Question 1

Which one of the following represents the evolution of database models (oldest model first)?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of database models started with the Hierarchical model, followed by the Network model, and then the Relational model.

Question 2

Which of the following database structures offers a flexible way of representing objects and their relationships?

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Most professionals consider a collection of data to constitute a database must have the following properties:

Accepted Answer

All of these properties are important for a database. Data integrity means that the data is accurate and consistent, data quality refers to the usefulness and relevance of the data, and shared access ensures that multiple users can access and update the database simultaneously. To be considered a reliable and efficient database, it needs to have all of these properties.

Question 4

In the relational database model, what is a person, place, thing, transaction, or event about which information is stored?

Accepted Answer

An entity in the relational database model is a person, place, thing, transaction, or event about which information is stored. An entity can be a physical object or an abstract concept, and it must have a unique identifier, known as a primary key, to distinguish it from other entities in the database.

Question 5

A type of database that stores data in the form of logically related two-dimensional tables is:

Accepted Answer

Relational databases store data in the form of tables or relations, with each table representing an entity or a concept, and columns representing attributes or properties of that entity. This type of database is widely used in businesses, organizations, and institutions for managing various types of data such as customer information, inventory, financial records, etc. Some popular examples of relational database management systems include MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL. Hierarchical and network databases, on the other hand, use a different structure to store data, with hierarchies (trees) or networks (graphs) of interconnected nodes or records. These types of databases are less common nowadays and are typically used in specialized applications such as scientific simulations or real-time systems.

Question 6

What is a foreign key?

Accepted Answer

A foreign key is a primary key of one table that appears as an attribute in another table and acts to provide a logical relationship among the two tables. It is used to establish a link between two tables by creating a relationship between a column in one table and a primary key in another table.

Question 7

What is a primary key?

Accepted Answer

A primary key is a field (or group of fields) that uniquely identifies a given entity in a table. It is used to ensure that each record in the table is uniquely identifiable and to create logical relationships between tables through the use of foreign keys.

Question 8

In the relational database model, what is a collection of similar entities?

Accepted Answer

A collection of similar entities is known as an entity class in the relational database model. For example, the entity class "cars" would contain individual entities such as "Honda Civic", "Ford Mustang", etc.

Question 9

Which of the following can a database maintain information on?

Accepted Answer

A database can maintain information on a wide range of topics, including inventory, transactions, employees, and much more. Therefore, all of the given choices are correct.

Question 10

Why do relational databases use primary keys and foreign keys?

Accepted Answer

Relational databases use primary keys to uniquely identify each record in a table and foreign keys to create logical relationships between tables. These relationships ensure data integrity and prevent inconsistencies in the database. While primary and foreign keys are used to create physical relationships between tables, their main purpose is to establish logical relationships in the database. Therefore, option C is the most appropriate answer.

Question 11

The objects that are represented in the database and the relationships among them are well described by:

Accepted Answer

A schema is a logical configuration or overall design of the objects and relationships in a database. It defines how the data is organized and represented, including the tables, fields, constraints, and other elements. A database management system (DBMS) is the software that manages the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data in the database, but it does not define the structure of the data itself. Business intelligence (BI) refers to the processes and technologies for analyzing and interpreting data to gain insights and make decisions, but it does not necessarily involve the design of the data model.  Overall, the schema is the most appropriate choice as it specifically refers to the organization and relationships of objects in a database.

Question 12

Which one of the following is the most prevalent form of database structure used in business?

Accepted Answer

Relational database structure is the most prevalent form of database structure used in business. It allows for the storage and organization of data in tables with columns and rows that can be easily queried and managed. This structure is widely used in various industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail. Hierarchical and network structures are less commonly used, while the choice D "None of the choices are correct" is incorrect as relational databases are indeed widely used in business.

Question 13

In the relational database model, what are characteristics or properties of an entity class?

Accepted Answer

Attributes are characteristics or properties of an entity class in a relational database model.

Question 14

Which one of the following is not a data (or database) model?

Accepted Answer

DBMS stands for Database Management System, which is not a data (or database) model. Instead, DBMS is a software system used to manage databases and provide access to data stored within them. The other options, Hierarchical, Network, and Relational, are all different types of data models used in database design.

Question 15

Which one of the following provides a company the best competitive advantage in the global market place?

Accepted Answer

Information is the key to success in the global marketplace. It allows companies to make informed decisions about where to locate their operations, how to market their products, and how to compete with their rivals.

Question 16

The computer program used to manage and query a database is known as a:

Accepted Answer

The computer program used to manage and query a database is known as a Database Management System (DBMS). A DBMS is a software application that allows users to interact with a database, storing, retrieving, and manipulating data as needed. It acts as an interface between the database and the user, managing the data stored within the database and ensuring its integrity and security. A database is the organized collection of data while Business Intelligence is the process of analyzing data to make more informed business decisions. A schema is the logical structure of a database that defines how data is organized and accessed.

Question 17

Which of the following database structures stores information in a tree like structure that allows repeating information using parent/child relationships, in such a way that it cannot have too many relationships?

Accepted Answer

Hierarchical database structures store information in a tree-like structure that allows repeating information using parent/child relationships. This structure cannot have too many relationships, making it a suitable choice for certain types of data. Network databases are similar but have more flexible relationships, and relational databases are organized in tables with relationships between them.

Question 18

What are characteristics or properties of an entity class called?

Accepted Answer

All of these choices are correct. Attributes, fields, and columns all refer to the characteristics or properties of an entity class.

Question 19

All of the following are advantages of database-stored information, except:

Accepted Answer

Increased information redundancy is not an advantage of database-stored information, as redundancy can lead to data inconsistencies and waste storage space. The other options are all advantages of database-stored information. Increased flexibility because data can be easily manipulated, retrieved, and analyzed. Increased performance due to efficient data processing and fast retrieval. Increased information integrity because databases are designed to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

Question 20

In which one of the following data models, the data are organized into a treelike structure that allows repeating data using parent/child relationships?

Accepted Answer

In the hierarchical data model, data is organized into a tree-like structure where each record has a parent-child relationship. This model allows repeating data within a parent-child relationship. Therefore, this is the best choice for the given question. The network model also allows repeating data, but it uses a more complex graph structure instead of a simple tree. The relational model is based on tables and does not involve parent-child relationships, and DBMS (database management system) is not a data model but a software system used to manage databases.

Quiz 4: Ethics and Information Security

Which one of the following represents the evolution of database models (oldest model first) ?