Chapter 1 Exam Cram Questions
What kinds of hard drives are used by laptops? (Select all that apply.) A. SSD B. M.2 C. Magnetic disk D. DVD-ROM
A, B, and C. Solid-state drives (SSDs), M.2 drives, and magnetic disk drives are all found on laptops. Which drive the laptop uses will depend on its age and whether or not it has been upgraded. DVD-ROM drives are not hard drives, they are optical drives, and as of 2015 or so, are not commonly found on laptops.
4. Which of the following are ways that a laptop can communicate with other computers? (Select all that apply.) A. Bluetooth B. WLAN C. DC jack D. Cellular WAN
A, B, and D. Some of the methods that laptops use to communicate with other computers include: Bluetooth, WLAN, and cellular WAN wireless connections, plus wired connections like Ethernet (RJ45) and, for older laptops, dial-up (RJ11). The DC jack is the input on the laptop that accepts power from the AC adapter.
4. Which of the following identifies the user of the device? A. IMSI ID B. IMEI ID C. S/MIME D. VPN
A. International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or IMSI ID is used to identify the user of the device. IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and identifies the phone used. In other words, the IMEI ID identifies the device itself. S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is used for authentication and message integrity and is built into some e-mail clients. In other words, it is used to encrypt e-mail. Virtual private networking (VPN) technology is used to make secure connections— tunneling though the provider's radio network.
1. Which kind of video technology do most laptop LCDs use? A. TFT active matrix B. Passive matrix C. OLED D. MAC ID
A. TFT active-matrix displays are the most common in laptops that use LCDs. Passive-matrix screens have been discontinued, but you might see an older laptop that utilizes this technology. OLED technology is a newer and different technology that is not based on TFT displays, but instead uses emissive display technology, meaning that each dot on the screen is illuminated by a separate diode. OLED displays can, however, be passive-matrix or activematrix controlled. The MAC ID is the hexadecimal address associated with a network adapter, such as a Wi-Fi adapter or network card.
1. Which of the following connections require a username, password, and SMTP server? (Select the two best answers.) A. Bluetooth connection B. Wi-Fi connection C. POP3 connection D. Exchange connection E. IMAP connection
1. C and E. POP3 and IMAP e-mail connections require an incoming mail server (either POP3 or IMAP) and an outgoing mail server (SMTP). Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections do not require a username or SMTP server. Bluetooth might require a PIN, and Wi-Fi will almost always require a passcode. Exchange connections require a username and password, but no SMTP server. The Exchange Server acts as the incoming and outgoing mail server.
1. Which of the following keys should you press to enable a secondary display on a laptop? (Select the two best answers.) A. Fn key B. Caps Lock key C. Num Lock key D. Special function key E. Insert key
A and D. To enable a secondary, or external, display on a laptop you would use the Fn key (called the Function key) and a special function key (for example, F3 or F4, whichever one corresponds to screen switching). It's this combination of keys that allows you to make use of displays plugged into HDMI or other ports on the laptop. The Caps Lock key enables a user to type in all uppercase letters. The Num Lock key (if available) turns on the numeric keypad (if the laptop has one). The Insert key is often used by programs such as word processors in one of two modes: overtype, where anything that is typed is written over any existing text, and insert mode, where typed characters force the existing text over.
2. You are required to add long-term storage to a smartphone. Which type would you most likely add? A. DDR4 B. microSD C. LPDDR4 D. SSD E. SIM
B. You would most likely add a microSD card (if the smartphone has a slot available for add-on or upgrading). This is the most common method for adding long-term storage. DDR4 is a type of RAM; it is not used for adding long-term memory storage. Some smartphones will use LPDDR4 as their main memory, but this is part of the SoC, and not accessible to the typical user. An SSD is a solid-state drive, which generally means a hard drive that is installed to a PC or laptop, connected either as SATA or M.2. These are too large for smartphones and tablets. A SIM is a subscriber identity module, usually represented as a small card (mini-SIM) used in smartphones that securely stores authentication information about the user and device, such as the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), which we will discuss more in the following chapter.
3. You just added a second memory module to a laptop. However, after rebooting the system, the OS reports the same amount of memory as before. What should you do next? A. Replace both memory modules. B. Run Windows Update. C. Replace the motherboard. D. Reseat the laptop memory.
D. The next step you should take is to reseat the memory. SODIMMs can be a bit tricky to install. They must be firmly installed, but you don't want to press too hard and damage any components. If the laptop worked fine before the upgrade, you shouldn't have to replace the modules or the motherboard. Windows Update will not find additional RAM.
