CS201: Chapter 1

Which part of a computer is responsible for processing data?

• memory

• hard drive disk

• central processing unit

• file system

Answer explanation

The CPU is also known as the brain of the computer. Just like how humans cannot think without a brain, computers cannot “think” without a CPU.

True or False: A program stored in computer memory must be represented in binary digits, which is also known as machine code.

• True

• False

Which of the following organizes the monitor screen around the metaphor of a desktop, with windows containing icons for folders, files, and applications?

• cathode ray tube

• terminal

• web server

• graphical user interface

In the late-1930s, which mathematician and electrical engineer at M.I.T., wrote a classic paper titled “A Symbolic Analysis of Relay and Switching Circuits?”

• Alan Turing

• Claude Shannon

• George Boole

• Howard Aiken

By the mid-1980s, which entity had grown into what we now call the Internet, connecting computers owned by large institutions, small organizations, and individuals all over the world?

• ARPANET

• FORTRAN

• WAN

• UNIX

The easiest way to open a Python shell is to launch which of the following?

• Windows

• macOS

• IDLE

• Linux

Answer explanation

Windows, macOS, and Linux are all operating systems. IDLE is the basic integrated development environment (IDE) that comes installed with Python.

A shell window contains an opening message followed by the special symbol >>>. What is that symbol called?

• variable

• shell prompt

• input

• output

Answer explanation

In the online IDE we use, Replit, the shell prompt is >.

True or False: In Python, to begin the next output on the same line as the previous one, you can place a colon at the end of the earlier print statement.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

You would place a comma at the end of the expression inside the same print statement. E.g.: print(“Hello”, “world”)

Which term refers to the rules for forming sentences in a language?

• shell

• big data

• protocol

• syntax

Answer explanation

Syntax is likened to grammar in the English language.

The print function always ends its output with which of the following?

• input function

• a newline

• a string

• an argument