Question 1

Alan Turing is often regarded as the first programmer.

Accepted Answer

Ada Lovelace is often regarded as the first programmer due to her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine.

Question 2

____ errors are relatively easy to locate and correct because the compiler or interpreter you use highlights every error.
A) Logic
B) Syntax
C) Input
D) Process

Accepted Answer

Syntax errors are those that occur when the rules of a programming language are not followed, such as missing a semicolon or using an incorrect variable name. These errors are easy to locate and correct because the compiler or interpreter will highlight them for you. Logic errors and input errors are more difficult to locate and correct, as they involve issues with the design or inputs of the program rather than the syntax. Process errors are not a standard type of programming error.

Question 3

Software can be classified into two broad types: application software and programming software.

Accepted Answer

Software is typically classified into two broad categories: application software and system software. Programming software, or development tools, is a subset of system software.

Question 4

____ data items may involve organizing or sorting them, checking them for accuracy, or performing calculations with them.
A) Processing
B) Inputting
C) Outputting
D) Converting

Accepted Answer

Processing involves manipulating, organizing, or transforming data in order to generate meaningful and useful information. Inputting refers to the act of entering data into a system, outputting refers to displaying or producing data from a system, and converting refers to changing the format or structure of data. Therefore, processing is the best choice for activities such as organizing, sorting, checking for accuracy, and performing calculations with data items.

Question 5

Before a programmer plans the logic of the program, he or she must ____.
A) understand the problem
B) write the program code
C) test the program
D) maintain the program

Accepted Answer

Before planning the logic of the program, the programmer must thoroughly understand the problem that they are trying to solve. This includes analyzing the requirements, identifying potential challenges or limitations, and clarifying any ambiguities. Writing the program code, testing, and maintaining the program would come later in the development process.

Question 6

The process of walking through a program's logic on paper before you actually write the program is called ____.
A) desk-checking
B) flowcharting
C) pseudocoding
D) testing

Accepted Answer

Desk-checking is the process of manually reviewing a program's logic or algorithm on paper before coding to ensure its correctness.

Question 7

Typically, a programmer develops a program's logic, writes the code, and ____ the program, receiving a list of syntax errors.
A) runs
B) compiles
C) executes
D) tests

Accepted Answer

Compiling is the process of converting the code written by the programmer into a machine-readable form that can be understood by the computer. During the compilation process, the code is checked for syntax errors and the programmer receives a list of any errors that need to be fixed before the program can be run or executed.

Question 8

After a programmer plans the logic of a program, the next step is ____.
A) understanding the problem
B) testing the program
C) translating the program
D) coding the program

Accepted Answer

After the programmer plans the logic of a program, the next step is to write the code for the program. This is done by translating the logic into a specific programming language and coding it accordingly.

Question 9

Programmers can use either procedural programming or object-oriented programming to develop programs.

Accepted Answer

Programmers can choose to use either procedural programming, which focuses on performing tasks in a linear fashion, or object-oriented programming, which focuses on creating reusable and organized code through the use of classes and objects.

Question 10

Once a program is completely coded, it is ready for a company or organization to use.

Accepted Answer

Once a program is completely coded, it still needs to be tested, debugged, and potentially modified before it is ready for use by a company or organization.

Question 11

Computer programmers often refer to memory addresses using ____ notation.
A) binary
B) indirect
C) mathematical
D) hexadecimal

Accepted Answer

Hexadecimal notation is commonly used by computer programmers to represent memory addresses because it allows for a more concise representation of large numbers in a manageable format. Hexadecimal notation uses 16 unique symbols (0-9 and A-F) to represent values from 0-15, which can then be combined to represent larger values in a compact and easily-readable format.

Question 12

A ____ error results when you use a syntactically correct statement but use the wrong one for the current context.
A) syntax
B) logical
C) semantic
D) programming

Accepted Answer

A logical error occurs when the code is syntactically correct but does not produce the desired result due to a mistake or misunderstanding in the logic of the code. A syntax error occurs when the code is not written in the correct syntax. A semantic error occurs when there is a flaw in the logic of the code, but the code still runs without any errors. A programming error is a broad category that can refer to any mistake made in programming.

Question 13

The process of finding and correcting program errors is called ____.
A) desk-checking
B) syntax-checking
C) error correcting
D) debugging

Accepted Answer

The correct term for finding and correcting program errors is debugging. Desk-checking is the process of reviewing code by hand, syntax-checking involves ensuring that the code follows the proper syntax rules, and error correcting is a more general term that could refer to any type of mistake correction.

Question 14

Professional computer programmers write programs to satisfy their own needs.

Accepted Answer

Professional computer programmers write programs to satisfy the needs of others or to solve specific problems as part of their job or project assignment.

Question 15

An infinite loop is a flow of program logic that repeats and never ends.

Accepted Answer

An infinite loop continues to repeat and never ends, causing the program to become stuck and unresponsive.

Question 16

The heart of the programming process lies in planning the program's logic.

Accepted Answer

Planning the program's logic is a critical step in the programming process as it involves figuring out the steps and decision-making processes that the program will follow. This step helps to ensure that the program will function correctly and effectively.

Question 17

Every programming language has rules governing its word usage and punctuation.

Accepted Answer

Every programming language has syntax rules that govern the usage of words and punctuation within it.

Question 18

A flowchart is an English-like representation of the logical steps necessary to solve a problem.

Accepted Answer

A flowchart is a diagrammatic representation of the logical steps necessary to solve a problem, not an English-like representation.

Question 19

Besides the popular, comprehensive programming languages such as Java and C++, many programmers use scripting languages such as Python, Lua, Perl, and PHP.

Accepted Answer

Scripting languages such as Python, Lua, Perl, and PHP are commonly used by programmers.

Question 20

A(n) ____ is a named memory location whose value can vary.
A) input
B) variable
C) output
D) logic

Accepted Answer

A variable is a named memory location whose value can vary. An input is a value that is entered into a system or program, an output is a value that is generated by a system or program, and logic refers to the principles of reasoning and inference.

Quiz 1: An Overview of Computers and Proramming

Alan Turing is often regarded as the first programmer.

____ errors are relatively easy to locate and correct because the compiler or interpreter you use highlights every error.

Software can be classified into two broad types: application software and programming software.

____ data items may involve organizing or sorting them, checking them for accuracy, or performing calculations with them.

Before a programmer plans the logic of the program, he or she must ____.

The process of walking through a program's logic on paper before you actually write the program is called ____.

Typically, a programmer develops a program's logic, writes the code, and ____ the program, receiving a list of syntax errors.

After a programmer plans the logic of a program, the next step is ____.

Programmers can use either procedural programming or object-oriented programming to develop programs.

Once a program is completely coded, it is ready for a company or organization to use.

Computer programmers often refer to memory addresses using ____ notation.

A ____ error results when you use a syntactically correct statement but use the wrong one for the current context.

The process of finding and correcting program errors is called ____.