Chapter 4: System Unit Components MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The ____ interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. a. control unit c. processor b. binary device d. compressor ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 157
2. Some computer and chip manufacturers use the term ____ to refer to a personal computer processor chip. a. microprocessor c. coprocessor b. parallel processor d. perpendicular processor ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 159
3. The pace of the system clock, called the ____ speed, is measured by the number of ticks per second. a. temporal c. processor b. system d. clock ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 161
4. ____ consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed by the processor, data needed by those instructions, and the results of processed data (information). a. Concepting c. Concatenation b. Dynamism d. Memory ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 163
5. A(n) ____ equals approximately one billion bytes. a. megabyte c. gigabyte b. exabyte d. terabyte ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 164
6. RAM chips usually reside on a(n) ____ module, which is a small circuit board. a. index c. insertion b. memory d. cooling ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 166
7. Manufacturers claim that MRAM (magnetoresistive RAM) has greater storage capacity, consumes ____ access times than electronic RAM. a. more power, but has faster c. less power, and has faster b. more power, and has slower d. less power, but has slower ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 166
8. Most of today’s computers improve processing times with ____. a. indices c. expansion cards b. cache d. cooling ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 167
9. Generally, home users running the latest version of Windows and using basic application software such as word processing should have at least ____ of RAM. a. 32 MB c. 512 MB b. 64 MB d. 1 GB ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 166
10. Memory ____ on the motherboard hold memory modules. a. ports c. jacks b. slots d. connectors ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 166
11. Memory ____ helps speed the processes of the computer because it stores frequently used instructions and data. a. indexing c. cache b. pipelining d. rasterizing ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 167
12. Current processors include advanced ____ cache, a type of L2 cache built directly on the processor chip. a. registered c. pipeline b. transfer d. programmable ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 167
13. L2 cache is slightly ____. a. faster than L1 cache but has a much smaller capacity b. faster than L1 cache and has a much larger capacity c. slower than L1 cache but has a much larger capacity d. slower than L1 cache and has a much smaller capacity ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 167
14. ROM chips called ____ contain permanently written data, instructions, or information. a. hardware c. stoneware b. firmware d. courseware ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 167
15. ____ refers to memory chips storing permanent data and instructions. a. ROM c. CMOS b. Flash memory d. RAM ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 167
16. ____ is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten. a. ROM c. CMOS b. Flash memory d. RAM ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 167
17. Some RAM chips, flash memory chips, and other types of memory chips use ____ technology, which uses battery power to retain information even when a computer is off. a. CMOS c. EEPROM b. BIOS d. CPROM ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 168
18. ____ time is the amount of time it takes the processor to read data, instructions, and information from memory. a. Processing c. Access b. Connection d. Meter ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 168
19. A(n) ____, which is one billionth of a second, is used by some manufacturers to state access times. a. ns c. ms b. gs d. ts ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 168
20. A ____ is an adapter card like the one in the accompanying figure that converts computer output into a signal that travels through a cable to the monitor, which displays an image on the screen. a. sound card c. modem card b. video card or graphics card d. network card ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 169
21. A(n) ____ slot, such as that shown in the accompanying figure, is a socket on the motherboard that can hold an adapter card. a. Flash c. integrated b. expansion d. embedded ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 169
22. A(n) ____ card, such as that shown in the accompanying figure, is a circuit board that enhances functions of a component of the system unit and/or provides connections to peripherals. a. Flash c. integrated b. adapter d. embedded ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 169
23. A(n) ____ is a device, such as a printer or scanner, that connects to the system unit and is controlled by the processor in the computer. a. graphics unit c. peripheral b. output system d. video card ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 169
24. A ____ connects other computers through telephone or cable television lines. a. sound card c. modem card b. video card or graphics card d. network card ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 169
25. With its port shown in the accompanying figure, a(n) ____ module is about one-half the size of a PC Card. a. ExpressCard c. integrated b. Flash d. embedded ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 170
26. ExpressCards, the port for which is shown in the accompanying figure, are one type of ____ memory, which also includes PC Cards and memory cards. a. cached c. integrated b. USB d. flash ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 170
