Representing Text GCSE

What is the purpose of character encoding in computing?

• To encrypt text

• To compress text

• To represent text using binary

• To facilitate text formatting

Answer explanation

Character encoding in computing is used to represent text using binary. It allows computers to understand and process text in different languages and character sets.

Which standard encoding system is commonly used for representing characters in computers and communication equipment?

• UTF-8

• ASCII

• Unicode

• Binary

Answer explanation

UTF-8 is the commonly used standard encoding system for representing characters in computers and communication equipment. It supports a wide range of characters and is backward compatible with ASCII.

How many bits are used to represent a character in ASCII?

• 8 bits

• 6 bits

• 16 bits

• 4 bits

Answer explanation

ASCII uses 8 bits to represent a character. This allows for a total of 256 different characters to be represented.

Which of the following is a limitation of ASCII encoding?

• Limited character set

• Supports only English characters

• Requires large storage space

• Complex encoding algorithm

Answer explanation

ASCII encoding has a limited character set, which is a major limitation. It only supports English characters and requires large storage space. However, it does not have a complex encoding algorithm.

What is the purpose of Extended ASCII?

• To include special characters and symbols

• To extend the length of characters

• To encrypt text

• To compress text

Answer explanation

Extended ASCII is used to include special characters and symbols in text.

How many bits are used to represent a character in Extended ASCII?

• 8 bits

• 16 bits

• 12 bits

• 10 bits

Answer explanation

A character in Extended ASCII is represented using 8 bits.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of Extended ASCII compared to ASCII?

• Larger character set

• Incompatibility issues

• More efficient storage

• Better support for international characters

Answer explanation

Extended ASCII has the disadvantage of incompatibility issues compared to ASCII.

What is Unicode primarily designed to address?

• Compression of text

• Limited character set

• Internationalization and multilingual support

• Encryption of text

Answer explanation

Unicode is primarily designed to address internationalization and multilingual support, allowing for the representation of a wide range of characters from different languages and scripts.

How many bits are used to represent a character in Unicode?

• 8 bits

• 16 bits

• 32 bits

• 64 bits

Answer explanation

A character in Unicode is represented using 16 bits. This allows for a wide range of characters to be encoded, including various scripts and symbols.

Why is Unicode considered more versatile than ASCII for representing text?

• It supports a larger character set

• It uses fewer bits per character

• It is faster in data transmission

• It requires less memory

Answer explanation

Unicode is considered more versatile than ASCII because it supports a larger character set, allowing for the representation of a wider range of characters.