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. Location
Some computers have a ______ chip containing the circuits for two microprocessors; this is called a dual core processor.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.

2. Flash drives
Word processing software is used to create - edit - print - format and store ____.
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
UNIVAC was the first commercially successful _______ computer.

3. Hard disk
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.

4. Resetting
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.
Random access storage devices are able to go _____ to the requested data
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.

5. Run
According to security experts - _________ pose the greatest threat to their company's technology infrastructure.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
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.

6. Partition
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.
Commands written for a specific CPU or microprocessor are ____ _____ languages.

7. Tape drive
What part of the URL http://instantcert.com/landing.html is the top level domain? ___
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.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.

8. Squiggly
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
Spelling and grammar checkers flag unrecognized words - misspelled words - and incorrect grammar with different color ________ lines.

9. Stress
The computer's main ______ typically consists of high speed RAM which stores instructions and data.
RSI (Repetitive _______ Injury) affects tendons - muscles and nerves in the hands - wrists - arms and shoulders.
In addition to displaying information in rows and columns - spreadsheet software can perform ______________ on inputted data.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.

10. Client/server
A megabyte is often abbreviated as ___.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
In a _____________ LAN - individual computer users share the services of a centralized computer.

11. Cannot
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.
____ is a graphics file format used on both PCs and Macs for high quality printable files.
Examples of utility programs include _______ and data recovery software - antivirus software - disk cleanup - etc.

12. Human
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
NAP stands for ________________ Point.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.

13. Fingerprint
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
An example of importing data would be taking a column of numbers from a spreadsheet and importing it into a ______ __________.

14. Driver
With serial processing - instructions are executed ______________ in the order received.
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
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.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.

15. Fourth
Financial software allows users to track income and expenses - manage __________ - create reports - and record tax information.
Plaintext is also called __________.
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
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.

16. Background
______ data can be represented as a wave.
A computer's ____ size is the number of bits that the processor may process at any one time.
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
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.

17. Access
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.
Personal computers are also called ______________.
Screening job applicants and limiting employee ______ to only information needed to do a specific job are examples of people controls.

18. Free
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
Open source software projects promote user modification - peer review - _____ distribution - and copying.

19. Divide

20. Connection
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.
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.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.

21. Quicken
If a ___________ on the bus is broken (i.e. one of the computers in the chain crashes) - the network may go down.
A unit of measure equaling one ______ digit is a bit.
Examples of personal finance manager software include ________ and Microsoft Money.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.

22. Recorded
When you install software or hardware - information is ______ in the registry.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.

23. PDA
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.
Cache is ____ when the computer power is turned off.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
A data communications network that connects personal computers within a limited geographical area is called a ___.

24. CIO
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.
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.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.

25. Processes
System software helps the computer manage internal and external _________ and enables the computer to run applications.
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
Fetch - ______ - execute and store are the four basic operations of the machine cycle.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.

26. Debugger
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.
VPN stands for ________ Private Network.
When troubleshooting a computer program - ________ software is used to help identify and solve problems.
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.

27. Short
Random access storage devices are able to go _____ to the requested data
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.
The monitor - speakers - and printer are examples of computer ______ devices.
Transmission is limited to ______ range.

28. Numbered
________ row headings appear down the left frame of the spreadsheet.
Multimedia authoring software combines video - text - animation - graphics and sound to create __________ multimedia applications.
SSL (Secure _______ Layer) and TLS are protocols used to create a secure connection between a computer and a website.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.

29. CAD
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
A _________ logger is a type of spyware that records each character you type.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.

30. Email
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
Cyberspace is the world of communications in general; it includes wired and wireless communications - as well as the _________.
Plaintext is also called __________.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.

31. WRITE
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
On a hard disk - this waiting area is called a _______.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN
When data is ________ in one cell - data in other cells is automatically recalculated.

32. Icons
The central computer is called a ____.
________ ________ plan and implement new or improved computer services.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
Small pictures on the desktop that represent documents - procedures and programs are called _____.

33. Pretty Good
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
Adware is spyware that tracks surfing and online _________.
Integrated circuits were able to do the work of thousands of _____________ or vacuum tubes on a single miniature chip.

34. Web
RAM - which stands for Random Access Memory - stores __________ data which is waiting to be stored - processed - or output - and this data is lost if the computer is turned off.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.
Software designed to solve a specific problem is called ___________ software.
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.

35. VPNs
The main circuit board of the computer is called the ___________.
Analytical graphics are graphical forms that make _______ data easier to analyze.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.
Private networks that are connected to remote sites via the internet are called ____.

36. Word wrap
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
Computer processing is the ____________ of data which transforms data into information.
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.

37. 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.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
A unit of measure equaling 8 bits is a ____.
A spreadsheet ________ is a built-in formula which performs common calculations.

38. Email
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
PGP (_______ ______ Privacy) encryption software is available for free download on the web.
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
Public key encryption is used to transmit credit card data in secure e-commerce transactions and it is also used for secure ______.

39. Backup
EarthLink - AT&T - and Road Runner are all examples of ISPs (Internet __________________).
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.

40. Cycle
The prefix '_____' means a thousand.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
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 _____.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.

41. Million
A megabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
In word processing - the __________ for a document refers to the way text - graphics - headings - and page numbers appear on a page.
A single hard drive could be partitioned and labeled with multiple drive ________.
A macro - or keyboard _________ - is useful when a user has to type the same pattern of keystrokes over and over.

42. Network
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds - a programmer from ________.
In MS PowerPoint - the slide sorter view displays __________ of each slide - allowing you to change the order of your presentation.
The hub prevents packet collisions - but if the hub goes down the _____ stops.

43. RSI
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 ________.
Improper positioning of your keyboard and mouse can cause ___.
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
They are for ______ use only and are ignored by the compiler when it processes the code.

44. Copies

45. Click
Examples include _____________ identification and retina scanners.
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
Examples of an event include a key press or a mouse ______.
Any electronic system that uses a ___ but is not a general purpose computer is called an embedded system.

46. Viruses
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
Random access storage devices are able to go _____ to the requested data
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.

47. Command line
In PowerPoint - the _____ _____ view presents the slides in the order in which the audience will view them.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
The most common user interface for UNIX systems is the ________ ____ interface.
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.

48. Utility
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.
The Internet is a worldwide computer _______ that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.

49. Data
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
While the computer is running - it remains in main ______ and manages nonresident programs.
Many employers view IT _____________ with some degree of skepticism.
One use of an intranet is to allow employees to access and exchange company _____ needed to do their jobs.

50. Printed
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).
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.
Desktop publishing software has reduced the time needed to create professional looking _______ projects.
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.