COMP 101 - SAMPLE MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH FULL
SOLUTIONS, UPDATED 2026,
SUCCESSFULLY GRADED A+
Q: Disk storage typically has less storage capacity than RAM.
A: False. It’s actually the opposite!
RAM (Random Access Memory) is fast but expensive, so computers
usually have a smaller amount (e.g., 16GB).
Disk Storage (HDD/SSD) is slower but much cheaper, allowing for massive
capacities (e.g., 1TB or 1,000GB). Think of RAM as your physical desk
space and the Disk as your giant filing cabinet.
Q: Is "Motherboard" just another name for the main circuit board?
A: True. The motherboard is indeed the primary printed circuit board (PCB) in a
computer. It acts as the "central nervous system," allowing the CPU, RAM, and all
other hardware components to communicate with each other.
Q: Does machine language need to be translated into a high-level language for
the computer to work?
A: False. This is a common point of confusion. Machine language ($1$s and
$0$s) is the only language a computer actually understands natively.
We write in high-level languages (like Python or Java) because they are
easier for humans to read.
Those high-level instructions must then be translated down into machine
language so the CPU can execute them.
Q: Is an operating system (OS) necessary for almost every computer?
, A: True. The Operating System (like Windows, macOS, or Linux) is the essential
software that manages the computer's hardware and software resources. Without an
OS, you wouldn't have a user interface to interact with your files or run
applications.
A browser is an application for creating web pages using HTML.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔F
HTML is a case-sensitive language.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔F
When you complete the first draft of a Web page, you should test it to verify that
every element is displayed correctly by all browsers that might be used by visitors
to your web page.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔T
A tape drive must use slower random access by reading through the data from the
beginning of the tape.
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔F - SEQUENCIAL
A megabyte is 1,024 bytes
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔T
An output device, such as a keyboard or mouse, gathers input and transforms it
into a series of electronic signals for the computer.
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔F - INPUT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH FULL
SOLUTIONS, UPDATED 2026,
SUCCESSFULLY GRADED A+
Q: Disk storage typically has less storage capacity than RAM.
A: False. It’s actually the opposite!
RAM (Random Access Memory) is fast but expensive, so computers
usually have a smaller amount (e.g., 16GB).
Disk Storage (HDD/SSD) is slower but much cheaper, allowing for massive
capacities (e.g., 1TB or 1,000GB). Think of RAM as your physical desk
space and the Disk as your giant filing cabinet.
Q: Is "Motherboard" just another name for the main circuit board?
A: True. The motherboard is indeed the primary printed circuit board (PCB) in a
computer. It acts as the "central nervous system," allowing the CPU, RAM, and all
other hardware components to communicate with each other.
Q: Does machine language need to be translated into a high-level language for
the computer to work?
A: False. This is a common point of confusion. Machine language ($1$s and
$0$s) is the only language a computer actually understands natively.
We write in high-level languages (like Python or Java) because they are
easier for humans to read.
Those high-level instructions must then be translated down into machine
language so the CPU can execute them.
Q: Is an operating system (OS) necessary for almost every computer?
, A: True. The Operating System (like Windows, macOS, or Linux) is the essential
software that manages the computer's hardware and software resources. Without an
OS, you wouldn't have a user interface to interact with your files or run
applications.
A browser is an application for creating web pages using HTML.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔F
HTML is a case-sensitive language.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔F
When you complete the first draft of a Web page, you should test it to verify that
every element is displayed correctly by all browsers that might be used by visitors
to your web page.
T OR F? -ANSWER ✔✔T
A tape drive must use slower random access by reading through the data from the
beginning of the tape.
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔F - SEQUENCIAL
A megabyte is 1,024 bytes
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔T
An output device, such as a keyboard or mouse, gathers input and transforms it
into a series of electronic signals for the computer.
T OR F statement? -ANSWER ✔✔F - INPUT
