Test your basic knowledge |

IT Literacy

Subjects : it-skills, literacy
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 software help agent that walks the user through a complex process






2. Software that only allows user access according to the user's needs. Some users can open only files that are related to their work. Some users are allowed read-only access to files; they can see but not change them.






3. Software that enables the user to manipulate photographs and other high-resolution images.






4. American Standard Code for Information Interchange; A code that represents characters as 8-bit codes. Allows the binary computer to work with letters - digits and special characters






5. Part of the computer which processes information - performs arithmetic calculations - and makes basic decisions based on information values






6. Intersection of row and column






7. 1) Save labor costs (work all the time - no breaks/vacations); 2) improve quality and increase production (esp. in repetitive tasks); 3) ideal for dangerous/impossible jobs for humans






8. Professionally designed - empty documents that can be adapted to specific user needs. In spreadsheet software - worksheets that contain labels and formulas but no data values. The template produces instant answers when you fill in the blanks.






9. Typeface fonts in which the characters are embellished with fine lines (serifs) at the ends of the main strokes






10. Ongoing public discussions on a particular subject consisting of notes written to a central Internet site and redistributed through a worldwide newsgroup called Usenet. You can check into and out of them whenever you want; all messages are posted on






11. An online meeting between 2 or more people; done in 'real time' (ex: IM [instant messaging])






12. 1) Amount of network traffic; 2) size/type of file being transferred; 3) type/quality of network connection






13. Graphical User Interface; A user interface based on graphical displays. With a mouse - the user points to icons that represent files - folders - and disks. Documents are displayed in windows. The user selects commands from menus






14. Using a computer to create - edit and print documents






15. Automatic replication of values - labels and formulas






16. Software robots that systematically explore the Web - retrieve information about pages - and index the retrieved information in a database. (used by search engines)






17. Identifying recurring patterns in input data with the goal of understand or categorizing that input. (Easy for humans) (Ex: fingerprint identification - handwriting recognition - speech recognition - optional character recognition)






18. Wide Area Network ; A network that extends over a long distance. Each network site is a node on the network






19. Documentation file that appears onscreen at the user's request






20. A text file that includes codes that describe the format - layout - and logical structure of a hypermedia document. Most Web pages are created with this code.






21. A program for locating information on the Web. (uses Web crawlers)






22. Email discussion groups on special-interest topics. All subscribers receive messages sent to the group's mailing address. (private)






23. A set of rules for the exchange of data between a terminal and a computer - or between two computers.






24. Process of saving data - esp. for data recovery. Many systems automatically back up data and software onto disks or tapes






25. Instructions that tell the hardware what to do to transform the input into out put






26. An interactive cross-reference system that allows textual information to be linked in nonsequential ways. A hypertext document contains links that lead quickly to other parts of the document or to related documents.






27. Created: 1) URL; 2) HTML; 3) HTTP://; 4) first 'browser'






28. The standard technique used to send information over the Internet. A message is broken into packets that travel independently from network to network toward their common destination - where they are reunited.






29. Step-by-step procedure for calculating a number






30. Size and style of typeface






31. 1) Saves printing costs after initial software purchase. 2) Saves time traveling back to commercial printer b/c you can use a personal printer. 3) Reduces # of publication errors. 4) Allows more people to publish.






32. Someone who uses computer skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems.






33. 1) Paper is easier on eyes. 2) Books can be read anywhere w/o the need of electricity/batteries. 3) Books are aesthetically more pleasing. 4) Books can be highlighted and written in.






34. A device that enables digital machines to monitor a physical quantity of the analog world (i.e. temperature - humidity - pressure) to provide data used in robotics. (Enables robots to modify actions based on feedback from outside world) (Ex: vision -






35. 1) Robot must not injure a human or - by inaction - allow a human to come to harm; 2) must obey orders given by humans (except where the order conflicts w/ first law); 3) must protect its own existence (w/o conflicting w/ first & second law)






36. Function which enables users to change the appearance of a document by specifying the font - point size - and style of any character in the document - as well as the overall layout of text and graphical elements in the document






37. Measure of character size (one point equals 1/72 inch)






38. Software that serves as tools for doing system maintenance and some repairs that are not automatically handled by the operating system;






39. Software help agent that walks the user through a complex process






40. Copy files between storage devices; Repair damaged data files; Guard against viruses; Compress files to take up less disk space; example: defragmenting






41. 1) color depth; 2) resolution






42. Fonts like those in the courier family that mimic typewriters; characters - no matter how narrow or wide - hold the same amount of space






43. The science of designing work environments that enable people and things to interact efficiently and safely






44. A business that provides its customers with connections to the Internet (along with other services).






45. Worksheets which contain labels and formulas but no data values; instant answers are produced when information is provided






46. The look and feel of the computing experience from a human point of view






47. 1) creative; 2) parallel processing (multitasking); 3) image analysis; 4) common sense knowledge; 5) see relationships between concepts; 6) knowledge base is vast - not narrow; 7) translation of languages (idioms); 8) expression/interpretation of emo






48. Programs that use computer hosts to reproduce themselves. Worm programs travel independently over computer networks - seeking out uninfected workstations to occupy. A form of software sabotage






49. Megabyte; Approximately 1000K or 1 million bytes






50. Loading the non-ROM part of the operating system into memory