Utah State University

ACCT 610

Chapter 9-Database Management Systems

TRUE/FALSE

1)The database approach to data management is sometimes called the flat file approach.

 

 

 

2. The Database Management System provides a controlled environment for accessing the database.

 

 

 

3. To the user, data processing procedures for routine transactions, such as entering sales orders, appear to be identical in the database environment and in the traditional environment.

 

 

 

4. An important feature associated with the traditional approach to data management is the ability to produce ad hoc reports.

 

 

 

5. The Data Definition Language is used to insert special database commands into application programs.

 

 

 

6. There is more than one conceptual view of the database.

 

 

 

7. In the database method of data management, access authority is maintained by systems programming.

 

 

 

8. The physical database is an abstract representation of the database.

 

 

 

9. A customer name and an unpaid balance is an example of a one-to-many relationship.

 

 

 

10. In the relational model, a data element is called a relation.

 

 

 

11. Data normalization groups data attributes into tables in accordance with specific design objectives.

 

 

 

12. Under the database approach, data is viewed as proprietary or “owned” by users.

 

 

13. The data dictionary describes all of the data elements in the database.

 

 

 

14. A join builds a new table by creating links.

 

 

 

15. The deletion anomaly is the least important of the problems affecting unnormalized databases.

 

 

 

16. A deadlock is a phenomenon that prevents the processing of transactions.

 

 

 

17. Timestamping is a control that is used to ensure database partitioning.

 

 

 

18. A lockout is a software control that prevents multiple users from simultaneous access to data.

 

 

 

19. Logical database design is the foundation of the conceptual design.

 

 

 

20. An entity is any physical thing about which the organization wishes to capture data.

 

 

 

21. An ER diagram is a graphical representation of a data model.

 

 

 

22. The term occurrence is used to describe the number of attributes or fields pertaining to a specific entity.

 

 

 

23. Cardinality describes the number of possible occurrences in one table that are associated with a single occurrence in a related table.

 

 

 

24. A table in third normal form is free of partial dependencies, multiple dependencies, and transitive dependencies.

 

 

25. Improperly normalized databases are associated with three types of anomalies: the update anomaly, the insertion anomaly, and the deletion anomaly.

 

 

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. All of the following are basic data management tasks except

a.	data deletion
b.	data storage
c.	data attribution
d.	data retrieval

 

 

2. The task of searching the database to locate a stored record for processing is called

a.	data deletion
b.	data storage
c.	data attribution
d.	data retrieval

 

 

3. Which of the following is not a problem usually associated with the flat-file approach to data management?

a.	data redundancy
b.	restricting access to data to the primary user
c.	data storage
d.	currency of information

 

 

4. Which characteristic is associated with the database approach to data management?

a.	data sharing
b.	multiple storage procedures
c.	data redundancy
d.	excessive storage costs

 

 

5. Which characteristic is not associated with the database approach to data management?

a.	the ability to process data without the help of a programmer
b.	the ability to control access to the data
c.	constant production of backups
d.	the inability to determine what data is available

 

 

6. The textbook refers to four interrelated components of the database concept. Which of the following is not one of the components?

a.	the Database Management System
b.	the Database Administrator
c.	the physical database
d.	the conceptual database

 

 

7. Which of the following is not a responsibility of the Database Management System?

a.	provide an interface between the users and the physical database
b.	provide security against a natural disaster
c.	ensure that the internal schema and external schema are consistent
d.	authorize access to portions of the database

 

 

8. A description of the physical arrangement of records in the database is

a.	the internal view
b.	the conceptual view
c.	the subschema
d.	the external view

 

 

9. Which of the following may provide many distinct views of the database?

a.	the schema
b.	the internal view
c.	the user view
d.	the conceptual view

 

 

10. Users access the database

a.	by direct query
b.	by developing operating software
c.	by constantly interacting with systems programmers
d.	all of the above

 

 