3. You have been tasked with connecting a wireless earpiece to a smartphone. Which technology would you most likely use? A. Wi-Fi B. NFC C. 3.5 mm D. Bluetooth
D. When connecting an earpiece (those little cricket-looking devices) to a smartphone, you would most likely use Bluetooth—just remember that most of them have a 30-foot range (10 meters). Wi-Fi is less likely to be used; it is more likely to be used to connect the smartphone to the LAN and ultimately to the Internet. NFC (discussed in the next section) is used to transmit data between mobile devices in close proximity to each other. 3.5 mm refers to the audio port on a mobile device. It is quite possible that a user will utilize a wired headset, but the question focuses on wireless.
6. A user doesn't see anything on his laptop's screen. He tries to use AC power and thinks that the laptop is not receiving any. Which of the following are two possible reasons for this? (Select the two best answers.) A. He is using an incorrect AC adapter. B. The AC adapter is not connected to the laptop. C. Windows won't boot. D. The battery is dead.
A and B. An incorrect adapter will usually not power a laptop. The adapter used must be exact. And of course, if the laptop is not plugged in properly to the adapter, it won't get power. Windows doesn't play into this scenario. And if the battery was dead, it could cause the laptop to not power up, but only if the AC adapter was also disconnected; the scenario states that the user is trying to use AC power.
3. Which of the following are two possible reasons why a laptop's LCD suddenly went blank with no user intervention? (Select the two best answers.) A. Damaged inverter B. Damaged LCD C. Burned-out backlight D. Incorrect resolution setting
A and C. A damaged inverter or burned-out bulb could cause a laptop's display to go blank. You can verify whether the LCD is still getting a signal by shining a flashlight at the screen. A damaged LCD usually works to a certain extent and will either be cracked, have areas of the Windows interface missing, or show other signs of damage. An incorrect resolution setting can indeed make the screen suddenly go blank (or look garbled), but that scenario will most likely occur only if the user has changed the resolution setting—the question specifies with no user intervention.
4. You have been tasked with setting up a device for a salesperson's vehicle. It should be able to display maps and give directions to the person while driving. Which of the following devices would perform these tasks? (Select the two best answers.) A. GPS B. Smart camera C. Smartphone D. E-reader E. VR headset
A and C. A standalone GPS device or a smartphone (equipped with a GPS app) would do the job here. Both can display maps and give directions to a person while driving. The other devices are not designed to function in this manner.
5. Which of the following are possible reasons that a laptop's keyboard might fail completely? (Select the two best answers.) A. A key is stuck. B. A ribbon cable is disconnected. C. The user spilled coffee on the laptop. D. The keyboard was disabled in the Device Manager.
B and C. A laptop's keyboard could fail due to a disconnected or loose keyboard ribbon cable. It could also fail if a user spilled coffee on the laptop, by being dropped on the ground, and so on. One stuck key will not cause the entire keyboard to fail, and on most laptops, the keyboard cannot be disabled in the Device Manager. It can be uninstalled, but not disabled.
8. Which are the most common laptop hard drive form factors? (Select two.) A. 5.1 B. 2.5 C. 7.1 D. 1.8
B and D. The bulk of the hard drives in laptops are 2.5 inches wide, though ultra-small laptops and other small portable devices might use a hard drive as small as 1.8 inches. 5.1 and 7.1 refer to speaker surround sound systems, not hard drive form factors.
You are helping a project manager with a presentation using a laptop which feeds video to a projector. During your tests, the projector's image begins to flicker. The laptop's display does not have any problems. You attempt to change the resolution on the laptop, but the issue continues. Which of the following should you do next? A. Change the projector settings. B. Check the connectivity of the video cable. C. Change the aspect ratio of the laptop. D. Check the connectivity of the power cable.
B. Check the connectivity of the video cable. If it is flickering, chances are that the cable is loose, or the cable's quality is lacking. Screen flicker is more common with VGA cables, but it can happen with just about any connection. Remember, always check the basic stuff first: connectivity, power, and so on. It is unlikely that the projector settings will make a difference based on this particular problem. You cannot change the aspect ratio by itself on most laptops; however, when you change the resolution (which was already done in the question), you might be changing the aspect ratio as well, depending on the resolution selected. If the power cable was loose or damaged, it would probably result in more than just screen flicker; the projector might power off and power back on, which would prevent the image from being displayed for at least several seconds while the projector powers back up
3. You are required to install an anti-theft solution for a customer's laptop. Which of the following should you perform? A. Install a docking station. B. Install a cable lock. C. Install Windows. D. Configure a password in the BIOS/UEFI. E. Use a port replicator
B. Install a cable lock to increase the security of a laptop and decrease the chances of theft. Docking stations and port replicators offer increased functionality for a laptop but do not increase security; the laptop can be easily disconnected from them. Installing Windows is not an anti-theft solution, nor any type of security precaution. Configuring a password in the BIOS/UEFI is a good security practice, but it will not help avoid theft. However, if the laptop is stolen, a user password (and administrator password) that is configured in the BIOS can help prevent a person from accessing what is on the laptop.
