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. Disk drive
The Internet is a worldwide computer _______ that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.

2. Recorded
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
Spreadsheet instructions for ____________ are called formulas.
Any electronic system that uses a ___ but is not a general purpose computer is called an embedded system.
___ allows a block of program code to be reused in other programs.

3. Phased
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.

4. Bulletin board
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.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
File compression is a method of removing __________ elements of a file causing the file to require less storage space and less time to transmit.
Data consists of ___ facts and figures that is processed to produce information.

5. Commands
For a computer to be able to take advantage of dual core or quad core technology - the installed ________ __________ has to support it.
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.

6. Serial
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.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.

7. Cursor
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
The ______ is a marker on the monitor which indicates where the next character will appear.

8. Dashboard
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.

9. Instructions
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
The prefix '____' means a million.

10. Queues
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.

11. Function
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
A spreadsheet ________ is a built-in formula which performs common calculations.
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).

12. Time
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.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).
Output is the result of ___________.

13. Copies

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183

14. CAD
EarthLink - AT&T - and Road Runner are all examples of ISPs (Internet __________________).
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
By holding down the ctrl - alt - and del keys - ________ OS will open the task manager which displays a list of active processes.

15. Network
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
On the job choices that reflect a person's values are called ____________ ethics.
Harvard Graphics and MS __________ are examples of presentation graphics software.

16. Timeline
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.

17. Multimedia
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.
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.

18. Sequentially
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
Harvard Graphics and MS __________ are examples of presentation graphics software.
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.

19. Com
What part of the URL http://instantcert.com/landing.html is the top level domain? ___
________ transmission sends data via light waves at a frequency too low for human eyes to see.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.

20. File names
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.
Proprietary information about a company concerns information a __________ might find valuable.
Current versions of Windows support ____ ______ up to 255 characters long.

21. Network
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.
The instruction cycle is also often referred to as the ________ cycle.
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.

22. Central
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
A _______ computer that holds a collection of data and/or applications for providing services to workstations or PCs is called a server.
When plugged into a USB port - flash memory drives show up as an external drive and are a convenient way to transport and transfer _____.

23. Processes
A _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.

24. Business
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
Reading through a program to make sure it is logical and free of errors is called _____ ________.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.

25. TCP/IP
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.

26. Network interface
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
Data consists of ___ facts and figures that is processed to produce information.

27. Research
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.

28. Fraud
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.

29. Central
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.
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.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.

30. High level
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.

31. Packet
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.

32. Volatile
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
EarthLink - AT&T - and Road Runner are all examples of ISPs (Internet __________________).
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
The contents of ________ memory - which includes RAM - are lost when the power is turned off.

33. Peripheral
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
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.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.

34. Organize
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
In MS PowerPoint - the outline view helps you ________ the content of your material.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.

35. Windows
____ is the communications protocol used by your browser to connect with web servers and display web pages on your computer.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
Common platforms include Apple Macintosh - ________ platforms and PC platforms.

36. CPU
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.
Critics of certification exams maintain that a multiple choice test can't accurately measure a person's ability to deal with _____ ______ software and equipment.
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.

37. Intruders
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.

38. Memory
Zipped files are _________ as part of the installation process.
Primary storage - also known as RAM or _______ - is temporary data held in computer circuitry.
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.
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.

39. VPNs
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
The bandwidth of a channel which carries digital data is typically measured in ____ ____ _________ (bps).
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
Private networks that are connected to remote sites via the internet are called ____.

40. Configuration
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.

41. Encrypted
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.

42. Credit card
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.

43. Record
A system of interconnected telephones - computers - or other communication devices that can communicate and share data is called a _______.
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.
MIDI is a protocol used to communicate between electronic _______ instruments and the devices that control and manage them.
A collection of fields make up a _______.

44. Security
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.
The prefix '_____' means a thousand.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
The Windows registry is a database that maintains a record of installed ________ and peripheral devices - preferences - and settings.

45. CIO
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
NAP stands for ________________ Point.

46. Security
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
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.

47. Line
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
This can also be called a command-_____ interface.
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

48. Execution
A ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
What part of the URL http://instantcert.com/landing.html is the top level domain? ___

49. Connection
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.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.

50. NAP
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
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.