AP CSP Exam Vocab Practice

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• parallel computing

• a computational model where the program is broken into multiple smaller sequential computing operations, some of which are performed simultaneously

• abstraction

• the process of finding and fixing errors or bugs in the source code of any software

• algorithm

• technique in computing that hides detail, makes more complicated ideas simpler, and collects a bunch of ideas into a single idea

• debugging

• the process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer

• simulation

• program that runs various mathematical scenarios to determine the potential scope or impact that a particular scenario could have

Match the following terms to their meaning.

• collaboration

• the act of working together with others to solve problems, develop software, or complete projects

• machine learning

• a subset of artificial intelligence that focuses on building systems that learn—or improve performance—based on the data they consume

• iterative

• the practice of obtaining input or information from a large number of people via the Internet

• citizen science

• scientific research conducted in whole or part by distributed individuals who contribute relevant data to research using their own computing devices

• crowdsourcing

• A development process requiring refinement and revision based on feedback, testing, or reflection throughout the process

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• scalability

• how well algorithms perform with increasingly larger data sets

• metadata

• the process of uncovering patterns and other valuable information from large data sets

• analog data

• data having values that change smoothly, rather than in discrete intervals, over time.

• packet

• data about data that helps to structure and organize

• data mining

• container of data and metadata used for routing between a source and a destination on the Internet

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• encryption

• a value passed to a function or procedure and received as a parameter

• argument

• the process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access

• boolean

• a type of number used in computer programming that is used to represent real numbers with a high degree of precision

• floating point

• an agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of a system

• protocol

• a value or expression that evaluates to either true or false

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• selection

• the application of each step of an algorithm in the order in which the code statements are given

• iteration

• a determination of which parts of an algorithm to execute based on a condition being true or false

• sequencing

• the delay time it takes for data to travel from one location to another in a network

• bandwidth

• a repeating portion of an algorithm based on a specified number of times or until a given condition is met

• latency

• the maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time.

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• lossless compression

• a predictive pattern that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit will double every two years with minimal rise in cost

• lossy compression

• algorithm that starts at the middle of a sorted data set of numbers and eliminates half of the data in each iteration

• binary search

• an algorithm that can significantly reduce the number of bits stored or transmitted but only allow reconstruction of an approximation of the original data

• linear search

• a simple algorithm that sequentially checks each element in a list until it finds the target value or reaches the end of the list

• Moore's Law

• an algorithm that can usually reduce the number of bits stored or transmitted while guaranteeing complete reconstruction of the original data

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• net neutrality

• organization that issues digital certificates that validate the ownership of encryption keys used in secure communications and based on a trust model

• IETF

• the notion that the Internet is built around free and open access to information with no blocking, no throttling or paid prioritization

• Creative Commons

• a standards organization for the Internet responsible for the technical standards that make up the Internet protocol suite

• certificate authority

• a public copyright license that enables the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work

• DMCA

• part of the U.S. copyright law that addresses the rights and obligations of owners of copyrighted material particularly on the Internet

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• denial of service

• a technique that attempts to trick a user into providing personal information.

• phishing

• the use of a program to record every keystroke made by a computer user in order to gain fraudulent access to passwords and other confidential information

• rogue access point

• a wireless access point that gives unauthorized access to secure networks

• multifactor authentication

• a method of computer access control in which a user is only granted access after successfully presenting several separate pieces of evidence to an authentication mechanism

• keylogging

• an attempt to overload a website or network, with the aim of degrading its performance or even making it completely inaccessible

When we talk about "cyberspace", the (a)   is the network of online pages, images, and other files, and the ​ (b)   is the infrastructure composed of devices or nodes. The ​ (c)   obtains the address where data is to be sent, and the ​ ​ (d)   ensures accurate data delivery.

• world wide web
• internet
• internet protocol
• transmission control protocol

Match the following terms to their meanings.

• undecidable problem

• a problem for which no algorithm can be constructed that is always capable of providing a correct yes-or-no answer

• reasonable time

• an approach to a problem that produces a solution that is not guaranteed to be optimal but may be used when techniques that are guaranteed to always find an optimal solution are impractical

• sampling technique

• a problem that cannot be solved using an algorithm

• unsolvable problem

• a means of measuring values of an analog signal at regular intervals in order to store the data digitally

• heuristic

• the number of steps an algorithm takes is less than or equal to a polynomial function (constant, linear, square, cube, etc.) of the size of the input