3. What is it known as when a user connects to several services using several apps but with only one username and password? A. Android Auto B. SSO C. iTunes D. BT E. Exchange ActiveSync
B. SSO (single sign-on) is a type of authentication where a user logs in once but is granted access to multiple services. Android Auto is a screen sharing/synchronizing app used on Android-based mobile devices to communicate with a properly equipped automobile. iTunes is a music/media program that can be used to sync up a mobile device to a PC or Apple device. BT is short for Bluetooth. Exchange ActiveSync is a client-based protocol that allows a user to sync a mobile device with an Exchange Server mailbox.
1. Which type of charging connector would you find on an iPad? A. Micro-USB B. Lightning C. Thunderbolt D. IP68
B. The Lightning connector is one of Apple's proprietary charging and synchronization connectors used by iPads and iPhones, although Apple also uses USB-C. Micro-USB is used by older Android-based mobile devices—while USB-C is more common on newer devices. Thunderbolt is a high-speed hardware interface used in desktop computers, which we will discuss more in Chapter 9. IP68 deals with ingress protection from dust and water jets.
2. Which of the following is used to synchronize contacts from an iPad to a PC? (Select the best answer.) A. Gmail B. Google Play C. iTunes D. Sync Center
C. PC users need iTunes to synchronize contacts and other data from an iPad to a PC. While Gmail can work to synchronize contacts, it is all based on web storage; nothing is actually stored on the iPad. Google Play is a place to get applications and other items for Android. Sync Center is a Control Panel utility that enables synchronization across Windows 10 devices.
2. When a user types, a laptop's screen displays letters and numbers instead of only letters. What should you check first? A. Fn key B. LCD cutoff switch C. Num Lock key D. Scroll Lock key
C. The Num Lock key can enable or disable the numeric keypad. This might be necessary if the user inadvertently turned it on or disconnected an external keyboard from the laptop. Some laptops require you to press Ctrl+Num Lock to enable or disable the numeric keypad. Laptops are usually color-coded (for example, white options might require the Ctrl key and blue options might require the Fn key). In this scenario, pressing the Function (Fn) key is not necessary when pressing the Num Lock key. The LCD cutoff switch is used to turn off the bulb that lights the LCD. The Scroll Lock key is not often used but is meant to lock any scrolling done with the arrow keys.
1. Which of the following is not a mobile device? A. Tablet B. Smartphone C. Desktop PC D. E-reader
C. The desktop PC is not a mobile device. It is a stationary computer that is meant to stay at a person's desk. Tablets, smartphones, and e-readers are all examples of mobile devices.
1. Which of the following is the most common connection method when synchronizing data from a mobile device to a PC? A. Wi-Fi B. Bluetooth C. USB D. Lightning
C. USB is the most common connection method used when synchronizing data from a mobile device to a PC. Though Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also possible, they are less common. Lightning is the port found on some of Apple's mobile devices, but the cable's other end is still USB when connecting to a PC or Mac.
2. When manually configuring a Wi-Fi connection, which step occurs after successfully entering the SSID? A. Select POP3. B. Check whether the device is within range of the WAP. C. Enter a passcode for the network. D. Scan for networks.
C. After you enter the SSID (if it's correct) you would enter the passcode for the network. POP3 has to do with configuring an e-mail account. If you have already entered the SSID, then you should be within range of the wireless access point (WAP). Scanning for networks is the first thing you do when setting up a Wi-Fi connection.
2. What is the module format for a stick of SODIMM DDR4 RAM? A. 200-pin B. 204-pin C. 260-pin D. 1.8-inch
C. DDR4 SODIMM modules have 260 pins. DDR (known as DDR1) and DDR2 are 200-pin. DDR3 is 204-pin. 1.8-inch is the size associated with smaller hard drives used in some laptops.
2. Which of the following uses an organic compound that emits light? A. TFT active matrix B. IPS C. OLED D. LCD E. LED
C. OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays use an organic compound or film that emits light. TFT active matrix implies LCD, and neither of them uses organic compounds the way OLED does. In-plane switching (IPS) is a type of LCD technology that increases the available viewing angle compared to older technologies such as twisted-nematic (TN) matrix LCDs. However, IPS is generally considered inferior to OLED screens when it comes to brightness and contrast ratio when viewed from an angle. LED screens use a film and diodes, but not organically in the way that OLED does, and not at such a small size.
