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. Domain name

2. Hard
One reason a tape drive takes longer to access data than a ____ drive is that tape drives use sequential access.
ISPs are connected to the internet backbone via a ___.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.
Examples of graphics file _______ include BMP - GIF - JPEG - TIFF - and PNG.

3. Windows
Lettered ______ headings appear across the top frame of the spreadsheet.
By using a _______________ utility - files on a disk are rearranged so that they are stored in contiguous clusters.
By holding down the ctrl - alt - and del keys - ________ OS will open the task manager which displays a list of active processes.
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.

4. Whistleblowers
Output is the result of ___________.
The Sarbanes-Oxley act requires full disclosure in accounting systems and protects corporate ______________.
The public key encryption software used to encrypt documents such as _____ is called PGP.
A browser ________ is spyware that changes browser settings without your knowledge.

5. Protocol
Cache speeds up _________.
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.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
In computer programming - ______ errors refer to typographical errors and incorrect use of the programming language.

6. Compression
With a ______ implementation - parts of the new system are implemented separately.
_____________ occurs when stored files on a hard drive are scattered across noncontiguous sectors.
The JPEG graphics format has built-in _____________ that can be adjusted by the user.
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.

7. Point of Sale
The process of converting cyphertext to plaintext is ___________
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
POS (______ __ _______) terminals are computer-based devices or systems that allow the merchant to process credit cards - track customer purchase habits - and manage inventory.
Early computers stored ____ for calculations and programs on punched cards.

8. Operating system
The ________ ________ is the computer software that manages the basic operation of the computer.
LISP is a programming language used primarily for creating __________ _____________ programs.
The 1s and 0s used to represent digital data are known as _______ digits.
____ is used by copyright holders to prevent piracy of their products but can be inconvenient to legitimate users.

9. Hardware
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
The ____ is a set of instructions contained in ROM that tell the computer how to find the operating system and load it into RAM.
Reading through a program to make sure it is logical and free of errors is called _____ ________.
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.

10. Modern
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
A computer with a __ bit word size will transfer data within the microprocessor at 8 bytes at a time.
Examples of word size in _____ computers include 16 - 32 - and 64 bits.
A typical computer includes the system and a variety of input - output and ______ devices.

11. Forum
A device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
Most Information Systems departments are managed by a ___.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.

12. Unique

13. Peripheral
Input - output - and storage equipment that can be added to a computer to enhance its functionality are called __________ devices.
UNIX was first developed by _____ Laboratories in 1969.
One ___________ is one thousandth of a second.
Linux is an ____ _______ operating system that can be modified and freely distributed.

14. Lost
________ transmission sends data via light waves at a frequency too low for human eyes to see.
The desktop is a feature of the ____ (graphic user interface) and is found in OS software like MAC OS and MS Windows.
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).
This data is _____ when the computer is turned off.

15. System
In recent years - antivirus software has been one of the most popular categories of _______ software.
Programmers use assembly languages to write ______ software.
_____ generation computers used integrated circuits.
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.

16. Partition
_____ ____ is a special feature that automatically continues text on the next line when the user reaches the right margin.
___ software is used to design products - maps - structures and civil engineering drawings.
A disk _________ is a section of a hard drive that is treated as a separate storage unit.
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.

17. Debugging
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.
Spelling and grammar checkers flag unrecognized words - misspelled words - and incorrect grammar with different color ________ lines.
Alpha testing involves desk checking and _________.
A unit of measure equaling one ______ digit is a bit.

18. Network interface
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
Spelling and grammar checkers flag unrecognized words - misspelled words - and incorrect grammar with different color ________ lines.
A _________ ________ card (NIC) is used by a computer to transmit and receive data over a network.
The most common type of database used on PCs is the relational database in which data is organized into related ______.

19. Companies
In MS Windows - the toolbar is located at the ____ of the window below the menu bar.
In programming - a _________ is a prewritten module designed for a specific task.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
Most computer manufacturers use components (hard drives - processors - memory - etc.) supplied by other __________; this is called outsourcing.

