Practice C.3 Distributed approaches to the web with authentic IB Computer Science (CS) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like programming concepts, algorithms, and data structures. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
A technology firm is deploying a new distributed network architecture to support its global team.
Describe two components of a distributed network.
Explain one reason why distributed networks are beneficial for remote work.
Outline one challenge that the technology firm may encounter when implementing a distributed network.
The internet and World Wide Web are often considered to be the same, or the terms are used in the wrong context.
Many organizations produce computer-based solutions that implement open standards.
A search engine is software that allows a user to search for information. The most commonly used search algorithms are the PageRank and HITS algorithms.
Outline why a search engine using the HITS algorithm might produce different page ranking from one using the PageRank algorithm.
Outline two advantages of using open standards.
Web crawlers browse the World Wide Web.
Explain how data stored in a meta-tag is used by a web crawler.
Distinguish between the internet and the World Wide Web.
A medical research facility uses grid computing to analyze large datasets for genetic research.
Define grid computing.
Outline two benefits of using grid computing for analyzing genetic data.
Explain one potential data security issue that may arise from using grid computing in this context.
A university plans to create a cloud-based research network to allow researchers across campuses to collaborate on projects and share resources.
Define the term grid computing.
Outline two benefits of using grid computing for research collaboration.
Describe one limitation of grid computing in this context.
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A web application (app) runs on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It allows users to locate their position in real time on a map, as they walk around a city, as well as the surrounding attractions. The app uses icons to represent tourist attractions such as art galleries and museums. When the user clicks on the icon, further details are shown, such as opening times. The app includes some use of client-side scripting.
Many art galleries have websites that can be found by search engines. White hat techniques and practices allow website developers to optimize the search process. It is good practice to maintain the source code of websites up-to-date with actual information.
Explain why maintaining a clean HTML source code of a website by removing old information optimizes the search process.
State two metrics used by search engines.
With reference to the use on mobile devices, outline a feature of this application that may rely on client-side scripting.
The evolution of the web, architectures, protocols and their uses has led to increasingly sophisticated services that run on peer-2-peer (P2P) architectures.
Explain how a P2P network can provide more reliability than a client-server model.
Outline the functioning of this app. Include specific references to the technology and software involved.
A smart city initiative uses ubiquitous computing to manage city resources, such as lighting, waste collection, and traffic monitoring.
Define ubiquitous computing.
Describe two benefits of implementing ubiquitous computing in a smart city.
Outline one challenge of maintaining interoperability among the different systems in the smart city.
Explain how open standards could support the integration of new devices and technologies into the city’s ubiquitous computing network.
A game development company is considering using a peer-to-peer (P2P) network to facilitate multiplayer gaming.
Define a peer-to-peer network.
Explain two advantages of using a P2P network for multiplayer games.
Describe one potential security concern associated with using P2P for gaming.
The Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland produces an average of 15 petabytes (15 million gigabytes) of experimental data every year. This data must be accessed and analysed by scientists around the world.
CERN has established the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid.
With reference to the URL https://home.cern/topics/large-hadron-collider
State the protocol used.
With reference to the URL https://home.cern/topics/large-hadron-collider
Identify the steps taken by the domain name server when the scientist enters a URL such as https://home.cern into their web browser.
Instead of copyrighting its experimental results, CERN has decided to publish its experimental results using Creative Commons licensing.
Explain two reasons why CERN would publish its experimental results using Creative Commons licensing.
Explain two reasons why CERN would use grid computing to support its research.
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RunAndBeyond is a sports knowledge website, offering expert knowledge and technical tips on sport disciplines. Official teams and associations are invited to include some of their own multimedia digital resources to RunAndBeyond.
A team of triathletes, finding their sport discipline under-represented in the website, wants to contribute content for RunAndBeyond. The team intends to use a wiki in collaborating online with other similar interested groups in triathlon when creating and updating their own resource.
The triathlete's online resource provides a variety of references through external links, and one of them points to:
ftp://files.tri-events.cc/site/index.php/en/general-info
There are also external links on the website to videos and some of these are transferred using lossy compression. When these videos are transferred, they can either be streamed or downloaded for future viewing.
The RunAndBeyond website continually automatically updates its content regarding a live sporting event.
Suggest how a dynamic web page would function in providing this service to the user.
Suggest why lossy compression should be the compression technique used.
Describe how a wiki can support the ongoing collaboration in producing the triathletes’ resource.
Outline the processing that takes place when the line of code above is executed.
State the reason why the above link is a URL.
GameWorld is an online gaming platform where players can compete and interact in a virtual environment. The platform is accessible on mobile devices and supports cross-platform gameplay between mobile and desktop users.
Define mobile computing and explain its relevance to GameWorld.
Describe two advantages of GameWorld supporting cross-platform gameplay.
Explain one challenge GameWorld might face in ensuring a smooth experience for both mobile and desktop players.
Outline one benefit and one limitation of using open standards for GameWorld’s cross-platform development.