- Digital Literacy Hardware and Software Concepts Flashcards

A user's laptop becomes very slow whenever many browser tabs and apps are open at once. Which upgrade would most likely help?

Answer: Adding more RAM

More RAM lets the computer keep more programs and tabs active without swapping data to slower storage.

Which connector is reversible and can carry data, video, and power through a single cable?

Answer: USB-C

USB-C is a reversible connector that supports data transfer, display output, and charging.

What is the main reason a solid-state drive (SSD) is more durable than a traditional hard disk drive (HDD)?

Answer: It has no moving mechanical parts

SSDs store data on flash memory chips, so there are no spinning platters or read heads to break.

When a computer is turned on, which process checks that essential hardware such as memory and the keyboard is working before the OS loads?

Answer: Power-On Self-Test (POST)

POST is run by the firmware at startup to verify core hardware before handing control to the operating system.

After plugging in a new printer, the computer does not recognize it correctly. What software is most likely missing?

Answer: A device driver

A device driver lets the operating system communicate with a specific piece of hardware.

A desktop computer runs loud fans and shuts down unexpectedly during heavy use. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Overheating due to poor cooling or dust buildup

Sudden shutdowns under load with loud fans are classic signs of overheating that triggers thermal protection.

Where is a computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware stored?

Answer: On a flash memory chip on the motherboard

BIOS/UEFI firmware resides on a non-volatile flash chip on the motherboard so it is available at power-on.