INSY 3300 STARTING OUT WITH PYTHON
CHAPTER 1 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
2026
◉ What is hardware?
Answer: Refers to all of the physical components of devices of which
a computer is made. It is not one single device, but a system of
devices that work together like a symphony. Each device in a
computer plays its own part.
◉ List 5 major components of a computer system.
Answer: The CPU, RAM (main memory), Disk or Disk Drives
(secondary memory) Input Devices, Output Devices
◉ What part of the computer actually runs programs?
Answer: Central Processing Unit (CPU) (It executes instructions)
◉ What part of the computer serves as a work area to store a
program and its data when running?
Answer: RAM (random access memory)
◉ What part of the computer holds data for a long period of time;
even when there is no power to the computer?
,Answer: Disk Drive/ Disk (inside the computer or external Disk
Drive or Thumb Drive
◉ What part of the computer collects data from people and other
devices?
Answer: Input Devices such as - keyboard, Waacom tables, digital
camera, mouse, scanner, microphone
◉ What part of the computer formats and presents data for people
and other devices?
Answer: Output Devices such as - Computer monitor, speaker,
printer, disc drive
◉ What fundamental set of programs control the internal operations
of the computers hardware?
Answer: Operating Systems - the most fundamental set of programs
on a computer ie. windows, macOC, Linus (system software)
◉ What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such
as virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup
program?
Answer: Utility Program
, ◉ Word Processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email
programs, web browsers, and game programs belong to what
category of software?
Answer: Apps Application Software - make a computer useful for
everyday use.
◉ Monitors, printers, status lights are all examples of what type of
devices
Answer: Output Devices
◉ At each step of its operation, the input to a Central Processing Unit
is
Answer: an instruction
◉ When a program is not running, it is stored
Answer: on a disk
◉ When a program runs on a computer, the part of the computer
that carries out the instructions is called the
Answer: Central Processing Unit (CPU)
◉ When a program runs on a computer, it is stored in
Answer: Random Access Memory (RAM)
CHAPTER 1 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
2026
◉ What is hardware?
Answer: Refers to all of the physical components of devices of which
a computer is made. It is not one single device, but a system of
devices that work together like a symphony. Each device in a
computer plays its own part.
◉ List 5 major components of a computer system.
Answer: The CPU, RAM (main memory), Disk or Disk Drives
(secondary memory) Input Devices, Output Devices
◉ What part of the computer actually runs programs?
Answer: Central Processing Unit (CPU) (It executes instructions)
◉ What part of the computer serves as a work area to store a
program and its data when running?
Answer: RAM (random access memory)
◉ What part of the computer holds data for a long period of time;
even when there is no power to the computer?
,Answer: Disk Drive/ Disk (inside the computer or external Disk
Drive or Thumb Drive
◉ What part of the computer collects data from people and other
devices?
Answer: Input Devices such as - keyboard, Waacom tables, digital
camera, mouse, scanner, microphone
◉ What part of the computer formats and presents data for people
and other devices?
Answer: Output Devices such as - Computer monitor, speaker,
printer, disc drive
◉ What fundamental set of programs control the internal operations
of the computers hardware?
Answer: Operating Systems - the most fundamental set of programs
on a computer ie. windows, macOC, Linus (system software)
◉ What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such
as virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup
program?
Answer: Utility Program
, ◉ Word Processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email
programs, web browsers, and game programs belong to what
category of software?
Answer: Apps Application Software - make a computer useful for
everyday use.
◉ Monitors, printers, status lights are all examples of what type of
devices
Answer: Output Devices
◉ At each step of its operation, the input to a Central Processing Unit
is
Answer: an instruction
◉ When a program is not running, it is stored
Answer: on a disk
◉ When a program runs on a computer, the part of the computer
that carries out the instructions is called the
Answer: Central Processing Unit (CPU)
◉ When a program runs on a computer, it is stored in
Answer: Random Access Memory (RAM)
