Unit 3: Data Communication and Networks - Practice Quiz

1 Which of the following is not a basic component of a data communication system?

2 In a data communication system, the set of rules that governs the exchange of data between two devices is called the:

3 A signal that has continuously varying values over time is called a/an:

4 Digital signals typically represent data using which two discrete values?

5 Which device converts digital signals to analog for transmission over telephone lines and back again?

6 In which mode of communication can data flow in only one direction?

7 A walkie-talkie, where only one person can speak at a time, is an example of which communication mode?

8 A telephone conversation, where both parties can talk and listen at the same time, is an example of:

9 In which network topology is every device connected to a single central hub or switch?

10 In a ring topology, the devices are connected in the shape of a:

11 In which topology is every device connected directly to every other device?

12 Which topology uses a single common backbone cable to which all devices are attached?

13 Which technology allows devices to connect to a network without using physical cables?

14 Which of the following is a short-range wireless technology commonly used to connect headphones and keyboards to devices?

15 A network that covers a small area such as a single office or building is called a:

16 Which network type covers a very large geographic area, such as multiple cities or countries?

17 The Internet is best described as a:

18 What is the main purpose of the Internet Protocol (IP)?

19 How many bits are used in an IPv4 address?

20 How many bits are used in an IPv6 address?

21 In a data communication system, a laptop sends a document to a printer over a network. Which component of the communication system does the transmission medium represent in this scenario?

22 A walkie-talkie allows only one person to speak at a time while the other listens, then they switch roles. Which communication mode does this represent?

23 A television broadcast sends signals from the station to home TVs, but the TVs cannot send anything back. This is an example of which transmission mode?

24 Which device is required to allow a computer's digital signals to travel over a traditional analog telephone line and vice versa?

25 Which statement best distinguishes digital transmission from analog transmission?

26 In a network topology, the failure of the central connecting device brings down the entire network, but a single cable failure only affects one node. Which topology is described?

27 A company wants a topology where every device is directly connected to every other device for maximum fault tolerance. If there are 5 devices, how many direct links are required?

28 In which topology does a single break in the main backbone cable typically disrupt communication for the entire network?

29 Which of the following is a valid IPv4 address?

30 What is the main reason IPv6 was introduced to replace IPv4?

31 How many bits are used in an IPv6 address, and how is it commonly written?

32 When a data packet travels across the Internet through several routers, what does each router primarily use to decide where to forward the packet next?

33 The Internet Protocol (IP) is described as a "connectionless" and "best-effort" protocol. What does this imply?

34 When you type a website name like www.example.com in a browser, which system translates that name into a numeric IP address?

35 On the Internet, large messages are broken into smaller units before transmission and reassembled at the destination. What are these units called?

36 A network that connects computers within a single office building using high-speed local links is best classified as which type?

37 Which network type would best describe the interconnection of multiple LANs across an entire city, such as a citywide cable network?

38 Which technology is most appropriate for connecting a wireless mouse and keyboard to a laptop over a very short range?

39 In a wireless LAN, which device allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network and manage their communication?

40 A user searches for a shared printer available only within their office network, then later searches for information on the World Wide Web. These two actions are examples of, respectively:

41 A network administrator is allocated the block and must create subnets that each support at least 50 usable hosts, maximizing the number of subnets. Which subnet mask should be used and how many subnets result?

42 The IPv6 address 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:ff00:0042:8329 is compressed. Which of the following is the correct fully compressed form?

43 In a fully connected mesh topology with nodes, an administrator adds one more node. By how many links does the total number of physical connections increase?

44 A channel has a bandwidth of Hz and a signal-to-noise ratio of dB. Using the Shannon capacity formula, the maximum theoretical data rate is closest to:

45 A walkie-talkie system lets only one party transmit at a time while the other listens, then roles reverse. Which classification is correct and why?

46 A router receives a packet destined for and its routing table contains routes to , , and . Which route is chosen?

47 In a data communication system, which combination of components must all agree on a common set of rules for the exchange to succeed, and what are those rules called?

48 When you type a URL and the browser has no cached DNS record, what is the correct order of primary resolution steps before the TCP connection is opened?

49 In a Wi-Fi network, the hidden node problem occurs when two stations cannot hear each other but both can reach the access point. Which mechanism is specifically designed to mitigate it?

50 An organization connects several branch office LANs spread across a single metropolitan area using high-speed fiber owned by a service provider. This interconnection is best classified as a:

51 How many total addresses does the IPv6 block 2001:db8:abcd:0012::/64 contain for host assignment within its interface identifier portion?

52 A star topology and a bus topology each connect 8 devices. Considering fault tolerance, which statement is accurate?

53 According to the Nyquist theorem, a noiseless channel with bandwidth Hz using signal levels has a maximum data rate of:

54 Why is IP described as a connectionless and unreliable protocol, and how is reliability typically achieved for applications that need it?

55 Two hosts on the same subnet communicate. Which pair of addresses lies within this subnet and can communicate without a router?

56 When a device needs to reach a destination whose IP is not on its local subnet, what does it do based on comparing the destination against its own network mask?

57 Which characteristic distinguishes IPv6 from IPv4 in a way that reduces router processing overhead?

58 A designer must choose a wireless technology for a low-power sensor mesh where devices sleep most of the time and send small periodic readings over short ranges. Which choice best fits and why?

59 Compared to a LAN, which combination of properties typically characterizes a WAN?

60 A large file is sent over the internet and packets arrive at the destination out of order and via different routes. Which statement correctly explains this behavior?