IT GACE -Computer Science Exam Questions with
Certified Solutions
address bus - Answer Pathway from memory to processing unit that carries the address in memory to
and from which data is transferred. See the definitions for "bus" and "data bus".
arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) - Answer A part of the computer that performs arithmetic operations,
logic operations and related operations.
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange - Answer The primary encoding character
set used in computers for textual data transfer between applications. The set uses eight bits for each
character code, one of these bits being a check bit to verify the seven bits needed to represent one
character. ASCII supports most European alphabets. Unicode supports most known alphabets and is
increasingly used in data transfer. See also the definition for "Unicode".
B - Answer Byte.
backup (file) - Answer A second copy of a file, to be used in the event of the original file being corrupted.
See also the definition for "unbalanced tree".
bar code - Answer A pattern of vertical lines distinguished from each other by width. It can be read by a
bar code reader to provide data to a computer.
bar code reader - Answer An optical reader that can read bar codes. In a decimal system the base is 10,
in a hexadecimal system the base is 16, and in a binary system the base is 2.
bit (b) - Answer Binary digit. The smallest unit of information for data storage and transmission. Each bit
is considered to be either a "0" or a "1".
Bus - Answer The pathway used for sending signals between internal components of a computer.
Components can share the same bus but cannot transmit simultaneously.
,Cache - Answer Part of the main store that is between main memory and the processor. It holds a copy
of data and instructions that are likely to be used next by the processor and is hence faster than main
memory. See also the definition for "disk cache".
character set - Answer A finite set of different characters that is complete for a given purpose, for
example, the 128 ASCII characters.
computer architecture - Answer The logical structure and functional characteristics of a computer,
including the interrelationships among its hardware and software components.
database management system (DBMS) - Answer A computer based system for defining, creating,
manipulating, controlling, managing and using databases.
data bus - Answer The pathway between the memory or peripheral and processing unit that carries data
for processing or data that has been processed. See also definitions for "bus" and "address bus". All
redundancy in the data is removed to reduce the storage needed or to speed up transfer. The data can
be uncompressed back to its original state.
defragmentation software - Answer An application that reads file segments from non-contiguous
sections of a storage device and then writes the files to the same device in such a way that each file
segment is contiguous.
digital data - Answer Discrete data.
disk cache - Answer RAM set aside to speed up access to a hard drive. This may be part of the disk itself
or may be incorporated in cache memory.
encryption - Answer In computer security, the process of transforming data into an unintelligible form in
such a way that the original data cannot be easily obtained except by using a decryption process.
file manager - Answer An application software that can access, create, modify, store and retrieve files.
All such records in a file have the same length. See also the definition for "variable-length records".
, graphics tablet (graphics pad) - Answer An input device on which the user writes or designs. The image is
reproduced on the screen.
JPEG (joint photographic expert group) - Answer A recognized standard of compression of graphics files
that has some loss.
memory address register (MAR) - Answer Holds the address in memory of the instruction at present
being executed. It is particularly important in multitasking systems where applications might otherwise
cause conflicts, and for implementing virtual machines and virtual memory.
Microprocessor - Answer An integrated circuit incorporating the main components of a central
processor. These circuits are used for microcomputers and small devices controlled by computer.
Modem - Answer An abbreviation for "modulator/demodulator": a piece of electronic equipment that
converts digital signals from a computer into audio signals that are transmitted over telephone lines,
and converts them back again.
Multitasking - Answer A mode of operation that provides for concurrent performance, or interleaved
execution, of two or more tasks.
OCR Optical character recognition (reader) - Answer Refers to the use of devices and software to "read"
characters and translate them into ASCII characters for later processing. Applications of OCR include the
scanning of printed documents to convert the text into digital ASCII text that can then be edited in word
processors.
operating system (OS) - Answer It is the core of computer system software. It manages computer
resources, such as memory, and input/output devices, and provides an interface through which a
human can interact with the computer. It allows an application program to interact with system
resources.
Software that controls the execution of programs and that may provide services such as resource
allocation, scheduling, input/output control, and data management.
peripheral device - Answer Any device that can communicate with a particular computer, for example:
input/output units, auxiliary storage, printers. Used in dynamic data structures to move from item to
item.
