Test your basic knowledge |

Comptia A + Certification

Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A CPU component that manages the CPU cache.






2. Cabling that contains a single copper wire surrounded by several layers of insulating plastic and a woven wire sheath that provides protection.






3. Software that takes a scanned image and interprets the patterns in the image into alphanumeric characters.






4. A utility in Windows NT for gathering and viewing performance data involving memory - disks - processors - network - and other objectives.






5. The disruption of signal transmission caused by the radiation of electrical and magnetic fields. Electric motors are a common source of EMI.






6. A program that blocks browser pop-ups.






7. In reference to parallel ports - a mode in which the parallel device connected to the parallel port can receive data but cannot send data. CMOS settings (system settings) may refer to this mode as "Transfer only."






8. Aka master boot record.






9. The cellular network standards used by AT&T and T-Mobile.






10. A plastic card - often the size of a credit card - that contains a microchip. The microchip can store information and perform functions - depending on the type of smart card. Some smart cards only store data - whereas others may have a variety of fun






11. Aka customer premises equipment.






12. One of the two main protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite - TCP breaks the data into chunks - called datagrams. Each datagram also contains information - stored in a header - which is used by the TCP protocol on the receiving end to reassemble the c






13. An internal bus in a CPU that connects it to memory and video.






14. In reference to a memory module - the number of memory modules required to match the data bus width of the processor.






15. An interface standard for use with DVD players - digital television (DTV) players - set-top cable or satellite service boxes - and other devices. It combines audio and video signals into an uncompressed signal and has a bandwidth of up to 5 GB/second






16. A communications system now used for data communications via satellite that usually uses microwave radio frequencies and requires a dish antenna - receiver - and transmitter.






17. A long-handled tool with a magnet on one end - used to pick up small objects containing iron.






18. The redirection of incoming traffic to the requesting internal hosts that initiated the communication with an external host.






19. Aka World Wide Web.






20. A variation of the PGA CPU packaging that was used with Pentium CPUs.






21. The hardware address of a network device - also called the Ethernet address (on Ethernet devices) or NIC address.






22. The proportion between an image's width and height. Traditional CRT monitors have an aspect ratio of 4:3. Widescreen displays have an aspect ratio of 16:9.






23. Aka Advanced Technology eXtended.






24. In a CPU - special memory that resides within the CPU's core and is used to temporarily store instructions and data in order to increase the processing speed. Also called L1 cache.






25. A chip that retains system settings such as the time - keyboard settings - and boot sequence.






26. Audio connectors that use a 1/8" single pin plug.






27. A pixel that is permanently turned on - causing the pixel to show constantly as red - green - or blue. Also called a stuck pixel.






28. A mark on a building created by a war driver to specify where a hotspot exists. People "in the know" look for these marks to identify hotspots for their use.






29. A method used by several software manufacturers to combat software piracy. The formal name for Microsoft's activation is Microsoft Product Activation (MPA).






30. A network in which all of the computers essentially operate as both servers (providing access to shared resources) and clients (accessing those shared resources).






31. The act of writing to two disk drives at the same time - creating identical drives.






32. A DVI mode that supports both analog and digital video signals.






33. Aka external cache.






34. The generic term for a pointing stick.






35. A protocol used with WPA wireless encryption that was broken by hackers.






36. A type of switched network used by phone companies.






37. A word used to describe memory that cannot work without a steady supply of power.






38. A component of a CPU that is responsible for all logical and mathematical operations in the system.






39. A circuit card in a PC that controls the output to the display device(s).






40. A protocol that allows two devices to connect - authenticate - and negotiate what protocols they will use (almost always TCP/IP).






41. The successor to the Mini PCI. It has a 64-bit data bus and is half the size of a Mini PCI Card.






42. Software installed on a computer without permission that collects information about a user in order to display targeted advertisements - in the form of either inline banners or pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the context of






43. A type of computer firmware that is responsible for informing the CPU of installed devices and how to communicate with them.






44. An external bus that connects into the PC's PCI bus. With USB - you can theoretically connect up to 127 devices to your computer.






45. Aka access control list.






46. A chip that works with a serial port - converting outgoing data from parallel to serial and incoming data from serial to parallel.






47. The process of informing the software manufacturer who the official owner or user of the product is - and providing contact information such as name - address - company - phone number - e-mail address - and so on - about them. Registration is usually






48. Aka thermal compound.






49. The act of moving through a neighborhood in a vehicle or on foot - using either a laptop equipped with Wi-Fi wireless network capability or a simple Wi-Fi sensor available for a few dollars from many sources. War drivers are searching for open hotspo






50. One or more chips in a computer's chipset that controls communications between the CPU and RAM on the motherboard.