Computer fundamentals & everyday technology

Question 1

What is phishing?

The attacker pretends to be trustworthy to obtain sensitive information or trigger an unsafe action.

A standard method for compressing images A type of legitimate operating system update A deceptive attempt to trick people into revealing information or taking unsafe actions A method of cooling a computer with water

Question 2

Why can a nearly full storage drive sometimes cause practical problems?

Operating systems and applications often need free space for temporary files, updates, and other operations.

The monitor automatically loses pixels The system may lack enough free space for temporary data, updates, or normal application operations The Wi-Fi router becomes physically heavier The keyboard permanently stops receiving electricity

Question 3

Why might a wired Ethernet connection sometimes provide a more consistent network connection than Wi-Fi?

Wireless signals share radio space and can be affected by obstacles and interference.

Ethernet stores websites inside the cable A cable is generally less affected by radio interference and wireless signal obstacles Ethernet gives every computer unlimited internet bandwidth Ethernet removes the need for any networking hardware

Question 4

What is computer programming?

Programs contain instructions that computers execute.

Only typing documents Physically assembling every transistor by hand Creating and maintaining instructions that computers can execute through software Only browsing websites

Question 5

Why should smart-home devices receive security updates when the manufacturer provides them?

Connected devices can contain software vulnerabilities just like computers and phones.

Updates guarantee the device will never fail Updates physically rebuild the house Updates remove the need for electricity Updates may patch security vulnerabilities and software defects

Question 6

What does a web server commonly send after receiving a valid request for a webpage resource?

Think in terms of a request followed by a response.

An HTTP response containing status information and requested content or related data A replacement internet router Additional RAM chips for the user's computer A physical copy of the server

Question 7

What is a URL primarily used for?

You often see one in the address bar of a browser.

Specify monitor resolution Measure CPU temperature Identify the location of a resource on a network Measure file size

Question 8

Why is a fingerprint scanner not literally storing a normal photograph of your finger in many implementations?

Authentication systems can work with extracted biometric features or templates.

Fingerprints contain no identifiable patterns Systems commonly store a processed biometric template rather than an ordinary finger photograph Fingerprint scanners work only through Wi-Fi Smartphones cannot store image data

Question 9

What does open-source software generally make available?

The key idea concerns access to the program's source code under a license permitting certain freedoms.

Source code under a license allowing inspection and specified modification and redistribution rights Unlimited free hardware for every user Every user's private files A guarantee that the software has no bugs

Question 10

What is a hyperlink?

Clicking or tapping it takes you to another resource or location.

A computer cooling device A type of physical storage chip A reference that lets users navigate to another resource or location A cable carrying unusually fast electricity

Question 11

Why is audio and video commonly compressed before being streamed over the internet?

Raw media can require very large amounts of data.

To reduce the amount of data that must be transmitted To physically make the internet cable shorter To increase the number of camera lenses To remove the need for a network

Question 12

Most modern smartphone capacitive touchscreens detect a finger primarily by sensing what?

Your finger changes an electrical property of the sensing grid.

The finger's fingerprint color Sound produced by the finger The user's internet speed A change in capacitance

Question 13

What does biometric authentication use?

Think of measurable characteristics associated with a person.

Only the screen resolution Biological or behavioral characteristics such as fingerprints or facial features Only the device's battery percentage Only the Wi-Fi network name

Question 14

What is a cookie in the context of websites?

It is small data a website can ask the browser to store.

A type of Ethernet cable A computer cooling fan A physical component inside the CPU A small piece of data stored by the browser for a website

Question 15

What is a file system?

It defines how files and directories are organized and tracked on storage.

A method and data structure for organizing files on storage A physical computer fan A type of wireless signal A computer's screen resolution