A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of an Inference Engine in a Knowledge Based System?

1. To manage user input

2. To store knowledge effectively

3. To process and analyze data to make conclusions

4. To design the graphical interface

The correct answer is: To process and analyze data to make conclusions

The primary purpose of an Inference Engine in a Knowledge Based System is to process and analyze data to make conclusions. This component acts as the reasoning mechanism of the system, applying logical rules to the knowledge stored within to derive new information or make decisions based on the provided data. Essentially, the Inference Engine interprets the knowledge base, evaluates the given facts, and applies rules to infer conclusions that are not explicitly stated. This capability transforms raw data into actionable insights, enabling the system to provide answers or recommendations based on its knowledge. In contrast, managing user input is typically handled by user interface components, while storing knowledge effectively falls under the domain of the knowledge base itself, which is separate from the reasoning process. Designing the graphical interface is a task associated with user experience and interaction design, which does not relate directly to the inference processes conducted by an Inference Engine.