WGU D684 Introduction to Computer Science OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT ACTUAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS <BRAND NEW VERSION>

WGU D684 Introduction to Computer Science OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT ACTUAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS BANK AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES || 100% GUARANTEED PASS &lt;BRAND NEW VERSION&gt; 1. Array - ANSWER a collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations; each item can be accessed using an index 2. Binary Search - ANSWER a search algorithm that finds the position of a target value within a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half 3. Bubble Sort - ANSWER a simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through a list, compares adjacent elements, and swaps them if they are in the wrong order 4. Concrete Step - ANSWER a detailed action in an algorithm that specifies exactly how to perform a task 5. Count-controlled loop - ANSWER a loop that repeats a specific number of times; controlled by a counter variable (e.g., "for" loop) 6. Desk checking - ANSWER a manual method of reviewing the logic of a program or algorithm using a pencil and paper instead of a computer 7. Event-controlled loop - ANSWER a loop that continues to execute until a specific condition or event occurs, such as user input or a sensor reading 8. Heterogeneous - ANSWER a term describing a collection of items that are of different types 9. Homogenous - ANSWER a term describing a collection of items that are all of the same type 10. Index - ANSWER a numerical representation of an element's position within an array or list 11. How are items added to and removed from a stack? A. All items can be added to or removed from any location. B. All items can be accessed or changed but not easily inserted or removed. C. The item removed is the one that has been in the shortest time. D. The first item to be added becomes the first item removed. - ANSWER C. The item removed is the one that has been in the shortest time. 12. The collection of customers for a small business is stored in such a way that a customer can be easily accessed, deleted, or added. What is the data structure called for in this programming situation? A. Queue B. Record C. Stack D. List - ANSWER D. List 13. Which coding construct allows a choice between performing an action and skipping it? A. Input/output B. Assignment C. Selection D. Iteration - ANSWER C. Selection 14. Which term describes the algorithm used in this scenario? - ANSWER Linear 15. Consider the following code. IF (myNum &gt; 0) Print "Here" ELSE Print "There" 16. What does the code do? - ANSWER It prints "There" if the value of myNum is less than or equal to 0 and "Here" otherwise. 17. Sample code is shown. Set counter to 0 Set product to 1 while (counter &lt; 15) Read num Set product to product * num Set counter to counter + 1 Print product 18. What does the code do? - ANSWER The user inputs 15 values, and the product of those values is printed. 19. Which pseudocode example is one way to convert the integer a to a floating point number? - ANSWER myFloat x = a / 1.0 20. Which term refers to the state of a process when it is being created? - ANSWER New 21. What is the name of the CPU scheduling method in which a running process is not interrupted and is allowed to finish before another process starts? - ANSWER Nonpreemptive 22. A programming company has been hired to write code that will send secure messages from one device to another. The company policy is to follow the software development lifecycle (SDLC) model for production. Which step will the team expect to go through during the course of this process? - ANSWER Test the program. Rationale: The SDLC model has seven structured steps: understand the problem, plan the logic, code the program, use software to translate the program into machine language, test the program, put the program into production, and maintain the program. 23. A programmer has been asked to lead a project that uses artificial intelligence to search for patterns in Wi-Fi signals to improve efficiency and range. The programmer will use the software development lifecycle (SDLC) as a model for design and implementation. Which step is the programmer in when outlining the steps that the program will go through? - ANSWER Plan the logic. Rationale: 2nd step of the SDLC, in this step, the programmer develops all necessary algorithms often using either flowcharts or pseudocode. 24. A computer scientist is writing a computer application that will manage financial records for small businesses. The computer scientist is following the software development lifecycle (SDLC) model and just completed the step, "understand the problem." Which step is next in the SDLC? - ANSWER Plan the logic. 25. What does a technology company need to commit to if adopting the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Code of Ethics? - ANSWER Perform work only in areas of competence. 26. Which situation represents a violation of the Codes of Ethics for both the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)? - ANSWER One of the division heads assigns work to employees that is outside of their area of competence. 27. What is one situation that illustrates extortion? - ANSWER A person hacks into a university's servers, locks them down, and will only unlock them for a large ransom. 