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The computer's physical components is called ...
hardware.
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The set of instructions that directs the hardware to accomplish a task is ...
software.
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To perform computing tasks, software uses hardware for 4 basic functions. These functions are ...
input, processing, storage, and output.
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Besides software, what else does hardware need in order to communicate data and instructions among themselves?
an electrical system to provide power.
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Every communication between hardware and software, or between software and other software, is reduced to ...
yes or no/on or off.
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The technology of storing and reading only two states is ...
binary.
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the number system that only uses two digits, 0 and 1, is ...
binary number system.
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A 1 or 0 in the binary number system is called a ...
bit.
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In the binery number system, how is grouping handled?
Grouping is done is groups of 8 bits.
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A group of 8 bits is called a ...
byte.
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In a computer, the binary number system is used for ...
all counting and calculations.
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When text is stored in a computer, what happens first?
Every letter/character is converted to a code using only zeros and ones.
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The most common coding method for text is ...
ASCII.
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ASCII stands for ...
American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
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Most input and output devices are located ...
outside the computer case.
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Most processing and storage components are located ...
inside the computer case.
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The most important component in the case is the ...
CPU/Central Processing Unit
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CPU stands for ...
Central Processing Unit.
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The CPU is also called ...
the processor or microprocessor.
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Each hardware device requires these 3 things:
- 1. A method for the CPU to communicate with the device,
- 2. Software toinstruct and control the device, and
- 3. Electricity to power the device.
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Devices outside the computer deal with components inside the computer through 2 ways ...
a wireless connection or cables.
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How are cables connected to the computer?
at a connection called a port.
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A wireless device communicates with the system using ...
a radio wave or infrared port.
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The most popular input devices are ...
keyboard and mouse.
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The most popular output devices are ...
a monitor and printer.
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Standard keyboards today hold how many keys?
104
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A monitor is typically rated according to 2 things ...
the diagonal size of its screen (in inches) and the monitor's resolution.
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A monitor's resolution is ...
a function of the number of dots on the screen used for display.
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A printer's output on paper is often called ...
a hard copy.
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USB stands for ...
Universal Serial Bus
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IC stands for ...
Integrated Circuit
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A board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs), and the circuitry that connects these chips is ...
a circuit board.
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Microchips are most often manufactured using what kind of technology?
CMOS/ Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor Technology
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There are 2 types of cables inside the case ...
data cables and power cables.
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How are data cables shaped?
flat and wide
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How are power cords shaped?
round and small
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The best way to identify a cable is to ...
trace its source and destination.
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The largest and most important circuit board in the computer is ...
the motherboard.
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The motherboard is also called ...
the main board or system board.
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A device that is not installed directly on the motherboard is called ...
a peripheral device.
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A parallel port transmits data in ...
parallel.
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A parallel port is most often used by ...
a printer.
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An S/PDIF port is ...
a sound port for an external home theater audio system.
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S/PDIF stands for ...
Sony-Philips Digital Interface
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A FireWire port is used for ...
high-speed multimedia devices.
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A FireWire port is also called ...
a 1394 port.
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A USB port is used for ...
Many different input/output devices.
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A group of microchips on the motherboard that controls the flow of data and instructions to and from the processor is ...
the chipset.
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This type of memory is used to hold data and instructions as they are processed.
the chipset.
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RAM stands for ...
Random Access Memory.
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This type of memory speeds up memory access.
Cache memory
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What connects expansion cards to the motherboard?
Expansion slots
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What keeps the computer's communication in sync?
The system clock.
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A memory chip that is used to permanently store instructions that control basic hardware functions is ...
Flash ROM
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The chip inside the computer that performs most of the actual data processing is ...
the processor/CPU.
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PC stands for ...
Personal Computer.
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There are 2 kinds of storage:
temporary and permanent.
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Temporary storage is also known as ...
primary storage.
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Which type of storage is the fastest to access?
Primary storage.
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Permanent storage is also known as ...
secondary storage.
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Primary storage is provided by ...
RAM (Random Access memory).
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RAM boards are also called ...
memory modules.
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There are 3 general types of modules:
- 1. DIMM
- 2. RIMM and
- 3. SIMM.
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DIMM stands for ...
Dual Inline Memory Module.
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SIMM stands for ...
Single Inline Memory Module.
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The most common type of memory module is ...
DIMM.
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When the computer is turned off, information stored in RAM is ...
lost.
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The kind of memory that is temporary in nature is called ...
volatile.
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The kind of memory that holds data permanently is called ...
nonvolatile.
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Nonvolatile memory is called ...
ROM.
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ROM stands for ...
Read-Only Memory.
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The CPU can process data and instructions directly from CDs, hard drives and floppy disks. True or False.
False.
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A sealed case that has platters or disks that rotate at a high speed is a ...
hard drive.
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Most hard drives today use an internal technology called ...
IDE.
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IDE stands for ...
Integrated Drive Electronics.
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The 2 major ATA standards for a hard drive interface are ...
Serial ATA and Parallel ATA.
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ATA stands for ...
AT Attachment.
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Parallel ATA is also known as ...
EIDE.
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EIDE stands for ...
Enhanced IDE.
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The newer ATA standard for a hard drive interface is the ...
Serial ATA.
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With the Parallel ATA standard, how many IDE devices can the motherboard accomodate?
4
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Which ATA standard allows for more than 4 IDE devices installed in a system?
Serial ATA
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A hard drive receives it power from the ...
power supply.
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CD-ROM stands for ...
Compact Disc Read-Only Memory.
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Most software is distributed on ...
CDs.
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Circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, and power to move from component to component on the board are ...
traces.
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The system of pathways used for communication and the protocol and methods used for transmission are collectively called ...
the bus.
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A set of rules and standards that any two entities use for communication is a ...
protocol.
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The lines of the bus that are used for data is called ...
the data bus.
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How is binary data put on a line of a bus?
By placing voltage on that line.
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The voltage on a bus line is interpreted as ...
binary digits.
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A bus that has 8 wires, or lines, to transmit data is called an ...
8-bit bus.
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Most buses today have a ninth bit for ...
error checking.
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What is the reason for adding a check bit for each byte?
This allows the component reading the data to verify that it is the same data written to the bus.
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The width of a data bus is called the ...
data path size.
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Does a motherboard have more than one bus?
Yes
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The main bus on the motherboard that communicates with the CPU, memory and chipset is called the ...
system bus.
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Other names for the system bus are ...
front side bus, memory bus, host bus, local bus and external bus.
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What is the size of the data portion of most system buses on today's motherboards?
64-bits wide
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What does the system clock do?
Times the activities of the chips on the motherboard.
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Another term for the system clock is ...
system timer.
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