CA Technology & Tools 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which file format is considered a preferred preservation format for still images due to its lossless compression and wide software support?
- JPEG
- TIFF (Correct answer)
- BMP
- GIF
Correct answer: TIFF
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the archival standard for still images because it supports lossless compression and is widely accepted by preservation institutions.
Question 2: The PREMIS data dictionary is primarily used in digital preservation to record what type of information?
- Descriptive metadata about creators
- Provenance and rights of physical records
- Preservation metadata and events for digital objects (Correct answer)
- Subject headings and controlled vocabulary terms
Correct answer: Preservation metadata and events for digital objects
PREMIS (Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies) documents the technical metadata and events—such as format migrations and fixity checks—needed to support the long-term preservation of digital objects.
Question 3: An archivist wants to verify that a digital file has not been altered during transfer. Which tool would be most appropriate?
- Dublin Core metadata editor
- MD5 or SHA-256 checksum utility (Correct answer)
- PDF/A converter
- EAD encoding software
Correct answer: MD5 or SHA-256 checksum utility
MD5 and SHA-256 are cryptographic hash functions used to generate checksums that confirm a file's integrity has not changed during transfer or storage.
Question 4: Which open-source digital asset management and preservation system, developed by Stanford and partners, is widely used by cultural heritage institutions?
- Archivematica (Correct answer)
- DSpace
- Hydra/Samvera
- Greenstone
Correct answer: Archivematica
Archivematica is an open-source digital preservation system that implements OAIS and automates the creation of Archival Information Packages.
Question 5: What does the acronym SIP stand for in the OAIS reference model?
- Storage and Integrity Protocol
- Submission Information Package (Correct answer)
- System Integration Plan
- Standardized Ingest Procedure
Correct answer: Submission Information Package
A Submission Information Package (SIP) is the information package delivered by a producer to an OAIS for ingest into the archive.
Question 6: Which metadata standard is specifically designed to encode archival finding aids in a machine-readable XML format?
- MARC 21
- EAD (Encoded Archival Description) (Correct answer)
- Dublin Core
- VRA Core
Correct answer: EAD (Encoded Archival Description)
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is an XML standard maintained by the Library of Congress and SAA for encoding archival finding aids.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'bit rot' in the context of digital preservation?
- Intentional deletion of outdated digital files
- Gradual degradation of data due to physical media decay or software obsolescence (Correct answer)
- The process of migrating data to newer formats
- Loss of contextual metadata over time
Correct answer: Gradual degradation of data due to physical media decay or software obsolescence
Bit rot refers to the spontaneous corruption of data stored on digital media, caused by magnetic decay, radiation, or other physical processes over time.
CA Technology & Tools 2
Which file format is considered a preferred preservation format for still images due to its lossless compression and wide software support?