Deck 2: Computers: the Machines Behind Computing

Question 1

Both the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and the control unit are part of the Basic Input / Output System.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuits were introduced in the fifth-generation computers.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A byte is a single value of 0 or 1.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A magnetic tape stores data randomly.

Question 5

A serial port is a communication interface through which information is transferred one bit at a time.

Question 6

A disadvantage of trackball is that positioning is sometimes less precise than with a mouse.

Question 7

An Extended ASCII data code allows representation of 1024 characters.

Question 8

Trackballs are ideal for notebook computers because they occupy less space than a mouse.

Question 9

ENIAC is an example of a first-generation computer.

Question 10

The contents of programmable read-only memory (PROM) can be erased and reprogrammed.

Question 11

A bus can be internal or external.

Question 12

Data can be read from and written to random access memory (RAM).

Question 13

Light pen is an output device.

Question 14

The split keyboard has been developed for better ergonomics.

Question 15

Inkjet printers produce characters by projecting electrically charged droplets of ink onto paper that create an image.

Question 16

A petabyte is 2³⁰ bytes.

Question 17

An object code must be translated into source code in order for a computer to be able to read and execute.

Question 18

A computer with a 32-bit processor can perform calculations with larger numbers and be more efficient with smaller numbers than a 64-bit system.

Question 19

The hardware components of a computer system consist of programs written in computer languages.

Question 20

A magnetic disk is a type of secondary memory device.

Question 21

An advantage of a write once,read many (WORM) disc is that it can be easily duplicated.

Question 22

In a network-attached storage (NAS),as the number of users increase,the performance increases.

Question 23

A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system is a collection of disk drives used for fault tolerance and improved performance.

Question 24

A(n) _____ is an interface between a computer and a printer that enables the computer to transfer multiple bits of information to the printer simultaneously.

A) parallel port
B) serial port
C) expansion slot
D) control unit

Question 25

A storage area network (SAN) is essentially a network-connected computer dedicated to providing file-based data storage services to other network devices.

Question 26

Beginning in the 1940s,first-generation computers used _____.

A) transistors
B) vacuum tube technology
C) integrated circuits
D) laser technology

Question 27

Sometimes,fourth-generation languages (4GLs) are called procedural languages.

Question 28

_____ is 1 / 1,000,000,000,000 of a second.

A) Millisecond
B) Microsecond
C) Nanosecond
D) Picosecond

Question 29

A server is a set of programs for controlling and managing computer hardware and software.

Question 30

A personal computer can perform a variety of tasks by using application software,which can be commercial software or software developed in house.

Question 31

Network-attached storage (NAS) increases management costs and is fault prone.

Question 32

In the context of the power of computers,_____ means saving data in computer memory.

A) speed
B) accuracy
C) retrieval
D) storage

Question 33

A(n) _____ is a step-by-step direction for performing a specific task,which is written in a language the computer can understand.

A) array
B) server
C) cache
D) program

Question 34

A network-attached storage (NAS) system offers only storage; a storage area network (SAN) offers both storage and file services.

Question 35

Transistors were the major technology used during the _____ generation of computers.

A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth

Question 36

Remote data entry and telecommunications were introduced during the _____ generation of computers.

A) second
B) third
C) fourth
D) fifth

Question 37

A _____ is a peripheral device for recording,storing,and retrieving information.

A) disk drive
B) motherboard
C) control unit
D) multiprocessor

Question 38

Flash memory is used in memory cards for storing and transferring data between computers and other devices.

Question 39

One of the disadvantages of silicon is that:

A) it cannot be used for mass production of silicon devices.
B) it cannot emit light.
C) it is very soft and fragile.
D) it is very expensive.

Question 40

An advantage of silicon over gallium arsenide is that:

A) it is less fragile than gallium arsenide.
B) it survives much higher doses of radiation than gallium arsenide.
C) it withstands higher temperatures than gallium arsenide.
D) it emits light, whereas gallium arsenide does not.

Question 41

The word "memory" consists of 48 bits,which is equivalent to _____ bytes.

A) 6
B) 24
C) 64
D) 384

Question 42

ASCII defines up to _____ characters.

A) 8
B) 128
C) 258
D) 1024

Question 43

A _____ is a pointing device that moves the cursor on the screen,allowing fast,precise cursor positioning.

A) motherboard
B) keyboard
C) mouse
D) kernel

Question 44

Which of the following is true about magnetic tapes?

A) It is made of metal.
B) It stores data sequentially.
C) It resembles a compact disc.
D) It is a main memory device.

Question 45

The Clipboard's contents are typically stored on ____.

