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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. Scrolling
___ allows a block of program code to be reused in other programs.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.

2. Difference
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
Memory - a programmable processor - an output device - and user-defined input were all concepts Babbage conceived for a calculating device he called a ___________ Engine in 1834.

3. Syntax
_______ errors can be found with a debugger.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.

4. Constant
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
A floppy disk - hard disk - and USB drive are all examples of _________ storage.

5. Administrator
IP addresses can be changed by the network _______________.
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).
Fetch - ______ - execute and store are the four basic operations of the machine cycle.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

6. Loop
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
____ is the communications protocol used by your browser to connect with web servers and display web pages on your computer.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
The Internet is a worldwide computer _______ that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.

7. Direction
The 1s and 0s used to represent digital data are known as _______ digits.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.

8. Requests
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
The goal is to overload the target server or network by suddenly bombarding it with thousands or even millions of _________ - making it unable to respond to requests from legitimate users.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.

9. Fingerprint
A ___ is the smallest unit of data that a system can handle.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
This can also be called a command-_____ interface.

10. Virtual
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
Examples of cache include L1 - L2 - and L3. In all cases - cache is storage located closer to the processor than RAM and therefore can be accessed much more ________.

11. Transistors
________ transmission sends data via light waves at a frequency too low for human eyes to see.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
The system's main interface screen is called the _______ and displays icons which provide fast access to information and programs.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

12. Compiler
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
Access (included with Microsoft _______) is an example of a popular Windows-based relational database application.
Passwords are often encrypted using a hash function - which is a function that takes a string of characters of any length and converts it into a string of a ________ length.

13. CAD
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
Values are the actual numbers or dates entered into ______.
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.

14. Low level
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
Commands written for a specific CPU or microprocessor are ____ _____ languages.
A print server manages one or more printers and stores printed ______.

15. Permission

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16. Companies
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.

17. Kilobyte
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
______ data is data that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.

18. Server
In a peer to peer network - workstations share responsibility for processing - storage - printing - and communications tasks without a ______.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
A floppy disk - hard disk - and USB drive are all examples of _________ storage.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.

19. Fourth
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.
______ generation computers were microprocessor based.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.

20. Implementation
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.

21. Protocol
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.

22. Monitors
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.

23. Flash drives
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.

24. Email
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
The columns are called _______.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.

25. Web
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
System software include device ________ - operating systems - and compilers.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.

26. DRM
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.

27. Motherboard
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
The main circuit board of the computer is called the ___________.
Data consists of ___ facts and figures that is processed to produce information.

28. URL
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.

29. Calculations
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.
_______ are small text files left on your hard drive by websites you visit.
_______ ________ was the first to define concepts that were to be later used in modern computers.
Spreadsheet instructions for ____________ are called formulas.

30. Binary
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
To convert seconds to milliseconds - _________ by 1000 (i.e. 5 seconds is equal to 5 -000 milliseconds).
The 1s and 0s used to represent digital data are known as _______ digits.
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.

31. Memory
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
When talking about personal computers - the CPU (________ Processing Unit) is synonymous with the silicon chip known as the microprocessor - which is programmed to perform various tasks on the data it receives.
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.

32. Sequential
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.

33. Kilo

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34. Architecture
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.
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 ____.

35. SQL
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.
____ and RPG-I are examples of fourth generation languages.
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.

36. Fraud
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.

37. Outsourcing
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.

38. Human
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.

39. One
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.
Output is the result of ___________.
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.

40. Lost
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.
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.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.

41. Operating
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.
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

42. Third
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
Cookies can save you time by not requiring you to _______ in the same information on subsequent visits to the same website.
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.

43. Scheduling
Spreadsheet instructions for ____________ are called formulas.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.

44. Operating System
Transmission is limited to ______ range.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
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.
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.

45. Images
_________ systems were first used in second generation computers.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
A print server manages one or more printers and stores printed ______.

46. Reliable
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.
________ and assembly languages are low level languages.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.

47. Spelling
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.

48. Formula
An algorithm is a _______ or set of steps for solving a particular problem.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
For every software _____________ - the CPU control unit carries out four basic operations known as the machine cycle.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.

49. Commands
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.

50. Sender's

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