11. The Data Definition Language

a.	identifies, for the Database Management System, the names and relationships of all data elements, records, and files that comprise the database
b.	inserts database commands into application programs to enable standard programs to interact with and manipulate the database
c.	permits users to process data in the database without the need for conventional programs
d.	describes every data element in the database

 

 

12. The Data Manipulation Language

a.	defines the database to the Database Management System
b.	transfers data to the buffer area for manipulation
c.	enables application programs to interact with and manipulate the database
d.	describes every data element in the database

 

 

13. Which statement is not correct? A query language like SQL

a.	is written in a fourth-generation language
b.	requires user familiarity with COBOL
c.	allows users to retrieve and modify data

d.	reduces reliance on programmers

 

 

 

14. Which duty is not the responsibility of the Database Administrator?

a.	to develop and maintain the Data Dictionary
b.	to implement security controls
c.	to design application programs
d.	to design the subschema

 

 

15. In a hierarchical model

a.	links between related records are implicit
b.	the way to access data is by following a predefined data path
c.	an owner (parent) record may own just one member (child) record
d.	a member (child) record may have more than one owner (parent)

 

 

16. Which term is not associated with the relational database model?

a.	tuple
b.	attribute
c.	collision
d.	relation

 

 

17. In the relational database model

a.	relationships are explicit
b.	the user perceives that files are linked using pointers
c.	data is represented on two-dimensional tables
d.	data is represented as a tree structure

 

 

18. In the relational database model all of the following are true except

a.	data is presented to users as tables
b.	data can be extracted from specified rows from specified tables
c.	a new table can be built by joining two tables
d.	only one-to-many relationships can be supported

 

 

19. In a relational database

a.	the user’s view of the physical database is the same as the physical database
b.	users perceive that they are manipulating a single table
c.	a virtual table exists in the form of rows and columns of a table stored on the disk
d.	a programming language (COBOL) is used to create a user’s view of the database

 

 

20. The update anomaly in unnormalized databases

a.	occurs because of data redundancy
b.	complicates adding records to the database
c.	may result in the loss of important data

d.	often results in excessive record insertions

 

 

 

21. The most serious problem with unnormalized databases is the

a.	update anomaly
b.	insertion anomaly
c.	deletion anomaly
d.	none of the above

 

 

22. The deletion anomaly in unnormalized databases

a.	is easily detected by users
b.	may result in the loss of important data
c.	complicates adding records to the database
d.	requires the user to perform excessive updates

 

 

23. Which statement is correct?

a.	in a normalized database, data about vendors occur in several locations
b.	the accountant is responsible for database normalization
c.	in a normalized database, deletion of a key record could result in the destruction of the audit trail
d.	connections between M:M tables is provided by a link table

 

 

24. Which of the following is not a common form of conceptual database model?

a.	hierarchical
b.	network
c.	sequential
d.	relational

 

 

25. Which of the following is a relational algebra function?

a.	restrict
b.	project
c.	join
d.	all are relational algebra functions

 

 

26. Which statement is false?

a.	The DBMS is special software that is programmed to know which data elements each user is authorized to access.
b.	User programs send requests for data to the DBMS.
c.	During processing, the DBMS periodically makes backup copies of the physical database.
d.	The DBMS does not control access to the database.

 

 

27. All of the following are elements of the DBMS which facilitate user access to the database except

a.	query language

b.	data access language
c.	data manipulation language
d.	data definition language

 

 

 

28. Which of the following is a level of the database that is defined by the data definition language?

a.	user view
b.	schema
c.	internal view
d.	all are levels or views of the database

 

 

29. An example of a distributed database is

a.	partitioned database
b.	centralized database
c.	networked database
d.	all are examples of distributed databases

 

 

30. Data currency is preserved in a centralized database by

a.	partitioning the database
b.	using a lockout procedure
c.	replicating the database
d.	implementing concurrency controls

 

 

