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. Recorded
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
Examples of information managed by ____ software include addresses - phone numbers - appointments - and to-do lists.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.

2. 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.
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.
The prefix '____' means a million.
Input - output - and storage equipment that can be added to a computer to enhance its functionality are called __________ devices.

3. Peripheral
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Input - output - and storage equipment that can be added to a computer to enhance its functionality are called __________ devices.
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.

4. Key
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
In a relational database - a ___ field is used to sort data.

5. CAD
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
According to security experts - _________ pose the greatest threat to their company's technology infrastructure.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.

6. Directly
Fetch - ______ - execute and store are the four basic operations of the machine cycle.
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
Random access storage devices are able to go _____ to the requested data
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.

7. Flight
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
A data communications network that connects personal computers within a limited geographical area is called a ___.

8. Fiber optic
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
_____ ______ cable transmits pulsating beams of light rather than electricity.

9. Disk scanner
______ data is data that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
___________ and security are MS Windows' two major weaknesses.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.

10. Word wrap
Output is the result of ___________.
The Internet is a worldwide computer _______ that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.

11. Changed
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.
Spreadsheet instructions for ____________ are called formulas.
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.

12. Cache
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
The easiest way to reduce exposure to cellphone _________ is to use a headset.
Examples of operating systems include ________ - Linux - Unix - and Macintosh OS.

13. Primary
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.
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.
_____ memory drives plug into the computer's USB ports and have memory capacities of up to several gigabytes.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.

14. Multiply
To convert seconds to milliseconds - _________ by 1000 (i.e. 5 seconds is equal to 5 -000 milliseconds).
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host _______________ Protocol.
___________ and security are MS Windows' two major weaknesses.
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.

15. Email
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
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

16. Numeric
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.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
A programming problem statement defines the scope of the problem - spells out the known information - and specifies when the problem has been ______.

17. Commands
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.

18. Cars
A _______ computer that holds a collection of data and/or applications for providing services to workstations or PCs is called a server.
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.

19. Encryption
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
Cache speeds up _________.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.

20. ISP
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.

21. Hub
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
The central computer is called a ____.

22. Organize
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
Databases use structured files to _________ data.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.

23. Data
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.

24. Cycle
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.
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 _____.
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.

25. Telephone
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.
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.
_______ is the operating system installed on more than 80% of the world's personal computers.

26. Function
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).
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
A spreadsheet ________ is a built-in formula which performs common calculations.

27. Format
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.
____ is a popular graphics file format used in applications such as web pages where flexibility in file size is important.
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.

28. Hardware
A firewall can be _________ or software-based or a combination of the two.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
What part of the URL http://instantcert.com/landing.html is the top level domain? ___

29. Guide
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 wizard is an interactive computer utility that asks a user questions to _____ the user through a task.
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.

30. NAP
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
A _________ is a graphical representation of a series of steps needed to solve a problem.
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
_______ errors can be found with a debugger.

31. Bits
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
A hash function uses an algorithm to transform a given string of letters into a string that represents the original string (known as a _____).
E-waste includes discarded obsolete _________ - televisions - printers - cell phones - and other electronic devices.

32. Lost
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.
Cache is ____ when the computer power is turned off.

33. Instructions
Computer resources include the ____ - RAM - storage space - and peripherals.
System software include device ________ - operating systems - and compilers.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
Applications no longer had to include code to control low level hardware operations but instead called on operating system routines through simple standardized _________.

34. Encrypted
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.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.

35. Value
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.

36. Bell
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.

37. Million
Digital Rights Management is a collection of technologies used to limit access and use of ___________ products such as music - movies and computer games.
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.

38. Input
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
This can also be called a command-_____ interface.
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.

39. Operating system

40. Buffer
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.

41. Filename

42. Downloaded
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.

43. Employment
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.
A database index can be used to _________ data in alphabetical or numerical order.
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.
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.

44. PDA
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
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.

45. Network
Word processing software is used to create - edit - print - format and store ____.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.
The primary key could be a unique series of numbers or characters; it doesn't have to be meaningful--just _______.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.

46. Hub
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.

47. Primary
_______ storage is temporary and holds data waiting to be processed.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.

48. 1971
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.

49. Passwords
The easiest way to reduce exposure to cellphone _________ is to use a headset.
Micropayments are __________ payments for internet transactions as small as 25 cents.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.

50. Quicken
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
In a relational database - a ___ field is used to sort data.
_______ are small text files left on your hard drive by websites you visit.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.