27. Many computers have a(n) ____ slot, as shown in the accompanying figure, which is a special type of expansion slot. a. Flash c. integrated b. ExpressCard d. embedded ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 170
28. Shown on the back of the laptop in the accompanying figure, a ____ is the point at which a peripheral attaches to a system unit so it can send data or receive information from the computer. a. port c. hub b. router d. link ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 170
29. The accompanying figure shows ____ connectors and ports. a. parallel c. USB b. IrDA d. Bluetooth ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 171
30. A(n) ____, such as that shown in the accompanying figure, can connect mice, printers, digital cameras, scanners, speakers, and the like. a. IrDA port c. USB port b. Bluetooth port d. MIDI port ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 171
31. A ____, like the one shown in the accompanying figure, can connect up to 127 different peripherals together with a single connector type. a. serial port c. USB port b. parallel port d. MIDI port ANS: C
PTS: 1
32. A(n) ____ joins a cable to a port. a. link b. peripheral ANS: C
PTS: 1
REF: 171
c. connector d. access joint REF: 171
33. For wireless devices to transmit signals to a computer via infrared light waves, both the computer and the device must have a(n) ____. a. FireWire port c. SCSI port b. MIDI port d. IrDA port ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 172
34. A FireWire ____ is a device that plugs in a FireWire port, like the one shown on the system unit in the accompanying figure, and contains multiple FireWire ports in which you plug cables from FireWire devices. a. hub c. cache b. router d. modem ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 172
35. A(n) ____ bus allows the processor to communicate with peripherals. a. expansion c. interpolated b. index d. power ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 174
36. A(n) ____ bus is another term for the system bus. a. expansion bus c. drive bus b. front-side bus d. memory bus ANS: B
PTS: 1
REF: 174
37. A ____ is an opening inside the system unit in which you can install additional equipment. a. domain c. port b. supply d. bay ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 175
38. The power ____ is the component of the system unit that converts the wall outlet AC power into the DC power a computer needs. a. supply c. spotter b. surge d. changer ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 175
39. Preventive maintenance of your computer requires a few basic products, including ____. a. lint-free antistatic wipes and swabs c. screen cleaning solution b. antistatic wristband d. all of the above ANS: D
PTS: 1
REF: 177
40. The first step in cleaning a computer is ____. a. turn it off, unplug it, and unplug all cables from the ports b. vacuum the fan on the back of the computer case c. wipe the case with an antistatic wipe d. open the case ANS: A
PTS: 1
REF: 177
MULTIPLE RESPONSE Modified Multiple Choice 1. The role of memory to store ____ is known as the stored program concept. a. data c. programs b. output devices d. transistor input ANS: A, C
PTS: 1
2. A ____ port is a widely used port. a. docking b. parallel ANS: C, D
PTS: 1
REF: 163
c. USB d. FireWire REF: 171-172
3. A SCSI port allows you to attach SCSI peripherals, such as ____. a. flash memory modules c. U3 flash drives b. disk drives d. printers ANS: B, D
PTS: 1
REF: 172
4. Some external peripherals such as ____ have an AC adapter, which is an external power supply. a. cable modems c. speakers b. printers d. thumb drives ANS: A, B, C
PTS: 1
REF: 175
5. Which of the following is an appropriate processor for an enterprise user? a. Intel Core 2 Duo c. Intel Itanium 2 b. AMD Athlon X2 d. Intel Core i7 ANS: B, D
PTS: 1
REF: 176
MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE 1. The control unit is the component of the processor that performs arithmetic, comparison, and other operations. _________________________ ANS: F, arithmetic logic PTS: 1
REF: 160
2. In the machine cycle, fetching is the process of translating an instruction into signals the computer can execute. _________________________ ANS: F, decoding PTS: 1
REF: 160
3. A(n) megabyte equals approximately one billion bytes. _________________________ ANS: F, gigabyte PTS: 1
REF: 164
4. A(n) network card connects other computers and peripherals. _________________________ ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 169
5. Serial technology uses radio waves to transmit data between two devices. _________________________ ANS: F, Bluetooth PTS: 1
REF: 172
TRUE/FALSE 1. The case of the system unit is made of metal or plastic and protects the internal electronic components from damage. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 156
2. Each processor on a multi-core processor chip generally runs at a faster clock speed than a single-core processor. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 159
3. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is the component of the processor that directs and coordinates most of the operations in a computer. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 160
4. The slower the clock speed, the more instructions a processor can execute per second. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 161
5. Few high-performance PCs use processors from the Intel Core family. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 161
6. A computer uses the binary system in which the digit 0 represents the electronic state of on (presence of an electronic charge), and the digit 1 represents the electronic state of off (absence of an electronic charge). ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 162
7. The ASCII scheme is used primarily on mainframe computers and high-end servers. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 162
8. Coding schemes such as ASCII make it possible for humans to interact with a digital computer that processes only bits. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 162
