Information Systems Today, 7e (Valacich)
Technology Briefing: Foundations of Information Systems Infrastructure
1) Which of the following is an input device used to enter information into computers?
A) speakers
B) track pads
C) printers
D) headphones
E) plotters
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
2) Which of the following devices is developed primarily for the disabled for help with computer
operating?
A) eye-tracking device
B) track pads
C) optical mouse
D) joystick
E) touch screen
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
3) Entering a large number of separate forms or documents into a computer system and
manipulating these data at a single time is referred to as ________.
A) inter-processor communication
B) batch processing
C) chain loading
D) context switching
E) process control block
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
1
4) ________ is used by text recognition software to convert typed, printed, or handwritten text
into the computer-based characters that form the original letters and words.
A) Natural language processing
B) Optical character recognition
C) Speech recognition
D) Autonomous automation
E) Computer vision software
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
5) Which of the following types of specialized scanners is used to scan questionnaires and test
answer forms where answer choices are indicated by filling in circles using pencils or pens?
A) optical mark recognition
B) biometric scanner
C) bar code reader
D) magnetic ink character recognition
E) optical character recognition
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
6) Which of the following scanning technologies is used by the banking industry to read data,
account numbers, bank codes, and check numbers on preprinted checks?
A) optical mark recognition
B) bar code reading
C) magnetic ink character recognition
D) biometric scanning
E) optical character recognition
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
2
7) A(n) ________ scanner is used to scan human body characteristics for identification and
security purposes.
A) biometric
B) optical
C) bar code
D) smart card
E) port
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
8) Which of the following speech recognition-based technologies is used for telephone surveys,
and to guide customers through the various menu options when calling a company’s customer
service line?
A) bar code reader
B) smart card reader
C) biometric scanner
D) interactive voice response
E) computer-aided translation
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
9) ________ are data streams transmitted using specific protocols that are available for
immediate playback on the recipient’s computer.
A) Direct connect
B) Parallel data rendering
C) Streaming media
D) Stream ciphers
E) Digital data
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
3
10) The ________ is called the computer’s brain, as it is responsible for performing all the
operations of the computer.
A) random-access memory
B) output device
C) central processing unit
D) input device
E) read-only memory
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
11) ________ codes are represented as a series of ones and zeros and are used to relay data and
instructions to and from the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer.
A) Binary
B) Morse
C) Source
D) Block
E) Object
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
12) ________ has gained widespread acceptance, as it allows for representing characters and
scripts beyond the Latin alphabet, including Chinese, Cyrillic, Hebrew, and Arabic.
A) MIME
B) Unicode
C) Binary code
D) Source code
E) ASCII
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
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13) The electronic circuit that generates pulses at a rapid rate to set the pace for processing
events to take place within a computer is known as the ________.
A) peripheral port
B) motherboard
C) system clock
D) universal serial bus
E) solid state drive
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
14) Which of the following is measured in hertz in a microcomputer?
A) clock speed
B) hard drive storage
C) random-access memory
D) virtual memory
E) screen resolution
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
15) ________ is located on the motherboard and is used to store the data and programs currently
in use.
A) Random-access memory
B) Hard disk drive
C) Flash drive
D) Smart card
E) Memory card
Difficulty: Moderate
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
5
16) A(n) ________ is a small block of memory used by processors to store those instructions
most recently or most often used.
A) solid-state drive
B) network interface card
C) cache
D) serial port
E) flash drive
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
17) ________ is used to store programs and instructions that are automatically loaded when the
computer is turned on.
A) Random-access memory
B) Cache memory
C) Read-only memory
D) Flash memory
E) Virtual memory
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
18) Which of the following is an example of secondary storage?
A) cache memory
B) read-only memory
C) hard drive
D) random-access memory
E) process register
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
6
19) ________ is a technology in which extra copies of data are stored on two or more hard drives
to ensure that critical data is not lost.
A) Just a bunch of disks (JBOD)
B) Redundant array of independent disks (RAID)
C) Single large expensive disks (SLED)
D) Basic input output systems (BIOS)
E) Switched port analyzers (SPAN)
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
20) A ________ occurs if a read/write head for some reason touches one of the disks in a hard
drive, leading to a loss of data.
A) head crash
B) click of death
C) bad sector
D) disk compression
E) base isolation
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
21) A(n) ________ is a secondary storage technology that uses nonvolatile memory chips to
store data.
A) router
B) virtual port
C) cache register
D) solid-state drive
E) switch
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
7
22) Which of the following is a valid observation of the difference between solid state drives and
hard disk-based drives?
A) Hard disk drives are typically faster than solid state drives.
B) Solid state drives have no moving parts, while hard disk drives have moving mechanical
parts.
C) Solid state drives are louder and less reliable than hard disk drives.
D) Hard disk drives are more expensive than solid state drives.
E) Hard disk drives use microchips to store data, while solid state drives use magnetic disks.
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
23) Data stored on disks is easier and faster to locate than data on magnetic tapes, because
________.
A) the data on disks is stored in binary form
B) disks have larger and more efficient storage capacities as there are more than three levels of
cache
C) disks have both mechanical and electronic parts
D) magnetic tapes store data in tiny magnetic spots with smaller wavelengths
E) computers do not have to scan an entire tape to find a specific data file when using disks
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
24) A(n) ________ provides a hardware interface, such as plugs and sockets, for connecting to
computers.
A) input device
B) primary storage device
C) removable storage device
D) keyboard
E) port
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
8
25) A(n) ________ interface allows for simultaneous transmission of digital audio and video
signals.
A) separate graphical video
B) auxiliary
C) separate audio
D) high definition multimedia
E) component video
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
26) Which of the following types of ports is used to connect networks in standard local area
networks?
A) ethernet port
B) VGA port
C) serial port
D) parallel port
E) USB port
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
27) ________ are removable, high capacity, secondary storage media that allow sequential
access of data.
A) Routers
B) Switches
C) Tapes
D) Modems
E) Hard disk drives
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
9
28) Which of the following is an output technology that delivers information in a usable format?
A) scanner
B) keyboard
C) printer
D) optical mouse
E) eye-tracking device
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
29) A(n) ________ is an output device that produces a paper copy of alphanumeric or graphic
data from a computer.
A) scanner
B) monitor
C) printer
D) e-paper
E) eye-tracking device
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
30) Examples of input technologies include track pads and scanners.
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
31) With streaming media, a Web user has to wait for the entire file to be downloaded before
seeing the video or hearing the sound.
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
32) Within the computer, a system clock generates pulses at a rapid rate, setting the pace for
processing events to take place, rather like a metronome marks time for a musician.
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Obj.: AP.1: Discuss foundational information systems (IS) hardware concepts.
Classification: Concept
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