Question 1

A programmer, or software developer, is a person with the training and skills necessary to ____________ computer programs.

Accepted Answer

A programmer has the training and skills to design computer programs, create them, and test them. Therefore, all of the above options are correct.

Question 2

The ____________ is the part of a computer's hardware that executes each instruction in a program.

Accepted Answer

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is responsible for executing each instruction in a program. It is the "brain" of the computer and performs complex calculations and tasks based on instructions from the software running on the computer.

Question 3

The ____________ is considered by many to be the world's first programmable electronic computer.

Accepted Answer

ENIAC is considered to be the world's first programmable electronic computer, which was completed in 1945. UNIVAC was the first commercially available computer, introduced in 1951. Apple II and Harvard MARK I were also notable computers, but were not the first programmable electronic computers.

Question 4

Programs are commonly referred to as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Programs are commonly referred to as software, which encompasses all the instructions that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks.

Question 5

In the ____________ numbering system, all numeric values are written as sequences of the digits 0 and 1.

Accepted Answer

Binary numbering system uses only 0 and 1 to represent all numeric values. Binary is commonly used in computer systems and digital electronics.

Question 6

Programs that make a computer useful for everyday tasks are known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Application software is specifically designed to perform everyday tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet management, and internet browsing. Operating systems (A) and system software (D) are responsible for managing the computer's hardware and resources, while utility programs (B) typically perform maintenance or optimization tasks.

Question 7

____________ is a set of 128 numeric codes that represent the English letters, various punctuation marks, and other characters.

Accepted Answer

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a set of 128 numeric codes that represent the English letters, various punctuation marks, and other characters. UTF-8 and Unicode are expanded character sets that include ASCII as a subset, while IEEE is a standard organization for electrical and electronics engineering.

Question 8

A(n) ____________ is a set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task.

Accepted Answer

A program is specifically designed to give instructions to a computer on how to accomplish a specific task. An algorithm is a set of instructions that are followed to accomplish a specific task, but it can be implemented in various programming languages or even outside of a computer. A formula is a mathematical expression used to calculate something, and a method is a specific way of doing something. Therefore, the most accurate answer is B, program.

Question 9

In a binary systems, a zero bit represents a switch in the ____ position, and a one bit represents a switch in the ____ position.

Accepted Answer

In a binary system, a zero bit represents an "off" switch position, and a one bit represents an "on" switch position. Therefore, the best choice is B, where "off" corresponds to a zero bit and "on" corresponds to a one bit. The other choices are not relevant to binary systems.

Question 10

____________ is a type of memory that can hold data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer.

Accepted Answer

Secondary storage, also known as non-volatile memory or static RAM, is designed to retain data even when the computer is turned off. This includes devices such as hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and USB flash drives. In contrast, RAM or main memory is volatile and relies on power to maintain its contents. Application software is a program that performs a specific task, and it is not a type of memory.

Question 11

A computer's memory is divided into tiny storage locations known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

A computer's memory is divided into tiny storage locations known as bytes. Each byte can store a single character or a small number. Bytes are grouped together to form larger units of storage, such as words and double words.

Question 12

The term bit stands for ____________.

Accepted Answer

The term bit stands for binary digit, which is the smallest unit of data in a computer that can only have two values, 0 or 1.

Question 13

Today, CPUs are small chips known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

CPUs are commonly referred to as microprocessors, which are small chips that contain the central processing unit of a computer. A is incorrect because parallel processors refer to a type of architecture that allows for multiple processors to work together to perform tasks. C is incorrect because mini-CPUs is not a commonly used term to describe CPUs. D is incorrect because supercomputers are not small chips, but rather a specific type of computer that is designed for high performance computing.

Question 14

A(n) ____________ stores data by magnetically encoding it onto a circular disk.

Accepted Answer

A disk drive is the device that stores data by magnetically encoding it onto a circular disk. The CPU is the central processing unit, responsible for carrying out instructions and computations; an output device is any device that produces output, such as a printer or monitor; and a program is a set of instructions for a computer to follow.

Question 15

A ____________ drive stores data on a simulated disk drive, but has no moving parts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ____________ drive stores data on a...

Question 16

One ____________ of memory is large enough to store only a letter of the alphabet or a small number.

Accepted Answer

A byte, which consists of 8 bits, is the correct answer because it is the standard amount of memory used to represent a single character of text, such as a letter or a small number, in most computer systems.

Question 17

Each byte is divided into eight smaller storage locations known as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Each byte is divided into eight bits. Nibbles are groups of four bits, pixels are used to represent a single point in an image, and words are typically used to refer to a unit of memory that is larger than a byte (such as 32 or 64 bits).

Question 18

____________ refers to all the physical devices, or components, of which a computer is made.

Accepted Answer

Hardware refers to all the physical devices or components of a computer system, such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, CPU, memory, and motherboard. Workstation refers to a computer designed for professional use, Machine is a general term, and System includes both hardware and software components.

Question 19

When a computer is performing the tasks that a program tells it to do, we say the computer is running, or ____________ the program.

Accepted Answer

The word "executing" means carrying out or performing a task or program, which accurately describes what the computer is doing when it is running a program. The other options such as compiling, processing, and reading may be steps involved in running a program, but they do not accurately capture the overall concept of the computer performing a program's instructions.

Question 20

Applications that programmers use to create, modify, and test software are referred to as ____________.

Accepted Answer

Software development tools are the applications that programmers use to create, modify, and test software. Utility programs are typically used for system maintenance and optimization, device drivers facilitate communication between hardware devices and the operating system, and application software is designed for end-users to perform specific tasks.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Computers and Programming