Questions for reviewing

of English in computer science 2

1. What do you call the average speed required to transmit data from a disk system to the
RAM, e.g. at 20 megabits per second.
(Transfer rate)
2. What do you call the average time required for the recording heads to move and access
data?
(Seek time or Access time)
3. What types of magnetic storage device available to the computer user?
(Floppy drive, hard drive, portable external hard drive, magnetic tape and
drive)
4. What is a defragmented disk? What is a fragmented disk?
(In a defragmented disk, a file is stored in neighbouring sectors ;
In a fragmented disk, a file is stored in non-continuous sectors)
5. Why can you store and retrieve information much faster with hard disks than with
floppies?
(We can store & retrieve information much faster with hard disks than with
floppies because a floppy disk consists of a flexible sheet of plastic, coated
with iron oxide. A floppy disk drive spins at 360 revolutions per minute, so
it’s slow. A hard drive spins at over 7200 rpm & stores data on a stack of
metal rotating disks called platters)
6. Which program requires more storage space, word processing or animation?
(Animation)
7. What kind of disk is ideal for multimedia applications where images, animation and
sound occupy a lot of disk space?
(Optical discs)
8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of optical disc over magnetic disk?
(Advantages: optical discs are not affected by magnetic fields, secure and
stable, and can be transported thought airport metal detectors without
damaging the data;
Disadvantages: optical drives are slower than hard drives.)
9. The difference between a DVD burner and a DVD recorder?
(DVD burner records information by burning via a laser to a blank DVD
disc; DVD recorder typically refers to a standalone unit which resembles a
video cassette recorder.)
10. What feature of portable DVD player which allows the user to play different formats?
(It is a handheld device which let you watch movies or TV, play game and
listen to music, wherever you are. They come with a built-in DVD drive and
widescreen LCD display, support multi-format playback)
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11. What are the differences between CDs and DVDs?
(The different in internal structure and data capacity. DVD: the tracks are
very close together more tracks, the pits are also smaller, more pits per
tracks)
12. What is flash memory?
(A type of non-volatile memory that can erased and reprogrammed.)
13. What are the differences between RAM memory and flash memory?
(RAM: volatile; Flash memory: non-volatile; when the power is turned off,
flash memory retains the information stored in the chip, but the RAM doesn’t;
RAM is faster than flash memory)
14. How much memory can a flash memory card hold?
(From 8MB to several gigabytes)
15. Give two example of application software?
(Microsoft Word, Excel, Paint,…)
16. What is the function of an operating system?
(Control hardware and software resources. The OS consists of a set of
programs that interface the user, application programs and the computer)
17. Why is Windows so popular?
(Easy to use, anything is presented in graphic images, compatible with
thousands of programs)
18. Is operating system a type of system software or application software?
(System software)
19. Why does a graphic user interface save a lot of time?
(Because the users just double-click on the icons, it’s doesn’t take a lot of
time)
20. What was the aim of designing a graphic user interface?
(The aim of designing a graphic user interface was to facilitate interaction
with the computer)
21. What does WIMP stand for?
(Windows, icons, menus and pointer)
22. What is multitasking?
(You can run several programs and do various tasks at the same time)
23. In word processor, what utility helps users look up different words to use in similar
instances?
(An online thesaurus)
24. What kind of information can be keyed into a cell of a spreadsheet?
(Numbers, formulae and text)
25. What do ‘field’ and ‘record’ in a database mean?
(Field holds a separate piece of information; record is a group of fields)

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26. What do you call a tool that allows you to extract information that meets certain
criteria?
(Query)
27. What does updating a file mean?
(Change fields, add new records, or delete old ones.)
28. What do you call a technique which consists of combing a database with a document
made with a word processor in order to personalize a standard letter?
(mail merge)
29. What program used for displaying web pages?
(Web browser)
30. Where your ISP stores your emails?
(Mail server)
31. What do you call a system used to distribute email to many different subscribers at
once?
(Mailing list)
32. What program used to read and send email from a computer?
(Mail program)
33. What is a part of an email address that identifies the user of the service?
(Username)
34. What do you call a computer file which is sent along with an email message?
(Attachment)
35. Why is videoconferencing so useful for virtual groups?
(It enables the virtual group to communicate easily over a long distance and
share the ideas & information as if they were in the same room)
36. What special hardware and software do you need to videoconference?
(A webcam, microphone, and conferencing programs such as NetMeeting or
CUSeeMe)
37. Which technology enables people to make phone calls over the internet?
(VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol or internet telephony)
38. What is the difference between web chat rooms and Instant Messaging?
(Web chat room allow multiple users to join in a conversation & see what all
the other people are typing. IM refers to chatting with a select person on a
group of people)
39. What is netiquette?
(a general code of behavior for communicating online)
40. What do you call a big system of public discussion groups?
(Newsgroups)
41. What are ‘computer graphics’?
(Pictures and drawings produced by computer)

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42. How does a worm spread itself?
(A worm spreads through email attachment ,and replicates itself and sends a
copy to everyone in an address book )
43. In what ways can a virus enter a computer system?
(A virus can enter a computer system via an infected disc or via Internet)
44. What do “encryption” and “decryption” mean?
(Encryption changes data into secret code so that only someone with a key
can read it. Decryption converts encrypted data back into its original form.)
45. What is compositing?
(Compositing is combining parts of different images to create a single image)
46. What do “filters”, “wireframe”, “rendering”, and “fractals” mean?
(Filters: special effects that can be applied to pictures
Wireframe: the drawing of a model by using features like edges or contour
lines
Rendering: a technique that generates realistic reflections, shadows and
highlights
Fractals: geometrical figures with special properties)
47. What are toolbox, primitives, attributes, and translation?
(Toolbox: a collection of drawing and painting tools that enable you to type,
select, draw, paint, edit, move & view images on the computer)
Primitive: the basic shapes which are used to make graphic objects
Attribute: color, line type, fill area, interior style… of each primitive
Translation: moving an object to a different location
48. What type of software is used for reading PDF files?
(Adobe Acrobat Reader)
48’.What type of software is used for the creation of DTP documents?
(DTP software)
49. Differences between DTP and word processing?
(DTP software uses high-quality scalable fonts & give you control over
typographic features such as kerning. Key feature of DTP software is text
flow to put text around graphic objects in a variety of ways)
50. What is a PDF and what can it do?
(PDF stands for Portable Document Format, it allows people to view, search,
and print documents exactly as the publisher intended, it can be published
and distributed anywhere)
51. What are kerning, text flow?
(Kerning: the process of adjusting the space between characters
Text flow: the ability to put text around graphic objects in variety of ways.)