9. Manufacturers state the size of memory chips and storage devices in terms of the number of bytes the chip or device has available for storage. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 164
10. A megabyte (MB) is equal to approximately 1 billion bytes. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 164
11. Nonvolatile memory loses its contents when the power is removed from a computer. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 164
12. When a computer’s power is turned off, volatile memory does not lose its contents. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 164
13. RAM can hold multiple programs simultaneously, provided the computer has enough RAM to accommodate all the programs. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 165
14. MRAM chips must be re-energized constantly or they lose their contents. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 166
15. Static RAM (SRAM) chips are slower and less reliable than any variation of DRAM chips and must be re-energized more often. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 166
16. Although access times of memory have little effect on overall computer performance, manufacturers usually list a computer’s memory in terms of its access time, not its size. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 168
17. Some motherboards include all necessary capabilities and do not require adapter cards, like the one in the accompanying figure. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 169
18. A bay is the same as a slot, and is used for the installation of adapter cards, like the one in the accompanying figure. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 175
19. On a notebook computer, like the one in the accompanying figure, the ports can be located on the back, front, and/or sides. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 170
20. Personal computers typically have one or two ports, like those in the accompanying figure, on the front and/or back of the system unit. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 171
21. Like IrDA, Bluetooth devices have to be aligned with each other. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 172
22. A port replicator is an external device that attaches to a mobile computer or device and contains a power connection and provides connections to peripherals. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 173
23. The lower the bus clock speed, the faster the transmission of data, which results in applications running faster. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 174
24. An external drive bay is concealed entirely within the system unit. ANS: F
PTS: 1
REF: 175
25. Cleaning a computer once or twice a year can extend its life. ANS: T
PTS: 1
REF: 177
COMPLETION 1. On desktop computers, the electronic components and most storage devices are part of the ____________________ unit. ANS: system PTS: 1
REF: 156
2. The ____________________ unit is a case that contains the electronic components of the computer used to process data.
ANS: system PTS: 1
REF: 156
3. The ____________________ is the main circuit board of the system unit. ANS: motherboard system board PTS: 1
REF: 158
4. A computer ____________________ is a small piece of semiconducting material, usually silicon, on which integrated circuits are etched. ANS: chip PTS: 1
REF: 158
5. ____________________ contain a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). ANS: Processors PTS: 1
REF: 159
6. For every instruction, a processor repeats a set of four basic operations, which comprise a(n) ____________________: (1) fetching, (2) decoding, (3) executing, and (4) storing. ANS: machine cycle PTS: 1
REF: 160
7. The processor relies on a small quartz crystal circuit called the ____________________ clock to control the timing of all computer operations. ANS: system PTS: 1
REF: 160
8. Current personal computer processors have clock speeds in the ____________________ range, which equals one billion ticks of the system clock per second. ANS: gigahertz GHz gigahertz (GHz) GHz (gigahertz) PTS: 1
REF: 161
9. Less expensive, basic PCs use Intel processors from the ____________________ family. ANS: Pentium Celeron PTS: 1
REF: 161
10. In the past, chip manufacturers listed a(n) ____________________ clock speed in marketing literature and advertisements. ANS: processor processor’s PTS: 1
REF: 161
11. A(n) ____________________ (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of data a computer can process. ANS: bit PTS: 1
REF: 162
12. The ____________________ scheme, which is the most widely used coding scheme to represent data, is used by most personal computers and servers. ANS: American Standard Code for Information Interchange ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) PTS: 1
REF: 162
13. Most computers are ____________________, which means that they recognize only two discrete states: on and off. ANS: digital PTS: 1
REF: 162
14. Computers use the ____________________ system, which is a number system that has just two unique digits, 0 and 1, called bits. ANS: binary PTS: 1
REF: 162
15. When 8 bits are grouped together as a unit, they form a(n) ____________________. ANS: byte PTS: 1
REF: 162
16. ____________________ stores the operating system and other system software that control or maintain the computer and its devices, application programs that carry out a specific task, and the data being processed by application programs and the resulting information. ANS: Memory PTS: 1
REF: 163
17. A(n) ____________________ is equal to approximately one million bytes. ANS: megabyte MB megabyte (MB) MB (megabyte) PTS: 1
REF: 164
18. A(n) ____________________ is equal to exactly 1,024 bytes, but often is rounded down to 1,000 bytes. ANS: kilobyte KB K kilobyte (KB) KB (kilobyte) PTS: 1
REF: 164
19. A(n) ____________________ is equal to approximately 1 trillion bytes. ANS: terabyte TB terabyte (TB) TB (terabyte) PTS: 1
REF: 164
20. ____________________ is the most common type of volatile memory. ANS: RAM Random access memory Random access memory (RAM) RAM (Random access memory) PTS: 1 king
REF: 164