CS Final Exam Review

Which of the following best describes how computing devices represent information?

• A computer will either represent information as bits or bytes but not both

• A computer represents data as a byte which is either a 0 or a 1

• A computer represents data as bits which is either a 0 or a 1

• A computer represents information as bits which contain 8 bytes.

Which of the following is NOT true of how computers represent complex information?

• Computing devices use patterns of bits to represent complex information

• Abstraction helps represent complex information by surfacing complexity that might otherwise be hidden

• Depending on context the same sequence of bits may represent different types of information

• Common abstractions that are represented by computing devices include numbers, characters, and color.

Your computer uses 4 bits to represent decimal numbers (0, 1, 2, 3 and so on) in binary. What is the SMALLEST number for which an overflow error occur?

• 14

• 15

• 16

• 17

How many total numbers can be represented with an 8-bit binary (base-2) system?

• 127

• 128

• 255

• 256

Which of the following is true of lossy and lossless compression algorithms?

• Lossy compression algorithms are used when perfect reconstruction of the original data is important.

• Lossy compression algorithms are typically better than lossless compression algorithms at reducing the number of bits needed to represent a piece of data.

• Lossless compression algorithms are only used to compress text data.

• Lossless compression algorithms only allow for an approximate reconstruction of the original data.

Lucy is completing a project as part of a science class using materials she found online. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to lead to legal consequences?

• Modifying a piece of open source software.

• Using open access research for which she does not acquire a license.

• Failing to publish her work under a Creative Commons license.

• Using images posted online by another student without permission or citation.

Ryan is designing an app that needs to quickly send low quality photos between users. Most smartphones take much higher quality photos than Ryan needs for his app. Which answer best describes the type of compression Ryan should choose and why?

• Lossless compression since it ensures perfect reconstruction of the photo.

• Lossy compression since it ensures perfect reconstruction of the photo.

• Lossless compression since it typically results in smaller data sizes.

• Lossy compression since it typically results in smaller data sizes.

Arman takes a picture with his smartphone which he subsequently posts online. Beatrice finds the picture online and posts a copy of it on her website with an attached Creative Commons license. Which of the following best describes who owns the photo?

• Beatrice owns the photo because only holders of a Creative Commons license can own works online.

• Arman owns the photo because he was the original creator and did not license the work.

• Arman owns the photo because it was granted a Creative Commons license by another person online.

• Both own the photo because creating a copy makes it her intellectual property.

Which of the following best describes the protocols used on the Internet?

• The protocols of the Internet are designed by government agencies to ensure they remain free to use

• The protocols of the Internet are secret to maintain the privacy and security of people using them

• Each device connected to the Internet will use a protocol designed by the company that manufactured it

• The protocols of the Internet are open and used by all devices connected to the network

This diagram shows a number of computing devices connected to the Internet with each line representing a direct connection.

Device A is attempting to send data over the Internet to Device E. Which of the following is true of how the data will travel through the network?

• The data will always travel through Device B as it is the shortest path

• The data will never be sent to Device G since there are other shorter paths available

• It is possible that the data travels through any of the devices in the network before arriving at device E

• If the data travels through Device D then it will not travel through Device B