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. 1) makes long distance meetings possible and reduces costs; 2) enables decisions to evolve over time; 3) emphasizes messages over messenger






2. The use of computer displays that add virtual information to a person's sensory perceptions - supplementing rather than replacing (as in virtual reality) the world the user sees.






3. Spreadsheet document which appears on the screen as a grid or numbered rows/columns






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






5. A type of logic that allows conclusions to be stated as probabilities rather than certainties. (Used by inference engines and knowledge bases)






6. Built-in component of a word processor or a separate program that compares words in a documents with words in a disk-based dictionary - and flags words not found in the dictionary; may operate in batch mode - checking all the words at once - or inter






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






8. 1) Poor at planning strategies (less creativity than humans) and can't make decisions (after diagnosis - can't say how to treat patient); 2) powerless outside narrow (but deep) domain of knowledge






9. A communications protocol that enables users to download files from remote servers to their computers - and to upload files they want to share from their computers to these archives.






10. A specialist who interviews and observes experts - and converts their words and actions into a knowledge base.






11. Network created in 1969 from a government grant during the Cold War that is the foundation of today's Internet. ('Advanced Research Project Agency NETwork')






12. 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.






13. Software used mainly to produce print publications. Also - the process of using desktop-publishing software to produce publications (e.g. brochures - newsletters - forms - menus - event fliers - notices)






14. 1) color depth; 2) resolution






15. In a computer simulation - the user and the computer responding to data from each other






16. Terabyte; Approximately 1 million megabytes






17. ~Advantages 1)Share data - increase productivity 2)Share hardware - reduce costs 3)Allow people to work together/communicate ~Disadvantages 1)Easier spread of viruses 2)Privacy issues - especially access levels not set 3)Integrity of data - when shar






18. The address of a Web site. (unique)






19. Intersection of row and column






20. Documentation and help available through a software company's Web site






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






22. A desktop-published document that uses a wide range of color; contrast with spot color.






23. 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)






24. 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






25. Software that facilitates the arrangement of information into hierarchies or levels of ideas






26. 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






27. Synonym finder






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






29. Allows documents of all types to be stored - viewed - or modified on any Windows or Macintosh computer - making it possible for many organizations to reduce paper flow.






30. Protects transmitted information by scrambling the transmissions; When a user encrypts a message by applying a secret numerical code (encryption key) - the message can be read only after it's been reconstructed with a matching key






31. A database that contains both facts - and a system of rules for determining and changing the relationship among those facts.






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






33. Stores programs and the data they need to be instantly accessible to the CPU






34. Rules of etiquette that apply to Internet communication.






35. Video reduced to a series of numbers (0 and 1) - which can be edited - stored - and played back without loss of quality.






36. 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)






37. 1) Say what is meant and with care (when using the Internet/email - there is no tone of voice); 2) keep it short (otherwise people may not read it all and miss stuff); 3) don't assume you're anonymous; 4) learn the non-verbal language of the net; 5)






38. The narrow (but deep) knowledge base of an expert system.






39. Intuitive: 1)throw away 2)trash bin; open file ~ folders 3)Consistent: integrated software 4)Forgiving: undo - cancel 5)Protective: double-click on closing 6)Flexible: copy/paste - shortcuts 7)Speech Recognition Software






40. 1) data stays consistent over distances; 2) more data can be transmitted; 3) can communicate with other devices






41. 1) documents can be disorienting and leave the reader wondering; 2) documents don't always have the links readers want - leaving them frustrated because they can't easily get from here to there; 3) documents may contain 'lost' links - especially on t






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






43. Face-to-face communication over long distances using video and computer technology.






44. Measurements of individual body characteristics - such as voiceprint or fingerprint; sometimes used in computer security






45. Megabyte; Approximately 1000K or 1 million bytes






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






47. A stream of bits






48. Grouping of 8 bits






49. 1)No common words 2)Change frequently 3)Use #s and letters 4)Keep it a secret






50. 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