Certified Solutions
address bus - Answer Pathway from memory to processing unit that carries the address in memory to
and from which data is transferred. See the definitions for "bus" and "data bus".
arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) - Answer A part of the computer that performs arithmetic operations,
logic operations and related operations.
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange - Answer The primary encoding character
set used in computers for textual data transfer between applications. The set uses eight bits for each
character code, one of these bits being a check bit to verify the seven bits needed to represent one
character. ASCII supports most European alphabets. Unicode supports most known alphabets and is
increasingly used in data transfer. See also the definition for "Unicode".
B - Answer Byte.
backup (file) - Answer A second copy of a file, to be used in the event of the original file being corrupted.
See also the definition for "unbalanced tree".
bar code - Answer A pattern of vertical lines distinguished from each other by width. It can be read by a
bar code reader to provide data to a computer.
bar code reader - Answer An optical reader that can read bar codes. In a decimal system the base is 10,
in a hexadecimal system the base is 16, and in a binary system the base is 2.
bit (b) - Answer Binary digit. The smallest unit of information for data storage and transmission. Each bit
is considered to be either a "0" or a "1".
Bus - Answer The pathway used for sending signals between internal components of a computer.
Components can share the same bus but cannot transmit simultaneously.
,Cache - Answer Part of the main store that is between main memory and the processor. It holds a copy
of data and instructions that are likely to be used next by the processor and is hence faster than main
memory. See also the definition for "disk cache".
character set - Answer A finite set of different characters that is complete for a given purpose, for
example, the 128 ASCII characters.
computer architecture - Answer The logical structure and functional characteristics of a computer,
including the interrelationships among its hardware and software components.
database management system (DBMS) - Answer A computer based system for defining, creating,
manipulating, controlling, managing and using databases.
data bus - Answer The pathway between the memory or peripheral and processing unit that carries data
for processing or data that has been processed. See also definitions for "bus" and "address bus". All
redundancy in the data is removed to reduce the storage needed or to speed up transfer. The data can
be uncompressed back to its original state.
defragmentation software - Answer An application that reads file segments from non-contiguous
sections of a storage device and then writes the files to the same device in such a way that each file
segment is contiguous.
digital data - Answer Discrete data.
disk cache - Answer RAM set aside to speed up access to a hard drive. This may be part of the disk itself
or may be incorporated in cache memory.
encryption - Answer In computer security, the process of transforming data into an unintelligible form in
such a way that the original data cannot be easily obtained except by using a decryption process.
file manager - Answer An application software that can access, create, modify, store and retrieve files.
All such records in a file have the same length. See also the definition for "variable-length records".
, graphics tablet (graphics pad) - Answer An input device on which the user writes or designs. The image is
reproduced on the screen.
JPEG (joint photographic expert group) - Answer A recognized standard of compression of graphics files
that has some loss.
memory address register (MAR) - Answer Holds the address in memory of the instruction at present
being executed. It is particularly important in multitasking systems where applications might otherwise
cause conflicts, and for implementing virtual machines and virtual memory.
Microprocessor - Answer An integrated circuit incorporating the main components of a central
processor. These circuits are used for microcomputers and small devices controlled by computer.
Modem - Answer An abbreviation for "modulator/demodulator": a piece of electronic equipment that
converts digital signals from a computer into audio signals that are transmitted over telephone lines,
and converts them back again.
Multitasking - Answer A mode of operation that provides for concurrent performance, or interleaved
execution, of two or more tasks.
OCR Optical character recognition (reader) - Answer Refers to the use of devices and software to "read"
characters and translate them into ASCII characters for later processing. Applications of OCR include the
scanning of printed documents to convert the text into digital ASCII text that can then be edited in word
processors.
operating system (OS) - Answer It is the core of computer system software. It manages computer
resources, such as memory, and input/output devices, and provides an interface through which a
human can interact with the computer. It allows an application program to interact with system
resources.
Software that controls the execution of programs and that may provide services such as resource
allocation, scheduling, input/output control, and data management.
peripheral device - Answer Any device that can communicate with a particular computer, for example:
input/output units, auxiliary storage, printers. Used in dynamic data structures to move from item to
item.
