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. Stress
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.

2. Circuit boards

3. Trojan horse
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 ________.
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
______ times for PC storage devices are measured in milliseconds.

4. Word

5. Email
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.

6. Proprietary
Linux is a non-___________ version of UNIX and is maintained by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world.
System ______________ involves converting files - software and hardware to the new system.
An organization's internal _______ network is called an intranet.
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.

7. Device
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.

8. Directly
Random access storage devices are able to go _____ to the requested data
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.

9. Machine
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
________ and assembly languages are low level languages.
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.

10. CAD
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
__________ uses mathematical formulas to create coded messages.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
Microsoft Windows is the world's best selling ________ __________.

11. Component
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.

12. Sort
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
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.
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.

13. Order
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.

14. Recalculation
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
A virus is a program that __________ itself - either by making copies of itself or by attaching to another program.
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.

15. Output
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.

16. Local Area
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.

17. Intruders
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
To convert seconds to milliseconds - _________ by 1000 (i.e. 5 seconds is equal to 5 -000 milliseconds).
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.

18. Syntax
Data and programs waiting to be processed wait in ______ in temporary storage.
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.
Memory - a programmable processor - an output device - and user-defined input were all concepts Babbage conceived for a calculating device he called a ___________ Engine in 1834.

19. Key
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
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 ____.
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.

20. Web page
ENIAC was the first ____________ electronic computer in the United States.
A computer uses a ____ system (base 2). That means that it only has 2 digits to choose from (i.e. 0 and 1).
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
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.

21. Dashboard
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
A collection of fields make up a _______.

22. Open source
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.

23. Fourth
______ generation computers were microprocessor based.
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.

24. Web pages
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
A programming problem statement defines the scope of the problem - spells out the known information - and specifies when the problem has been ______.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.

25. Systems analysts
A _________ is a graphical representation of a series of steps needed to solve a problem.
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 ____.
A __________ file uses a uniform format to store data for each person or thing in the file.
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.

26. Software
The Windows registry is a database that maintains a record of installed ________ and peripheral devices - preferences - and settings.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.

27. Work
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.
A compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.

28. Cable
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
What part of the URL http://instantcert.com/landing.html is the top level domain? ___

29. Divide

30. Copies

31. Hardware
A firewall can be _________ or software-based or a combination of the two.
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.

32. RSI
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
Virtual memory uses the hard disk to _____ primary storage (RAM).
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.
A floppy disk - hard disk - and USB drive are all examples of _________ storage.

33. Math
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.
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).

34. Apple I
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.
______ generation computers were microprocessor based.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.

35. Controlling
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.

36. Source
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
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 compiler converts ______ code (the original code written by the programmer) into object code (an executable file).
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.

37. POS
LISP is a programming language used primarily for creating __________ _____________ programs.
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.

38. Server
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
System software include device ________ - operating systems - and compilers.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
In a peer to peer network - workstations share responsibility for processing - storage - printing - and communications tasks without a ______.

39. Operating system
Private networks that are connected to remote sites via the internet are called ____.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.

40. Location
_____ data can be text - images - numbers - or sounds.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.

41. Peripheral
An advantage of a network is that it allows for the sharing of ___________ devices; users on a network can share devices such as printers and modems.
Rule-based detection software is used by merchants for online transactions to detect and prevent _____ by establishing criteria each transaction must meet.
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.
A ________ is a collection of interrelated files in a computer system.

42. Intranets
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.
The web protocol HTTP (__________ __________ Protocol) is a set of rules for exchanging information over the web.
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.

43. Debugging
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.

44. Disk drive
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
Examples of operating systems include ________ - Linux - Unix - and Macintosh OS.
Messages are divided into equal size packets and shipped over the network on a first come first _______ basis.
Defragmentation can improve _____ ______ performance by helping the computer operate more efficiently.

45. SQL
Input - output - and storage equipment that can be added to a computer to enhance its functionality are called __________ devices.
Relocating business _________ to lower cost locations in foreign countries is called offshoring.
___________ and security are MS Windows' two major weaknesses.
____ and RPG-I are examples of fourth generation languages.

46. Email
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.
The bandwidth of a channel which carries digital data is typically measured in ____ ____ _________ (bps).
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.
_____ ___ is a collection of photos and drawings designed to be inserted in documents.

47. Bits
______ - PROSPECTOR - CARES - CLUES and CLIPS are all examples of expert systems.
Second generation computers used ___________ instead of vacuum tubes.
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.

48. Change
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
__________ appear as colored or underlined words on a webpag
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.

49. Beta
In a star network - all computers are connected to a _______ computer.
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
____ testing involves checking a program by running it with real world data.

50. MB
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
ENIAC was the first ____________ electronic computer in the United States.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.