Chapter 7 Questions

True/False

Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false.

1. Most memory holds data and instructions permanently and thus is nonvolatile.

2. An external Zip drive connects to a USB port or FireWire port on the system unit.

3. Hard disks are read/write storage media, meaning that users can read from and write on a hard disk any number of times.

4. When a processor requests data, instructions, or information from the hard disk, the hard disk first checks the disk cache.

5. The SATA interface uses parallel signals to transfer data, instructions, and information.

6. On an optical disc, a land absorbs light, which is read as binary digit 0, and pits cause light to reflect, which is read as binary digit 1.

7. You can read, write, and erase a DVD-R.

8. Because audio CDs and CD-ROMs use different laser technologies, a CD-ROM drive cannot be used to listen to an audio CD while working on the computer.

9. Sequential access also is called random access.

10. One use of smart cards includes storing medical records and other health-care and identification information.

Multiple Choice

Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

11. To start up, a computer locates _____.

a.	application software in storage and loads it into memory
b.	application software in memory and loads it onto storage
c.	an operating system in storage and loads it into memory
d.	an operating system in memory and loads it onto storage

12. Examples of nonvolatile storage media include all of the following except _____.

a.	memory	c.	microfiche
b.	floppy disks	d.	PC Cards

13. With respect to a storage medium, the term _____ means users can remove the medium from one computer and carry it to another computer.

a.	volatile	c.	nonvolatile
b.	fixed	d.	Portable

14. A disk with a higher density has _____ storage capacity.

a.	more bits in an area and thus a smaller	c.	fewer bits in an area and thus a smaller
b.	more bits in an area and thus a larger	d.	fewer bits in an area and thus a larger

15. The larger capacity Zip disks hold about _____ times more than a standard floppy disk.

a.	200	c.	400
b.	300	d.	500

16. Current personal computer hard disks have storage capacities from 40 to 300 _____ and more.

a.	KB	c.	MB
b.	GB	d.	PB

17. The average hard disk access time is at least _____ than the average floppy disk drive.

a.	three times faster	c.	ten times faster
b.	seven times faster	d.	none of the above

18. An advantage of portable hard disks and removable hard disks is that users can _____.

a.	transport a large number of files
b.	add storage space to a notebook computer or Tablet PC
c.	share a drive with multiple computers
d.	all of the above

19. The primary advantage of the _____ interface is the cables are thinner, longer, more flexible and less susceptible to interference.

a.	EIDE	c.	SCSI
b.	SATA	d.	FireWire

20. Optical discs commonly store items in _____.

a.	random locations anywhere between the center of the disc and the edge of the disc
b.	multiple pie-shaped sections that break a track into arcs
c.	a single track that spirals from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc
d.	multiple concentric tracks from the center of the disc to the edge of the disc

21. Current CD-ROM drives have transfer rates ranging from _____.

a.	4X - 8X	c.	48X - 75X
b.	24X - 48X	d.	100X and faster

22. The storage capacity of a DVD is _____ that of a CD because images are stored at higher resolutions.

a.	greater than a CD, and a DVD’s quality far surpasses
b.	less than a CD, but a DVD’s quality far surpasses
c.	greater than a CD, but a DVD’s quality is far less than
d.	less than a CD, and a DVD’s quality is far less than

23. Tape _____.

a.	no longer is used as a primary method of storage but is used most often for long-term storage and backup
b.	is used as a primary method of storage and for long-term storage and backup
c.	no longer is used for long-term storage and backup but is used most often as a primary method of storage
d.	no longer is used as a primary method of storage or for long-term storage and backup

24. One popular use of _____ is to store a prepaid amount of money, as in a prepaid telephone calling card.

a.	smart cards	c.	PC Cards
b.	floppy disks	d.	hard disks

25. The use of microfilm and microfiche provides all of the following advantages except _____.

a.	they greatly reduce the amount of paper firms must handle
b.	they are inexpensive
c.	they have the longest life of any storage media
d.	they can be read without a microfilm or microfiche reader