Question 1

Computer historians generally agree that computers have evolved through ____ distinct generations, and in each generation, computers become smaller, faster, more dependable, and less expensive to operate.

Accepted Answer

Computer historians generally agree that computers have evolved through four distinct generations, and in each generation, computers become smaller, faster, more dependable, and less expensive to operate.

Question 2

Introduced in 1978, the ____ computer featured color graphics, expansion slots, a disk drive, a 1.07 MHz 6502 processor, and 16KB of RAM for $1,195.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the Apple II computer. The IBM PCs were introduced later in 1981 and 1983, and the ENIAC was a historic computer built in the 1940s.

Question 3

Which of the following is a chipmaker?

Accepted Answer

Texas Instruments is a chipmaker that produces semiconductors and various other electronic components used in a variety of applications such as automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics. Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, and Microsoft are not primarily known for chip-making activities.

Question 4

____ is the term for relocating business processes to lower-cost locations in other countries.

Accepted Answer

Offshoring is the term used for relocating business processes to lower-cost locations in other countries. It is a common practice among businesses looking to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Sellout refers to selling out a business or product, outsourcing refers to contracting a third-party company to perform certain business functions, and tax dodging refers to avoiding paying taxes through illegal means.

Question 5

The items pictured in the figure above are ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of  The items pictured in the figure...

Question 6

Which of the following is a software publisher?

Accepted Answer

Computer Associates is a software publisher, while Intel, Cabletron, and Hewlett-Packard are primarily hardware manufacturers.

Question 7

To use an abacus, you must learn the ____ for manipulating the beads.

Accepted Answer

An algorithm refers to a step-by-step procedure used to solve a problem or perform a task. The use of an abacus involves manipulating the beads in a specific order to perform calculations, and therefore requires knowledge of a specific algorithm.

Question 8

As shown in the figure above, a manual calculator called a(n) ____ first appeared around 1200 in China, and then in Japan around 1600.

Accepted Answer

The figure shows an image of an abacus, which was a manual calculator that originated in China around 1200 and was also introduced in Japan around 1600. The other options, slide rule (A), Napier's Bones (B), and Arithmometer (C) are not shown or referenced in the figure.

Question 9

By 2000, the ____ was one of the few remaining devices that could be classified as a minicomputer.

Accepted Answer

By 2000, the IBM AS/400 was one of the few remaining devices that could be classified as a minicomputer. The Mark-8 and MITS Altair were both personal computer kits from the 1970s, and VisiCalc was a spreadsheet software program also from the 1970s.

Question 10

____ was the first mass-produced calculator.

Accepted Answer

deColmar's Arithmometer, invented in the 1820s, was the first calculator to be mass-produced and sold commercially. The other options were all early mechanical calculators but were not mass-produced.

Question 11

____-generation computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes.

Accepted Answer

Second-generation computers used transistors instead of vacuum tubes, marking a significant advancement in technology and efficiency.

Question 12

Which of the following is a service company?

Accepted Answer

AOL (America Online) is primarily a service company offering internet services, whereas Microsoft, IBM, and Texas Instruments are technology and manufacturing companies.

Question 13

____ was the first to use vacuum tubes instead of mechanical switches.

Accepted Answer

The ABC (Atanasoff-Berry Computer) was the first electronic digital computer that used vacuum tubes for computation instead of mechanical switches.

Question 14

One of the main reasons behind the success of the Apple II computer was the commercial software program called ____.

Accepted Answer

VisiCalc was the first spreadsheet software program that allowed users to perform financial and mathematical calculations on a computer. It was highly popular among businesses and helped to establish the Apple II computer as a practical tool for business productivity, leading to its widespread adoption. The other software programs mentioned were developed later and were not integral to the early success of the Apple II.

Question 15

The item shown in the figure above is a ____.

Accepted Answer

The item shown is a microprocessor, as indicated by the label "TBX9143_00". It is a highly integrated circuit that contains a central processing unit (CPU) along with other components such as memory, input/output interfaces, and control logic. Miniprocessors and vacuum tubes are outdated technologies that are no longer in use, while a transistor is a basic component of electronic circuits but does not have the same level of complexity and functionality as a microprocessor.

Question 16

The ____ became the computer of choice for graphical applications such as desktop publishing.

Accepted Answer

The Apple Macintosh became the computer of choice for graphical applications such as desktop publishing. While the Xerox Alto was an early pioneer in graphical computing and influenced the design of the Macintosh, it did not become widely used. The RCA Spectra was a television set and the Apple Lisa, while also a groundbreaking graphical computer, was prohibitively expensive and did not gain widespread adoption.

Question 17

Howard Aiken combined 73 IBM Automatic Accounting Machines into a single unit called the ____.

Accepted Answer

Howard Aiken combined the IBM Automatic Accounting Machines into a single unit called the Harvard Mark I.

Question 18

The 1990s spawned a group of Internet-based companies that came to be called ____.

Accepted Answer

The term "dot coms" became widely used to refer to internet-based companies that emerged in the 1990s, as many of them used ".com" in their website domain names. The other options, cyber coms, intercoms, and net coms, are not commonly used terms to describe this group of companies.

Question 19

____-generation computers can be characterized by their use of vacuum tubes to store individual bits of data.

Accepted Answer

First-generation computers used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic drums for memory, making them very large and expensive to operate.

Question 20

A ____ calculator implements algorithms autonomously.

Accepted Answer

A mechanical calculator is able to perform calculations without the need for manual input or intervention, thus implementing algorithms autonomously. Master calculators are a type of mechanical calculator but they require manual input. Sliding and manual calculators are not capable of implementing algorithms autonomously.

Quiz 9: The Computer Industry: History, Careers, and Ethics