Western Governors University – D684
Introduction to Computer Science (2025–2026)
– Complete Exam Material
Introduction:
This document provides a complete overview of the core
concepts, key terms, and exam-relevant material for the WGU
course D684: Introduction to Computer Science. It includes
definitions, explanations, and structured exam questions with
answers covering programming, algorithms, operating
systems, data structures, file systems, and computer
architecture. The content is designed as a full exam
preparation resource aligned with the 2025–2026 curriculum.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. value parameter-Answer:- a type of parameter that
passes a copy of the argument's value to the function
2. asynchronous-Answer:- a type of operation that runs
independently of the main program flow, allowing additional
tasks to happen without waiting for others to complete
3. bytecode-Answer:- a low-level, platform-independent
code that is executed by a virtual machine, typically produced
by compiling source code
,4. case sensitive-Answer:- when a programming language
treats uppercase and lowercase letters as ditterent characters
5. class-Answer:- a blueprint for creating objects in object-
oriented programming that defines the properties and
behaviors the objects will have
6. compiler-Answer:- a tool that translates source code
written in a high-level programming language into machine
code or bytecode that a computer can execute
7. encapsulation-Answer:- bundling data and methods that
operate on the data into a single unit (a class) and restricting
access to some of the object's components
8. field-Answer:- a variable associated with a class or object
that represents a piece of data stored in that object
9. inheritance-Answer:- the creation of a new class based on
an existing class, inheriting its properties and methods while
adding new ones or modifying existing ones
10. instantiate-Answer:- the process of creating a specific
instance of a class, resulting in an object
11. interpreter-Answer:- a tool that executes source code
directly and translates it into machine code in real time rather
than compiling it before
12. method-Answer:- a function defined within a class that
describes the behaviors or actions an object can perform
, 13. object-Answer:- an instance of a class containing data
and methods defined by the class, representing a specific
entity in a program
14. paradigm-Answer:- a style or approach to programming—
such as object-oriented, procedural, or functional pro-
gramming—that dictates how code is structured and organized
15. polymorphism-Answer:- a concept that allows objects of
ditterent classes to be treated as objects of a common
superclass
16. strong typing-Answer:- a feature in which each variable
has a specific type and you must follow strict rules about how
types are used and combined, helping prevent errors in your
code
17. address binding-Answer:- the process of mapping a
program's symbolic addresses to physical addresses in memory
18. application software-Answer:- programs designed to help
users perform specific tasks, such as word processing, web
browsing, or gaming
19. batch processing-Answer:- a method of executing a series
of jobs on a computer without manual intervention where
tasks are processed in batches
20. base register-Answer:- a register in the CPU that holds
the starting address of the current memory segment; used in
address translation
Introduction to Computer Science (2025–2026)
– Complete Exam Material
Introduction:
This document provides a complete overview of the core
concepts, key terms, and exam-relevant material for the WGU
course D684: Introduction to Computer Science. It includes
definitions, explanations, and structured exam questions with
answers covering programming, algorithms, operating
systems, data structures, file systems, and computer
architecture. The content is designed as a full exam
preparation resource aligned with the 2025–2026 curriculum.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. value parameter-Answer:- a type of parameter that
passes a copy of the argument's value to the function
2. asynchronous-Answer:- a type of operation that runs
independently of the main program flow, allowing additional
tasks to happen without waiting for others to complete
3. bytecode-Answer:- a low-level, platform-independent
code that is executed by a virtual machine, typically produced
by compiling source code
,4. case sensitive-Answer:- when a programming language
treats uppercase and lowercase letters as ditterent characters
5. class-Answer:- a blueprint for creating objects in object-
oriented programming that defines the properties and
behaviors the objects will have
6. compiler-Answer:- a tool that translates source code
written in a high-level programming language into machine
code or bytecode that a computer can execute
7. encapsulation-Answer:- bundling data and methods that
operate on the data into a single unit (a class) and restricting
access to some of the object's components
8. field-Answer:- a variable associated with a class or object
that represents a piece of data stored in that object
9. inheritance-Answer:- the creation of a new class based on
an existing class, inheriting its properties and methods while
adding new ones or modifying existing ones
10. instantiate-Answer:- the process of creating a specific
instance of a class, resulting in an object
11. interpreter-Answer:- a tool that executes source code
directly and translates it into machine code in real time rather
than compiling it before
12. method-Answer:- a function defined within a class that
describes the behaviors or actions an object can perform
, 13. object-Answer:- an instance of a class containing data
and methods defined by the class, representing a specific
entity in a program
14. paradigm-Answer:- a style or approach to programming—
such as object-oriented, procedural, or functional pro-
gramming—that dictates how code is structured and organized
15. polymorphism-Answer:- a concept that allows objects of
ditterent classes to be treated as objects of a common
superclass
16. strong typing-Answer:- a feature in which each variable
has a specific type and you must follow strict rules about how
types are used and combined, helping prevent errors in your
code
17. address binding-Answer:- the process of mapping a
program's symbolic addresses to physical addresses in memory
18. application software-Answer:- programs designed to help
users perform specific tasks, such as word processing, web
browsing, or gaming
19. batch processing-Answer:- a method of executing a series
of jobs on a computer without manual intervention where
tasks are processed in batches
20. base register-Answer:- a register in the CPU that holds
the starting address of the current memory segment; used in
address translation
