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. Text
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.
Overclocking is popular with computer gamers but can be dangerous as components may _________ and be damaged or catch fire.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
Each connection _____ on a network is called a node.

2. Javascript
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
______ data is data that has been converted into discrete digits such as 0s and 1s.

3. Millisecond
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
Using a technology called pipelining - the processor can start executing an instruction ______ the previous instruction completes.

4. Encrypted
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
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.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.

5. Chief Information
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
CIO stands for _______ ____________ Officer.
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.

6. Memory
The Windows registry is a database that maintains a record of installed ________ and peripheral devices - preferences - and settings.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
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 ____.

7. Miniatures
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.

8. Business
Personal Information Management software helps users organize and manage daily ________ activities.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.

9. Circuit boards

10. Fields
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
A database index can be used to _________ data in alphabetical or numerical order.
The columns are called _______.

11. Macro
A _________ is a graphical representation of a series of steps needed to solve a problem.
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 _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.

12. Research
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.
A database index can be used to _________ data in alphabetical or numerical order.
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.

13. Debugger
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
The _______ ______ would be 'instantcert.com'; the top level domain just refers to the part after the period.
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.

14. Design
Microsoft Windows is the world's best selling ________ __________.
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
Drawings created with CAD (Computer Aided _______) software are 3D and can be rotated to view all sides.
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.

15. Routes
Spoofing makes it appear that a message came from someone other than the sender. This is a tactic often used by _________.
A message which has been encrypted is called __________.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.
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. Multimedia
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.

17. Protocol
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.
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.

18. Domain name

19. Analog
Telephone lines have traditionally been _______.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
On the job choices that reflect a person's values are called ____________ ethics.
_____ memory drives plug into the computer's USB ports and have memory capacities of up to several gigabytes.

20. Publisher
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
An _________ slot is a slot on the motherboard where the user can plug in an expansion card.
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
A field contains the smallest unit of meaningful data and can therefore be called the basic ________ block for a structured file or database.

21. Email
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
In a star network - all computers are connected to a _______ computer.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.

22. Click
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.
The GUI (Graphic User Interface) is sometimes called a computer __________ and Microsoft Windows is an example of an operating system that uses a GUI.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.

23. Squiggly
Virtual machine technology allows users to simulate the hardware and software of one computer ____________ on another.
Spelling and grammar checkers flag unrecognized words - misspelled words - and incorrect grammar with different color ________ lines.
_______________ is used to restore the file to its original condition by replacing the repeated patterns that were removed during file compression.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

24. Cyberterrorists
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
Screening job applicants and limiting employee ______ to only information needed to do a specific job are examples of people controls.
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 _____.

25. Java
______________ are the most expensive and fastest computers available.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.

26. Intranets
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
A programming language is a set of keywords and grammar rules used to create ____________ for a computer.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.

27. Timeline
Examples of operating systems include ________ - Linux - Unix - and Macintosh OS.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
Usually - project management software allows the user to break a project down into a series of goals or events which are organized as a _________.

28. Word

29. Reliable
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
Search agents and _____ search tools allow you to automate your search process across many sites.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN

30. Viruses
Examples of DTP software include MS __________ and PageMaker.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.

31. Windows

32. Records
In a relational database - information is organized in rows and columns. Rows are called _______.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN

33. Sender's

34. Packet
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
White hat hackers are computer professionals who break into computer systems with the owner's __________ to identify security flaws.

35. PowerPoint
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
Harvard Graphics and MS __________ are examples of presentation graphics software.
The internet backbone consists of high speed - high capacity transmission lines that use the newest communications technology to ________ data across the internet.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.

36. Widget
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
A desktop ______ appears on the computer desktop and is a specialized utility that looks like a control and displays information.

37. Fil
A named collection of data that exists on a storage medium such as a hard disk - floppy disk - or CD is called a ____.
______ generation computers were microprocessor based.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
A collection of fields make up a _______.

38. Central
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.
In a star network - all computers are connected to a _______ computer.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
____ ________ software detects and corrects certain types of common problems on hard disks - floppies - and CDs.

39. Copyrighted
Spelling and grammar checkers flag unrecognized words - misspelled words - and incorrect grammar with different color ________ lines.
Digital Rights Management is a collection of technologies used to limit access and use of ___________ products such as music - movies and computer games.
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.

40. Free
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.
Mac OS X was rewritten for _____ architecture in 2006 and has a reputation for being an easy to use - reliable - and secure operating system.

41. Icons
A virus is a program that __________ itself - either by making copies of itself or by attaching to another program.
Plaintext is also called __________.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
Small pictures on the desktop that represent documents - procedures and programs are called _____.

42. Avatars
To convert from word size to bytes - you must ______ by 8 because there are 8 bits in a byte. Therefore - when we're dealing with a 64 bit word size - we divide by 8 and the result is 8 bytes.
_______ are computer depictions of humans often found in computer games and training software.
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

43. Copyrighted
Public domain software is not ___________ and can be copied without fear of prosecution.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN

44. Operating system
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.

45. Operating system

46. Outcome
A keyword has a predefined meaning for the ________ which translates each line of programming code into the machine language that the computer can understand.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
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.

47. RSI
MAC addresses are set from the factory and cannot be ________ by the network admin.
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.

48. Fourth
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
Common syntax errors include incorrect or missing punctuation - _________ errors - and omitting keywords.
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.

49. E-waste
Disposal of _______ is a major environmental problem caused by information technology.
In a ring network - all packets flow in only one __________; there are no data collisions.
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.

50. System
Search agents and _____ search tools allow you to automate your search process across many sites.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
The more _____ in a word - the faster the computer.
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.