Chapter 1: Hardware Components
TRUE/FALSE
1. Changes that you make in virtual machines do not affect your physical computer.
2. The size of a bus determines how much data can be transmitted at one time.
3. Like RAM memory, mass storage devices do not retain data when the computer is turned off.
4. Peripheral devices are internal to the PC.
5. The internal workings of a computer, and especially the hard drive, are extremely susceptible to static
electricity.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The ____, which is located in the desktop computer case, is the main circuit board for a PC.
a.
PCI bus
c.
microprocessor
b.
motherboard
d.
ROM chip
2. ____, which is located in the desktop computer case, is the electronic holding area for programs and
data.
a.
The power supply
c.
Memory
b.
The cooling system
d.
Firmware
3. The microprocessor in a PC has a heat ____ attached to dissipate generated heat.
a.
source
c.
gauge
b.
transformer
d.
sink
4. All buses consist of two parts: a data bus and a(n) ____ bus.
a.
address
c.
modular
b.
signal
d.
parallel
5. The term ____ refers to read-and-write memory.
a.
ROM
c.
EPROM
b.
PROM
d.
RAM
6. ROMs, PROMs, EPROMs, and EEPROMs that contain recorded programs are called ____.
a.
demoware
c.
firmware
b.
middleware
d.
shareware
7. You can identify the ____ ports on the back of a PC by checking for male connectors.
a.
virtual
c.
parallel
b.
serial
d.
USB
8. You can connect up to ____ USB peripherals with five levels of hubs to a single USB host controller.
a.
25
c.
100
b.
50
d.
127
9. FireWire is a very fast digital input/output system, providing transfer rates of up to ____Mbps.
a.
100
c.
480
b.
400
d.
750
10. A disk drive ____ manages the transfer of data from a motherboard to a disk drive and vice versa.
a.
mapper
c.
controller
b.
regulator
d.
manager
11. ____ drives store data sequentially rather than randomly.
a.
Floppy
c.
Tape
b.
Optical
d.
Hard
12. A(n) ____ drive is a small, portable flash memory device that plugs into any computer with a USB
port and functions as a portable drive with up to 256 GB of storage capacity.
a.
USB
c.
optical
b.
tape
d.
floppy
13. A cable modem is designed to operate over cable ____ lines.
a.
antenna
c.
modem
b.
TV
d.
phone
14. A(n) ____ adapter permits a mobile user to connect to a LAN through a wireless (radio) connection.
a.
roaming
c.
wireless
b.
audio
d.
video
15. ____ are designed for the input of text and to control the operation of the computer.
a.
CRT monitors
c.
Printers
b.
Keyboards
d.
Storage devices
16. In information technology, ____ usually refers to technologies for measuring and analyzing human
body characteristics – such as fingerprints – for authentication purposes.
a.
biometrics
c.
data mining
b.
bioinformatics
d.
cryptography
17. A digital camera stores images digitally rather than recording them on ____.
a.
disk
c.
film
b.
scanner
d.
tape
18. Like televisions, monitor screen sizes are measured in diagonal ____.
a.
pixels
c.
millimeters
b.
inches
d.
centimeters
19. Each crystal in a(n) ____ display is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the
light.
a.
plasma panel
c.
LCD panel
b.
video projector
d.
CRT monitor
20. In addition to the line voltage and capacitors, the flyback transformer, which generates up to ____
volts, is a dangerous part of a CRT monitor.
a.
1,000
c.
10,000
b.
5,000
d.
20,000
21. When connecting a LAN cable to a tower case, place it in the ____ connector.
a.
DB-15 female
c.
RJ-45 black
b.
green 6-pin
d.
purple 6-pin
COMPLETION
1. The form ____________________ is the size, configuration, or physical arrangement of a computer
case or one of its internal components, such as a system board.
2. The ____________________ contains a set of instructions designed to perform such tasks as
arithmetic (adding, subtracting), logic operations (comparing two numbers), and transferring numbers
from one register to another.
3. A(n) ____________________ uses rigid rotating platters to read and write on magnetic media.
4. A(n) ____________________ is an expansion board that you insert into a computer so that it can be
connected to a local area network (LAN).
5. ____________________ is the rapid discharge of static electricity from one conductor to another
conductor of a different potential.
MATCHING
Match each item with a statement below.
a.
serial port
f.
register
b.
SCSI
g.
mouse
c.
power supply
h.
FireWire
d.
capacitors
i.
bus
e.
phone cable
1. Sometimes called IEEE 1394.
2. Converts the 110-volt alternating current (AC) in your office or household to the various direct current
(DC) levels required by your PC.
3. A small amount of high-speed memory.
4. Transfers data in or out one bit at a time.
5. Also called RJ-11.
6. Parallel interface standard used for attaching peripheral devices to PCs.
7. A set of circuits on the motherboard through which data is transferred from one part of a computer to
another.
8. Consists of a metal or plastic housing, a sensor on the bottom of the housing that is rolled on a flat
surface, and one or more buttons on top of the housing.
9. Electronic components within PC power supplies, monitors, and laser printers that may retain a charge
long after power is removed from a circuit.
SHORT ANSWER
1. What are virtualized systems and how are they used?
2. How does poor heat dissipation adversely impact a PC?
3. What functions are performed by a computer’s BIOS (basic input/output system)?
4. What is the significance of the connectors and cables for USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 being identical?
5. What is an expansion card?
6. What is a sound adapter?
7. What are the advantages of a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) interface over a PATA
(Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) interface?
8. How is information written to an optical drive?
9. Identify and describe three categories of printers.
10. What guidelines should be followed when you dispose of batteries?