IGCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE
TERMINOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
FAT - file allocation table - Answer-a map of where each file is and which sectors on the
magnetic disk are free
data bus - Answer-bi-directional, carries data between memory and processor, and
between input/output and processor
operating system - Answer-software running in the background of a computer system
managing basic functions, and making the computer user-friendly
program - Answer-our way of telling a computer what to do, how to do it, and when to
do it
high level language - Answer-portable language designed with the programmer in mind
- it is easy to understand and debug, but it needs to be translated in order for a
computer to understand it
low level language - Answer-language relating to specific architecture and hardware of
a particular device - can refer to assembly lang or machine code
assembly language - Answer-code that is specific to a particular hardware, but needs to
be translated into machine code before it can run
machine code - Answer-the binary code that is specific to a machine and does not need
translating in order to run
translator - Answer-program that changes higher level language into machine code
compiler - Answer-this translates HLL into machine code. Once it has done this, the
program can be used multiple times without translating it again
interpreter - Answer-this translates HLL into machine code one line at a time.
assembler - Answer-this translates assembly language into machine code. Once it has
done this, the machine code can be used multiple time without translating it again.
UPS - Answer-uninterruptable power supply
cracking - Answer-editing source code with malicious intent
, viruses - Answer-program or code that can replicate itself with intention of deleting files,
corruption or malfunction. Not always malicious
spyware/key logging software - Answer-hardware or software that can be used to
monitor key presses and gain information.
firewall - Answer-this examines traffic between a user's computer and the internet by
checking what is/isn't allowed and blocking traffic that does not meet certain criteria
proxy server - Answer-this filters web traffic, keeps the IP address secret, and, using a
cache, speeds up access to websites that have been visited before
SSL - Answer-this is used on web browsers to allow data to be sent/received securely.
It encrypts data so that only the sender and receiver can understand the information
being transmitted
TLS - Transport Layer Security - Answer-this is a form of secure data transmission
made up of 2 layers: the record protocol, and the handshaking protocol. It is very secure
and fairly new, and can make use of session caching, which improves performance. It
involves many complicated encryption algorithms.
session caching - Answer-this is used in TLS to avoid using too much computer time;
TLS is able to attempt to resume an existing session, which increases speed.
plain text - Answer-text/data before it has gone through encryption algorithm
cypher text - Answer-output from encryption algorithm
denial of service attack - Answer-attempting to prevent a user from accessing part of a
network (usually the server); this is usually temporary, but may be very damaging, or a
big security breach
computer ethics - Answer-this considers 3 factors; intellectual property rights, privacy
issues, and a computer's effect on society. It is a set of principles that regulates the use
of a computer
code of ethics - Answer-this is a set of rules set up by the ACM and IEEE to ensure that
computers are used correctly, and to avoid plagiarism.
free software - Answer-software that is free to run, copy, change or adapt, and share
with friends, family or colleagues.
freeware - Answer-software that a user can download for free from the internet, but they
are not allowed to edit the source code
TERMINOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
FAT - file allocation table - Answer-a map of where each file is and which sectors on the
magnetic disk are free
data bus - Answer-bi-directional, carries data between memory and processor, and
between input/output and processor
operating system - Answer-software running in the background of a computer system
managing basic functions, and making the computer user-friendly
program - Answer-our way of telling a computer what to do, how to do it, and when to
do it
high level language - Answer-portable language designed with the programmer in mind
- it is easy to understand and debug, but it needs to be translated in order for a
computer to understand it
low level language - Answer-language relating to specific architecture and hardware of
a particular device - can refer to assembly lang or machine code
assembly language - Answer-code that is specific to a particular hardware, but needs to
be translated into machine code before it can run
machine code - Answer-the binary code that is specific to a machine and does not need
translating in order to run
translator - Answer-program that changes higher level language into machine code
compiler - Answer-this translates HLL into machine code. Once it has done this, the
program can be used multiple times without translating it again
interpreter - Answer-this translates HLL into machine code one line at a time.
assembler - Answer-this translates assembly language into machine code. Once it has
done this, the machine code can be used multiple time without translating it again.
UPS - Answer-uninterruptable power supply
cracking - Answer-editing source code with malicious intent
, viruses - Answer-program or code that can replicate itself with intention of deleting files,
corruption or malfunction. Not always malicious
spyware/key logging software - Answer-hardware or software that can be used to
monitor key presses and gain information.
firewall - Answer-this examines traffic between a user's computer and the internet by
checking what is/isn't allowed and blocking traffic that does not meet certain criteria
proxy server - Answer-this filters web traffic, keeps the IP address secret, and, using a
cache, speeds up access to websites that have been visited before
SSL - Answer-this is used on web browsers to allow data to be sent/received securely.
It encrypts data so that only the sender and receiver can understand the information
being transmitted
TLS - Transport Layer Security - Answer-this is a form of secure data transmission
made up of 2 layers: the record protocol, and the handshaking protocol. It is very secure
and fairly new, and can make use of session caching, which improves performance. It
involves many complicated encryption algorithms.
session caching - Answer-this is used in TLS to avoid using too much computer time;
TLS is able to attempt to resume an existing session, which increases speed.
plain text - Answer-text/data before it has gone through encryption algorithm
cypher text - Answer-output from encryption algorithm
denial of service attack - Answer-attempting to prevent a user from accessing part of a
network (usually the server); this is usually temporary, but may be very damaging, or a
big security breach
computer ethics - Answer-this considers 3 factors; intellectual property rights, privacy
issues, and a computer's effect on society. It is a set of principles that regulates the use
of a computer
code of ethics - Answer-this is a set of rules set up by the ACM and IEEE to ensure that
computers are used correctly, and to avoid plagiarism.
free software - Answer-software that is free to run, copy, change or adapt, and share
with friends, family or colleagues.
freeware - Answer-software that a user can download for free from the internet, but they
are not allowed to edit the source code
