Test your basic knowledge |

Technology In Action - 2

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. An agreement between the user and the software developer that must be accepted before installing the software on a computer.






2. 'An application program - such as Intuit's TurboTax or H&R Block's TaxCut - for preparing state and federal taxes. Each program offers a complete set of tax forms and instructions as well as expert advice on how to complete each form.'






3. A device (such as a printer or external hard drive) that can be attached directly to a network instead of needing to attach to a computer on the network.






4. The process of swapping data or instructions that have been placed in the swap file for later use back into active random access memory (RAM). The contents of the hard drive's swap file then become less active data or instructions.






5. Impact of read/write head against magnetic platter of the hard drive; often results in data loss.






6. A printer that works either by melting wax-based ink onto ordinary paper (in a process called thermal wax transfer printing) or by burning dots onto specially coated paper (in a process called direct thermal printing).






7. The ability to easily add more users to a network without affecting the performance of the other network nodes (computers or peripherals).






8. Cables made of copper wires that are twisted around each other and are surrounded by a plastic jacket (such as traditional home phone wire).






9. 'Software that handles requests for information - Internet access - and the use of peripherals for the rest of the network nodes.'






10. A measure of the greatest amount of light showing when a monitor is displaying pure white; measured as candelas per square meter (cd/m^2) or nits.






11. A Windows utility that removes unnecessary files from the hard drive.






12. An output device for sound.






13. The language computers use to process data into information - consisting of only the values 0 and 1.






14. The study of molecules and nanostructures whose size ranges from 1 to 100 nanometers.






15. 'A form included in many productivity applications that provides the basic structure for a particular kind of document - spreadsheet - or presentation.'






16. A program that helps coordinate all print jobs being sent to the printer at the same time.






17. One of the fastest ports available - moving data at 800Mbps.






18. 'One of two recognized DVD formats that enables you to both read - record (R) - and rewrite (RW) data on the disc.'






19. See local bus.






20. The maximum speed at which data can be transmitted between two nodes on a network; usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps).






21. System software that controls hardware devices.






22. A single software program that incorporates the most commonly used tools of many productivity software programs.






23. The process for loading the operating system (OS) into random access memory (RAM) when the computer is turned on.






24. 'A private corporate network that is used exclusively by company employees to facilitate information sharing - database access - group scheduling - videoconferencing - and other employee and customer collaborations.'






25. A specially designed computer that can perform comples calculations extremely rapidly; used in situations in which complex models requiring intensive mathmatical calcualtions are needed (such as weather forecasting or atomic energy research).






26. 'An application program - such as Microsoft Project - that helps project managers generate charts and tables used to manage aspects of a project.'






27. Measured in degrees - this tells how far you can move to the side of (or above or below) the monitor before the image quality degrades to unacceptable levels.






28. The radio waves or cable that transport data on a network.






29. Portable - nonvolatile memory.






30. The metal or plastic case that holds all the physical parts of the computer together - including the computer's processor (its brains) - its memory - and the many circuit boards that help the computer function.






31. An index of all sector numbers that the hard drive stores in a table to keep track of which sectors hold which files.






32. A small segment of data that is bundled for sending over transmission media. Each packet contains the address of the computer or peripheral device to which it is being sent.






33. The process of installing all the files and programs from the distribution CD to the computer's hard drive.






34. A mouse with a rollerball on top instead of on the bottom. Because you move the trackball with your fingers - it doesn't require much wrist motion - so it is considered healthier for your wrist than a traditional mouse.






35. A temporary storage area on the hard drive where the operating system 'swaps out' or moves the data or instructions from random access memory (RAM) that have not recently been used. This process takes place when more RAM space is needed.






36. A type of monitor that is lighter and more energy-efficient than a CRT monitor; often used with portbale computers such as notebooks.






37. The process of installing only those features of a software program that a user wants on the hard drive.






38. 'A network - consisting of client and server computers - in which the clients make requests of the server and the server returns the response.'






39. A network made up of local area networks (LANs) connected over long distances.






40. 'The top level of the filing structure in a computer system. In Windows computers - the root directory of the hard drive is represented as C:.'






41. Programs you can use to design interactive Web pages without knowing any HyperText Markup Language (HTML) code.






42. A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processeing unit (CPU) - the memory (RAM) chips - and the slots available for expansion cards; all of the other boards (video cards - sound cards - and so on) connect to it to recie






43. A type of audio processing that makes the listener experience sound as if it were coming from all directions.






44. A measurement used in comparing software and hardware performance. Benchmarks are created using software applications that are specifically designed to push the limits of computer performance.






45. The pre-installed software (often trial versions) on a new computer.






46. 'The main function of an Internet appliance is easy access to the Internet - social networking sites - e-mail - video - news - and entertainment.'






47. 'An open source operating system based on UNIX. Because of the stable nature of this operating system - it is often used on Web servers.'






48. A wide area network (WAN) that links users in a specific geographic area (such as within a city or county).






49. A software holding area for printing jobs.






50. The combination of a computer's operating system and processor. The two most common platform types are the PC and the Apple Macintosh.