20. One
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.
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
Multiple files which have been consolidated into ___ file and compressed to reduce size and download time are said to be zipped.
Database ______________ create - maintain - and supervise the day to day operation of databases.

21. Credit card
A database index can be used to _________ data in alphabetical or numerical order.
Micropayments allow customers to purchase goods and services for amounts so small as to be impractical for ________ _____ transactions.
The CPU consists of the control unit - the arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) and the _________ (high speed storage areas).
RAM usually consists of several _____ ______(chips) that plug directly into the computer's system board.

22. Machine
The instruction cycle is also often referred to as the ________ cycle.
_________ is the process of moving up - down - or sideways through the text or other screen display.
A keystroke logger can be used to steal __________.
Multimedia technology presents information in a format which includes ____ - graphics - video and sound.

23. Apple I
Each connection _____ on a network is called a node.
In the same year - they released the ________ computer.
The toolbar displays menus and icons of commonly used ________ and options.
UNIX is a proprietary multitasking operating system with built-in __________ capabilities that supports multiple users.

24. WRITE
A _____ is a single keystroke or command used to automatically issue a longer - predefined series of keystrokes or commands.
Examples of keywords include READ - ______ - IF - and THEN
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
Cookies can save you time by not requiring you to _______ in the same information on subsequent visits to the same website.

25. Temporary
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.
_________ authentication devices verify a person's identity using the person's physical characteristics.
In a peer to peer network - workstations share responsibility for processing - storage - printing - and communications tasks without a ______.
Backbone connections are supplied by internet backbone __________ such as GTE - Sprint - UUNET and AT&T.

26. Fourth
A ______ is a small unit of data transmitted over a network.
With virtual memory - free _____ ____ space is used to extend the capacity of RAM.
With a relational database - users _____ records to locate and display them.
______ generation languages are typically used for database applications.

27. Quickly
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.
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 device ______ is system software used by the computer to control peripheral devices.
If an operating system attaches a special significance to a symbol - you won't be able to use it in a ________.

28. Settings
Overloading a computer system or network by making repeated requests to it and thereby denying access to legitimate users is called a _______ __ ________ attack.
Microsoft Windows is the world's best selling ________ __________.
The section of code that repeats is called a _____ or an iteration.
Utility programs are designed to help monitor and configure ________ for the computer - the operating system - or applications.

29. Three dimensional
In 1976 - Steve Jobs and Steve _______ founded Apple Computer Corporation.
Messages are encrypted using a cryptographic _________ and a key.
Virtual reality is a computer generated artificial reality which projects a person into a sensation of _____ ____________ space.
An organization that provides internet access is called an ___.

30. Operating system
Reading through a program to make sure it is logical and free of errors is called _____ ________.
For a computer to be able to take advantage of dual core or quad core technology - the installed ________ __________ has to support it.
A file extension is an optional file identifier that is separated from the main file name by a ______.
VoIP stands for ______ over Internet Protocol.

31. Clients
Individual computers (PCs - workstations) are called ________ and the centralized computer is called a server.
Logic bombs are _______ that are set to go off at a certain time.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.
The BIOS (Basic ______________ System) also enables the computer to interpret keyboard commands and display characters on the monitor.

32. Supervisor
This UNIX-based kernel also contributes to stronger _________.
All the physical equipment in a computer system is called ________.
The kernel is also known as the ___________.
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).

33. Free
A communications network that covers a large geographic area such as a country is called a ___.
A newsgroup is also known as a ______ and there are thousands of them on the Internet.
Groupware is software that allows several people to collaborate on projects over a _______.
Freeware is software that is copyrighted but is available for ____.

34. Javascript
Analytical graphics are also called _________ graphics and make sales figures and economic trends easier to understand.
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
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.
The columns are called _______.

