Test your basic knowledge |

IT Literacy

Subjects : it-skills, literacy
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. Device for accepting input (e.g. a keyboard)






2. A continuous wave






3. Typeface fonts in which the characters are embellished with fine lines (serifs) at the ends of the main strokes






4. Software that is free to try with a send-payment-to-keep honor system






5. Most common security tools used to restrict access to computer systems.






6. ~Adding/configuring new work stations ~Setting up user accounts ~Installing system wide software ~Performing preventative procedures for viruses ~Allocating storage space






7. Software that can be distributed and modified freely by users; example: Linux






8. Someone who uses computer skills to gain unauthorized access to computer systems.






9. Software that facilitates the arrangement of information into hierarchies or levels of ideas






10. Created: 1) URL; 2) HTML; 3) HTTP://; 4) first 'browser'






11. Ongoing public discussions on a particular subject consisting of notes written to a central Internet site and redistributed through a worldwide newsgroup called Usenet. You can check into and out of them whenever you want; all messages are posted on






12. Measure of character size (one point equals 1/72 inch)






13. Uninterruptable Power Supply; A hardware device that protects computers from data loss during power failures






14. Long-term repository for data (e.g. disks - tapes)






15. A handheld device that displays digital representations of the contents of books.






16. Alignment of text on a line: left justification (smooth left margin - ragged right margin) - right justification (smooth right - ragged left)






17. Programs that use computer hosts to reproduce themselves. Worm programs travel independently over computer networks - seeking out uninfected workstations to occupy. A form of software sabotage






18. 1) must be a disciplined worker -- self-motivation! (IB student); 2) must have good time management; 3) lack of socialization with coworkers






19. Documentation and help available through a software company's Web site






20. The quantity of information that can be transmitted through a communication medium in a given amount of time. (more bandwidth = faster transmission)






21. A defense department system with 24 satellites that can pinpoint any location on the Earth.






22. Gigabyte; Approximately 1000 MB






23. Typeset-quality pages - ready to be photographed and printed.






24. Graphical User Interface; A user interface based on graphical displays. With a mouse - the user points to icons that represent files - folders - and disks. Documents are displayed in windows. The user selects commands from menus






25. All type - including roman - bold - and italics - of a single design (i.e. Helvetica)






26. 1) Poor at planning strategies (less creativity than humans) and can't make decisions (after diagnosis - can't say how to treat patient); 2) powerless outside narrow (but deep) domain of knowledge






27. An error in programming






28. Block of information that appears at the bottom of every page in a document - displaying repetitive information such as automatically calculated page number






29. Working from home by modem - as do many programmers - accountants - and other information workers.






30. Language that people speak/write everyday.






31. The look and feel of the computing experience from a human point of view






32. Custom-designed procedure program which automates tasks in an application program






33. Function which enables users to change the appearance of a document by specifying the font - point size - and style of any character in the document - as well as the overall layout of text and graphical elements in the document






34. Communicates with peripherals; Coordinates the concurrent processing of tasks; Manages memory; Keeps track of location of all programs/files of hard drive






35. Kilobyte; About 1000 bytes of information






36. A program that eliminates fragmented files by changing the assignment of clusters to files; Easier to find files/programs -> Faster computer






37. Email discussion groups on special-interest topics. All subscribers receive messages sent to the group's mailing address. (private)






38. Network created in 1969 from a government grant during the Cold War that is the foundation of today's Internet. ('Advanced Research Project Agency NETwork')






39. An undocumented way of gaining access to a program - online service - or entire computer system - written by a programmer who created the code; Can be a security hazard because it is vulnerable to hackers






40. The online sharing of music or other computer files directly among individual computer users' hard drives - rather than through posting the files on central servers.






41. To post software= or documents to an online source for availability to others






42. Process of saving data - esp. for data recovery. Many systems automatically back up data and software onto disks or tapes






43. Automates the creation of visual aids for lectures - training sessions and other presentations. Can include everything from spreadsheet charting programs to animation-editing software - but most commonly used for creating and displaying a series of o






44. Binary digit; The smallest unit of information. A bit can have two values: 0 or 1






45. A set of rules for the exchange of data between a terminal and a computer - or between two computers.






46. Spreadsheet document which appears on the screen as a grid or numbered rows/columns






47. Billions of clock cycles per second - a measurement of a computer's clock speed






48. 1) ability to create models with physical characteristics (weight and volume); 2) model can be rotated; 3) can evaluate structural performance by applying an imaginary force; 4) designs can be easily altered and edited






49. Software which must be purchased through commercial channels and is copyrighted; Cannot be legally duplicated for others






50. The field of computer science devoted to making computers perceive - reason and act in ways that have - until now - been reserved for human beings.