← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

High-level language

A programming language using English-like words that is easy for people to read and write, such as Python or Java. One statement does many jobs, and it must be translated before the CPU can run it.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 4.2 Programming Languages, Translators and IDEs — Module 3

Understanding High-level language in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: The keywords if and print are ordinary English words, so the code can be read almost like a sentence. A translator (a compiler or an interpreter) converts the high-level source code into machine code that the CPU can understand. These three are the standard high-level language examples named in the IGCSE syllabus.

Common mistakes: A single = assigns a value. Python needs == to compare two values in an if statement. The line should be if name == "Ava":. The variable name is misspelt. Python does not know 'totl', so it gives an error. The line should be total = total + n.

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 419–429) and word search (Modules 419–439).

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Learning

Duo

Which describes a high-level language?

Uses English-like words that are easy for people to read and writeUses only binary 1s and 0s that the CPU runs directly

Matches

A high-level language is written in binary so the CPU can run it directly with no translation

↓

High-level languages use English-like words, not binary, and they must be translated into machine code before the CPU can run them.

Applying

Meanings

Term

high-level language

Meaning

A programming language using English-like words that is easy for people to read and write, such as Python or Java. One statement does many jobs, and it must be translated before the CPU can run it.

Practice

for number in range(1, 4):

Testing

Gaps

("Hello, world!")

Check Answer

Spots

1name = input("Name: ")

2if name = "Ava":

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Quick Questions

1. Which describes a high-level language?

A. Uses only binary 1s and 0s that the CPU runs directly

B. Uses English-like words that are easy for people to read and write ✓

High-level languages use English-like keywords such as print, if and while, so people can read and write them easily.

2. Which of these is a high-level language?

A. Machine code

B. Python ✓

Python, Java and Visual Basic are high-level languages. Machine code is the lowest level, made of binary.

3. Which statement about a high-level language is true?

A. One statement can do the work of many machine instructions ✓

B. One statement always matches exactly one machine instruction

A single high-level statement such as print(x) is translated into many machine code instructions.

4. Can the CPU run high-level code directly?

A. No, it must be translated into machine code first ✓

B. Yes, the CPU understands English-like keywords directly

The CPU only understands machine code, so a compiler or interpreter must translate high-level code before it can run.

5. Which line is written in a high-level language?

A. print("Hello") ✓

B. 10110000 01100001

print("Hello") uses an English-like keyword. The binary pattern is machine code.

Match the Pairs

print("Hello") → One English-like statement that makes the computer display text, which is far easier to read than the many machine instructions needed to do it

Python, Java, Visual Basic → Examples of high-level languages that use English-like words and must be translated before the CPU can run them

A high-level language uses English-like keywords so people can read and write it easily → if mark >= 50: print("Pass")

High-level code cannot be run directly by the CPU, so it must be translated into machine code first → source code -> compiler or interpreter -> machine code

A high-level language is written in binary so the CPU can run it directly with no translation → High-level languages use English-like words, not binary, and they must be translated into machine code before the CPU can run them.

total = a + b is hard to read because one high-level statement is just one machine instruction → One high-level statement usually becomes many machine instructions, and it is easy to read, not hard.

Key Term

high-level language

A programming language using English-like words that is easy for people to read and write, such as Python or Java. One statement does many jobs, and it must be translated before the CPU can run it.

Fill in the Blanks

1. print("Hello, world!")

Hint: Type the English-like Python function that shows text on the screen.

2. name = input("Enter your name: ")

Hint: Type the Python function that reads text typed by the user.

3. if score >= 50: print("Pass")

Hint: Type the English word that starts a decision in Python.

4. for i in range(5): print(i)

Hint: Type the built-in function that makes a sequence of numbers so one loop statement can repeat the work.

5. total = sum([4, 7, 9])

Hint: Type the function that adds up every number in a list. One statement replaces many machine instructions.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A name = input("Name: ")

B if name = "Ava":

C print("Hi Ava")

D else:

E print("Hello")

Line B — A single = assigns a value. Python needs == to compare two values in an if statement. The line should be if name == "Ava":

Question 2

A total = 0

B for n in range(1, 4):

C total = totl + n

D print(total)

Line C — The variable name is misspelt. Python does not know 'totl', so it gives an error. The line should be total = total + n

Question 3

A score 72

B if score >= 50:

C print("Pass")

Line A — The assignment operator = is missing, so the statement is not valid. The line should be score = 72

Question 4

A count = 0

B while count < 3:

C Print(count)

D count = count + 1

Line C — Python is case-sensitive and its keyword for output is lowercase. The line should be print(count)

Question 5

A for i in range(3)

B print("Hello")

C print("Done")

Line A — A for statement in Python must end with a colon. The line should be for i in range(3):

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