revised 01/16/00; 10/04/03

on Computer Memory

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1. What is a bit?

A.    A single on/off value.
B.    A value of "one."
C.    A large section of computer memory.
D.    Enough memory to store a character.

2. Which one of the following statements is FALSE?

A.    The method used to implement a bit does not affect the information it represents.
B.    A bit may be implemented as a small part of a magnetic disk.
C.    Copying a bit from one medium to another does not affect the infromation it represents.
D.    A bit is always implemented as something electrical.

3. What is a group of 8 bits usually called?

A.    A bite.
B.    A bight.
C.    A byte.
D.    A blight.

4. How much memory is in one megabyte?

A.    About 100 bytes.
B.    About 1000 bytes.
C.    About one million bytes.
D.    About one billion bytes.

5. What is 25 * 23 ?

A.    28
B.    210
C.    48
D.    106

6. Which of the following statements is FALSE.

A.    Each byte of main memory has a unique address.
B.    Main memory consists of a very long list of bytes.
C.    Each memory location can store any number of bits.
D.    Memory addresses are positive integers starting at zero.

7. What are the two fundamental things the processor can do to a byte of main memory?

A.    It can write 8 bits to a byte in memory, and it can read 8 bits from a byte in memory.
B.    It can erase a byte in main memory, and it can read a byte of main memory.
C.    It can add the value from main memory to a sum, and it can print the value on the monitor.
D.    It can write the byte to secondary storage and it can read the byte from secondary storage.

8. What is a file?

A.    A file is a section of main storage used to store data.
B.    A file is a collection of information that has been given a name and is stored in secondary memory.
C.    A file is the part of a program that is used to describe what the program should do.
D.    A file is another name for floppy disk.

9. How are bytes written onto a hard disk?

A.    Tiny holes in the disk represent bits.
B.    The disk is coated with wax which records bits as tiny impressions.
C.    Bits are printed on the disk with an ink-jet spray.
D.    Bits are magnetically recorded on the disk.

10. What is the role of the operating system in managing files?

A.    The operating system is not involved with files; it just keeps the hardware running.
B.    The operating system is only conderned with the files it needs for itself.
C.    Everything done to or with files on a computer system involves the operating system.
D.    The operating system will access files that contain application programs and start the application running, but the applications totally manage their own files.

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