Appendix a Hardware and Software

Full file at Test-Bank-for-Information-Systems-(M-series),-2nd-ed.,Baltzan,-McGraw-Hill,-2013

Appendix A

Hardware and Software

True / False Questions

1.Utility software provides additional functionality to the operating system.
TrueFalse

2.Disk optimization software helps save information if a computer crashes.
TrueFalse

3.A tablet is a pen-based computer that provides the screen capabilities of a PDA with the functional capabilities of a laptop or desktop computer.
TrueFalse

4.Volatility is a protected memory space created by the CPU allowing the computer to create virtual machines.
TrueFalse

5.Complex instruction set computer chips limit the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed.
TrueFalse

Multiple Choice Questions

6.What is information technology?
A.Any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization
B.The set of instructions that the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks
C.The physical devices associated with a computer system
D.An electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept, manipulate, and store data

7.What is software?
A.Any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization
B.The set of instructions that the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks
C.The physical devices associated with a computer system
D.An electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept, manipulate, and store data

8.What is hardware?
A.Any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization
B.The set of instructions that the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks
C.The physical devices associated with a computer system
D.An electronic device operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept, manipulate, and store data

9.What is an input device?
A.The actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together
B.The computer's main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU)
C.Equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage
D.Equipment used to capture information and commands

10.What is a CPU?
A.The actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together
B.The computer's main memory, which consists of the random access memory (RAM), cache memory, and the read-only memory (ROM) that is directly accessible to the central processing unit (CPU)
C.Equipment designed to store large volumes of data for long-term storage
D.Equipment used to capture information and commands

11.What is the arithmetic logic unit?
A.The actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together
B.Equipment that interprets software instructions and literally tells the other hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions
C.A type of CPU that can recognize as many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly
D.Equipment that performs all arithmetic operations (e.g., addition and subtraction) and all logic operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers)

12.What is a complex instruction set computer chip?
A.The actual hardware that interprets and executes the program (software) instructions and coordinates how all the other hardware devices work together
B.Equipment that interprets software instructions and literally tells the other hardware devices what to do, based on the software instructions
C.A type of CPU that can recognize as many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly
D.Equipment that performs all arithmetic operations (e.g., addition and subtraction) and all logic operations (such as sorting and comparing numbers)

13.Which of the following represents megahertz?
A.The number of millions of CPU cycles per second
B.The number of billions of CPU cycles per second
C.A type of CPU that can recognize as many as 100 or more instructions, enough to carry out most computations directly
D.A limit on the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed

14.What is the number of bits (0s and 1s) that can be processed by the CPU at any one time?
A.Clock speed
B.Word length
C.Bus width
D.Chip line width

15.What is the size of the internal electrical pathway along which signals are sent from one part of the computer to another?
A.Clock speed
B.Word length
C.Bus width
D.Chip line width

16.What is roughly 1 million bytes?
A.Megabyte
B.Terabyte
C.Kilobyte
D.Gigabyte

17.What is an older secondary storage medium that uses a strip of thin plastic coated with a magnetically sensitive recording medium?
A.Magnetic medium
B.Magnetic tape
C.Hard drive
D.RAM

18.What is a form of a stationary mouse on which the movement of a finger causes the pointer on the screen to move?
A.Microphone
B.Touch pad
C.Pointing stick
D.Touch screen

19.What detects the presence or absence of a mark in a predetermined place (popular for multiple-choice exams)?
A.Magnetic ink character reader
B.Optical-character recognition
C.Optical-mark recognition
D.Point-of-sale

20.What is similar to a desktop but has more powerful mathematical and graphics processing capabilities and can perform more complicated tasks in less time?
A.Tablet
B.PDA
C.Workstation
D.Minicomputer

21.What is system software?
A.Controls how the various technology tools work together along with the application software
B.Controls the application software and manages how the hardware devices work together
C.Provides additional functionality to the operating system
D.Is used for specific information processing needs, including payroll, customer relationship management, project management, training, and many others

22.What is application software?
A.Controls how the various technology tools work together along with the application software
B.Controls the application software and manages how the hardware devices work together
C.Provides additional functionality to the operating system
D.Is used for specific information processing needs, including payroll, customer relationship management, project management, training, and many others

