Name: 
 

Chapter 1: How Computers Work



True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.
 

 1. 

Hardware components must communicate both data and instructions among themselves.
 

 2. 

Primary storage is much faster to access than permanent storage.
 

 3. 

The CPU can process data and instructions directly from a computer's hard drive.
 

 4. 

A CD-ROM drive is considered memory.
 

 5. 

A network card has the technology to communicate with the slot it is in, the motherboard, and the CPU.  The CPU contains the technology which enables the network card to access the network.
 

 6. 

The easiest way to determine the function of a particular expansion card is to look at the end of the card that fits against the back of the computer case.
 

 7. 

Today's trend is to use jumpers or switches to maintain setup information, rather than to include the setup information in CMOS.
 

 8. 

All CPUs have the same group of control signals.
 

 9. 

In binary, the decimal number eight is 0200.
 

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 10. 

In order to perform a computing task, hardware is used by software for all tasks except ____.
a.
input
c.
storage
b.
processing
d.
None of the above.
 

 11. 

The binary number system uses ____.
a.
0, 1, 2
c.
1, 2
b.
0, 1
d.
on, off
 

 12. 

The digits in the binary number system are called ____.
a.
bytes
c.
bits
b.
nibbles
d.
cells
 

 13. 

Eight bits compose ____.
a.
one byte
c.
one nibble
b.
two bytes
d.
Either B or C.
 

 14. 

Four bits compose ____.
a.
one byte
c.
one nibble
b.
two bytes
d.
Either B or C.
 

 15. 

Typically, ____ cables are flat and wide.
a.
data
c.
expansion
b.
power
d.
circuit
 

 16. 

A(n) ____ port is often used for an external modem.
a.
parallel
c.
serial
b.
USB
d.
data
 

 17. 

All devices in a computer are ____.
a.
installed directly on the motherboard
b.
linked to the motherboard by a cable connected to a port on the motherboard
c.
indirectly linked to the motherboard by expansion cards
d.
All of the above.
 

 18. 

The CPU could not do its job without the assistance of the ____, a group of microchips on the motherboard that control the flow of data and instructions to and from the CPU, providing careful timing of activities.
a.
processors
c.
CMOS
b.
chip set
d.
BIOS
 

 19. 

The CPU uses ____ to temporarily hold both data and instructions while it is processing them.
a.
primary storage
c.
secondary storage
b.
memory
d.
Both A and B.
 

 20. 

Most motherboards today use ____.
a.
SIMMs
c.
RIMMs
b.
TIMMs
d.
DIMMs
 

 21. 

The first "E" in EIDE stands for ____.
a.
Extra
c.
Electronic
b.
Enhanced
d.
Existing
 

 22. 

Which of the following statements is false?
a.
3 1/2 inch disks hold more data than 5 1/4 inch disks.
b.
Older motherboards did not provide a connector for a floppy drive.
c.
The drive connected to the middle of the floppy drive cable is drive A.
d.
None of the above.
 

 23. 

The lines on the top and bottom of the motherboard's surface, sometimes called ____, are circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, and power to move from component to component on the board.
a.
protocols
c.
jumpers
b.
traces
d.
processor lines
 

 24. 

The width of a data bus is called the ____.
a.
data width
c.
bus line
b.
data path size
d.
bus setup
 

 25. 

The main bus on the motherboard is the ____ bus.
a.
CPU
c.
PCI
b.
system
d.
AGP
 

 26. 

The ____ expansion slot is used for high-speed input/output devices.
a.
AGP
c.
PCI
b.
EIDE
d.
ISA
 

 27. 

The ____ expansion slot is used for a video card.
a.
AGP
c.
PCI
b.
EIDE
d.
ISA
 

 28. 

The ____ expansion slot is used by older and/or slower devices.
a.
AGP
c.
PCI
b.
EIDE
d.
ISA
 

 29. 

Which of the following statements is false?
a.
A computer's power supply generates electricity.
b.
A computer's power supply runs a fan directly from the electrical output voltage to help cool the inside of the computer case.
c.
A temperature level of over 185 degrees Fahrenheit can cause components inside the computer case to fail.
d.
None of the above.
 

 30. 

Newer power supplies do not provide ____ volts DC.
a.
3.3
c.
5
b.
9
d.
12
 

 31. 

The motherboard contains a vital ____ chip that contains the programming necessary to start the computer and to perform other fundamental functions.
a.
system
c.
configuration
b.
CMOS RAM
d.
ROM BIOS
 

 32. 

The ____ chip is responsible for remembering system information such as how memory is allocated and which hard drives are present.
a.
system
c.
configuration
b.
CMOS setup
d.
ROM BIOS
 

 33. 

When a computer is first turned on, it looks to the ____ chip to find out what hardware it should expect to find.
a.
system
c.
configuration
b.
CMOS setup
d.
ROM BIOS
 
 
ch01practice_files/i0360000.jpg
 

 34. 

The arrow from the question mark in the figure above shows ____.
a.
jumpers
c.
ports
b.
buses
d.
DIP switches
 

 35. 

Which component of a CPU manages data and instructions entering and leaving the CPU?
a.
ALU
c.
processing unit
b.
I/O unit
d.
control unit
 

 36. 

Which component of a CPU performs all comparisons and calculations?
a.
ALU
c.
processing unit
b.
I/O unit
d.
control unit
 

 37. 

Which component of a CPU manages all activities inside the CPU itself?
a.
ALU unit
c.
processing unit
b.
I/O unit
d.
control unit
 

 38. 

In a Pentium, the back side data bus is ____ bits wide.
a.
16
c.
64
b.
32
d.
128
 

 39. 

In a Pentium, the front side data bus is ____ bits wide.
a.
16
c.
64
b.
32
d.
128
 

 40. 

A Pentium CPU has at least ____ ALUs.
a.
one
c.
three
b.
two
d.
up to four
 

 41. 

Which of the following is not a component of a system bus?
a.
control bus
c.
address bus
b.
processing bus
d.
data bus
 

 42. 

Lines on the ____ work independently of each other.
a.
control bus
c.
address bus
b.
data bus
d.
All of the above.
 

 43. 

Which of the following statements is true?
a.
Memory sends addresses to the CPU.
b.
Other devices send addresses to the CPU.
c.
The CPU puts memory addresses on the address bus.
d.
Both B and C.
 

Matching
 
 
Match each correct item with the statement below.
a.
mouse
g.
port
b.
motherboard
h.
keyboard
c.
CPU
i.
parallel port
d.
printer
j.
circuit board
e.
monitor
k.
serial port
f.
CMOS chip
 

 44. 

The most important chip in the computer.
 

 45. 

Connection point for cables which allow devices outside the computer case to communicate with components inside the computer case.
 

 46. 

Typically rated according to the size and resolution.
 

 47. 

Holds microchips.
 

 48. 

A pointing device used to move a pointer on the screen and to make selections.
 

 49. 

Contains memory, CPU, and other components.
 

 50. 

An example of this device is a dot-matrix.
 

 51. 

The primary input device of a computer.
 

 52. 

Is most often used by a printer.
 



 
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