Chapter 2 - Part 2

Question 1

A special circuit board in the system unit that contains the central processing unit, the memory, (RAM) chips, and the slots available for expansion cards. All of the other boards (video cards, sound cards, and so on) connect to it to receive power and to communicate.

Answer 1

Motherboard

Question 2

A circuit board with specific functions that augment the computer’s basic functions and provide connections to other devices. Examples include the sound card and the video card.

Answer 2

Expansion Cards (Or Adapter Cards)

Question 3

An expansion card that attaches to the motherboard inside the system unit and that enables the computer to produce sounds by providing a connection for the speakers and microphones.

Answer 3

A Sound Card

Question 4

An expansion card thats installed inside a system unit to translate binary data into the images viewed on the monitor.

Answer 4

Video Card (Video Adapter)

Question 5

An expansion card that enables a computer to connect to other computers or to a cable modem to facilitate a high speed internet connection.

Answer 5

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Question 6

The computer’s temporary storage space or shortterm memory. Its located in a set of chips on the system unit’s motherboard, and its capacity is measured in megabytes or gigabytes.

Answer 6

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Question 7

Temporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.

Answer 7

Volatile Storage

Question 8

A set of memory chips, located on the motherboard, which stores data and instructions that cannot be changed or erased; it holds all the instructions the computer needs to start up.

Answer 8

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Question 9

The part of a system unit of a computer that is responsible for data processing. It is the largest and most important chip in the computer. The CPU controls all the functions performed by the computer’s other components and processes all the commands issued to it by software instructions.

Answer 9

Central Processing Unit (CPU or Processor)

Question 10

One Billion Hertz

Answer 10

Gigahertz (GHz)

Question 11

The computers nonvolatile storage device for permanent storage of software and documents.

Answer 11

Hard Disk Drive (HDD or Hard Drive)

Question 12

A hard drive that resides within the computer’s system unit and that usually holds all permanently stored programs and data.

Answer 12

Internal Hard Drive

Question 13

A hard drive that is enclosed in a protective case to make it portable. The drive is connected to the computer with a Data Transfer Cable and is often used to back up data.

Answer 13

External Hard Drive

Question 14

A storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives use but that can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires.

Answer 14

Solid-State Drive

Question 15

A special shelf inside a computer that is designed to hold storage devices.

Answer 15

Drive Bay

Question 16

A service that keeps files on the internet (in the cloud) rather than storing files solely on a local device.

Answer 16

Cloud Storage

Question 17

A drive that plugs into a universal serial bus (USB) port on a computer and that stores data digitally. Also called a USB drive, jump drive, or thumb drive.

Answer 17

Flash Drive (Jump Drive, Thumb Drive)

Question 18

A form of portable storage. This removable memory card is often used in digital cameras, smartphones, video cameras and printers.

Answer 18

Flash Memory Card

Question 19

A hardware device that uses lasers or light to read from, or even wtite to cd’s, dvd’s or Blu-ray disks.

Answer 19

Optical Drive

Question 20

A method of optical storage for digital data; originally developed for storing digital audio.

Answer 20

Compact Disk (CD)

Question 21

A method of optical storage for digital data that has greater storage capacity than compact disks.

Answer 21

Digital Video (or versitle) disk (DVD)

Question 22

A method of optical storage for digital data, developed for storing high-definition media. It has the largest capacity of all optical storage options.

Answer 22

Blu-ray disc (BD)

Question 23

An interface through which portable devices are connected to the computer.

Answer 23

Port

Question 24

A high-speed input/output port. Thunderbolt 2 provides two channels of 20 Gbps capacity on one port.

Answer 24

Thunderbolt Port

Question 25

A port that can connect a wide variety of peripheral devices to the computer =, including keyboards, printers, mice, smartphones, external hard drives, flash drives, and digital cameras.

Answer 25

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Question 26

a port that enables a computing device to be connected to other devices or systems such as networks, modems and the internet.

Answer 26

Connectivity Port

Question 27

A port that is slightly larger than a standard phone jack and that transfers data at speeds of up to 10,000 Mps. Used to connect a computer to a DSL or cable modem or to a network.

Answer 27

Ethernet Port