IT Essentials
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Personal Computer
1. Which of the following choices is part of the definition of a personal
computer?
a. A device that is not usable by itself
b. A device whose only function is to access a group computer
c. A device made up of distinct components that all function together
d. A device that can be carried in a pocket for mobile use
2. Which of the following is not a common component found on a
motherboard?
a. CPU
b. HDD
c. RAM
d. BIOS
3. All of the following are expansion slots except:
a. ISA
b. PCI
c. AGP
d. IDE
4. Which of the following best describes parity checking?
a. An error-checking scheme for RAM
b. An error-checking and –correction scheme for RAM
c. Matching colors between the monitor and the printer
d. Matching the configured borders to those of the printed page
5. How are power supplies rated for comparison of load capacity?
a. Ohms
b. Amps
c. Watts
d. Volts
6. Which of the following best describes a chipset?
a. The collection of all chips and circuits on the motherboard
b. The CPU and RAM
c. The collection of all chips and circuits in a computer that are not on the
motherboard
d. A collection of chips or circuits that performs functions for the CPU
7. Which of the following components is responsible for facilitating
communications between the CPU and memory?
a. BIOS
b. Memory controller
c. Northbridge
d. Interrupt controller
8. Which of the following statements about memory is true?
a. Today’s motherboards take memory in the form of individual chips
b. Today’s processors have memory on board, obviating the need for memory
on the motherboard
c. Memory for today’s computers is most often installed on a riser card
d. A variety of module types are in use today
9. What is another way to refer to IEEE 1394?
a. USB 2.0
b. ECP
c. FireWire
d. Ethernet
IT Essentials
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Personal Computer
10. Which of the following could apply to the terms front-intake, rear
exhaust, CPU, chipset, video-card chipset?
a. Module
b. Chip
c. Fan
d. Controller
11. This type of memory is also referred to as cache memory:
12. How many USB devices can be connected to a USB port?
13. How many FireWire devices can be connected to a FireWire port?
14. Which IEEE standard defines FireWire technology?
15. What are the two CPU architectures?
16. What does the chipset determine (two things)?
17. Three examples of input devices:
18. Three examples of output device:
19. What are the 3 most common resources and a short description of each?
20. Form factor determines this:
21. The maximum length of the IEEE 1284 standard:
22. The data rate of the IEEE 1394b standard:
23. The pin connector count for the IEEE 1394a standard:
24. How is the size of a hard drive measured?
IT Essentials
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Personal Computer
25. How is the speed of a hard drive measured?
26. PATA IDE has how many conductors?
27. PATA EIDE has how many conductors?
28. SATA has how many conductors?