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. Decompression
A _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
________ and assembly languages are low level languages.
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.

2. Numeric
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.
A wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.

3. Location
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.

4. Stress
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.
Primary storage - also known as RAM or _______ - is temporary data held in computer circuitry.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

5. Hard disk
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.

6. Unique

7. Operating system
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
Commands written for a specific CPU or microprocessor are ____ _____ languages.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.

8. Billion
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
The prefix '_____' means a thousand.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.

9. Decryption
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.
Search agents and _____ search tools allow you to automate your search process across many sites.
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________

10. Spreadsheet
Passwords are often encrypted using a hash function - which is a function that takes a string of characters of any length and converts it into a string of a ________ length.
Paint - photo _______ - and drawing software are all examples of graphics software.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.

11. Data
The location on a spreadsheet where a row and a column intersect is called a ____.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.

12. Produced
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
A virus is a program that __________ itself - either by making copies of itself or by attaching to another program.

13. Calculations
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
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.
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 ________.
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.

14. Constant
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.

15. Local Area
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.

16. Divide

17. Settings
_______ are small text files left on your hard drive by websites you visit.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
A template is a ____________ document often provided with word processing software.

18. Transmit
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.
The internet backbone consists of high speed - high capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology to ________ data across the internet.
FTP is a protocol used to copy _____ from one computer to another over the Internet.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.

19. Hardware
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.

20. CAD
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
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.

21. Letters
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
The contents of ________ memory - which includes RAM - are lost when the power is turned off.

22. Email
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
_______ ________ was the first to define concepts that were to be later used in modern computers.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.

23. Office
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
Access (included with Microsoft _______) is an example of a popular Windows-based relational database application.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.

24. Database
A ________ is a collection of interrelated files in a computer system.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.
Current versions of Windows support ____ ______ up to 255 characters long.

25. Binary
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).

26. Restore
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.

27. Kilo

28. TIFF
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.

29. Network
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
The particular operating system and _________ model on which a computer system is based is called the platform.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

30. Point of Sale
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.

31. Cleartext
Plaintext is also called __________.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
The system's main interface screen is called the _______ and displays icons which provide fast access to information and programs.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.

32. Miniatures
Passwords are often encrypted using a hash function - which is a function that takes a string of characters of any length and converts it into a string of a ________ length.
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.
Proprietary information about a company concerns information a __________ might find valuable.
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).

33. BIOS
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 ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
A field contains the smallest unit of meaningful data and can therefore be called the basic ________ block for a structured file or database.

34. Cannot
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.
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.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.

35. Cycle
Database ______________ create - maintain - and supervise the day to day operation of databases.
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 _____.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.

36. Client/server
A ___ is the smallest unit of data that a system can handle.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.

37. Input/Output
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.
A _________ is a limited working system - developed to test design concepts.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.

38. Sort
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.
This can also be called a _____ key - index - or keyword. Most database applications allow for multiple keys so that users can sort records in different ways.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.

39. Architecture
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.
First generation computers used _______ _____ to store individual bits of data.

40. Benchmarks
A data communications network that connects personal computers within a limited geographical area is called a ___.
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.

41. Disk drive
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
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
The ______ is a marker on the monitor which indicates where the next character will appear.

42. Column
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
Examples of word size in _____ computers include 16 - 32 - and 64 bits.
The kernel is also known as the ___________.

43. Keyboard
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
Commands written for a specific CPU or microprocessor are ____ _____ languages.

44. Microcomputers
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
Personal computers are also called ______________.

45. Spelling
Values are the actual numbers or dates entered into ______.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.

46. Business
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.
The ALU is an area of the CPU optimized to handle _____ calculations (i.e. Add and Subtract) as well as logic comparisons (i.e. AND - NOT - and OR).
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Personal Information Management software helps users organize and manage daily ________ activities.

47. Bulletin board
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.

48. Printed
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.

49. Windows

50. 64
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.