28. Field - ANSWER Variable inside a class (state/data) 29. Inheritance - ANSWER One class derives behavior/state from another 30. Methods - ANSWER Functions inside a class 31. Argument - ANSWER Actual value passed into a method 32. Parameter - ANSWER Variable in method definition accepting argument (ingriedent1 in blender) 33. reference parameter - ANSWER function is working with original variable, not just a copy 34. value parameter - ANSWER function gets copy of input, not original variable 35. composite variable - ANSWER variable that holds multiple pieces of data, usually under a single name 36. Array - ANSWER collection of items stored on a contiguous memory block, with each item identified by an index number 37. record - ANSWER heterogeneous group of items that can be different data types, under one name 38. abstract data type - ANSWER template/blueprint for how to organize and use data—lists are these, data is not, also called containers cause they hold data 39. stack - ANSWER way of organizing data where the last thing you put in is the first thing you take out (LIFO); you can only add/remove things from one end known as the top (ex: like a stack of plates, pop/push) 40. queue - ANSWER data structure that follows a firstin, firstout (FIFO) order where elements are added to the back and removed from the front (like grocery line) 41. list - ANSWER items in a linear sequence, allowing easy access, and the insertion and deletion of elements 42. three properties of a list - ANSWER items are homogeneous, items are linear, and lists have varying lengths 43. linked list - ANSWER a collection of elements, each containing a reference to the next element; consists of nodes 44. topdown design - ANSWER method of solving a problem by breaking it down into smaller steps or tasks; build up to solution step by step 45. objectoriented design - ANSWER produces a solution based on all the selfcontained "objects", which are composed of data or operations that manipulate the data (instead of just steps) 46. Advantage of OOP - ANSWER allows you to reuse code using classes and inheritance; build new features by modifying existing objects, saving time and reducing errors 47. Class - ANSWER blueprint for creating objects; defines properties and behaviors the objects will have—all the objects within a class will have related properties 48. Object - ANSWER contains data and methods defined by a class, represents a specific entity in a program 49. Instance of a class - ANSWER means a real, usable object created from a class; class is like a template, and the instance is the actual thing made from it 50. Invoking object's subprogram - ANSWER Objects communicate with one another by sending messages 51. compiler - ANSWER a tool that translates source code written in highlevel programming language into machine code or byte code that the computer can execute 52. Examples of compiled languages - ANSWER C, C++, Rust, Go, Fortran 53. interpreter - ANSWER tool that executes source code directly and translates it into machine code in real time rather than compiling it before; slower than compiler 54. Imperative paradigm - ANSWER style of programming where you write stepbystep instructions in sequential order for the computer to solve a problem 55. Examples of languages that support imperative paradigm - ANSWER FORTRAN, BASIC, C, C++, Pascal 56. Procedural paradigm - ANSWER style of programming where the program is broken up into smaller functions, each doing a specific task; grouping related instructions together 57. Examples of languages that support Procedural Paradigm - ANSWER FORTRAN, BASIC, C, Pascal (same as imperative but no C++) 58. Examples of languages that use objectoriented paradigm - ANSWER SIMULA, Smalltalk, Java, Python, C++ (kind of), C# 59. declarative paradigm - ANSWER style of programming where you describe what the program should accomplish, rather than giving steps on how to do it 60. declarative paradigm, functional - ANSWER based on mathematical functions, these programs are built by calling functions to compute results; no variables/assignment statements 61. Examples of languages that support Declarative Paradigm— Functional Model - ANSWER Lisp, Scheme, ML 62. declarative paradigm, logic - ANSWER based on facts and rules, so instead of writing instructions, you define relationships and ask questions about them; computer uses logic to figure out answers 63. Examples of languages that support the Declarative Paradigm— Logic Model - ANSWER Prolog 64. Main difference between declarative paradigm—functional vs logic - ANSWER Logic excels in situations requiring inference and reasoning over a set of facts, and functional is good when you need unchanging data 65. What are the four steps of George Pólya's problemsolving method - ANSWER Understanding the problem, devising a plan, executing the plan, reviewing the solution (UDER) 66. What are the seven steps of the SDLC cycle - ANSWER Understand the problem, plan the logic, code the problem, use a compiler or interpreter, test the program, put into production, maintain the program (Mnemonic: Ugly Purple Cats Use Tiny Pink Mittens) 67. What are the 4 Stages of the Computer Problem Solving Process - ANSWER Analysis and Specification Phase, Algorithm Development Phase, Implementation Phase, Maintenance Phase 68. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - ANSWER represents the hardware side, focused on electrical, electronics, and computing engineering 69. ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) - ANSWER represents the software side 70. Selection - ANSWER allow algorithms to make decisions based on data/conditions, and then respond to different situations and choose between multiple options based on conditions, which is a fundamental part of solving problems 71. Searching Algorithm— Sequential Search - ANSWER checks each element in a list one by one from start to end until it finds the target or reaches the end (aka linear search)—works on any list: sorted/unsorted but slower for large lists 72. Searching Algorithm— Binary Search - ANSWER repeatedly divides a sorted list in half to find the target value, stops once found—only works on sorted lists but must faster with large lists 73. Sorting Algorithm— Selection Sort - ANSWER simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly finds the minimum element from the unsorted part of a list and moves it to the beginning—simple but slow for large lists