Starting out with Python Ch01

Question 1

What is a program?

Answer 1

A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task.

Question 2

What is hardware?

Answer 2

The physical parts of a computer system.

Question 3

List the five major components of a computer system.

Answer 3

CPU, main memory (RAM), secondary storage devices, input devices, output devices.

Question 4

What part of the computer actually runs programs?

Answer 4

The CPU (Central Processing Unit).

Question 5

What part of the computer serves as a work area to store a program and its data while the program is running?

Answer 5

The main memory (RAM).

Question 6

What part of the computer holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer?

Answer 6

The secondary storage (like a hard drive or SSD).

Question 7

What part of the computer collects data from people and from other devices?

Answer 7

Input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, scanner).

Question 8

What part of the computer formats and presents data for people or other devices?

Answer 8

Output devices (e.g., monitor, printer).

Question 9

What fundamental set of programs control the internal operations of the computer’s hardware?

Answer 9

The operating system.

Question 10

What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such as a virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup program?

Answer 10

Utility software.

Question 11

Word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email programs, web browsers, and game programs belong to what category of software?

Answer 11

Application software.

Question 12

What amount of memory is enough to store a letter of the alphabet or a small number?

Answer 12

A byte.

Question 13

What do you call a tiny “switch” that can be set to either on or off?

Answer 13

A bit.

Question 14

In what numbering system are all numeric values written as sequences of 0s and 1s?

Answer 14

The binary numbering system.

Question 15

What is the purpose of ASCII?

Answer 15

To encode characters as numbers that computers can understand.

Question 16

What encoding scheme is extensive enough to represent the characters of many of the languages in the world?

Answer 16

Unicode.

Question 17

What do the terms “digital data” and “digital device” mean?

Answer 17

Digital data refers to information stored and processed in binary format. A digital device is any device that works with digital data.

Question 18

A CPU understands instructions that are written only in what language?

Answer 18

Machine language.

Question 19

A program has to be copied into what type of memory each time the CPU executes it?

Answer 19

Main memory (RAM).

Question 20

When a CPU executes the instructions in a program, it is engaged in what process?

Answer 20

Execution.

Question 21

What is assembly language?

Answer 21

A low-level programming language that uses symbolic code to represent machine code.

Question 22

What type of programming language allows you to create powerful and complex programs without knowing how the CPU works?

Answer 22

High-level programming language.

Question 23

Each language has a set of rules that must be strictly followed when writing a program. What is this set of rules called?

Answer 23

Syntax.

Question 24

What do you call a program that translates a high-level language program into a separate machine language program?

Answer 24

A compiler.

Question 25

What do you call a program that both translates and executes the instructions in a high-level language program?

Answer 25

An interpreter.

Question 26

What type of mistake is usually caused by a misspelled key word, a missing punctuation character, or the incorrect use of an operator?

Answer 26

A syntax error.