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. Any of the main files of an operating system.






2. 'A specialized logic chip that is dedicated to quickly displaying and calculating visual data such as shadows - textures - and luminosity.'






3. 'A collection of related pieces of information stored together for easy reference; in database terminology - a file or table is a group of related records.'






4. A network in which the nodes are located within a small geographic area.






5. 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).






6. A signal that tells the operating system that it is in need of immediate attention.






7. A hardware device that uses lasers or light to read from - and maybe even write to - CDs - DVDs - or Blu-ray discs.






8. 'A tag that looks like a sticker or label - is attached to a batch of merchandise - and contains a microchip that holds a unique sequence of numbers used to identify the product to which it is attached.'






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






10. A device that amplifies your wireless signal to get it out to parts of your home that are experiencing poor connectivity.






11. A simplified licensing scheme that enables copyright holders to grant certain rights to a work while retaining other rights.






12. The process of users transferring files between computers.






13. A server that keeps track of who is logging on to the network and which services on the network are available to each user.






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






15. A Windows utility that shows programs currently running and permits you to exit nonresponsive programs when you click End Task.






16. 'The process of looking at a computer's subsystems - what they do - and how they perform to determine whether the computer system has the right hardware components to do what the user ultimately wants it to do.'






17. The application of computer systems and techniques to gather potential legal evidence; a law enforcement specialty used to fight high-tech crime.






18. The clearness or sharpness of an image - whcih is controlled by the numberof pixels displayed on the screen.






19. 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.






20. 'A large - expensive computer that supports hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously and executes many different programs at the same time.'






21. A system of networking connections in which all devices are connected to a central cable called the bus (or backbone).






22. 'A wireless standard established in 1997 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; also known as WiFi (short for Wireless Fidelity) - it enables wireless network devices to work seamlessly with other networks and devices.'






23. The first part of the label applied to a file; it is generally the name a user assigns to the file when saving it.






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






25. A program that manages the data between a computer's operating system and all the input and output devices attached to the computer; also responsible for loading the operating system (OS) from its permanent location on the hard drive to random access






26. 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.






27. 'In a file name - the three letters that follow the user-supplied file name after the dot (.); the extension identifies what kind of family of files the file belongs to - or which application should be used to read the file.'






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






29. A digit that corresponds to the on and off states of a computer's switches. A bit contains a value of either 0 or 1.






30. A hard drive that is installed inside the system unit.






31. The science of using nanostructures to build devices on an extremely small scale.






32. 'An alternative to more traditional mapping software programs; easily accessible with any Internet connection and updated more frequently than offline services. Examples include MapQuest - Yahoo! Maps - Google Maps - and Google Earth.'






33. Software that enables users to 'test' the software by running it for a limited time free of charge.






34. The set of techniques used in processing and retrieving information.






35. See eSata.






36. 'A special signal sent to all network nodes - alerting them that a data collision has occurred.'






37. 'Portable storage devices - such as CDs - DVDs - and Blu-ray discs - that use a laser to read and write data.'






38. A tag that looks like a sticker or label - is attached to a batch of merchandise - and contains a microchip that holds a unique sequence of numbers used to identify the product to which it is attached.






39. A self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Association that rates computer and video games according to the age appropriateness of content.






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






41. A circuit board with specific functions that augment the computer's basic functions and provide connections to other devices; examples include sound card and video card.






42. 'An operating system by Microsoft that incorporates a user-friendly - graphical interface.'






43. The time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data.






44. A network located in a home that is used to connect all of its digital devices.






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






46. A device that allows you to capture sound waves - such as those created by your voice - and transfer them to digital format on your computer.






47. A device similar to a switch in an Ethernet network. It takes the place of a wireless network adapter and helps relay data between network nodes.






48. A notebook computer designed specifically to work with handwriting recognition technology.






49. 'In Windows - a snapshot of your entire system's settings used for restoring your system to a prior point in time.'






50. A single copper wire surrounded by layers of plastic insulation and sheathing; used mainly in cable television and cable Internet service. Key Terms