CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 1

CS10001: Computer Literacy Homework Assignment #1

Name: ______________________________

Due Date: February 17, 2009

Question 1A: Binary Representation for Text Use the ASCII Table at http://www.cs.kent.edu/~dreed/CS10001/HW1A/ASCII.pdf to convert the following text into binary strings. A byte should be used to represent each character and be sure to include a slash between each byte for clarity. For example, Hi! = 01001000 / 01101001 / 00100001 (15 points).

1. CS10001

2. 5:45 p.m.

3. @kent.edu

4. Thanks!

5. Cost: $2.

CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 2

Question 1B: Binary Numbers Interactive The binary code of 0s and 1s that the computer uses to store data and information in memory is much easier to deal with when expressed in hexadecimal. But, most of the time, people prefer to stick with the familiar Base 10 numbers we use every day. Visit http://www.cs.kent.edu/~dreed/CS10001/HW1B/34_Binary_Numbers_Interactive/index.html to learn more about data representation in binary and hexadecimal. Then test your knowledge by taking a short quiz. Quiz – Circle the best answer to each of the following (20 points total):

1. What is the binary representation of the number 7? a. 1110 b. 1101 c. 0111 d. 0101

2. What number is represented with the binary code 0110? a. 6 b. 7 c. 8 d. 9

3. An 8-bit binary digit can be interpreted by the computer as: a. characters b. a color c. graphics d. All of the above

4. Set the bit toggle switches to read 01011001. What number does it represent? a. 98 b. 89 c. 25 d. 57

5. What happens when you dump the 102 bucket 10 times? a. the decimal number is 1,000 b. the example cannot display the results c. the bucket is empty d. it stops after nine times

6. What base 16 number results if you dump the 160 bucket 10 times? a. 00A b. 010 c. 016 d. 009

CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 3

Question 1B: Binary Numbers Interactive – cont’d.

7. Without dumping the bucket, what do you think the results will be if you dump the 161 bucket 10 times? a. 100 b. 0A0 c. A00 d. 090

8. What binary number is equal to hexadecimal 8F? a. 00800F b. 10001111 c. 1001100 d. 143

9. When all three colors are set to zero: a. the light for each color is turned off b. the color is black c. the decimal and hexadecimal values are the same d. All of the above

10. Which of the following is TRUE when using RGB numbers? a. the higher the number, the lower the level of brightness b. the higher the number, the higher the level of brightness c. the higher the number, the lower the level of contrast d. the higher the number, the higher the level of contrast

Question 1C: Interactive--Where Does Binary Show Up?

The computer stores numbers and other data in a binary code of 0s and 1s to represent the tiny on/off switches that it uses to store information in memory. Because people find this binary code difficult—if not impossible—to work with, hexadecimal code is used to simplify things for them. To find out what the different number codes are, why they are used, and how you can easily convert back and forth between them, visit http://www.cs.kent.edu/~dreed/CS10001/HW1C/32_Where_Does_Binary_Show_Up/index.html and test your knowledge about this topic by taking a short quiz. Quiz – Circle the best answer to each of the following (20 points total):

1. The number system commonly used is all of the following EXCEPT: a. decimal b. base 10 c. a system with 10 digits, zero through nine d. hexadecimal

2. Binary is also known as: a. Base 2 b. Base 8 c. Base 10 d. Base 16

CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 4

Question 1C: Interactive--Where Does Binary Show Up? – cont’d.

3. A tool in Windows that converts between base 10, hexadecimal, and binary is: a. the CPU b. the calculator c. RAM d. the adding machine

4. How many binary digits can exactly represent one hexadecimal digit? a. 1 b. 4 c. 8 d. 16

5. Hexadecimal numbers are commonly used to represent: a. file names for binary programs b. ASCII codes for words c. decimal numbers in calculations d. color codes on Web pages

6. The highest digit used in hexadecimal code is: a. 0 b. 10 c. A d. F

7. RGB codes have what three components? a. rose, gold, black b. red, green, blue c. ready, get, binary d. RGB codes are unlimited hexadecimal values

8. When using the binary feature on the Windows calculator, the only visible numbers are: a. 0 and 255 b. 0 and 1 c. 0 and F d. 0 and 256

9. What additional feature is built into the Calc98 calculator? a. computer programming syntax b. the periodic table c. common currency conversions d. stock market quotes

10. To specify a color on a Web page in decimal, you specify a set of numbers, each between: a. 0 and 255 b. 0 and 1 c. 0 and F d. 0 and 256

CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 5

Question 1D: Online Annoyances Visit http://computer.howstuffworks.com/worst-computer-viruses.htm to learn more about the worst viruses that have affected computers. Answer the following questions about these malicious forms of software (25 points).

1. Adware, spyware, and malware affect computers in many ways. Name four common symptoms.

2. How do these infections happen? Name five ways.

3. What are bots and how do they evolve? What are their targets and what are their goals?

4. How might you protect yourself from these online annoyances? Give three examples.

5. Is there any new malware that might be added to this list? What is its name and how might it be combated? (Hint: Use the topic from a recent class lecture.)

CS10001: Computer Literacy – Homework Assignment #1 (D. Reed) 6

Question 1E: Subscribing to an RSS Feed RSS is an aggregator program that is used to distribute content via the Internet. Many Web sites include RSS options on their pages so that frequent visitors to the sites are notified about current topics. Subscribing to this service is easy—just sign up. There are many Web sites that post information about computer technology, and two popular sites are PCWorld (http://www.pcworld.com/) and Computerworld (http://www.computerworld.com/). Visit the links to the above Web sites and subscribe to the RSS feeds. For PCWorld, subscribe to the “Latest News” and select the option for Live Bookmarks. You will notice that an icon for this feed will appear on your browser’s Bookmarks Toolbar. For Computerworld, subscribe to the latest news by linking on “RSS Feeds” and selecting the text “Latest from Computerworld feed” on the following page. Subscribe to the Live Bookmarks and notice that the feed appears on the browser’s Bookmarks Toolbar. For the next week, monitor the current news from both of these Web sites. Choose an article that you find interesting from each of the sites and answer the questions that follow (20 points). From PCWorld:

1. Give the URL for the article.

2. Give the name of the article’s author.

3. What was interesting about this article? From Computerworld:

1. Give the URL for the article.

2. Give the name of the article’s author.

3. What was interesting about this article?