Question 1: Explain what a character set is and why it is important in computer systems.

Answer: A character set is a collection of characters that a computer can recognize and process, each represented by a specific binary code. It is important because it allows computers to store, display, and communicate text consistently across different systems.

Question 2: Describe the main difference between ASCII and Unicode character sets.

Answer: ASCII uses 7 bits to represent up to 128 characters, mainly for English characters, while Unicode uses up to 32 bits, allowing it to represent a vast range of characters from many languages and symbols worldwide.

Question 3: Convert the letter 'A' into its ASCII binary representation.

Answer: The ASCII code for 'A' is 65, which in binary is 01000001.

Question 4: Convert the Unicode code point for the character '€' (Euro sign) into its binary form.

Answer: The Unicode code point for '€' is U+20AC. In binary (assuming 16 bits), it is 0010 0000 1010 1100.

Question 5: Explain why Unicode is more suitable than ASCII for international applications.

Answer: Unicode can encode characters from many different languages and symbols, making it suitable for international use. ASCII is limited to basic English characters, which is insufficient for global applications.

Question 6: A computer uses 8 bits to store each character. How many unique characters can it represent?

Answer: With 8 bits, a computer can represent 2^8 = 256 unique characters.

Question 7: Complete the truth table for a 3-bit binary character code representing the decimal number 5.

Answer: Input bits: 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 (or the specific 3-bit binary code for 5, which is 101). The truth table should include all possible 3-bit combinations, with the row for 101 indicating the decimal 5.

Question 8: Draw a simple logic circuit that converts a 2-bit binary input into a 1-bit output that indicates whether the binary number is greater than 1.

Answer: The circuit should have two input variables (A and B), representing the two bits. The output should be high (1) if the binary input is 10 or 11 (decimal 2 or 3). The logic involves OR and AND gates to produce the correct output.

Question 9: Sketch a diagram of how a 16-bit Unicode character is stored in memory. Label the parts clearly.

Answer: A sketch should show a block labeled '16 bits', divided into four groups of 4 bits each, with labels indicating each group of bits. It should demonstrate the storage of a Unicode code point, with annotations.

Question 10: Describe a scenario where using Unicode would be essential instead of ASCII.

Answer: An example is displaying multilingual website content that includes characters from different languages such as Chinese, Arabic, and emojis, which are not supported by ASCII.

Question 11: If a computer system uses 7 bits for character encoding, how many characters can it represent? What is a potential limitation of this system?

Answer: It can represent 2^7 = 128 characters. The limitation is that it cannot support characters beyond this set, restricting its use to basic English and some control characters.

Question 12: Explain the importance of standardising character encoding in digital communication.

Answer: Standardising character encoding ensures that text appears correctly across different devices and systems, avoiding misinterpretation of binary data and ensuring consistent communication globally.