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. Bits
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.

2. Sequential
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
The 1s and 0s used to represent digital data are known as _______ digits.
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.
In MS PowerPoint - the outline view helps you ________ the content of your material.

3. Private

4. Checkbooks
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.

5. Settings
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.

6. Fragmentation
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.
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
____ is an internet protocol used to make phone calls over the internet.

7. NAP
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
Public key encryption uses ___ keys.
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
Critics of certification exams maintain that a multiple choice test can't accurately measure a person's ability to deal with _____ ______ software and equipment.

8. Backup
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.

9. Order
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.
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

10. Billion
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
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.
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.

11. Hardware
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.
A compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
A firewall can be _________ or software-based or a combination of the two.
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.

12. Resources
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.

13. Project management
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
______ ____________ software allows scheduling of events - management of costs and allocation of resources associated with a project.

14. Backup
File compression is a method of removing __________ elements of a file causing the file to require less storage space and less time to transmit.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.
Mac OS X was rewritten for _____ architecture in 2006 and has a reputation for being an easy to use - reliable - and secure operating system.

15. Millisecond
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

16. WAN
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.

17. Administrator
IP addresses can be changed by the network _______________.
_______ is the operating system installed on more than 80% of the world's personal computers.
When an employee uses their employer's computer time for non-work activities - this is called theft of time and ________.
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.

18. Algorithm
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.
Adware is spyware that tracks surfing and online _________.
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.

19. 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.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.

20. Period
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.

21. Time
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
_______ is the operating system installed on more than 80% of the world's personal computers.

22. Processing
Cache speeds up _________.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.

23. Business
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.
A unit of measure equaling one ______ digit is a bit.
Examples of information managed by ____ software include addresses - phone numbers - appointments - and to-do lists.
Personal Information Management software helps users organize and manage daily ________ activities.

24. Inference

25. Musical
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
Transmission is limited to ______ range.
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
MIDI is a protocol used to communicate between electronic _______ instruments and the devices that control and manage them.

26. Record
A system of interconnected telephones - computers - or other communication devices that can communicate and share data is called a _______.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.
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.

27. Benchmarks
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
The prefix '_____' means a thousand.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.

28. Whistleblowers
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
To be an algorithm - a set of rules must be unambiguous and have a clear _________ point.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.

29. Mimic
Current versions of Windows support ____ ______ up to 255 characters long.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.

30. Trojan horse
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
___________ and security are MS Windows' two major weaknesses.

31. Fraud
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
Search agents and _____ search tools allow you to automate your search process across many sites.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.

32. Solved
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.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
A programming problem statement defines the scope of the problem - spells out the known information - and specifies when the problem has been ______.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.

33. Repeat
MIDI is a protocol used to communicate between electronic _______ instruments and the devices that control and manage them.
The most common user interface for UNIX systems is the ________ ____ interface.
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.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.

34. Hub
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
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.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.

35. Transistors
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.

36. Slows down

37. Bulletin board
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.

38. Steps
Spreadsheet instructions for ____________ are called formulas.
____ is an internet protocol used to make phone calls over the internet.
A program or instruction book that helps users learn how to use a product by taking the user through a series of _____ is called a tutorial.
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.

39. RSI
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.

40. PDA
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
When plugged into a USB port - flash memory drives show up as an external drive and are a convenient way to transport and transfer _____.
To convert from word size to bytes - you must ______ by 8 because there are 8 bits in a byte. Therefore - when we're dealing with a 64 bit word size - we divide by 8 and the result is 8 bytes.

41. Former
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.

42. Numeric
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 ____.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.

43. Tape drive
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.
Public key encryption uses ___ keys.
__________ appear as colored or underlined words on a webpag
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.

44. Sort
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
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.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.

45. Sequentially
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
For a computer to be able to take advantage of dual core or quad core technology - the installed ________ __________ has to support it.
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.
In a peer to peer network - workstations share responsibility for processing - storage - printing - and communications tasks without a ______.

46. Cursor
In MS PowerPoint - the outline view helps you ________ the content of your material.
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.
The ______ is a marker on the monitor which indicates where the next character will appear.

47. KB
Screening job applicants and limiting employee ______ to only information needed to do a specific job are examples of people controls.
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.

48. Cycle
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.
The web protocol HTTP (__________ __________ Protocol) is a set of rules for exchanging information over the web.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.
The series of events which takes place in a set order and at specified intervals - that occurs when the processor retrieves an instruction from storage and executes it - is called the instruction _____.

49. Clients
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
Reading through a program to make sure it is logical and free of errors is called _____ ________.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.

50. Processes
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.