Unit 9: Software Programming and Development - Practice Quiz

1 What is a computer program?

2 A program written by a programmer in a human-readable language is called the:

3 Which of the following is an example of application software?

4 The language that a computer's processor can directly understand is called:

5 A collection of programs and related data that runs on a computer is generally called:

6 Which type of software acts as a bridge between the hardware and application programs?

7 Which statement about hardware and software is correct?

8 A small program that lets the operating system communicate with a specific hardware device is called a:

9 When you press a key on the keyboard, which component processes the resulting instruction?

10 Where must a program be loaded before the CPU can execute it?

11 A diagram that uses symbols to show the steps of a program is called a:

12 Writing program logic in plain English-like statements before coding is known as:

13 In a standard flowchart, which shape usually represents a decision?

14 What is usually the first step when planning a computer program?

15 An algorithm can best be described as:

16 In a flowchart, which symbol is generally used to represent a process or action step?

17 The process of finding and fixing errors in a program is called:

18 A general model of how a program solves a problem follows the order:

19 An error in the rules or grammar of a programming language is called a:

20 To solve a large, complex problem with a program, it is best to:

21 A student writes a set of instructions in Python that reads two numbers and prints their sum. Before the CPU can execute these instructions, what must happen?

22 Which statement best distinguishes a program from an algorithm?

23 A program is described as a sequence of instructions that is stored and then executed. This idea is central to which computer concept?

24 Which of the following is the clearest example of system software rather than an application program?

25 A file with the .exe extension runs directly when double-clicked, while a .py file needs Python installed. What does this difference tell you?

26 When you press a key on the keyboard, which layer is most directly responsible for translating that hardware signal so applications can use it?

27 An application wants to save a file to disk but cannot access the hardware directly. How does it accomplish this?

28 Which sequence correctly represents the layers of interaction from top to bottom?

29 A new printer is connected but does not work until specific software is installed. What is this software called and what does it do?

30 During program execution, where are the active instructions and data primarily held for the CPU to access quickly?

31 Why is software necessary for hardware to be useful?

32 A developer draws boxes and arrows to map the flow of decisions and steps before coding. Which planning tool is being used?

33 In a flowchart, which symbol is used to represent a decision that has multiple possible outcomes?

34 Why do programmers often write pseudocode before writing actual code?

35 What is the correct general order of steps in the program development process?

36 A team breaks a large program into smaller, manageable pieces that each handle one task. What planning approach is this?

37 In a flowchart, what is the purpose of the oval (terminator) symbol?

38 A program repeatedly executes a block of code until a condition becomes false. Which control structure does this describe?

39 A program must choose between two different actions based on whether a user's age is . Which control structure is required?

40 Programs solve problems by processing input into output. In the model , what does the process stage represent?

41 A program is described as a set of instructions that is stored and then executed. In the stored-program (von Neumann) model, which characteristic most directly distinguishes a program from fixed-function hardware logic?

42 Consider source code, object code, and an executable. Which statement correctly orders their dependence and portability characteristics?

43 A programmer claims that an interpreted program and a compiled program are "the same program". From a purely definitional standpoint, what is the most accurate response?

44 Why is a program written entirely in machine code considered a valid program but rarely written directly by humans today?

45 When an application requests to write a file to disk, the request typically passes through multiple layers. Which sequence best reflects the interaction from top to bottom?

46 A CPU can only execute machine instructions. Given a high-level program, which combination of components is minimally required to make it run on the hardware?

47 During an interrupt-driven I/O operation, why is polling generally considered less efficient than interrupts for hardware/software interaction?

48 System software and application software both interact with hardware. Which statement most accurately contrasts their access?

49 A program compiled for one CPU architecture fails to run on another even though both use the same operating system family. What is the primary reason?

50 In the program development cycle, why must problem analysis and requirement specification precede algorithm design?

51 A flowchart and pseudocode both express algorithm logic before coding. Which statement best captures a meaningful trade-off between them?

52 During planning, a developer identifies that a required calculation depends on a value not available until runtime. What planning technique best addresses this before coding?

53 Why does modular (top-down) program design improve maintainability compared to a single monolithic block of code?

54 A team writes detailed pseudocode but skips documenting assumptions and edge cases. What is the most likely downstream consequence?

55 An algorithm to find the maximum in a list initializes max to the first element rather than to . Why is this the more robust choice?

56 Two algorithms solve the same problem: Algorithm A runs in and Algorithm B in . For a small input of , A completes faster. What is the correct interpretation?

57 A problem-solving process follows: understand the problem, devise a plan, carry out the plan, then review. Which activity best represents the "review" step in program development?

58 A recursive solution and an iterative solution both compute the same result. On a system with a small call stack, the recursive version crashes for large inputs while the iterative one succeeds. What is the root cause?

59 An algorithm uses a loop with condition while (x != 0) and decrements x by 2 each iteration. Starting from an odd positive x, what problem arises and why?

60 When decomposing a complex problem into subproblems, why is it important that subproblem solutions can be combined without unintended interaction?