Computer Hardware Basics Practice Questions

Based on the back view of the network rack below, match each component on the left to the label displayed on the network rack image.

A= Ethernet Router B= Ethernet Switch C= Ethernet Patch Panel D= Fiber Patch Panel E= Servers

2.1.6 Timothy works in the graphic arts departments and has received approval to upgrade his video card. The card has arrived, and you are ready to begin the upgrade by replacing the old video card with the new one in his workstation. To ensure your personal safety, which of the following should you do FIRST?

Disconnect power EXPLANATION Before you begin any internal service on a computer, you must always be sure that the computer is completely disconnected from the power source. Not removing power can lead to serious harm or death. After the power is disconnected, you should remove any jewelry. Doing this eliminates the possibility of accidentally getting any electronic discharges. Placing the computer on an ESD mat and using safety glasses would also be beneficial, but the first thing you should do is disconnect power.

Which computer function takes data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions?

Processing EXPLANATION Processing is data flowing through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions. Storage is the act of saving or maintaining data. Output is the processes of presenting, displaying, or giving data. Networking is the practice of connecting two or more computers.

To prevent ESD when replacing internal computer components, you attach an anti-static wrist strap to your wrist. Where should the other end be fastened? (Select two.)

Anti-static mat Metal area on the computer case EXPLANATION When using an anti-static wrist strap, you should connect the wrist strap to yourself and the other end to a ground such as the clip on the anti-static mat, or to an area on the computer case so that you and the computer are at the same electrical potential. Never connect the wrist strap to a power outlet, power supply, or ground on a power source.

Which of the following devices can store large amounts of electricity, even when unplugged?

CRT monitor EXPLANATION A cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor can store large amounts of electricity, even when unplugged. You should never open a CRT monitor, as the capacitors within the CRT can store enough electricity to be lethal. LCD monitors do not use large capacitors and are much safer to work on than CRT monitors (although the CCFL backlight has mercury vapor in it, which could be harmful if the tube is broken). DVD optical drives and hard disk drives do not store electricity in sufficient quantity to be harmful.

To improve the safety of your location and comply with regulations regarding work environments with hazardous materials, you have been assigned to assemble Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals used in your shop. How should you obtain these documents?

Download them from the chemical manufacturer's websites EXPLANATION Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are written and distributed by chemical manufacturers. You can download them from the manufacturer's website or request them from a company representative. MSDS sheets contain information that is only available from the manufacturer. Neither your manager or a workers' safety insurance office can provide MSDS documents. Attempting to write your own MSDS sheet can be dangerous, as you do not have all the critical information necessary that is available from the manufacturer.

You work for a store that sells and repairs computers. Due to the room's layout, while repairing computers, you must walk from one side of the carpeted room to the other frequently. Which of the following would BEST protect you from static electricity buildup?

ESD wrist strap EXPLANATION Walking across a room, especially on carpet, will generate static electricity on your person. Discharging this electricity to a computer component may damage that component. Under these circumstances, it is best to use an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap to ensure proper grounding. An ESD heel strap only works if the surface the technician is walking on is ESD-protected. Since this room has nothing but carpet, heel straps would be ineffective. ESD mats neutralize the static buildup between the computer and mat, but it is still best if you connect yourself to the computer via an ESD wrist strap. Otherwise, the static electricity you gain by walking across the floor can still be discharged to a computer component you touch. Although self-grounding is good, the fact that you are working on carpet means that additional static may build up if you shuffle your feet while working.

You are in the process of setting up an Ethernet network for a new building at your company's headquarters. You need to connect the wires from the different Ethernet office wall plates to your network rack. Which of the following components on the network rack should you use to connect the wires from the office wall plates?

Ethernet patch panel EXPLANATION An Ethernet patch panel typically terminates wires that run from different Ethernet office wall plates. Once you have terminated the wires on the patch panel, you can then use patch cables (Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors) to connect these ports to the Ethernet switch. An Ethernet router is a device that connects two or more network segments or subnets. It is not designed to terminate wires that run from different Ethernet office wall plates. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that constantly provides battery power to a computer while the batteries recharge through the wall outlet. A UPS is not designed to terminate wires that run from different Ethernet office wall plates.

You are assembling components in a network rack and need a device that connects three network segments. Which of the following devices will meet your networking needs?

Ethernet router EXPLANATION An Ethernet router is a device that connects two or more network segments or subnets. This would meet your networking needs. An Ethernet switch lets you connect multiple devices to the same network segment, but does not connect the network segments. A wireless controller monitors and manages wireless access points in a wireless network architecture. An Ethernet patch panel provides an easy way to connect devices and accommodate different types of cabling, such as twisted-pair and fiber optic cables.

A technician works in a factory where there is a significant amount of EMI (electromagnetic interference) emissions. Due to this EMI, several of the computers that control the factory's manufacturing machines are unable to communicate with the network. Which of the following network cabling options would be the BEST for reestablishing network communications?

Fiber optic Fiber optic cabling is totally immune to EMI and provides the highest level of EMI protection. Coaxial cabling is highly resistant to EMI, but is not as good as fiber optic cabling. Due to the number of twists, Cat 7 cabling provides better protection from EMI than Cat 5e cabling. Cat 7 can also be procured with added EMI shielding. However, Cat 7, with or without shielding, is not as good as fiber optic cabling. Cat 5e provides good protection from EMI, but Cat 7, coaxial, and fiber optic cabling provide better protection.

Your U.S.-based company has recently purchased an old office building where employees are being assigned to work. As you are setting up the employees' desktop computers, you come to one location where the nearest wall outlet has only two prongs. All of the metal-enclosed desktop computers have three-prong cords. Which of the following is the BEST way to proceed with that particular desktop computer?

