Test your basic knowledge |

Technology In Action - 2

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. An application program such as Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 that enables a user to do calculations and numerical analyses easily.






2. A group of icons collected for easy access.






3. 'A section of a hard drive platter - wedge-shaped from the center of the platter to the edge.'






4. 'A network topology in which each node on the network is responsible for retransmitting the token - or the data - to other nodes.'






5. 'The main function of an Internet appliance is easy access to the Internet - social networking sites - e-mail - video - news - and entertainment.'






6. About a billion bytes






7. An expansion card that enables a computer to produce sounds that are omnidirectional or three dimensional.






8. A tag that looks like a sticker or label - is attached to a batch of merchandise - and contains a microchip that holds a unique sequence of numbers used to identify the product to which it is attached.






9. A step-by-step guide that walks you through the necessary steps to complete a complicated task.






10. 'A device that reads information from a magnetic strip on the back of a credit card-like access card (such as a student ID card); card readers are easily programmed by adding authorized ID card numbers - Social Security numbers - and so on.'






11. An operating system (OS) that enables more than one user to access the computer system at one time by efficiently juggling all the requests from multiple users.






12. The number of bits a video card uses to store data about each pixel on the monitor.






13. 'Microsoft operating system that builds upon the security and user interface upgrades that the Windows Vista release provided - and gives users with touch-screen monitors the ability to use touch commands to scroll - resize windows - pan - and zoom.'






14. 'Programs that include image - video - and audio editing software - animation software - and other specialty software required to produce computer games - animations - and movies.'






15. A measurement used in comparing software and hardware performance. Benchmarks are created using software applications that are specifically designed to push the limits of computer performance.






16. 'A drive that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives use - but can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires.'






17. A series of instructions to be followed by a computer to accomplish a task.






18. 'A hierarchical structure that include files - folders - and drives used to create a more organized and efficient computer.'






19. 'The time it takes for the hard drive's read/write heads to move over the surface of the disk - between tracks - to the correct track.'






20. A cable that transmits data at close to the speed of light along glass or plastic fibers.






21. A method of optical storage for digital data; originally developed for storing digital audio.






22. A power supply regulates the wall voltage to the voltages required by computer chips; it is housed inside the system unit.






23. 'The steady and constant pace at which a computer goes through machine cycles - measured in hertz (Hz).'






24. The radio waves or cable that transport data on a network.






25. The design of a computer network; includes both physical and logical design.






26. The process of starting a computer from a powered-down or off state.






27. Programs designed to provide users with entertainment. Computer games make up the vast majority of entertainment software.






28. A type of monitor that is lighter and more energy-efficient than a CRT monitor; often used with portbale computers such as notebooks.






29. A pen-shaped device used to tap or write on tough-sensitive screens.






30. An expansion card that enables a computer to connect other computers or to a cable modem to facilitate a high-speed Internet connection.






31. A device similar to a switch in an Ethernet network. It takes the place of a wireless network adapter and helps relay data between network nodes.






32. A temporary storage area on the hard drive where the operating system 'swaps out' or moves the data or instructions from random access memory (RAM) that have not recently been used. This process takes place when more RAM space is needed.






33. A port that uses a traditional telephone signal to connect a computer to the internet.






34. A server that keeps track of who is logging on to the network and which services on the network are available to each user.






35. The study of molecules and nanostructures whose size ranges from 1 to 100 nanometers.






36. When data merely travels the entire length of the communications medium and is received by all network devices.






37. A mouse with a rollerball on top instead of on the bottom. Because you move the trackball with your fingers - it doesn't require much wrist motion - so it is considered healthier for your wrist than a traditional mouse.






38. Part of the operating system that enables individuals to interact with the computer.






39. An application program for creating dynamic slide shows such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote.






40. 'A small program that performs many of the general housekeeping tasks for the computer - such as system maintenance and file compression.'






41. The actual speed of data transfer that is achieved. It is usually less than the data transfer rate and is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).






42. A list of commands that displays on the screen.






43. A network configuration in which the computers and peripherals are laid out in a configuration resembling a circle. Data flows around the circle from device to device in one direction only.






44. A network used to connect wireless devices (such as Bluetooth-enabled devices) in close proximity to each other.






45. A network that uses the Ethernet protocol as the means (or standard) by which the nodes on the network communicate.






46. The process by which great amounts of data are analyzed and investigates to spot significant patterns or trends within the data that would otherwise not be obvious.






47. 'An operating system by Microsoft that incorporates a user-friendly - graphical interface.'






48. 'In a wireless network - a device that translates the electronic data that needs to be sent along the network into radio waves and then broadcasts these radio waves to other network nodes.'






49. 'Small blocks of memory - located directly on and next to the central processing unit (CPU) chip - that act as holding places for recently or frequently used instructions or data that the CPU accesses the most. When these instructions or data are sto






50. A collection of files stored on a computer.