Test your basic knowledge |

DSST Introduction To Computing

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. Dashboard
System software include device ________ - operating systems - and compilers.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.

2. Restore
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
On the job choices that reflect a person's values are called ____________ ethics.
If a program exceeds its available RAM - the _________ _________ can use an area of hard disk called virtual memory to store parts of data files or programs until needed - thereby gaining almost unlimited memory capacity.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.

3. Word wrap
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.

4. Sort
This can also be called a _____ key - index - or keyword. Most database applications allow for multiple keys so that users can sort records in different ways.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
The instruction cycle is also often referred to as the ________ cycle.
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).

5. Hard
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.
One reason a tape drive takes longer to access data than a ____ drive is that tape drives use sequential access.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.

6. Javascript
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.

7. Publisher
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
The internet backbone consists of high speed - high capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology to ________ data across the internet.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.

8. Employment
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
A job search agent is an automated program that searches one or more __________ databases and notifies you when it finds leads that match your search criteria.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.

9. Calculations
A firewall can be _________ or software-based or a combination of the two.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.

10. Parallel
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.

11. Served
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.

12. Action
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
____ is an internet protocol used to make phone calls over the internet.
RAM - which stands for Random Access Memory - stores __________ data which is waiting to be stored - processed - or output - and this data is lost if the computer is turned off.
_______ is the operating system installed on more than 80% of the world's personal computers.

13. Query
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.

14. Switching
The number of bits limits how big of a number can be expressed. To calculate this limit - simply do 2n - where n is the number of ____.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.

15. Change
In a star network - all computers are connected to a _______ computer.
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.

16. Purchases
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
Adware is spyware that tracks surfing and online _________.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Personal Information Management software helps users organize and manage daily ________ activities.

17. Output
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.

18. Implementation
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
The TCP/IP protocol breaks data up into packets - which are fixed-length blocks of data - for transmission over the network. This permits the message to be broken up into small parts which are then transmitted over separate _______ and yet all end up
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.

19. Former
A ____ network has no endpoints and all computers are connected in a continuous loop.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.

20. Repetitive
File compression is a method of removing __________ elements of a file causing the file to require less storage space and less time to transmit.
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
Microsoft Windows is the world's best selling ________ __________.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.

21. Images
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
A print server manages one or more printers and stores printed ______.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.

22. Packet
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.

23. Network
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.
They are small programs which run in the ___________ and are used by devices such as modems - storage devices - mice - keyboards - monitors - printers - sound cards - network cards.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
______ ____________ software allows scheduling of events - management of costs and allocation of resources associated with a project.

24. PowerPoint
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.
Harvard Graphics and MS __________ are examples of presentation graphics software.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.

25. Email
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.

26. Period
Small pictures on the desktop that represent documents - procedures and programs are called _____.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
A template is a ____________ document often provided with word processing software.

27. Artificial intelligence
LISP is a programming language used primarily for creating __________ _____________ programs.
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.

28. Protocol
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.

29. Slide show
In PowerPoint - the _____ _____ view presents the slides in the order in which the audience will view them.
A field contains the smallest unit of meaningful data and can therefore be called the basic ________ block for a structured file or database.
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
Screening job applicants and limiting employee ______ to only information needed to do a specific job are examples of people controls.

30. Fraud
When a file is saved to disk - it isn't always saved in adjacent sectors; in other words - the data making up the file is spread out over the hard drive. This is called fragmentation. Fragmentation _____ ______ file retrieval.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.

31. Security
A firewall can be _________ or software-based or a combination of the two.
The cursor is often a blinking rectangle and its location is called the __________ point.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.

32. Manipulation
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.

33. Transistors
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
If a program exceeds its available RAM - the _________ _________ can use an area of hard disk called virtual memory to store parts of data files or programs until needed - thereby gaining almost unlimited memory capacity.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.

34. Word processor
A _________ is a limited working system - developed to test design concepts.
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Private networks that are connected to remote sites via the internet are called ____.

35. Networking
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
The ALU is an area of the CPU optimized to handle _____ calculations (i.e. Add and Subtract) as well as logic comparisons (i.e. AND - NOT - and OR).
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).

36. Peripheral
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
An advantage of a network is that it allows for the sharing of ___________ devices; users on a network can share devices such as printers and modems.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.

37. Finland
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
When a file is saved to disk - it isn't always saved in adjacent sectors; in other words - the data making up the file is spread out over the hard drive. This is called fragmentation. Fragmentation _____ ______ file retrieval.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.

38. Instruction
For every software _____________ - the CPU control unit carries out four basic operations known as the machine cycle.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

39. Bulletin board
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.

40. Formats
Database ______________ create - maintain - and supervise the day to day operation of databases.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
When plugged into a USB port - flash memory drives show up as an external drive and are a convenient way to transport and transfer _____.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.

41. Inference

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42. Algorithm
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
This can also be called a _____ key - index - or keyword. Most database applications allow for multiple keys so that users can sort records in different ways.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.

43. Apple I
A system of interconnected telephones - computers - or other communication devices that can communicate and share data is called a _______.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.

44. Certification
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
Cache speeds up _________.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.

45. Securely
Private networks that are connected to remote sites via the internet are called ____.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.

46. Filename

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47. Email
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).

48. Denial of service
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.

49. Cyphertext
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.
A message which has been encrypted is called __________.
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.

50. Multiply
To convert seconds to milliseconds - _________ by 1000 (i.e. 5 seconds is equal to 5 -000 milliseconds).
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.