23.What organizes information on a hard disk in the most efficient way?
A.Text protect
B.Disk optimization
C.File recovery
D.Cash proof

24.What provides the tools for data retrieval, modification, deletion, and insertion?
A.Data management
B.Desktop publishing
C.Email
D.Groupware

Fill in the Blank Questions

25.______is the set of instructions that the hardware executes to carry out specific tasks.
______

26.A (An) ______device is the equipment used to see, hear, or otherwise accept the results of information processing requests.
______

27.______access memory is the computer's primary working memory, in which program instructions and data are stored so that they can be accessed directly by the CPU via the processor's high-speed external data bus.
______

28.Magnetic ______is a secondary storage medium that uses magnetic techniques to store and retrieve data on disks or tapes coated with magnetically sensitive materials.
______

29.A (An) ______device is equipment used to send information and receive it from one location to another.
______

30.A (An) ______is designed to meet the computing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium-size business environment.
______

31.______allows more than one piece of software to be used at a time.
______

32.A cathode-ray tube (CRT) is a ______tube that uses an electron gun (cathode) to emit a beam of electrons that illuminates phosphors on a screen as the beam sweeps across the screen repeatedly.
______

33.______is the number of billions of CPU cycles per second.
______

Essay Questions

34.Describe the six major categories of hardware, and provide an example of each.

35.Identify the different computer categories, and explain their potential business uses.

36.Explain the difference between primary and secondary storage.

37.List the common input, output, storage, and communication devices.

38.Describe the eight categories of computers by size.

39.Define the relationship between operating system software and utility software.

Appendix A Hardware and Software Answer Key

True / False Questions

1.Utility software provides additional functionality to the operating system.
TRUE

This is the definition of utility software.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AACSB: Technology
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Outcome: App A-06 Define the relationship between operating system software and utility software.
Topic Area: Software Basics

2.Disk optimization software helps save information if a computer crashes.
FALSE

Crash-proof software helps save information if a computer crashes.

3.A tablet is a pen-based computer that provides the screen capabilities of a PDA with the functional capabilities of a laptop or desktop computer.
TRUE

This is the definition of a tablet.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AACSB: Technology
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Outcome: App A-05 Describe the eight categories of computers by size.
Topic Area: Computer Categories

4.Volatility is a protected memory space created by the CPU allowing the computer to create virtual machines.
FALSE

Virtualization is a protected memory space created by the CPU allowing the computer to create virtual machines.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AACSB: Technology
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Outcome: App A-01 Describe the six major categories of hardware; and provide an example of each.
Topic Area: Hardware Basics

5.Complex instruction set computer chips limit the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed.
FALSE

Reduced instruction set computer (RISC) chips limit the number of instructions the CPU can execute to increase processing speed.

Multiple Choice Questions

This is the definition of information technology.

This is the definition of software.

This is the definition of hardware.

This is the definition of input device.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AACSB: Technology
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Outcome: App A-04 List the common input; output; storage; and communication devices.
Topic Area: Hardware Basics

This is the definition of CPU.

This is the definition of arithmetic logic unit.

This is the definition of CISC.

This is the definition of megahertz.

14.What is the number of bits (0s and 1s) that can be processed by the CPU at any one time?
A.Clock speed
B.Word length
C.Bus width
D.Chip line width

This is the definition of word length.

15.What is the size of the internal electrical pathway along which signals are sent from one part of the computer to another?
A.Clock speed
B.Word length
C.Bus width
D.Chip line width

This is the definition of bus width.

16.What is roughly 1 million bytes?
A.Megabyte
B.Terabyte
C.Kilobyte
D.Gigabyte

This is the definition of a megabyte.

17.What is an older secondary storage medium that uses a strip of thin plastic coated with a magnetically sensitive recording medium?
A.Magnetic medium
B.Magnetic tape
C.Hard drive
D.RAM

This is the definition of magnetic tape.

AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AACSB: Technology
Blooms: Remember
Difficulty: 1 Easy
Learning Outcome: App A-03 Explain the difference between primary and secondary storage.
Topic Area: Hardware Basics

18.What is a form of a stationary mouse on which the movement of a finger causes the pointer on the screen to move?
A.Microphone
B.Touch pad
C.Pointing stick
D.Touch screen