Question 1

Data constitute the building blocks of information.

Accepted Answer

Data is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed to become meaningful. Information is the result of processing and organizing data in a meaningful way. Therefore, data is the building block of information.

Question 2

One disadvantage of the DBMS is that it increases the risk of data security breaches.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

One advantage of a database system over previous data management approaches is that the database system is considerably less complex.

Accepted Answer

The statement is false. Database systems are typically more complex than previous data management approaches, but they provide greater efficiency, ease of use, and flexibility in accessing, storing, and manipulating data.

Question 4

Corporations use only structured data.

Accepted Answer

Corporations may use unstructured data as well, such as text data from customer feedback or social media interactions.

Question 5

The same data might be simultaneously structured and unstructured depending on the intended processing.

Accepted Answer

Data can be structured or unstructured depending on how it is organized and represented, but it can also be both structured and unstructured depending on the context and intended processing. For example, a text document may be unstructured data when viewed as a collection of words and sentences, but it can also be structured data when analyzed for keywords, topics, and patterns using natural language processing techniques. Likewise, a spreadsheet can be structured data when viewed as a table of rows and columns, but it can also contain unstructured data when text or images are included in the cells.

Question 6

A query language is a procedural language.

Accepted Answer

A query language is a declarative language, meaning that it specifies what information is desired and leaves it up to the system to determine how to obtain that information. It is not a procedural language, which specifies how to perform a series of operations.

Question 7

We are now said to be entering the "knowledge age."

Accepted Answer

The term "knowledge age" or "knowledge economy" refers to a period of time where the production and consumption of knowledge-based products and services has become the dominant economic activity. This is a popular concept in modern economic and societal discussions, suggesting that we are transitioning out of the industrial age or post-industrial age and onto a new phase of development.

Question 8

Initially the files within a computer file system were similar to manual files.

Accepted Answer

Initially, computer file systems were designed to mimic manual file systems where information was organized in folders and files.

Question 9

Data processing can be as simple as organizing data to reveal patterns.

Accepted Answer

Data processing can involve various techniques and tools, but organizing data to reveal patterns is indeed one of the simplest forms of data processing. Other techniques such as statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization can be more complex and sophisticated.

Question 10

The DBMS reveals much of the database's internal complexity to the application programs and users.

Accepted Answer

The DBMS hides much of the database's internal complexity from application programs and users, providing a simplified and organized interface for querying and manipulating data.

Question 11

An operational database is sometimes referred to as an enterprise database.

Accepted Answer

An operational database is designed for real-time business operations rather than being referred to as an enterprise database, which is a broader term encompassing databases used across an entire organization for various purposes.

Question 12

Database programming languages receive all application requests and translate them into the complex operations required to fulfill those requests.

Accepted Answer

Database programming languages, such as SQL, are used to write queries and operations for managing and manipulating data in databases, but it's the database management system (DBMS) that receives application requests and translates them into the complex operations required to fulfill those requests.

Question 13

The only way to access the data in a database is through the DBMS.

Accepted Answer

The database management system (DBMS) serves as an interface between the user and the database, controlling access to the data and managing its organization and retrieval. Thus, the only way to access the data is through the DBMS.

Question 14

Information implies familiarity, awareness, and understanding knowledge as it applies to an environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Information implies familiarity, awareness, and understanding knowledge...

Question 15

Metadata present a more complete picture of the data in the database than the data itself.

Accepted Answer

Metadata provides information about the data such as its structure, format, relationships with other data, and its origin. This additional information helps to give context to the data and enables users to better understand and interpret it. In contrast, the data itself only contains the actual values or content. Therefore, metadata can be considered more complete as it provides a richer and more complete picture of the data in the database.

Question 16

A data warehouse can store data derived from many sources.

Accepted Answer

A data warehouse can store data from various sources, such as transactional databases, operational systems, web analytics, and external sources.

Question 17

One disadvantage of a database system over previous data management approaches is increased costs.

Accepted Answer

Database systems require specialized software, hardware, and trained personnel which can increase the overall cost compared to previous data management approaches.

Question 18

Data and information are essentially the same thing.

Accepted Answer

Data refers to raw facts and figures, while information is the result of organizing and analyzing the data to make it meaningful and useful.

Question 19

Structural dependence exists when it is possible to make changes in the file structure without affecting the application program's ability to access the data.

Accepted Answer

Structural dependence refers to a situation where changes in the database schema (structure) affect the application program's ability to access data, meaning the program may need to be altered to accommodate these changes.

Question 20

Historically, a manual file system was composed of a system of file folders and filing cabinets.

Accepted Answer

A manual file system typically consists of a system of physical file folders and filing cabinets to organize and store documents.

Quiz 1: The Database Approach