A) read-only memory (ROM)
B) random access memory (RAM)
C) magnetic disks
D) magnetic tapes

Question 46

Which of the following best defines an operating system?

A) It is a set of programs for controlling and managing computer hardware and software.
B) It is a computer and all the software for managing network resources and offering services to a network.
C) It is a collection of disk drives used for fault tolerance, typically in large network systems.
D) It is the main circuit board containing connectors for attaching additional boards.

Question 47

_____,which is nonvolatile,holds data when the computer is off or during the course of a program's operation,and it is also used to store large volumes of data for long periods.

A) Random access memory
B) Read-only memory
C) Secondary memory
D) Programmable read-only memory

Question 48

A write once,read many (WORM) disc is a common type of _____.

A) magnetic storage
B) optical storage
C) random access memory (RAM)
D) read-only memory (ROM)

Question 49

Which of the following is an input device?

A) Touch screen
B) Cathode ray tube
C) Liquid crystal display
D) Inkjet printer

Question 50

Computers and communication systems use _____ to represent and transfer information between computers and network systems.

A) intranets
B) light pens
C) data codes
D) prototypes

Question 51

A _____ is the size of a character.

A) nibble
B) bit
C) byte
D) word

Question 52

In a(n) _____ file,each alphabetic,numeric,or special character is represented with a 7-bit binary number.

A) EBCDIC
B) Unicode
C) ASCII
D) extended ASCII

Question 53

A _____ allows data to be stored in multiple places to improve a system's reliability.

A) remote access server
B) read-only memory
C) random access memory
D) redundant array of independent disks

Question 54

Read-only memory (ROM) is different from random access memory (RAM) in that:

A) it is volatile memory.
B) it is a secondary memory.
C) it is nonvolatile memory.
D) it is a read-write memory.

Question 55

The control programs managing computer hardware and software perform the _____ function to control and prioritize tasks performed by the CPU.

A) application management
B) resource allocation
C) data management
D) job management

Question 56

_____ allow off-site users to connect to network resources,such as network file storage,printers,and databases.

A) Remote access servers
B) Web servers
C) Application servers
D) Disk servers

Question 57

CD-ROMs and DVDs are examples of _____.

A) magnetic tapes
B) magnetic disks
C) optical discs
D) main memory devices

Question 58

_____ is the most common output device for soft copy.

A) Liquid crystal display
B) Inkjet printer
C) Laser printer
D) Touch screen

Question 59

_____ storage,which is used for online storage and backup,involves multiple virtual servers that are usually hosted by third parties.

A) Kernel
B) Buffer
C) Cache
D) Cloud

Question 60

Extended ASCII data code allows representation of _____ characters.

A) 1042
B) 265
C) 256
D) 1024

Question 61

The supervisor program in an operating system (OS) is called the ____.

A) kernel
B) metadata
C) applet
D) cache

Question 62

The most common data code for text files,PC applications,and the Internet is _____,developed by the American National Standards Institute.

Question 63

A(n) _____,made of Mylar or metal,is used for random-access processing.

Question 64

UNIX is a type of _____.

A) storage area network
B) application software
C) remote access server
D) operating system

Question 65

A(n) _____ is the enclosure containing a computer's main components.

Question 66

_____ computers are usually compatible with the IBM System / 360 line introduced in 1965.

Question 67

Microsoft PowerPoint is the most commonly used _____ software.

Question 68

_____ software,which is extensively used in architecture and engineering firms,is used for drafting and design and has replaced traditional tools,such as T-squares,triangles,paper,and pencils.

Question 69

The most common type of main memory is a semiconductor memory chip made of _____.

Question 70

The _____ tells the computer what to do,such as instructing the computer which device to read or send output to.

Question 71

_____ servers store computer software,which users can access from their workstations.

Question 72

_____ use laser beams to access and store data.

Question 73

The _____ is the heart of a computer.

Question 74

_____ computer languages are machine independent and are called high-level languages.

A) First-generation
B) Second-generation
C) Third-generation
D) Fourth-generation

Question 75

Which of the following computer languages is the easiest to use?

A) Assembly language
B) First-generation language
C) Fourth-generation language
D) Machine language

Question 76

A(n) _____ is a machine that accepts data as input,processes data without human intervention by using stored instructions,and outputs information.

Question 77

_____ bits equal 1 byte.

Question 78

Java and C++ are _____ languages.

A) assembly
B) high-level
C) machine
D) second-generation computer

Question 79

_____ is a light-sensitive stylus connected to the monitor with a cable.When it is placed on an on-screen location,the data in that spot is sent to the computer.

Question 80

The _____ computers include parallel processing,gallium arsenide chips that run at higher speeds and consume less power than silicon chips,and optical technologies.