Digital Literacy Final Exam

Explain how millions of lines of code control the subsystems within an automobile, such as antilock braking systems, lane detection, and self-parking, and discuss the importance of abstraction in managing such complexity.

• By using abstraction, developers can break down complex systems into manageable subsystems, allowing for easier control and integration of features like antilock braking and self-parking.

• By writing all code in a single file, developers can ensure that all subsystems work together without confusion.

• By avoiding abstraction, developers can directly control each subsystem without any need for organization.

• By using only hardware solutions, developers can eliminate the need for software in controlling automobile subsystems.

Compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of using sequential, conditional, and iterative control structures in programming. Provide reasoning for when each should be used.

• Sequential structures are best for simple, linear tasks; conditional structures are for decision-making; iterative structures are for repeated actions. Each has tradeoffs in readability and efficiency.

• Sequential structures are always the fastest; conditional structures are never needed; iterative structures are only for infinite loops.

• Conditional structures are only used in hardware; iterative structures are only used in mathematics; sequential structures are outdated.

• All control structures are interchangeable and have no impact on program performance or readability.

Given a problem that can be solved by multiple algorithms, explain how you would evaluate and select the best algorithm based on performance, reusability, and ease of implementation.

• By comparing the algorithms' efficiency, how easily they can be reused in other contexts, and how simple they are to implement, I can select the most appropriate one for the problem.

• By choosing the algorithm that is the longest and most complex, as it must be the most powerful.

• By selecting the first algorithm I find, without considering any criteria.

• By always choosing the algorithm with the most steps, regardless of performance or reusability.

Discuss how self-driving cars use algorithms to make decisions when taking a passenger to a destination, considering that they may have different priorities such as safety, speed, or conservation.

• Self-driving cars use algorithms that weigh different priorities and make decisions based on the most important criteria for the situation, such as prioritizing safety over speed when necessary.

• Self-driving cars always choose the fastest route, regardless of other priorities.

• Self-driving cars do not use algorithms and rely solely on human input.

• Self-driving cars randomly select their actions without considering any priorities.

Compare and contrast fundamental data structures such as arrays, stacks, queues, and lists, and explain how their characteristics influence their use in programming.

• Arrays provide fast access to elements by index, stacks use LIFO order, queues use FIFO order, and lists allow dynamic resizing; each is chosen based on the needs of the program.

• Arrays and stacks are identical, while queues and lists are never used in programming.

• Stacks and queues are only used for storing numbers, while arrays and lists are only for text.

• All data structures are used interchangeably without any impact on program design.

Explain how you would apply techniques to mitigate the effects of user tracking methods in a digital environment. Provide reasoning for your chosen techniques.

• Use strong passwords only

• Regularly clear cookies, use privacy-focused browsers, and enable tracker blockers

• Share personal information on public forums

• Disable antivirus software

Discuss the ethical ramifications of malicious hacking and its impact on society. Use evidence to support your reasoning.

• Malicious hacking only affects hackers themselves

• Malicious hacking can lead to loss of privacy, financial damage, and erosion of trust in digital systems

• Malicious hacking is always legal if done for fun

• Malicious hacking improves security for everyone

Evaluate strategies to manage digital identity and reputation with awareness of the permanent impact of actions in a digital world. What would be your approach and why?

• Ignore online reputation because it is not important

• Regularly review privacy settings, think before posting, and monitor digital footprint

• Share all personal achievements online without restriction

• Use only one password for all accounts

Debate the positive and negative effects of computing innovations in personal, ethical, social, economic, and cultural spheres. Provide examples to support your reasoning.

• Computing innovations have only positive effects

• Computing innovations can improve communication but may also lead to privacy concerns and job displacement

• Computing innovations are irrelevant to society

• Computing innovations only affect technology professionals

You are tasked with developing a model that reflects the methods, procedures, and concepts used by computing devices in translating digital bits as real-world phenomena, such as print characters, sound, images, and video. What strategic considerations should you take into account to ensure your model accurately represents these processes?

• Focus only on the visual representation of data and ignore sound and print characters.

• Consider the role of compression, encryption, and the structure of digital artifacts, as well as the metadata involved.

• Only use examples from video data and exclude other types of digital artifacts.

• Ignore the organization of data elements and focus solely on the end-user experience.