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. Collisions
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.

2. Filename

3. Standalone
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
A collection of fields make up a _______.
When you click the link - it takes you to a site that looks just like Paypal; you enter your login information on this fake site and now the _________ have your username and password.
When an employee uses their employer's computer time for non-work activities - this is called theft of time and ________.

4. Fragmentation
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.

5. Web browser
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.

6. Backup
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.

7. WRITE
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.

8. Business
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.

9. Windows
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
By holding down the ctrl - alt - and del keys - ________ OS will open the task manager which displays a list of active processes.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
The _______ ______ would be 'instantcert.com'; the top level domain just refers to the part after the period.

10. Keystroke
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.

11. Mimic
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
Data consists of ___ facts and figures that is processed to produce information.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.

12. Order
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
_______ ________ was the first to define concepts that were to be later used in modern computers.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.

13. Former
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.
Personal Information Management software helps users organize and manage daily ________ activities.

14. Decrypt
A database index contains a list of keys and each key provides a pointer to the ______ that contains the rest of the fields related to that key.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.

15. Queues
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
Cache speeds up _________.
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.

16. Credit card
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
A database index contains a list of keys and each key provides a pointer to the ______ that contains the rest of the fields related to that key.
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.

17. Publisher
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.

18. Key
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.
To prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data - you encrypt data when you send it and this data is decrypted by its authorized recipient using an encryption ____.
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.

19. Cars
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.
For example - the largest number an 8-bit variable can hold is ____ (2 to the power of 8 equals 256 - but a computer starts at 0 - so it can express anywhere from 0 through 255).

20. Off
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.

21. Configuration
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.

22. Application
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Cache speeds up _________.
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.

23. Transistors
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.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).

24. Produced
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.

25. Driver
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.
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.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.

26. HTTP
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
____ is the communications protocol used by your browser to connect with web servers and display web pages on your computer.

27. Backup
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
In everyday life - we generally use a base ___ system - meaning that we have 10 digits to choose from when we are expressing a number (i.e. 0 through 9).
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.

28. Repeat
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.

29. Processes
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
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 ________.

30. TCP/IP
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
Zipped files are _________ as part of the installation process.

31. Switching
A _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.

32. Programmable
________ are used to transmit data between LANs of different network topologies or network operating systems.
ENIAC was the first ____________ electronic computer in the United States.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.

33. Employees

34. Operating
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
A ____ network has no endpoints and all computers are connected in a continuous loop.
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.

35. Flight
A _________ is a limited working system - developed to test design concepts.
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.

36. Value
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.

37. Compiler
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.

38. Disk drive
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.

39. Formats
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
A ___ is the smallest unit of data that a system can handle.

40. Hash
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).

41. CPU
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
Computer resources include the ____ - RAM - storage space - and peripherals.

42. KB
The _______ ______ would be 'instantcert.com'; the top level domain just refers to the part after the period.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.

43. Resetting
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.

44. Modem
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________

45. Service Provider
EarthLink - AT&T - and Road Runner are all examples of ISPs (Internet __________________).
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.

46. Flash drives
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.

47. High level
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.

48. Preformatted
A template is a ____________ document often provided with word processing software.
This can also be called a command-_____ interface.
A what-if analysis allows a user to change the contents of a spreadsheet cell and find out how that would change the _______ of the calculation.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.

49. Kilo

50. Processor
________ are used to transmit data between LANs of different network topologies or network operating systems.
The particular operating system and _________ model on which a computer system is based is called the platform.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.