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. Binary
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).
This is where the term __________ (a group edited encyclopedia) comes from.
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.

2. Supervisor
The kernel is also known as the ___________.
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).
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.

3. Million
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
_______ errors can be found with a debugger.

4. URL
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
The instruction cycle is also often referred to as the ________ cycle.

5. Copied
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.

6. Fil
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.

7. Glass
Fiber optic cable consists of dozens or hundreds of thin strands of ______ or plastic; it is more secure and can carry much more data than normal copper telephone wire.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
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 _____.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.

8. Scrolling
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.

9. Passwords
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.
Common platforms include Apple Macintosh - ________ platforms and PC platforms.
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.

10. Bits per second
The bandwidth of a channel which carries digital data is typically measured in ____ ____ _________ (bps).
Screening job applicants and limiting employee ______ to only information needed to do a specific job are examples of people controls.
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.
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.

11. Web browser
______ data can be represented as a wave.
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
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.

12. Query
A _____ of adjacent cells on a spreadsheet is called a range.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.

13. CAD
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.

14. Access
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.

15. Network interface
In PowerPoint - the _____ _____ view presents the slides in the order in which the audience will view them.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
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.

16. Proprietary
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.
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.

17. Key
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.
In a relational database - a ___ field is used to sort data.
Critics of certification exams maintain that a multiple choice test can't accurately measure a person's ability to deal with _____ ______ software and equipment.

18. Period
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.
Drawings created with CAD (Computer Aided _______) software are 3D and can be rotated to view all sides.
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
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.

19. Email
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
Examples of information managed by ____ software include addresses - phone numbers - appointments - and to-do lists.
A ________ is a collection of interrelated files in a computer system.

20. Keyboard
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
The instruction cycle is also often referred to as the ________ cycle.
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.

21. NAP
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.

22. Timeline
The primary key could be a unique series of numbers or characters; it doesn't have to be meaningful--just _______.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
___________ and security are MS Windows' two major weaknesses.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.

23. Debugger
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
Using a technology called pipelining - the processor can start executing an instruction ______ the previous instruction completes.
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.

24. KB
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.

25. Cell
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.
A data communications network that connects personal computers within a limited geographical area is called a ___.
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.

26. Changed
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
A _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
Harvard Graphics and MS __________ are examples of presentation graphics software.
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.

27. Serial
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.

28. Operating system
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.

29. Systems analysts
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.
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
Backbone connections are supplied by internet backbone __________ such as GTE - Sprint - UUNET and AT&T.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.

30. Phishers
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.
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.

31. Transistors
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.

32. Reproduces
A virus is a program that __________ itself - either by making copies of itself or by attaching to another program.
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.

33. Intruders
A compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
An algorithm is a _______ or set of steps for solving a particular problem.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.

34. POS
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.

35. Expert system
Common platforms include Apple Macintosh - ________ platforms and PC platforms.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.

36. Modem
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
On the job choices that reflect a person's values are called ____________ ethics.
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.

37. Third
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
A compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.

38. Free
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
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.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.

39. Communications
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.

40. Disk drive
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
In PowerPoint - the _____ _____ view presents the slides in the order in which the audience will view them.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.

41. CIO
Plaintext is also called __________.
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
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.

42. Disk scanner
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
_______ errors can be found with a debugger.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.

43. Permission

44. Fiber optic
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.
RAM usually consists of several _____ ______(chips) that plug directly into the computer's system board.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.

45. Open source
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.

46. Multimedia
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).
Fiber optic cable consists of dozens or hundreds of thin strands of ______ or plastic; it is more secure and can carry much more data than normal copper telephone wire.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.

47. Cannot
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
The internet backbone consists of high speed - high capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology to ________ data across the internet.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.

48. Flash drives
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.
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.

49. Driver
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.
Using a technology called pipelining - the processor can start executing an instruction ______ the previous instruction completes.

50. Point
___ allows a block of program code to be reused in other programs.
Each connection _____ on a network is called a node.
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.