Deck 4: How a Computer Processes Data

Question 1

Roadrunner, built by IBM for the Department of Energy, is a computer that can process one quadrillion calculations per second.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The logical operations include addition and subtraction.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

You can think about the memory on the motherboard as long term.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Parallel devices transfer sixteen bits at a time.

Question 5

A USB hub is a device that plugs into a USB port and contains multiple USB ports into which cables from USB devices can be plugged.

Question 6

USB is replacing the standard serial and parallel ports on newer computers.

Question 7

A byte is represented by a zero or one.

Question 8

USB 3.0, to be released in 2008, will have 100 times the current bandwidth of USB 2.0.

Question 9

Just about all computers, regardless of size, take raw data and change it into information. The procedure involves input, processing, output, and ____.

A) reporting
B) storage
C) saving
D) reading

Question 10

The PC system case is the metal and plastic case that houses the main system components of the computer. Central to all of this is the ____ or system board that mounts into the case.

A) motherboard
B) fatherboard
C) memoryboard
D) mainboard

Question 11

The____ , also called the microprocessor, central processor, or the central
Processing unit (CPU), is the brains of the computer.

A) RAM
B) modem
C) processor
D) memory

Question 12

A ____ processor is an expansion that provides for more than two separate processors.

A) multi-speed
B) multi-core
C) mega-speed
D) mega-core

Question 13

The ____ is the boss, so to speak, and coordinates all of the processor's activities.

A) main unit
B) controller unit
C) serial unit
D) control unit

Question 14

When you want to store a file or information permanently, you use secondary storage devices such as the ____.

A) computer's hard disk drive
B) USB drive
C) both a. and b.
D) neither a. nor b.

Question 15

RAM also is referred to as ____ memory.

A) primary
B) secondary
C) 2.0
D) serial

Question 16

MHz (megahertz) and GHz (gigahertz) speed specifications indicate the speed of the clock-a ____ timing device that specifies the speed for executing instructions.

A) system unit
B) ROM
C) microprocessor
D) control processor

Question 17

A picosecond is measured in ____.

A) millionths of a second
B) gigahertz
C) trillionths of a second
D) megahertz

Question 18

____ chips are used to store specific instructions that are needed for the computer operations.

A) RAM
B) ROM
C) SCSI
D) USB

Question 19

The PC ____ provides support for application software and related hardware via telephone and/or site visits to all workstation users.

A) controller
B) support specialist
C) system analyst
D) help desk manager

Question 20

A ____ is a device that controls the transfer of data from the computer to a peripheral device and vice-versa.

A) controller
B) processor
C) logic unit
D) computer system

Question 21

The IEEE 1394 bus standard supports data transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps and can connect up to ____ external devices;

A) 49
B) 63
C) 127
D) 154

Question 22

Please refer to the figure below as you answer the following two questions.
FIGURE 4-1


-Referring to Figure 4-1, the ____ ports would be the ones used by a mouse and speakers.

A) USB
B) traditional
C) FireWire
D) none of the above

Question 23

Please refer to the figure below as you answer the following two questions.
FIGURE 4-1


-Referring to Figure 4-1 the external bus IEEE 1394 would use the ____ port.

A) standard
B) FireWire
C) USB
D) none of the above

Question 24

____ is the ability to add and remove devices to a computer while the computer is running and have the operating system automatically recognize the change.

A) Hot plugging
B) Hot syncing
C) Hot linking
D) Hot porting

Question 25

A ____ is a device that allows one computer to talk to another.

A) cache
B) modem
C) expansion slot
D) controller

Question 26

Plug-and-play refers to the ability of a computer system to configure expansion boards and other devices ____ .

A) automatically
B) manually
C) both a. and b.
D) neither a. nor b.

Question 27

Typically, ____ bits make one byte.

A) 8
B) 16
C) 32
D) 64

Question 28

In older computers, you likely will find a printer connected to a ____ port.

A) parallel
B) USB
C) ALU
D) serial

Question 29

Steve is showing his younger brother how to build a computer. Please answer the questions below.

-When Steve shows his brother the processor, what does it look like?

A) three thin discs surrounded by plastic
B) a tiny silicon chip
C) wire coil
D) similar to a DVD

Question 30

Steve is showing his younger brother how to build a computer. Please answer the questions below.

-When Steve shows his brother the motherboard, it includes showing him all of the following EXCEPT ____.

A) CPU
B) Basic controllers
C) Expansion ports
D) sound card

Question 31

Sylvia is studying about computer machine cycle to get a better understanding of how they work. She will be writing a one-page explanation of machine cycles. Please answer the questions below.

-Sylvia understands that for every machine cycle that the processor repeats a set of four basic operations. Which of the steps below is the FIRST step in the cycle?

A) The result of the instruction execution is stored in memory.
B) The control unit fetches the instruction from memory
C) Control unit decodes the instruction and sends it to the ALU
D) The ALU executes the instruction

Question 32

Sylvia is studying about computer machine cycle to get a better understanding of how they work. She will be writing a one-page explanation of machine cycles. Please answer the questions below.

-When Sylvia reads that "the control unit fetches the instruction from memory" it is referring to memory called ____ .

A) USB memory
B) RAM
C) ROM
D) dual-core memory

Question 33

Input, output, and processing devices grouped together represent a ____________________.

Question 34

The computer does not understand our language. It understands only machine language, or ____________________, which is ones and zeros.

Question 35

Another type of external bus is USB, also known as IEEE 1394 and IEEE 1394b. _________________________

Question 36

A wireless standard that allows data to be transferred between devices using infrared light instead of cables is called IrDA. _________________________

Question 37

Please identify the letter of the choice that best matches the numbered definitions below.

-Coordinates all of the processor's activities

A) control unit
B) processor
C) circuit board
D) port
E) computer system

Question 38

Please identify the letter of the choice that best matches the numbered definitions below.

-A thin plate or board that contains electronic components

A) control unit
B) processor
C) circuit board
D) port
E) computer system

Question 39

Please identify the letter of the choice that best matches the numbered definitions below.

-Brains of the computer

A) control unit
B) processor
C) circuit board
D) port
E) computer system

Question 40

Please identify the letter of the choice that best matches the numbered definitions below.

-An interface to peripheral devices

A) control unit
B) processor
C) circuit board
D) port
E) computer system

Question 41

Answer the following questions regarding RAM:
What does the abbreviation RAM stand for?
How is RAM used?
What type of memory does RAM provide (short or long-term)?
Is RAM volatile? Why or why not?