ITE 152 - Exam 1 Study Questions With
All Correct Answers (2026) Graded A+
SECTION 1: COMPUTER CONCEPTS & HARDWARE (Questions 1–12)
Q1: Which component of the CPU is responsible for performing arithmetic
operations and logical comparisons?
A. The control unit, which directs all processor activities.
B. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which executes mathematical calculations and
logical decisions. [CORRECT]
C. The register, which temporarily stores data during processing.
D. The cache, which speeds up memory access.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, the ALU is the CPU
component specifically designed to perform arithmetic operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical comparisons (AND, OR, NOT).
The control unit manages instruction sequencing, while registers and cache
serve storage functions.
Q2: A user wants to upgrade their computer to improve boot time and overall
system responsiveness. Which upgrade would provide the most noticeable
performance improvement?
A. Increasing RAM from 8GB to 16GB.
B. Replacing a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with a solid-state drive (SSD).
[CORRECT]
C. Installing a more powerful graphics card.
D. Adding a second monitor for multitasking.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates that SSDs use flash
memory with no moving parts, providing significantly faster read/write speeds
and access times compared to HDDs. This directly reduces boot time and
improves application loading, offering the most noticeable general performance
improvement.
,Q3: Which of the following best describes the function of RAM in a computer
system?
A. RAM permanently stores the operating system and user files.
B. RAM provides volatile temporary storage for data and instructions currently
being processed by the CPU. [CORRECT]
C. RAM stores the BIOS/UEFI firmware that initializes hardware at boot.
D. RAM determines the maximum resolution of the display output.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, RAM (Random Access
Memory) is volatile memory that temporarily holds data and program instructions
actively used by the CPU. Data is lost when power is removed, distinguishing it
from non-volatile storage like ROM or hard drives.
Q4: During the boot process, which component performs the Power-On Self-Test
(POST) to verify that essential hardware is functioning correctly?
A. The operating system kernel.
B. The BIOS/UEFI firmware. [CORRECT]
C. The CPU control unit.
D. The device drivers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates that BIOS/UEFI
firmware executes POST immediately after power-on, testing RAM, CPU, storage
devices, and other critical components before loading the operating system. This
occurs before the OS or drivers are active.
Q5: A student needs to connect an external monitor to their laptop that supports
4K resolution at 60Hz. Which port should they use for the best performance?
A. VGA (Video Graphics Array).
B. HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2. [CORRECT]
C. USB 2.0 Type-A.
D. Ethernet RJ-45.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort
1.2 both support 4K resolution at 60Hz bandwidth requirements. VGA is analog
and cannot support 4K, USB 2.0 lacks video bandwidth, and Ethernet is for
network connectivity.
Q6: Which storage measurement represents the largest capacity?
A. 1 Terabyte (TB).
B. 1 Petabyte (PB). [CORRECT]
C. 1 Gigabyte (GB).
D. 1 Megabyte (MB).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates the hierarchy: 1 PB =
1,024 TB = 1,048,576 GB = 1,073,741,824 MB. Petabyte is the largest unit listed,
commonly used for enterprise data centers and cloud storage.
Q7: A computer is running slowly when multiple applications are open
simultaneously. Which hardware component is most likely the bottleneck?
A. The power supply unit (PSU).
B. Insufficient RAM capacity. [CORRECT]
C. The computer case fan.
D. The optical disc drive.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, when RAM is insufficient
for active applications, the system uses virtual memory (swap space on storage),
which is orders of magnitude slower. This thrashing causes significant
performance degradation during multitasking.
Q8: Which type of memory is non-volatile and stores the firmware instructions
needed to boot the computer?
A. DRAM (Dynamic RAM).
B. ROM (Read-Only Memory). [CORRECT]
C. SRAM (Static RAM).
D. Cache memory.
All Correct Answers (2026) Graded A+
SECTION 1: COMPUTER CONCEPTS & HARDWARE (Questions 1–12)
Q1: Which component of the CPU is responsible for performing arithmetic
operations and logical comparisons?
A. The control unit, which directs all processor activities.
B. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which executes mathematical calculations and
logical decisions. [CORRECT]
C. The register, which temporarily stores data during processing.
D. The cache, which speeds up memory access.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, the ALU is the CPU
component specifically designed to perform arithmetic operations (addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division) and logical comparisons (AND, OR, NOT).
The control unit manages instruction sequencing, while registers and cache
serve storage functions.
Q2: A user wants to upgrade their computer to improve boot time and overall
system responsiveness. Which upgrade would provide the most noticeable
performance improvement?
A. Increasing RAM from 8GB to 16GB.
B. Replacing a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) with a solid-state drive (SSD).
[CORRECT]
C. Installing a more powerful graphics card.
D. Adding a second monitor for multitasking.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates that SSDs use flash
memory with no moving parts, providing significantly faster read/write speeds
and access times compared to HDDs. This directly reduces boot time and
improves application loading, offering the most noticeable general performance
improvement.
,Q3: Which of the following best describes the function of RAM in a computer
system?
A. RAM permanently stores the operating system and user files.
B. RAM provides volatile temporary storage for data and instructions currently
being processed by the CPU. [CORRECT]
C. RAM stores the BIOS/UEFI firmware that initializes hardware at boot.
D. RAM determines the maximum resolution of the display output.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, RAM (Random Access
Memory) is volatile memory that temporarily holds data and program instructions
actively used by the CPU. Data is lost when power is removed, distinguishing it
from non-volatile storage like ROM or hard drives.
Q4: During the boot process, which component performs the Power-On Self-Test
(POST) to verify that essential hardware is functioning correctly?
A. The operating system kernel.
B. The BIOS/UEFI firmware. [CORRECT]
C. The CPU control unit.
D. The device drivers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates that BIOS/UEFI
firmware executes POST immediately after power-on, testing RAM, CPU, storage
devices, and other critical components before loading the operating system. This
occurs before the OS or drivers are active.
Q5: A student needs to connect an external monitor to their laptop that supports
4K resolution at 60Hz. Which port should they use for the best performance?
A. VGA (Video Graphics Array).
B. HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2. [CORRECT]
C. USB 2.0 Type-A.
D. Ethernet RJ-45.
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort
1.2 both support 4K resolution at 60Hz bandwidth requirements. VGA is analog
and cannot support 4K, USB 2.0 lacks video bandwidth, and Ethernet is for
network connectivity.
Q6: Which storage measurement represents the largest capacity?
A. 1 Terabyte (TB).
B. 1 Petabyte (PB). [CORRECT]
C. 1 Gigabyte (GB).
D. 1 Megabyte (MB).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because computer architecture dictates the hierarchy: 1 PB =
1,024 TB = 1,048,576 GB = 1,073,741,824 MB. Petabyte is the largest unit listed,
commonly used for enterprise data centers and cloud storage.
Q7: A computer is running slowly when multiple applications are open
simultaneously. Which hardware component is most likely the bottleneck?
A. The power supply unit (PSU).
B. Insufficient RAM capacity. [CORRECT]
C. The computer case fan.
D. The optical disc drive.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because per standard IT principles, when RAM is insufficient
for active applications, the system uses virtual memory (swap space on storage),
which is orders of magnitude slower. This thrashing causes significant
performance degradation during multitasking.
Q8: Which type of memory is non-volatile and stores the firmware instructions
needed to boot the computer?
A. DRAM (Dynamic RAM).
B. ROM (Read-Only Memory). [CORRECT]
C. SRAM (Static RAM).
D. Cache memory.
