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. Efficiently
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.

2. Legitimate
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.

3. Windows

4. Keystroke
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
______ data is data that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.
Common expansion cards include ________ cards - graphic cards - and memory cards.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

5. Free
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
Many common viruses attach themselves to an existing executable program - and when that program is copied to and ____ on other computers - the virus infects those computers.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.

6. Cannot
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
A _________ is a graphical representation of a series of steps needed to solve a problem.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.

7. Fraud
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.

8. Temporary
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.
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.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.

9. Communications
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Transmission is limited to ______ range.
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.

10. ENIAC
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.

11. Background
SSL (Secure _______ Layer) and TLS are protocols used to create a secure connection between a computer and a website.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
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.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.

12. Routes
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.
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
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.

13. Fourth
______ generation computers were microprocessor based.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.

14. Project management
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
Each connection _____ on a network is called a node.
______ ____________ software allows scheduling of events - management of costs and allocation of resources associated with a project.
_________ systems were first used in second generation computers.

15. Packet
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.

16. Collisions
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

17. Bulletin board
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
The prefix '____' means a million.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.

18. KB
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.

19. Loop
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.
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 ________.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.

20. Served
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.

21. Circuit boards

22. Scrolling
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
The prefix '____' means a million.
Backbone connections are supplied by internet backbone __________ such as GTE - Sprint - UUNET and AT&T.

23. Direction
A _____ _____ is an example of a sequential access device; it retrieves data by starting at the beginning of the tape and reading each record until the required data is found.
This is where the term __________ (a group edited encyclopedia) comes from.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.

24. Retype
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
Cookies can save you time by not requiring you to _______ in the same information on subsequent visits to the same website.

25. Instruction
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
For every software _____________ - the CPU control unit carries out four basic operations known as the machine cycle.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
Microsoft Windows is the world's best selling ________ __________.

26. Switching
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
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.
The columns are called _______.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.

27. Processing
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
Cache speeds up _________.
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.

28. 1971
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
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.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.

29. Central
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.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
A _______ computer that holds a collection of data and/or applications for providing services to workstations or PCs is called a server.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.

30. Networking
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.

31. Debugging
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
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
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.

32. Syntax
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
The bandwidth of a channel which carries digital data is typically measured in ____ ____ _________ (bps).

33. Sender's

34. Security
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.

35. Unique

36. Resetting
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.

37. CAD
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.
This can also be called a command-_____ interface.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.

38. Overclocking
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
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.

39. Cyphertext
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
A message which has been encrypted is called __________.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).

40. Monitors
Cache is ____ when the computer power is turned off.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.

41. Formats
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.

42. E-waste
The kernel is also known as the ___________.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.

43. Restore
The columns are called _______.
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.

44. Windows
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.
Common platforms include Apple Macintosh - ________ platforms and PC platforms.

45. Implementation
Search agents and _____ search tools allow you to automate your search process across many sites.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.

46. Hypertext
Database ______________ create - maintain - and supervise the day to day operation of databases.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.

47. Letters
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.

48. Network interface
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

49. Microcomputers
______ data is data that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
Personal computers are also called ______________.
The central computer is called a ____.

50. Commands
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.
One reason a tape drive takes longer to access data than a ____ drive is that tape drives use sequential access.
A virus is a program that __________ itself - either by making copies of itself or by attaching to another program.