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. Configuration
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.

2. Certification
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
System software include device ________ - operating systems - and compilers.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).

3. Business
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.
The prefix '____' means a million.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).

4. Divide

5. Disk scanner
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.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.

6. Viruses
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.

7. Filename

8. Direction
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.

9. 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.
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
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.
______ - PROSPECTOR - CARES - CLUES and CLIPS are all examples of expert systems.

10. Employees

11. Memory
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 ____.
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.

12. Network
Cache speeds up _________.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.

13. Low level
Commands written for a specific CPU or microprocessor are ____ _____ languages.
______ data can be represented as a wave.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.

14. Scheduling
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.
A _______ computer that holds a collection of data and/or applications for providing services to workstations or PCs is called a server.
Cookies can save you time by not requiring you to _______ in the same information on subsequent visits to the same website.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.

15. Point
Each connection _____ on a network is called a node.
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.

16. Internet
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.

17. Text
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
Word processing software is used to create - edit - print - format and store ____.

18. 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.
___________ programming rules are called syntax.
______ ____________ software allows scheduling of events - management of costs and allocation of resources associated with a project.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.

19. PDA
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

20. Memory
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
Primary storage - also known as RAM or _______ - is temporary data held in computer circuitry.

21. Instructions
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.

22. Files
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.
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.
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.

23. Standalone
For example - the largest number an 8-bit variable can hold is ____ (2 to the power of 8 equals 256 - but a computer starts at 0 - so it can express anywhere from 0 through 255).
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.

24. Millisecond
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
A message which has been encrypted is called __________.
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.

25. Mega

26. Resources
Zipped files are _________ as part of the installation process.
_______ are small text files left on your hard drive by websites you visit.
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
A floppy disk - hard disk - and USB drive are all examples of _________ storage.

27. Transistors
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.

28. Debugger
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.

29. Flash

30. Finland
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.

31. Encryption
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.

32. Two
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
Public key encryption uses ___ keys.
Proprietary information about a company concerns information a __________ might find valuable.
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.

33. Solaris
One reason a tape drive takes longer to access data than a ____ drive is that tape drives use sequential access.
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.

34. Hyperlinks
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.
The main circuit board of the computer is called the ___________.
__________ appear as colored or underlined words on a webpag

35. Free
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.

36. Settings
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).

37. Nonvolatile
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.

38. Loop
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.

39. Spelling
A compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
Using components or labor from outside suppliers is called ___________.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.

40. Location
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.

41. E-waste
A collection of fields make up a _______.
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
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 _____.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.

42. Icons
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
Small pictures on the desktop that represent documents - procedures and programs are called _____.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.

43. Cell
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 _____.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.

44. Fields
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
Any electronic system that uses a ___ but is not a general purpose computer is called an embedded system.
The columns are called _______.

45. Disk drive
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.
The easiest way to reduce exposure to cellphone _________ is to use a headset.
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.

46. Gateways
________ are used to transmit data between LANs of different network topologies or network operating systems.
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.

47. Run
The main circuit board of the computer is called the ___________.
A ________ is a unit of measurement equaling 1024 bytes of data.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
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.

48. Permission

49. Letters
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.
Access (included with Microsoft _______) is an example of a popular Windows-based relational database application.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.

50. Cells
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.
Values are the actual numbers or dates entered into ______.
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.