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. Order
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.
FTP can be used on any _______ network such as a LAN or the Internet and is compatible with any operating system.
Random access storage allows access to any location in any _____.
This act established financial reporting regulations to prevent corporate ______.

2. Random
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).
A service pack is a collection of Microsoft files for ________ improvements - bug fixes - and software updates.
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.
A hard drive - on the other hand - is a _______ access device - which allows it to go directly to the requested data.

3. Cache
Primary storage - also known as RAM or _______ - is temporary data held in computer circuitry.
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.
By holding down the ctrl - alt - and del keys - ________ OS will open the task manager which displays a list of active processes.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.

4. Hub
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
The central computer is called a ____.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.

5. Remarks
MIDI stands for Musicial ___________ Digital Interface.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.
Output is the result of ___________.
Graphics software is designed to help users manipulate and ______ graphics.

6. Fields
The central computer is called a ____.
The columns are called _______.
_____ _____ languages are based on human languages and include C - C++ and FORTRAN.
The most common type of database used on PCs is the relational database in which data is organized into related ______.

7. Windows

8. Intel
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
In Windows - to see a list of active _________ - you must open the task manager.
The system's main interface screen is called the _______ and displays icons which provide fast access to information and programs.
Mac OS X was rewritten for _____ architecture in 2006 and has a reputation for being an easy to use - reliable - and secure operating system.

9. Value
A spreadsheet _____ is any number used in a calculation.
In 1976 - Steve Jobs and Steve _______ founded Apple Computer Corporation.
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.
The opposite of a variable is a _________ - which is a factor that remains the same throughout the program.

10. File names
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
Current versions of Windows support ____ ______ up to 255 characters long.
By holding down the ctrl - alt - and del keys - ________ OS will open the task manager which displays a list of active processes.
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.

11. Cannot
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.
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.
A ___________ allows users to enter data in rows and columns to create financial schedules and tables arranged as a grid on a display.
The information on a ROM chip _____ be altered by the user.

12. KB
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
A _____ takes digital signals from a computer and converts them to analog signals to transmit over a telephone line.
A kilobyte is generally abbreviated as __.
_______ ________ was the first to define concepts that were to be later used in modern computers.

13. Column
The internet is an example of a WAN (______ ____ Network).
In programming - a variable represents a value that can ______.
Column headings are used to select an entire _______ with a mouse click.
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.

14. Produced
A technique for increasing the speed of computer components such as motherboards - memory - processors - and graphics cards is called ____________.
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
Database ______________ create - maintain - and supervise the day to day operation of databases.

15. Prototype
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
An electronic ______ ________ on the Internet where users conduct written discussions about a specific topic is called a newsgroup.
A _________ is a limited working system - developed to test design concepts.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.

16. Partition
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.

17. Math
_______ is a version of UNIX popular for large websites and e-commerce servers.
A message that has not been _________ is called plaintext.
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.
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).

18. Phishers
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
The web protocol HTTP (__________ __________ Protocol) is a set of rules for exchanging information over the web.
Dreamweaver - Macromedia Flash and MS FrontPage are all examples of ___ _____ design software.
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.

19. Action
DHCP is a protocol designed to automatically distribute IP _________.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
In a star network - all computers are connected to a _______ computer.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.

20. HTTP
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
____ is the communications protocol used by your browser to connect with web servers and display web pages on your computer.
SSL (Secure _______ Layer) and TLS are protocols used to create a secure connection between a computer and a website.
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.

21. Securely
Drawings created with CAD (Computer Aided _______) software are 3D and can be rotated to view all sides.
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
An ______ _______ is an interactive computer program that helps users solve problems.
SSL and TLS are protocols used to ________ transmit credit card data over the Internet.

22. Serial
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
With ______ processing - the CPU must complete all steps in the instruction cycle before it begins to execute the next instruction.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.

23. Execution
Using a technology called pipelining - the processor can start executing an instruction ______ the previous instruction completes.
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
Software obtained _________ is said to be pirated.
The compiled program is saved as object code for later __________.

24. Cable
SSL (Secure _______ Layer) and TLS are protocols used to create a secure connection between a computer and a website.
The Internet is a worldwide computer _______ that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
A program that ______ itself repeatedly on to the computer's hard disk or into the computer's memory is called a worm.

25. Machine
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
The system's main interface screen is called the _______ and displays icons which provide fast access to information and programs.
________ and assembly languages are low level languages.
Read-Only Memory chips contain fixed computer start up instructions - are loaded at the factory - and are ___________.

26. Keyboard
_______________ are politically motivated hackers who attack computer systems intending to cause large scale physical or financial harm.
__________ appear as colored or underlined words on a webpag
A ________ - mouse - microphone - scanner - and camera are all examples of computer input devices.
Current versions of Windows support ____ ______ up to 255 characters long.