31. Which procedure will prevent two end users from accessing the same data element at the same time?

a.	data redundancy
b.	data replication
c.	data lockout
d.	none of the above

 

 

32. The advantages of a partitioned database include all of the following except

a.	user control is enhanced
b.	data transmission volume is increased
c.	response time is improved
d.	risk of destruction of entire database is reduced

 

 

33. A replicated database is appropriate when

a.	there is minimal data sharing among information processing units
b.	there exists a high degree of data sharing and no primary user
c.	there is no risk of the deadlock phenomenon
d.	most data sharing consists of read-write transactions

 

 

34. What control maintains complete, current, and consistent data at all information processing units?

a.	deadlock control

b.	replication control
c.	concurrency control
d.	gateway control

 

 

 

35. Data concurrency

a.	is a security issue in partitioned databases
b.	is implemented using timestamping
c.	may result in data lockout
d.	occurs when a deadlock is triggered

 

 

36. Entities are

a.	nouns that are depicted by rectangles on an entity relationship diagram
b.	data that describe the characteristics of properties of resources
c.	associations among elements
d.	sets of data needed to make a decision

 

 

37. A user view

a.	presents the physical arrangement of records in a database for a particular user
b.	is the logical abstract structure of the database
c.	specifies the relationship of data elements in the database
d.	defines how a particular user sees the database

 

 

38. All of the following are advantages of a partitioned database except

a.	increased user control by having the data stored locally
b.	deadlocks are eliminated
c.	transaction processing response time is improved
d.	partitioning can reduce losses in case of disaster

 

 

39. Each of the following is a relational algebra function except

a.	join
b.	project
c.	link
d.	restrict

 

 

SHORT ANSWER

 

Use the following words to complete the sentences.

 

Database Administrator	Data Dictionary
data redundancy	Index Sequential Access Method
query language	schema
sequential structure	subschema

1.                                                               occurs when a specific file is reproduced for each user who needs access to the file.

 

 

2. The conceptual view of the database is often called                                              .

 

 

3. The                                                   allows users to retrieve and modify data easily.

 

 

4. The                                                                  authorizes access to the database.

 

 

5. The                                                                  describes every data element in the database.

 

 

6. Describe a specific data element, entity, and record type in the expenditure cycle.

 

 

7. What is the relationship between a database table and a user view?

 

 

 

8. How does the database approach solve the problem of data redundancy?

 

 

9. Explain how linkages between relational tables are accomplished.

 

 

10. Explain the basic results that come from the restrict, project, and join functions.

 

11. Explain the purpose of an ER diagram in database design.

 

 

12. What are two types of distributed databases?

 

 

13. Describe an environment when a firm should use a partitioned database.

 

 

14. Explain how to link tables in (1:1) association. Why may this be different in a (1:0,1) association?

 

 

 

15. Why are the hierarchical and network models called navigational databases?

 

ESSAY

 

1. Give three examples that illustrate how cardinality reflects an organization’s underlying business rules.

 

 

2. Explain the three types of anomalies associated with database tables that have not been normalized.

 

 

3. What are the four elements of the database approach? Explain the role of each.

 

 

4. Explain the three views of a database.

 

 

5. Explain a database lockout and the deadlock phenomenon. Contrast that to concurrency control and the timestamping technique. Describe the importance of these items in relation to database integrity.

 

 

6. What are the key control implications of the absence of database normalization?

 

 

7. In a distributed data processing system, a database can be centralized or distributed. What are the options? Explain.

 

 

8. What are the characteristics of a properly designed relational database table?

 

 

9. Ownership of data in traditional legacy systems often leads to data redundancy. This in turn leads to several data management problems. What are they? How does the database approach solve them?

 

 

 

10. What services are provided by a database management system?

 

 

 

11. Discuss the key factors to consider in determining how to partition a corporate database.

 

 

12. Distinguish between a database lockout and a deadlock.