Explore core concepts of how computers work, from hardware to memory and operating basics. This easy quiz covers key terms and functions every tech user should know.
Which device acts as the 'nerve system' connecting all major computer parts for data transmission?
Explanation: The bus enables data to flow between components, functioning as the primary communication pathway. The CPU processes instructions, RAM stores temporary data, and although both rely on the bus, neither connects all parts directly.
Which component is activated first when a computer is powered on to initiate the startup process?
Explanation: The BIOS is the initial program that runs when the computer powers on, performing hardware checks and bootstrapping the system. The operating system loads later, and the hard disk is not activated before the BIOS runs.
Which type of computer storage loses its data when the power is turned off?
Explanation: Volatile memory like RAM depends on power to retain data. ROM is non-volatile and preserves its data, while SSDs are a type of non-volatile storage.
What type of computer memory offers the fastest data access speeds?
Explanation: Registers are small memory locations inside the CPU, enabling the fastest possible data access. Cache is slower than registers but faster than most other memory, and hard drives are significantly slower.
What do we call the physical components that make up a computer system?
Explanation: Hardware refers to all tangible computer parts such as the keyboard and motherboard. Firmware is software embedded in hardware, and software refers to programs and data.
Which command-line interface was widely used before graphical user interfaces became popular for personal computers?
Explanation: DOS provided a simple, text-based way to interact with computers before GUIs. Linux is an operating system with various interfaces, and Python is a programming language.
What is the smallest addressable unit of memory in a computer?
Explanation: A byte is the basic addressable memory unit, typically 8 bits. A kilobyte is 1024 bytes, and a block is a larger chunk used in storage management.
What is the term for the process of loading an operating system into memory after a computer is started?
Explanation: Booting describes starting or restarting a computer and loading the OS. Parsing and debugging refer to code analysis and error detection, not system loading.
Which term describes the speed of a processor in cycles per second?
Explanation: Processor speeds are measured in hertz, denoting cycles per second. Byte is a unit of data, and joule measures energy.
What do we call the set of instructions that tells a computer what tasks to perform?
Explanation: Software consists of instructions for computer tasks. Hardware is the physical equipment, and transistors are components within hardware.