27. Employment
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.
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 _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
Computer _____ temporarily stores instructions and data that the processor is likely to use frequently.

28. Fragmentation
Sending out __________ looking emails which attempt to solicit passwords or financial information is known as phishing.
_____________ people is one important way to protect software and data.
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.

29. Email
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
Private _________ that connect internal personnel and selected vendors are called extranets.
Random access is much faster than ___________ access storage (tape).
Examples of OOP languages include C++ and _____.

30. Intruders
________ are used to transmit data between LANs of different network topologies or network operating systems.
A bus network has two endpoints and all computers are connected to a single wire or _____.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.

31. VoIP
____ is an internet protocol used to make phone calls over the internet.
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
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.
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.

32. Passwords
Products which are announced but are never ________ are called vaporware.
_________ systems were first used in second generation computers.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Built in 1951 - UNIVAC was considerably smaller and more powerful than ______.

33. Providers
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
Backbone connections are supplied by internet backbone __________ such as GTE - Sprint - UUNET and AT&T.
An example of parallel processing is when several ___________ work together sharing memory on the same task.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.

34. Device
When talking about personal computers - the CPU (________ Processing Unit) is synonymous with the silicon chip known as the microprocessor - which is programmed to perform various tasks on the data it receives.
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
An IP address is a series of numbers used to identify a network ______.
A firewall is designed to protect a computer or network from _________.

35. Sort
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.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
Fiber optic cable consists of dozens or hundreds of thin strands of ______ or plastic; it is more secure and can carry much more data than normal copper telephone wire.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.

36. Hardware
____ and RPG-I are examples of fourth generation languages.
Like hubs - switches have multiple ______.
Companies do this to keep _______ low.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.

37. Text
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
Word processing software is used to create - edit - print - format and store ____.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
One reason a tape drive takes longer to access data than a ____ drive is that tape drives use sequential access.

38. Network interface
Syntax refers to the _______ in which computer programming commands must be entered.
Floppy disk - external hard drive - CD-RW - tape - and USB flash drive are all examples of ______ media.
A MAC address is a series of numbers assigned by the manufacturer to a _________ ________ card at the factory.
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.

39. Decrypt
A _______ __________ plan is used to restore information technology functions after operations have been interrupted by an event such as a hurricane.
System software includes device drivers - utility programs - and the __________ system.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
A cryptographic key is a number - word - or phrase that must be used to ________ a message.

40. Images
______ - PROSPECTOR - CARES - CLUES and CLIPS are all examples of expert systems.
A print server manages one or more printers and stores printed ______.
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.
When talking about personal computers - the CPU (________ Processing Unit) is synonymous with the silicon chip known as the microprocessor - which is programmed to perform various tasks on the data it receives.

41. Viruses
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.
In programming - an event is defined as an ______.

42. Off
A wiki is one or more ___ documents that can be viewed and changed by users.
Transistors were smaller - cheaper - and more _________ than vacuum tubes.
ROM chips contain data that is nonvolatile - meaning that this data is not lost when the computer is turned ____.
A LAN (______ _____ Network) normally occupies a single building.

43. Professional

44. Work
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
A computer resource is any component required to perform ____.
_____________ is the process of recomputing values in a spreadsheet.
Meeting ___________ software is an example of groupware.

45. Lost
HTML (__________ Markup Language) tags are used to structure and format web pages and links to other documents.
Cache is ____ when the computer power is turned off.
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 ___ ________ is software that enables a user to find and access the various parts of the Internet.

46. Time
Bandwidth is an expression of how much data can be sent through a communications channel in a given amount of ____.
Handheld computers and ____s are examples of embedded systems because the operating system resides on a single chip.
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 _____.
The particular operating system and _________ model on which a computer system is based is called the platform.

47. Collisions
CSMA/CD is the Ethernet protocol that handles __________.
Site licenses allow software to be used on all computers at a specific ________.
___ - ring - and star are the three basic network topologies.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.

48. Data
Primary storage - also known as RAM or _______ - is temporary data held in computer circuitry.
When plugged into a USB port - flash memory drives show up as an external drive and are a convenient way to transport and transfer _____.
__________ includes the Web - chat rooms - blogs - member based services - conference calls and automatic teller machines (ATMs).
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.

49. CPU
Examples of random access storage include computer hard disk drives - RAM - ____ _____ - floppy drives and CD-ROM drives.
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Most computer processing takes place in a component called the ___.
Web page design software allows users to create sophisticated web pages with ___________ features.

50. Parallel
Nowadays - cash registers have been replaced by ___ terminals.
When a computer performs several tasks simultaneously - this is called ________ processing.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.
Cache speeds up _________.