that disguise themselves as legitimate programs to trick users into installing them, but they do not replicate like a true virus, so they are not technically viruses.
The computer virus accesses the user's computer and waits for a trigger during the
In the dormant phase, the virus enters the system silently, remains inactive, and waits for a specific condition or trigger (like a date, action, or event) before moving to the execution phase.
The SQL constraint used to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data in a relational database is called
An integrity constraint in SQL is used to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data in a relational database, enforcing rules such as valid data entries and referential integrity.
To create a one-to-one relationship in a database, it is necessary that
A one-to-one relationship in a database means each record in Table A relates to exactly one record in Table B, and vice versa. This requires both the primary key and the foreign key to have a unique index so each value appears only once in both tables.
An advantage of manual file over computer file is that
Manual (physical/paper-based) files are immune to software glitches, malware, viruses, hardware failures (e.g. disk crashes), and cybersecurity breaches, so the risk of corrupted data is much less compared to computer files.
A user observed that a certain file in a removable storage device changed to a shortcut icon. This implies that
When a file changes to a shortcut icon on a removable storage device, it typically means the original file has been replaced or hidden and a shortcut (link) pointing to the file (or a malicious program) has been created, often caused by a shortcut virus.
The objectives to consider while designing a secure database application include the following except
Secure database design prioritizes secrecy (preventing unauthorized access), integrity (keeping data accurate and unaltered), and availability (ensuring data is accessible when required) - the CIA triad. Simplicity is not a core security objective.
Which one of the following features is not an advantage of a distributed database?
Distributed databases store data across multiple physical locations but are managed as a single database, offering advantages like better response, lower communication cost, and improved reliability. The need for complex software is a drawback, not an advantage.
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