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. Structured
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.

2. Hardware
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

3. Machine
________ and assembly languages are low level languages.
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.

4. Punctuation
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
___________ programming rules are called syntax.

5. Hypertext
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
A message which has been encrypted is called __________.

6. Ports
A spreadsheet ________ is a built-in formula which performs common calculations.
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.

7. Primary
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.

8. Packet
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.

9. Former
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
One survey indicated that 75 to 80% of computer crimes are committed by current or _______ employees.
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.

10. OOP
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
___ allows a block of program code to be reused in other programs.
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.

11. Phased
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.

12. Input
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
This is where the term __________ (a group edited encyclopedia) comes from.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.

13. Microcomputers
SSL (Secure _______ Layer) and TLS are protocols used to create a secure connection between a computer and a website.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
Personal computers are also called ______________.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.

14. Backup
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.
_______ errors can be found with a debugger.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.

15. Artificial intelligence
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
LISP is a programming language used primarily for creating __________ _____________ programs.
___________ programming rules are called syntax.

16. Remarks
_______ ________ was the first to define concepts that were to be later used in modern computers.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.

17. Disk drive
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

18. Changed
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
________ transmission sends data via light waves at a frequency too low for human eyes to see.
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).

19. Connection
Word processing software is used to create - edit - print - format and store ____.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.

20. Organize
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 ____.
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.
In MS PowerPoint - the outline view helps you ________ the content of your material.
The bandwidth of a channel which carries digital data is typically measured in ____ ____ _________ (bps).

21. Tables
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.
A desktop ______ appears on the computer desktop and is a specialized utility that looks like a control and displays information.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
The most common type of database used on PCs is the relational database in which data is organized into related ______.

22. 64
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.

23. Processing
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
Output is the result of ___________.
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.

24. HTTP
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
____ is the communications protocol used by your browser to connect with web servers and display web pages on your computer.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.

25. Decode
According to security experts - _________ pose the greatest threat to their company's technology infrastructure.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
Fetch - ______ - execute and store are the four basic operations of the machine cycle.
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.

26. CAD
A template is a ____________ document often provided with word processing software.
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
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.

27. Network Access
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.

28. Cyberspace
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.

29. Resetting
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.

30. Multimedia
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.
Values are the actual numbers or dates entered into ______.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.

31. Primary
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.

32. Shortcut
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.

33. Repeat
A field contains the smallest unit of meaningful data and can therefore be called the basic ________ block for a structured file or database.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.

34. Monitors
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.

35. Multiply
___________ programming rules are called syntax.
Output is the result of ___________.
To convert seconds to milliseconds - _________ by 1000 (i.e. 5 seconds is equal to 5 -000 milliseconds).
Proprietary information about a company concerns information a __________ might find valuable.

36. POS
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
______ data can be represented as a wave.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.

37. Third
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
The cursor is often a blinking rectangle and its location is called the __________ point.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.

38. Processing
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
Cache speeds up _________.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.

39. Proprietary
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.

40. Modern
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
Examples of word size in _____ computers include 16 - 32 - and 64 bits.
A collection of fields make up a _______.
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.

41. Word wrap
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.

42. Kilobyte
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.

43. Disk scanner
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
______ data can be represented as a wave.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.

44. PDA
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
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.
Any electronic system that uses a ___ but is not a general purpose computer is called an embedded system.

45. Permission

46. Access
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.
A _________ is a limited working system - developed to test design concepts.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.

47. Fraud
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.

48. Binary
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.
A unit of measure equaling one ______ digit is a bit.
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.

49. Pretty Good
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.

50. Windows
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
Examples of operating systems include ________ - Linux - Unix - and Macintosh OS.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.