CSC 101 Introduction to Computers Spring 2005 Midterm Exam Questions March 15 or March 28, 2005

Course Home Page Syllabus Assignments - Monday Class Assignments - Tues/Thurs Class Lecture Overviews

Directions: Open MS Word Select the ten questions and the extra credit questions below and cut and paste into the Word document Add a header with your name, "Midterm", and the date Save the document Answer each question within the Word document immediately following each question Spell check the exam Printout a copy of the exam and turn it in. Each question is worth 5 points. Partial credit will be given for partially correct answers.

What are the three background technologies for the three major generation of computers? What was the main trend for each of these generations?

Who was Herman Hollerinth and what was his contribution to computer technology?

Give an example of a wearable computer. Who might use one?

What is a motherboard?

How is data represented within a computer, what is this system called?

How is data represented within RAM? How is data represented on an optical disc?

What are the three types of information that can be stored in a byte?

Name two encoding systems; what is the purpose of an encoding system?

What is a bus and what job does it perform?

We say that memory is volatile - what do we mean by that?

Name and describe two different types of memory beside RAM.

What is Moore's Law?

What is a CISC chip and how does it differ from a RISC chip?

What is another name for PROM? Is PROM volatile?

Name and describe two parts of a CPU.

What is a register? What does it do and where would you find one?

What is the purpose of pipelining and why do we use it?

What is the Instruction Cycle? - Name the four steps of the Instruction Cycle.

What is Word Size and how does Word Size affect processor speed?

What is the purpose of the expansion slot? Name two cards that could go into an expansion slot.

What is a USB port? What is the advantage of having one?

In what type of computer would you find a PCMCIA and why would we want to use one?

What is a firewire card used for? What is another name for firewire?

What is Grid Computing?

What is the advantage of parallel processors?

Compare and contrast primary storage and secondary storage.

What is the difference between fixed magnetic storage and interchangeable magnetic storage? Give one example of each.

Define the following: track, sector, and cluster.

What is a VFAT and what is its purpose?

What is the advantage of having large clusters; what is the disadvantage?

How does virtual memory work?

How is data stored on a CD-ROM?

Name and briefly describe three input devices.

What is the purpose of input and output devices?

Why do we use point and draw input devices? Name two.

Name and describe two aspects of a computer monitor's resolution.

What are the two types of computer monitors? Briefly describe how each displays output.

What does DPI stand for. What type of output devices is describe by DPI?

What does an all-in-one peripheral device do and what other peripherals does it replace?

Last Updated: 3/8/05