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. Software help agent that walks the user through a complex process






2. 1) Robot must not injure a human or - by inaction - allow a human to come to harm; 2) must obey orders given by humans (except where the order conflicts w/ first law); 3) must protect its own existence (w/o conflicting w/ first & second law)






3. An individual responsible for maintaining a multi-user computer system






4. Device for sending information from the computer (e.g. monitor or printer)






5. Graphics in which images are stored and manipulated as organized collections of pixels rather than as shapes and lines. Contrast with object-oriented graphics.






6. A method of compression that can squeeze a music file to a fraction of its original CD sized with only slight loss of quality.






7. A type of wireless device that enables mobile phones - hand-held computers - and PCs to communicate with each other regardless of operating system.






8. Technology that creates the illusion that the user is immersed in a world that exists only inside the computer; this environment contains both scenes and the controls to change those scenes.






9. American Standard Code for Information Interchange; A code that represents characters as 8-bit codes. Allows the binary computer to work with letters - digits and special characters






10. The coming together of two or more disparate disciplines or technologies. (ex: fax machine which combines scanning/printing)






11. 1) outline your ideas; 2) remember your audience; 3) use large fonts; 4) be 'stingy' with words (bullets - summarize); 5) use a consistent design; 6) be smart with art (use appropriate graphics)






12. Software programs that can ask questions - respond to commands - pay attention to users' work patters - serve as a guide and a coach - take on owner's goals - and use reasoning to fabricate their own goals.






13. The spacing between lines of text.






14. Random Access Memory; Memory that stores program instructions and data temporarily






15. ~Advantages 1)Safety: easy to simulate without actual risk 2)Economy: Build/simulate/destroy without waste 3)Projection 4)Visualization 5)Replication: Redo/rerun/alter easily ~Disadvantages 1)Reliability 2)Depends on original info 3)Complete trust fa






16. 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






17. A device that enables digital machines to monitor a physical quantity of the analog world (i.e. temperature - humidity - pressure) to provide data used in robotics. (Enables robots to modify actions based on feedback from outside world) (Ex: vision -






18. The process of identifying objects and shapes in a photograph - drawing - video or other visual image. (Effortless for humans - difficult for computers)






19. Identifying recurring patterns in input data with the goal of understand or categorizing that input. (Easy for humans) (Ex: fingerprint identification - handwriting recognition - speech recognition - optional character recognition)






20. Software for editing digital video - including titles - sound and special effects.






21. A business that provides its customers with connections to the Internet (along with other services).






22. 1) Say what is meant and with care (when using the Internet/email - there is no tone of voice); 2) keep it short (otherwise people may not read it all and miss stuff); 3) don't assume you're anonymous; 4) learn the non-verbal language of the net; 5)






23. Allows documents of all types to be stored - viewed - or modified on any Windows or Macintosh computer - making it possible for many organizations to reduce paper flow.






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






25. ~Advantages 1)Share data - increase productivity 2)Share hardware - reduce costs 3)Allow people to work together/communicate ~Disadvantages 1)Easier spread of viruses 2)Privacy issues - especially access levels not set 3)Integrity of data - when shar






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






27. 1) data stays consistent over distances; 2) more data can be transmitted; 3) can communicate with other devices






28. The ability of a software program to run on a specific computer system. Also the ability of a hardware device to function with a particular type of computer






29. Software that spreads from program to program or from disk to disk - and uses each infected program or disk to copy itself. A form of software sabotage.






30. A stream of bits






31. Built-in component of a word processor or a separate program that compares words in a documents with words in a disk-based dictionary - and flags words not found in the dictionary; may operate in batch mode - checking all the words at once - or inter






32. To copy software from an online source to a local computer






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






34. Predefined set of calculations (i.e. SUM and AVERAGE)






35. 'what you see is what you get' (wizzy-wig); arrangement of words on the screen representing a close approximation to the arrangement of words on the printed page






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






37. (Modeling) The use of computers to create abstract models of objects - organisms - organizations and processes






38. 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






39. 1) Amount of network traffic; 2) size/type of file being transferred; 3) type/quality of network connection






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






41. The Internet protocol used to transfer Web pages.






42. Video clip in which one image metamorphoses into another.






43. A continuous wave






44. An online meeting between 2 or more people; done in 'real time' (ex: IM [instant messaging])






45. Free software that is not copyrighted - offered through World Wide Websites - electronic bulletin boards - user groups - and other sources






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






47. Unauthorized access and/or vandalism of computer systems; short for criminal hacking






48. 1)No common words 2)Change frequently 3)Use #s and letters 4)Keep it a secret






49. Information systems or software programs designed to replicate the decision-making process of a human expert.






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