Western Governors University – D684 Introduction
to Computer Science (2024–2025) – Complete Exam
Material and Key Term Summary
Introduction:
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the key
terms, definitions, and exam-relevant concepts for the
Western Governors University course D684: Introduction to
Computer Science. It covers foundational topics including
programming basics, data structures, algorithms, operating
systems, file systems, and computer architecture.
The material also includes practice questions with answers,
offering students a complete preparation resource aligned with
course assessments.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. infinite loop-Answer:- a loop that never ends because the
termination condition is never met or is incorrectly written
2. input-Answer:- data that are provided to a program for
processing
3. loop control variable-Answer:- a variable that determines
whether the loop will continue running or stop, often
incremented or modified within the loop
,4. nested structure-Answer:- a programming construct
where one control structure (like a loop or a conditional
statement) is placed inside another
5. output-Answer:- data that are produced by a program and
presented to the user or another system
6. pretest loop-Answer:- a loop that evaluates its condition
before executing the body of the loop, such as a while loop
7. pseudocode-Answer:- A simplified, human-readable
version of a program's code that outlines the logic without
strict syntax rules
8. repetition (iteration)-Answer:- the act of executing a set
of instructions multiple times, typically using loops
9. selection-Answer:- a control structure that allows a
program to choose between ditterent actions based on
conditions (similar to a branch)
10. left-to-right associativity-Answer:- the rule that
operators with the same precedence are evaluated from left to
right in an expression
11. magic number-Answer:- a hard-coded number in a
program that lacks context or explanation, making the code
harder to understand and maintain
12. named constant-Answer:- a variable with a value that is
set once and cannot be changed; it is used to give meaningful
names to fixed values
, 13. overhead-Answer:- the extra processing time, memory, or
other resources required by a computer program beyond the
actual task it is performing
14. rules of precedence (order of operations)-Answer:- the
rules that define the sequence in which ditterent operations
(like addition and multiplication) are performed in an
expression to ensure consistent results
15. abstract data type-Answer:- a blueprint for organizing
and working with data that defines what operations can be
performed on the data without specifying how they are
implemented
16. array-Answer:- a collection of items stored in a
contiguous memory block, each identified by an index number,
allowing for eflcient access to elements based on their position
17. composite variable-Answer:- a variable that can hold
multiple pieces of data, often grouped together under a single
name
18. container-Answer:- a data structure that holds a
collection of elements, providing methods to add, remove, and
access items within it
19. data structure-Answer:- a way of organizing and storing
data in a computer's memory designed to facilitate the eflcient
retrieval, insertion, and deletion of data
to Computer Science (2024–2025) – Complete Exam
Material and Key Term Summary
Introduction:
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the key
terms, definitions, and exam-relevant concepts for the
Western Governors University course D684: Introduction to
Computer Science. It covers foundational topics including
programming basics, data structures, algorithms, operating
systems, file systems, and computer architecture.
The material also includes practice questions with answers,
offering students a complete preparation resource aligned with
course assessments.
Exam Questions and Answers:
1. infinite loop-Answer:- a loop that never ends because the
termination condition is never met or is incorrectly written
2. input-Answer:- data that are provided to a program for
processing
3. loop control variable-Answer:- a variable that determines
whether the loop will continue running or stop, often
incremented or modified within the loop
,4. nested structure-Answer:- a programming construct
where one control structure (like a loop or a conditional
statement) is placed inside another
5. output-Answer:- data that are produced by a program and
presented to the user or another system
6. pretest loop-Answer:- a loop that evaluates its condition
before executing the body of the loop, such as a while loop
7. pseudocode-Answer:- A simplified, human-readable
version of a program's code that outlines the logic without
strict syntax rules
8. repetition (iteration)-Answer:- the act of executing a set
of instructions multiple times, typically using loops
9. selection-Answer:- a control structure that allows a
program to choose between ditterent actions based on
conditions (similar to a branch)
10. left-to-right associativity-Answer:- the rule that
operators with the same precedence are evaluated from left to
right in an expression
11. magic number-Answer:- a hard-coded number in a
program that lacks context or explanation, making the code
harder to understand and maintain
12. named constant-Answer:- a variable with a value that is
set once and cannot be changed; it is used to give meaningful
names to fixed values
, 13. overhead-Answer:- the extra processing time, memory, or
other resources required by a computer program beyond the
actual task it is performing
14. rules of precedence (order of operations)-Answer:- the
rules that define the sequence in which ditterent operations
(like addition and multiplication) are performed in an
expression to ensure consistent results
15. abstract data type-Answer:- a blueprint for organizing
and working with data that defines what operations can be
performed on the data without specifying how they are
implemented
16. array-Answer:- a collection of items stored in a
contiguous memory block, each identified by an index number,
allowing for eflcient access to elements based on their position
17. composite variable-Answer:- a variable that can hold
multiple pieces of data, often grouped together under a single
name
18. container-Answer:- a data structure that holds a
collection of elements, providing methods to add, remove, and
access items within it
19. data structure-Answer:- a way of organizing and storing
data in a computer's memory designed to facilitate the eflcient
retrieval, insertion, and deletion of data
