Programming Ch 1 Questions
A bit that is turned off represents the following value
0
What amount of memory is enough to store a letter of the alphabet or a small number?
1 byte
What is the purpose of ASCII?
128 numeric codes that represent the English letters, various punctuation marks, and other characters (translates computer text to human text)
A set of 128 numeric codes that represent the English letters, various punctuation marks, and other characters is
ASCII
In what numbering system are all numeric values written as sequences of 0s and 1s?
Binary Numbering System
What part of the computer actually runs programs?
CPU
List the five major components of a computer system?
CPU, Main Memory, Secondary Storage, Input Devices, Output Devices
Why is the CPU the most important component in a computer?
It runs programs on the computer; without it, the computer could not run software.
This is a volatile type of memory that is used only for temporary storage while a program is running.
RAM
What part of the computer holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer?
ROM
An extensive encoding scheme that can represent the characters of many of the languages in the world is ______
Unicode
What encoding scheme is extensive to represent all the characters of all the languages in the world?
Unicode Character Set
What is assembly language?
a low-level programming language that uses short words that are known as mnemonics, not binary numbers.
If you were to look at a machine language program, you would see _____.
a stream of binary numbers
Word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email programs, Web browsers, and game programs belong to what category of software?
application software
Word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email programs, Web browsers, and games are all examples of _________
application software
The _____ translates an assembly language program to a machine language program
assembler
In a(n) _________ numbering system, all numeric values are written as sequences of 0s and 1s
binary
What do you call a tiny "switch" that can be set to either on or off?
bit
A byte is made up of eight ______
bits
A(n) program translates a high-level language program into a separate machine language program
compiler
What do you call a program that translates a high-level language program into a separate machine language program?
compiler
In this part of the fetch-decode-execute cycle, the CPU determines which operation it should perform.
decode
What do the terms "digital data" and "digital device" mean?
digital data = data stored in binary, digital device = any device that works with binary data
What would you call a device that works with binary data?
digital device
Real numbers are encoded using the technique
floating point
What type of programming language allows you to create powerful and complex programs without knowing how the CPU works?
high-level programming language
What part of the computer collects data from people and from other devices?
input devices
What do you call a program that both translates and executes the instructions in a high-level language program?
interpreter
a program that both translates and executes the instructions in a high-level language program is called an __________
interpretor
The words that make up a high-level programming language are called _____
key words
A CPU understands instructions that are written only in what language?
machine Language
Computers can only execute programs that are written in _____
machine language
The computer stores a program while the program is running, as well as the data that the program is working with, in ________
main memory
What part of the computer serves as a work area to store a program and its data while the program is running?
main memory
A program has to be copied into what type of memory each time the CPU executes it?
main memory/RAM
What fundamental set of programs controls the internal operations of the computer's hardware?
operating systems
Windows Vista, Linux, UNIX®, and Mac OS X are all examples of
operating systems
A video display is a(n) ______
output device
What part of the computer formats and presents data for people or other devices?
output devices
What is hardware?
physical devices/components of a computer
The tiny dots of color that digital images are composed of are called
pixels
A type of memory that can hold data for long periods of time—even when there is no power to the computer--is called _______.
secondary storage
What is a program?
set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task; aka software
When a CPU executes the instructions in a program, it is engaged in what process?
step 3: execute
Each language has a set of rules that must be strictly followed when writing a program. What is this set of rules called?
syntax
What type of mistake is usually caused by a misspelled key word, a missing punctuation character, or the incorrect use of an operator?
syntax error
What type of software controls the internal operations of the computer's hardware?
system software
Negative numbers are encoded using the technique
two's complement
What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such as a virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup program?
utility programs
