Skip to content

Course home

Sign up

Data types and structures

EasyMedium
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Question 21

An environmental monitoring agency deploys a network of ocean buoys. Each buoy transmits a daily telemetry packet containing the following data:

  • A timestamp (e.g., 14:30:00)
  • A station identifier (e.g., "BUOY-09")
  • A sea surface temperature (e.g., 12.4 ∘C12.4\text{ }^\circ\text{C}12.4 ∘C)
  • A storm warning status (e.g., True)

In the system's software, this collection of related data items is defined as a single composite entity named BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading.

Which option correctly classifies BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading and explains its relationship to primitive data types?

A

BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading is a primitive data type because any data type defined for standard network transmission must be primitive to guarantee platform-independent serialization.

B

BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading is a structured data type (specifically a one-dimensional array) because it represents a finite, ordered sequence of elements stored in contiguous memory locations.

C

BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading is a structured data type (specifically a record) because it consists of a collection of related items (fields) of different data types grouped under a single identifier.

D

BuoyReading\text{BuoyReading}BuoyReading is a primitive data type because it is composed entirely of basic types that can be directly mapped to CPU registers without pointer indirection.

Markscheme

Data types and structures Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Computer Science
  3. /Data types and structures

44 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Computer Science Data types and structures, covering Primitive and structured data types, Using variables and constants, and Manipulating strings. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

Question bank