Find a different outlet that uses three prongs. EXPLANATION The third, or middle, prong of a computer plug is the grounding prong. In the event of a malfunction, the electricity flows through the grounding prong to the earth which, in turn, trips off the breaker, removing all electricity from that outlet. If the grounding prong is removed or bypassed and a malfunction occurs, the electricity will find the next shortest path to the earth, which may be a person who touches the computer. Having the electricity pass through a person could cause serious harm or even death. You should never remove the third grounding prong or use an adapter to bypass the prong.

Drag each computer function on the left with its associated hardware component on the right. (Each option may be used more than once.)

Hard disk- Long-term storage Printer- Output Keyboard- Input CPU- Processing Speakers- Output RAM- Processing DVD-RW- Long-term storage Microphone- Input EXPLANATION Each computer hardware component performs a specific function. Input is defined as the movement of data or commands to the internal computer hardware. Input devices include: Mouse, Keyboard, Scanner, Microphone. Processing is defined as the flow of data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions. Major processing components include: CPU (Central Processing Unit) RAM (random access memory). RAM is temporary, short-term storage used by the CPU to store processed information for quick access. RAM is considered volatile memory because it is not persistent. When the computer is turned off, all the data that was stored in RAM is lost. Long-term storage is defined as the act of saving or maintaining data. Long-term storage devices include: Hard disk drives, Solid-state drives, Optical drives (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Blu-ray), Flash drives. Output is defined as the process of a computer presenting, displaying, or otherwise giving data. Output devices include: Monitor, Speaker, Printer.

Which of the following is a myth regarding electrostatic discharge (ESD)?

If you can't feel ESD, the surge is not sufficient to harm computer components. EXPLANATION To be felt, an ESD charge has to reach the level of approximately 3,000 volts. Some computer components can be destroyed by discharges as low as 20 or 30 volts. The other statements about ESD are true.

Which of the following are considered input devices? (Select three.)

Microphone, Scanner, Keyboard EXPLANATION Input devices include: Keyboard, Touchscreen, Scanner, Digital camera, Microphone. RAM is considered a processing device. A monitor and printer are considered output devices.

Which of the following are considered computer hardware? (Select two.)

Motherboard Printer EXPLANATION The physical components that compose a computer system or network are computer hardware. Common hardware components include: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, and printer Connectors and cables Hard disk drives Circuit boards Software is instructions or data that are stored electronically, either on a hard drive or a special chip. Software components include: Operating systems Program applications (such as Microsoft Office) Hardware drivers (special programs that tell the operating system how to use the hardware)

You need to replace a broken monitor on a desktop system. You decide to replace it with a spare monitor that wasn't being used. Even though the monitor is made by a different manufacturer than the desktop computer, it still works with the computer. Which computer design concept makes this possible?

Standardization EXPLANATION Standardization allows components from different manufacturers to be interchangeable. If a component meets the specified standards, it will work in the computer, regardless of manufacturer. Componentization means that a computer is a combination of several constituent parts that can be easily replaced by a field-replaceable unit (FRU). Firmware is a special type of software that has been embedded in the memory of a hardware component. Plug and play allows devices to work with computers without the need for additional configuration on the computer.

Your local area experiences brownouts or blackouts during frequent electrical storms. Which of the following components could you add to your network rack to help protect your servers from brownouts or blackouts?

UPS - Uninterruptible power supply EXPLANATION An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that constantly provides battery power to a computer while the batteries recharge through the wall outlet. A UPS typically provides several locations to plug in devices, and it can help protect your servers from brownouts or blackouts. A wireless controller monitors and manages wireless access points in a wireless network architecture. A wireless controller is not designed to provide power during a brownout or blackout. An Ethernet switch lets you connect multiple devices to the same network segment, but is not designed to provide power during a brownout or blackout. A patch panel provides an easy way to connect devices and accommodate different types of cabling, such as Ethernet twisted-pair and fiber optic cables. However, a patch panel is not designed to provide power during a brownout or blackout.

Jeannette's workstation is overheating. She decides to open the workstation and clean any accumulated dust to see if it helps with the overheating issue. Which of the following can Jeannette safely do to remove dust? (Select two.)

Use a special vacuum to clean dust from all hardware components. Use short bursts of compressed air to clean delicate components. EXPLANATION Using short bursts of compressed air to clean delicate components followed by using a special vacuum designed to remove dust from all components provides a safe procedure for removing accumulated dust. Removing the power supply to clean it outside of the case can cause personal safety issues as the capacitor in the power supply can still hold an electrical charge. Using a continuous stream of compressed air to clean all components can cause dust to blow into other components and even into the office, which can then accumulate in other electrical devices. Using a cleaning solvent can cause serious damage to hardware components, especially if it comes in contact with electrical connections.

The router below provides several ports for connecting two or more network segments or subnets. The port circled in red is a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) connector. Which type of network can connect to this port?

WAN EXPLANATION A wide area network (WAN) is connected to the router using a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) connector. A local area network (LAN) is connected to the router using an RJ45 cable. A wireless network uses a wireless controller on the network rack to monitor and manages wireless access points. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol used to automate the process of configuring devices on IP networks. It is not a type of network.

In which of the following situations should you NOT use an ESD wrist strap?

When working with high-voltage components. EXPLANATION Do not use an ESD wrist strap when working with monitors, power supplies, laptop LCD panels, or other high-voltage components. If you wear jewelry when working with hardware components, you need to be careful as it can conduct electricity and cause physical harm. However, using an ESD wrist strap is designed to protect hardware components and does not impact personal safety. An ESD wrist strap protects hardware components and has no impact on personal safety when replacing worn or frayed power cords. An ESD wrist strap is specifically designed to protect memory modules from electrostatic discharge when replacing memory modules in a computer.