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. Network Access
A ___ is the smallest unit of data that a system can handle.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.
NAP stands for ________________ Point.

2. Importing
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.

3. Primary
________ transmission sends data via light waves at a frequency too low for human eyes to see.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.

4. Web
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.

5. Operating System
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
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.
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.

6. Modern
Examples of word size in _____ computers include 16 - 32 - and 64 bits.
______ - PROSPECTOR - CARES - CLUES and CLIPS are all examples of expert systems.
The most common user interface for UNIX systems is the ________ ____ interface.
A ________ is a set of rules governing the exchange of data between hardware and software on a communications network.

7. Permission

8. Encrypted
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.

9. Formats
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
MIDI is a protocol used to communicate between electronic _______ instruments and the devices that control and manage them.

10. Repeat
________ are used to transmit data between LANs of different network topologies or network operating systems.
The central computer is called a ____.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.

11. Secondary
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.
A floppy disk - hard disk - and USB drive are all examples of _________ storage.

12. Multimedia
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.

13. Securely
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.

14. Windows
Common platforms include Apple Macintosh - ________ platforms and PC platforms.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

15. Phased
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.

16. Solved
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 _____.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.
A programming problem statement defines the scope of the problem - spells out the known information - and specifies when the problem has been ______.

17. Employees

18. Data
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
Output is the result of ___________.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
When plugged into a USB port - flash memory drives show up as an external drive and are a convenient way to transport and transfer _____.

19. Processes
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 ________.
Zipped files are _________ as part of the installation process.
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.

20. Supercomputers
For every software _____________ - the CPU control unit carries out four basic operations known as the machine cycle.
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.

21. Point of Sale
The ______ is a marker on the monitor which indicates where the next character will appear.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.

22. Design
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
A ____ network has no endpoints and all computers are connected in a continuous loop.
Drawings created with CAD (Computer Aided _______) software are 3D and can be rotated to view all sides.
Small pictures on the desktop that represent documents - procedures and programs are called _____.

23. Denial of service
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
The most common user interface for UNIX systems is the ________ ____ interface.

24. Switching
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.
When an employee uses their employer's computer time for non-work activities - this is called theft of time and ________.
_______ is the operating system installed on more than 80% of the world's personal computers.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.

25. Benchmarks
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
The main circuit board of the computer is called the ___________.
Examples of information managed by ____ software include addresses - phone numbers - appointments - and to-do lists.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).

26. Biometric

27. Compression
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
Fetch - ______ - execute and store are the four basic operations of the machine cycle.

28. Word

29. Disk drive
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.

30. Word processor
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.

31. Memory
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.

32. Storage
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.
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 programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.

33. Prices
Early personal computers featured command-driven interfaces which required the user to ____ complicated instructions to operate the computer.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).

34. PDA
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
The internet backbone consists of high speed - high capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology to ________ data across the internet.

35. Data
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.
According to security experts - _________ pose the greatest threat to their company's technology infrastructure.
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
Cookies can save you time by not requiring you to _______ in the same information on subsequent visits to the same website.

36. Sender's

37. Unique

38. Ring
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.
A ____ network has no endpoints and all computers are connected in a continuous loop.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.

39. Algorithm
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.

40. Stress
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
Examples of word size in _____ computers include 16 - 32 - and 64 bits.

41. Text
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.

42. Memory
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
The primary key could be a unique series of numbers or characters; it doesn't have to be meaningful--just _______.
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.

43. Virtual
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
Packet _________ technology divides a message into packets that can be independently routed to their destination and then reassembled.

44. Record
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.
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.

45. Execution
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.

46. Hub
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
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
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.
The central computer is called a ____.

47. Network interface
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
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.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.

48. Permanently
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.

49. Collisions
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
ENIAC was the first ____________ electronic computer in the United States.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.

50. Copyrighted
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.
Digital Rights Management is a collection of technologies used to limit access and use of ___________ products such as music - movies and computer games.
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 ____.