35. Network
Trojan horses can also carry ________ and destructive instructions.
A system of interconnected telephones - computers - or other communication devices that can communicate and share data is called a _______.
Virtual reality is used in arcade games and in training simulators (example: _______ simulators).
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.

36. Ergonomics
__________ is widely supported by web browsers and adds interactive functions to HTML pages.
Reading through a program to make sure it is logical and free of errors is called _____ ________.
__________ is the study of safe and efficient work environments.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.

37. Organize
Tests run by laboratories to compare the overall speed of microprocessors are called __________.
A unit of measure equaling one ______ digit is a bit.
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.

38. Phishers
Note that the URL starts by indicating what _________ should be used to access the page (HTTP).
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.
Servers can store files or provide services (i.e. printing) to ________ on the network.
CSMA/CD manages collisions on the network by deleting colliding signals and __________ the network.

39. Trojan horse
A _____ _______ is a program that is disguised as an innocent program to gain control of your computer.
The first microprocessor was developed in _____.
This is where the term __________ (a group edited encyclopedia) comes from.
The central computer is called a ____.

40. Mega

41. Billion
A ___ is a commonly used component that connects devices on the LAN.
Backups are used to ________ files lost by operator error - viruses - or hardware failures.
A ___ is a string of characters that points to a specific piece of information anywhere on the web.
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.

42. Efficiently
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
The software that controls the search of the expert system's knowledge base and produces a conclusion is called the _________ engine.
The motherboard contains the CPU and _______ chips as well as connections for the keyboard - mouse - and printer.
With a parallel implementation - the old and new systems are operated side by side until the new system is proven to be ________.

43. GUI
Productivity software is designed to help people work more ___________.
The ___ allows a user to operate the computer by using a mouse or keystrokes to select icons and commands from menus.
HTML is a set of special instructions used to create ____ _____.
A collection of fields make up a _______.

44. Solved
A programming problem statement defines the scope of the problem - spells out the known information - and specifies when the problem has been ______.
Embedded computers are also called microcontrollers and are small - specialized microprocessors installed in ____ and smart appliances.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
Pirated software can be ___________ from the web - illegally copied by a friend - or purchased in a foreign country.

45. Permanently
Such information includes information related to company finances - _________ - products and procedures.
Secondary storage refers to devices and media that store data _____________.
Forging an email ______'s name is called spoofing.
A _______ computer that holds a collection of data and/or applications for providing services to workstations or PCs is called a server.

46. Switch
______ ____________ software allows scheduling of events - management of costs and allocation of resources associated with a project.
Computer resources include the ____ - RAM - storage space - and peripherals.
A _________ is a graphical representation of a series of steps needed to solve a problem.
Unlike a hub - a ______ sends packets only to the computer that is the intended recipient.

47. Default
For every software _____________ - the CPU control unit carries out four basic operations known as the machine cycle.
The web protocol HTTP (__________ __________ Protocol) is a set of rules for exchanging information over the web.
An iteration control structure directs the computer to ______ one or more instructions until a certain condition is met.
Settings automatically used by a program unless changed by the user are called _______ settings.

48. LAN
____ is an internet protocol used to make phone calls over the internet.
In a relational database - the _______ key holds a unique value for each record.
_________ data is defined as converting data from one format to a format compatible with the program you are currently using.
A data communications network that connects personal computers within a limited geographical area is called a ___.

49. Copied
TCP/IP is an example of a network ________________ protocol.
Hubs have multiple ports. When a packet arrives at one port it is _______ to all other ports on the hub.
Transferring data from a ______ computer to a local computer is called downloading.
A gigabyte is a unit of measurement roughly equaling one _______ bytes.

50. Short
A modem is a device that sends and receives data over __________ lines to and from computers.
A file server is a centralized computer that acts like a __________ - storing programs and data shared by users on the LAN.
Transmission is limited to ______ range.
_______ are notes included in the program code by the programmer.