1. the Perfect Computer Interface Has Not Been Invented Yet

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Chapter 2 Test Bank

1. The perfect computer interface has not been invented yet.

While they are getting better, no interface is perfect. Just look at all the computer books that are published every year.

2. Command buttons are used to initiate an action.

Command buttons, menus, and more make the computer do things.

3. The most common slider controls are for window displays.

This is where you’ll see most of them.

4. The size of a scroll bar is inversely proportional to the amount of the file shown in the window.

proportional

Scroll bars generally indicate, by their size, the percentage of the file that’s visible in a window.

5. The Macintosh interface is more difficult to learn and use than the PC.

Both are about the same.

6. Pop-up menus can appear almost anywhere on the screen.

That’s what they’re designed to do.

7. Once a dialog box is opened, you must complete the action.

You can cancel an operation before completing it. You could argue that canceling it is completing the action.

8. The most common user operations have both menu options and keyboard shortcuts.

They might also have buttons and pop-up menus as well.

9. Nearly all personal computer applications share the same basic set of operations.

What you can do on one system or in one program, you’ll probably be able to do on another system or with a competitor’s application.

10. The Clear command has no undo.

Just in case you make a mistake, it has an undo.

11. Usually the Clear command doesn’t have a shortcut.

This is to prevent the user from accidentally clearing an entire document.

12. Most of the time the computer is sitting idle waiting for user input.

Today’s systems are so fast, they spend most of their time just waiting for the user to catch up.

13. Software developers try to make their interfaces cool and interesting. (Perhaps change this as developers do try to make it cool so you will buy it: something like: fancy and complicated.)

consistent and familiar

They want to make them consistent and familiar so it’s easier for people to use them.

14. All software shares basic features with other software and common features with similar software.

Commands like Save and Print are common to nearly every application.

15. Search strings can contain only printable characters.

They can contain some characters that aren’t printed as well.

16. Spaces are ignored in a text search.

When placed in the search string, spaces are included in a search.

17. Characters stored in the computer are case sensitive.

There’s a difference between uppercase and lowercase letters. The computer knows the difference.

18. Formatting tags are usually paired.

One tag goes before the text and the other goes after it.

19. A character and a token are always one in the same.

Usually they are, but tokens can be longer strings, such as a date.

20. The placeholder technique requires the use of two search-and-replace operations.

three

The operations require three separate search-and-replace operations.

Multiple Choice

1. The majority of menu shortcut keys are activated by using the:

A.Alternate key

B.Control key

C.Windows key

D.Option key

The Control key is used for the majority of shortcuts. (Alt is used in things like “alt-tab” and many special character short cuts.)

2. The standard order of operations for editing is:

A.Select-Cut/Copy-Indicate-Paste-Revise

B.Cut/Copy-Select-Paste-Indicate-Revise

C.Indicate-Cut/Copy-Paste-Revise-Select

D.Select-Revise-Cut/Copy-Indicate-Paste

For example, you would select some text, then cut or copy it, then indicate where to place it, then paste it, and, finally, revise it to make it fit.

3. The Clear command:

A.clears everything from the screen

B.has no undo

C.usually does not have a shortcut

D.is the same as a double-click

To prevent accidents, the Clear command usually doesn’t have a shortcut.

4. When a menu option is gray, it means the option:
A.is unavailable

B.is broken

C.is ready for use

D.has a shortcut

When a menu option is unavailable, it shows up as gray.

5. A structure without any properties or content is:

A.information

B.an instance

C.a shortcut

D.a record

You can add content to an instance. In general, when an example of something, say a file, exists, it is an instance of that type.

6. You want to copy something but the shortcut of the Copy command doesn’t seem to work. The problem could be:

A.no content was selected for copying

B.you already have something copied and can’t copy new information

C.there is no Copy command in this application

D.the Copy command doesn’t have a shortcut

Before the Copy command will work, some content must be selected. In other words, you need to tell the computer what you want to copy before it can copy it.

7. Which of the following is an example of the computer providing feedback to the user?

A.editing changes become visible on the screen

B.the cursor changes to indicate an operation is in progress

C.a progress bar shows how much of the work is done

D.all of the above

All of the above are good examples of the GUI providing feedback to the user.

8. User manuals are usually most useful:
A.before you start using the application

B.when learning the basic set of operations

C.to experts using advanced features

D.for those just “clicking around”

Most manuals are boring and hard to use, especially for beginners. They are most useful to experts who need to learn advanced features.

9. A big advantage experienced computer users have over novices is:

A.they know nothing will break

B.when they get stuck, they start over

C.they are willing to throw things away and chalk it up to experience

D.all of the above

“Judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgment.” -- Robert E. Lee

10. To select two noncontiguous items, you need to select one and then click on the other while holding down the:

A.Option key

B.Shift key

C.Control key

D.Alt key

The Control key is the additive key. It lets you keep what has already been selected and add the new item that you have clicked. The shift is used to side for contiguous items or if you want to select a range of items, the control key is for when you want to chose non-contiguous items.

11. Process follows function is similar to:

A.form follows function

B.function follows form

C.substance over style

D.looks can be deceiving

Similar tasks are handled by similar software. The task dictates the solution.

12. If the quote of John F. Kennedy on page 50 is searched for instances of “∙you” using software, how many results will be found?

A.0

B.1

C.2

D.4

The software will find four of the five instances shown in the quote. The first instance won’t be found because there is not a blank in front of the word.

13. Nonprinting characters include all of the following except:

A.tabs

B.tags

C.spaces

D.punctuation

Punctuation is printed. Things like commas, periods, and question marks are punctuation and they’ll show up when printed.

14. Samuel Langhorne Clemens ← Mark Twain

would:

A.search Samuel Langhorne Clemens for Mark Twain

B.replace Samuel Langhorne Clemens with Mark Twain

C.insert Mark Twain at the end of Samuel Langhorne Clemens

D.none of the above

It would take the text on the right and use it to replace the text on the left. It would perform a substitution.

15. The placeholder technique:

A.involves a triple substitution using find-and-replace

B.uses a unique token as the placeholder

C.requires the use of #

D.more than one of the above

Both A and B are involved when using the placeholder technique.

16. The goal of information technology use is to:

A.think abstractly

B.learn its “bells and whistles”

C.use it effectively

D.none of the above

Computers and information technology are tools. When tools are involved, the goal is always to use them effectively.

Short Answer

1. Any piece of information of a particular type is called a(n) ______.

instance

2. ______is the term for exploring the user interface in order to learn more about it.

“Clicking around”

3. When a Windows system is busy, it generally displays a(n) ______.

hour glass

4. Trying out new or unfamiliar features without a clear idea of what they will do is called ______.

“blazing away”

5. Changing between two states is called ______.

toggling

6. On the computer, a text search is usually called ______.

Find

7. Paired abbreviations in angle brackets are called ______.