7. One of your customers reports that she walked away from her laptop for 30 minutes. When she returned, the display was very dim. She increased the brightness setting and moved the mouse but to no effect. What should you do first? A. Replace the LCD screen. B. Check the operating system for corruption. C. Connect an external monitor to verify that the video card works. D. Check whether the laptop is now on battery power.
D. It could be that the laptop is now on battery power, which is usually set to a dimmer display and shorter sleep configuration. This indicates that the laptop is not getting AC power from the AC outlet for some reason. The battery power setting is the first thing you should check; afterward, start troubleshooting the AC adapter, cable, AC outlet, and so on. It's too early to try replacing the display; try not to replace something until you have ruled out all other possibilities. A dim screen is not caused by OS corruption. There's no need to plug in
3. Which of the following allows other mobile devices to wirelessly share your mobile device's Internet connection? A. NFC B. Airplane mode C. IMAP D. Mobile hotspot
D. Mobile hotspot technology (sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi tethering) allows a mobile device to share its Internet connection with other Wi-Ficapable devices. Another possibility would be USB tethering, but that is done in a wired fashion. NFC stands for near field communication—a technology that allows two mobile devices to send information to each other when they are in close proximity. Airplane mode will disable all wireless connectivity including (but not limited to) cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. IMAP is another e-mail protocol similar to POP3.
2. Which type of memory do most mobile devices store long-term data to? A. LPDDR4 B. SATA magnetic disk C. SATA SSD D. Solid-state flash memory
D. Most mobile devices store their long-term data to solid-state flash memory. They do not use SATA as the method of connectivity. LPDDR4 is a common type of RAM used in mobile devices for short-term storage.
4. Which of the following can be useful in areas where a smartphone has cellular access but the PC (or laptop) cannot connect to the Internet? A. Proprietary vendor-specific connector B. Accessories C. IP codes D. Tethering
D. Tethering can allow a desktop computer or laptop to share the mobile device's Internet connection. Tethering functionality can be very useful in areas where a smartphone has cellular access but the PC/laptop cannot connect to the Internet. Mobile device accessories such as headsets, speakers, game pads, extra battery packs, and protective covers are useful, but they are not used to connect to the Internet. IP codes are used to classify and rate the degree of protection against dust and water (for example, IP68). A perfect example of a proprietary, vendor-specific connector is the Apple Lightning connector that can only be used on iOS devices.
9. You are helping a customer with a laptop issue. The customer said that two days ago the laptop was accidentally dropped while it was charging. You observe that the laptop will not turn on and that it is connected to the correct power adapter. Which of the following is the most likely cause? A. The battery B. The power adapter C. The hard drive D. The DC jack E. The BIOS/UEFI
D. The DC jack was probably damaged when the laptop was dropped. That's because it was plugged in (charging) and it probably fell on the plug that connects to the DC jack (which is easily damaged on many laptops, by the way). The customer probably used the laptop until the battery became discharged before noticing that the laptop wouldn't take a charge anymore— that's why it won't turn on at all. So the battery is probably not the issue. A power adapter can be damaged, but the DC-in jack is more easily damaged. The hard drive and the BIOS normally will not affect whether the laptop will turn on.
4. Which of the following allows us to access a WLAN? A. LED B. Webcam C. Digitizer D. Stylus E. Wi-Fi card
E. A Wi-Fi card, also known as a Wi-Fi network adapter, allows us to connect to a WLAN (wireless local area network), which is essentially another name for a Wi-Fi network. LED is a type of display. A webcam is used to communicate visually and audibly with others, or to record oneself. A digitizer is the device that converts tapped or written impulses on a screen into digital information that the operating system can use. A stylus is a writing device used with a digitizer or touchscreen.
3. The organization you work for allows employees to work from their own mobile devices in a BYOD manner. You have been tasked with setting up the devices so that they can "beam" information back and forth between each other. What is this known as? A. Mobile hotspot B. IoT C. CYOD D. IR E. NFC
E. "Beaming" the information back and forth can be accomplished in a couple of ways, primarily by using near field communication (NFC). This can only be done if the devices are in close proximity to each other. NFC is commonly used for contactless payment systems. Another potential option would be Apple's AirDrop, but this relies on Bluetooth (for finding devices) and Wi-Fi (for transmitting data), and of course relies on using Apple-based devices. A mobile hotspot enables a smartphone or tablet to act as an Internet gateway for other mobile devices and computers. IoT stands for the Internet of Things. In the question, it said employees can use their mobile devices in a BYOD manner, but CYOD is a bit different. This means that employees can choose a device to use for work purposes (most likely whichever type they are more familiar with). Whether or not the employees can use those for personal purposes is usually defined by company policy. IR stands for infrared, which is less commonly found on smartphones as of 2017.
