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C. Computer Environments and Systems · Computer Environments and Systems

Computer Environments and Systems: Unit Review

C1.1 C1.2 C1.3 C1.4 C2.1 C2.2 C2.3 C3.1 C3.2 C3.3 C3.4 C3.5About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can relate hardware and peripheral specifications to user requirements and explain how a program runs on the hardware.
  • I can organize, protect, back up and archive files.
  • I can describe the parts of an IDE, use documentation independently, and explain source code versus machine code, interpreters versus compilers, and operating systems versus applications versus programming languages.

Words to know

RAM / storage
RAM is fast, volatile working memory; storage (SSD, HDD) keeps files when the power is off.
bottleneck
The slowest part of a system, which limits the whole.
fetch-decode-execute
The cycle the CPU repeats for every instruction.
3-2-1 rule
3 copies, 2 kinds of media, 1 off-site.
defence in depth
Several layers of protection, so one failure is not a disaster.
compiler / interpreter
A compiler translates a whole program before it runs; an interpreter translates and runs it a statement at a time.

Let's review!

In this unit you looked inside the computer: its components and their specifications, peripherals, how to match a computer to a user, and how a program actually runs on the CPU and RAM. Then you learned to look after files: organizing them on local and shared drives, recognizing malware, building a protection plan, and backing up and archiving. Finally you met the software tools of programming: the IDE and debugger, documentation, source and machine code, interpreters and compilers, and how operating systems, applications and languages differ.

This review has a few questions from every lesson. Try each one, then press Show answer to check.

How to use this review

Do one or two sections at a time. For calculation questions, write the units at every step (bits or bytes? GB or GiB?). For "explain" questions, answer in full sentences and use the lesson's vocabulary. For every question you get wrong, write down why, then go back to that lesson's worked examples and parent notes. Finish with the 10-question quiz.

C1 Hardwareinternal componentsspecs and unitsperipheralsmatching to usershow a program runsC2 Files and safetyorganizing fileslocal / shared drivesmalware typesprotection planbackup and archiveC3 Software toolsIDE and debuggerdocumentationsource vs machine codeinterpreter vs compilerOS / apps / languages
The three parts of this unit, matching the curriculum's three overall expectations C1, C2 and C3.
You writesource codein an IDETranslatorcompiler orinterpreterOS loads itfrom SSDinto RAMCPUfetch, decode,executeOutputvia OS, GPUto monitorBackups, file organization and a protection plan keep the files along this path safe.
The unit in one path: from the code you write to the output on the screen, with every lesson playing a part.
Just for fun

You have now studied the CPU, RAM, ROM, GPU, PSU, SSD, HDD, USB, IDE, OS, ALU, PC, MFA and JIT. Congratulations: you are officially fluent in TLAs (three-letter abbreviations), plus a couple of two-letter ones.

Inside the Computer: Internal Components and Their Specifications

1

What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

2

Which component converts AC to DC, and what unit is its spec?

3

A computer freezes when many programs are open but storage is half empty. Which component would you upgrade first?

Reading Computer Specifications: Processors, Buses, Memory and Storage

1

How many GiB does a 2 TB drive show? (1 GiB = 1 073 741 824 bytes.)

2

Find the bandwidth of one 64-bit channel of DDR5-6000.

3

How long, at best, does a 900 MB file take on a 120 Mbps connection?

Peripheral Devices: Monitors, Printers, Scanners and More

1

Is a webcam input or output?

2

How many pixels does a 2560 × 1080 ultrawide monitor have?

3

Toner costs $75 and prints 2500 pages. What is the cost per page?

Choosing a Computer: Matching Specifications to User Requirements

1

What is the difference between minimum and recommended requirements?

2

In a decision matrix, scores 4, 2 with weights 5, 3. What is the total?

3

Why is a top GPU with 4 GB of RAM a poor design?

How a Program Runs on the Hardware

1

Where is a variable's value stored while a program runs?

2

Which CPU part does a * b?

3

With ram[6] = 12 and ram[7] = 30, what does LOAD 6, ADD 6, ADD 7, STORE 8, PRINT 8, HALT output?

Organizing Programs and Files on Local and Shared Drives

1

Write a relative path from C:\ICS3U\notes to C:\ICS3U\02-arrays\a5.py.

2

Why avoid spaces in Python file names?

3

What controls who can read or change files on a shared drive?

Malware: Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Spyware and More

1

Which malware spreads across a network by itself?

2

What makes report.pdf.exe dangerous?

3

Give two signs of a phishing message.

Building a System Protection Plan

1

Why does MFA protect an account even if the password is stolen?

2

How many possible 4-digit PINs are there?

3

Name four layers of a protection plan.

Backing Up and Archiving Files

1

State the 3-2-1 rule.

2

Full backup Sunday; 4 GB of different files change daily. How big is Thursday's differential backup?

3

Why is cloud sync alone not a backup?

The Integrated Development Environment: Editor, Translator and Debugger

1

Name the four main parts of an IDE.

2

A breakpoint is on line 5. When does the program pause?

3

Which command goes inside a function call?

Working Independently with Documentation and Help

1

What does print(round(6.5)) output?

2

Which line of a traceback do you read first?

3

Why might a forum answer with print "hi" not work?

Source Code and Machine Code

1

Why can't the CPU run source code directly?

2

Using the pretend instruction set (STORE = 0011), write STORE 12 in machine code.

3

Why does machine code depend on the processor type?

Interpreters and Compilers

1

Which usually runs faster, compiled or interpreted code?

2

A Python file has a syntax error on line 10. Do lines 1 to 9 run?

3

What does Python compile source code into?

Applications, Programming Languages and Operating Systems

1

Classify: iOS, a spreadsheet program, C++.

2

Give two functions of an operating system.

3

Is an IDE an application? Explain.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which memory is volatile?

2.

A drive is sold as 500 GB. About how many GiB does the OS show?

3.

How many pixels does a 1920 × 1080 screen have?

4.

In the fetch-decode-execute cycle, which register holds the address of the next instruction?

5.

Which path is relative?

6.

Malware disguised as a useful free program is a...

7.

Which is true multi-factor authentication?

8.

To restore from incremental backups you need...

9.

A Python file has print("A") then print(1/0). What happens?

10.

Which is a programming language?

For parents and teachers

Using this review: The questions are grouped by lesson. If your teen misses a question, send them back to that lesson:

  • Component, memory and storage mix-ups (RAM vs ROM vs SSD): Inside the Computer.
  • Unit and calculation errors (bits vs bytes, GB vs GiB, bandwidth, transfer time): Reading Computer Specifications.
  • Peripheral specs, pixels, dpi, cost per page: Peripheral Devices.
  • Weak recommendations, bottlenecks, decision matrices: Choosing a Computer.
  • Where values live, ALU vs control unit, simulator traces: How a Program Runs on the Hardware.
  • Paths, file names, permissions: Organizing Programs and Files.
  • Confusing virus, worm and Trojan; phishing signs: Malware.
  • MFA, password arithmetic, plan layers: Building a System Protection Plan.
  • 3-2-1, incremental vs differential: Backing Up and Archiving Files.
  • IDE parts, breakpoints, stepping: The Integrated Development Environment.
  • Reading docs and tracebacks: Working Independently with Documentation and Help.
  • Binary instructions, portability: Source Code and Machine Code.
  • Syntax vs run-time errors, compiled vs interpreted: Interpreters and Compilers.
  • Classifying software: Applications, Programming Languages and Operating Systems.

The quiz covers the whole unit; 8 or more out of 10 shows a solid understanding.