Introduction-to-IT Exam Dumps - WGU Introduction to ITKS02

Communication over the Internet relies on packet-switched networks. Here’s why:

1.Packet Switching:

oThe Internet uses a packet-switching approach to transmit data.

oIn this method, data is divided into smaller packets before transmission.

oEach packet contains a portion of the original data along with addressing information.

oThese packets are then sent independently across the network.

oAt the destination, the packets are reassembled to reconstruct the original data.

2.Advantages of Packet Switching:

oEfficiency: Packet switching allows multiple users to share the same network resources efficiently.

oRobustness: If a link or node fails, packets can find alternative routes to reach their destination.

oScalability: The network can handle varying traffic loads without significant reconfiguration.

3.Other Options:

oAn IP Alias: An IP alias is an additional IP address associated with a network interface. It is not a requirement for communication over the Internet.

oA LAN (Local Area Network): A LAN is a local network within a limited geographical area. While LANs are essential for local communication, they are not directly required for Internet communication.

oA circuit-switched network: Circuit-switched networks establish dedicated connections between sender and receiver. The Internet does not use this approach.

oAn analog signal: Analog signals were used in older communication systems (e.g., telephone lines), but the Internet primarily relies on digital signals.

A compiler converts an entire source code program into machine code before the program is executed. In Information Technology and programming fundamentals, compilation is a translation process where the compiler reads the full source code, checks syntax and often performs optimization, and then produces an output file such as an executable or object code. This compiled output can be stored and run later without needing to retranslate the source code each time. This approach differs from interpretation, where code is translated and executed step by step at runtime. An assembler translates assembly language into machine code, but it is specific to assembly language rather than general high-level source code. The operating system is system software that manages hardware resources and provides services to applications, but it is not the translation method for converting source code into machine code. Because the question asks for the method that converts all source code into machine code for later execution, the correct answer is compiler.

System software is the category that allows other software to interface with computer hardware. In Information Technology, system software includes the operating system, device drivers, and utility programs that manage hardware resources and provide a platform for applications. Applications such as word processors and web browsers do not communicate directly with hardware like the CPU, memory, storage devices, or printers. Instead, they use services provided by the operating system and drivers. The operating system manages processes, memory, and input and output operations, while device drivers translate general commands into device-specific instructions for hardware components. This layered design improves reliability and security by controlling access to hardware and standardizing how applications request resources. Productivity software refers to applications that help users perform tasks, and collaboration software supports communication and teamwork, but neither category provides the core hardware interface. Shareware is a distribution and licensing model, not a hardware interface layer. Therefore, the correct category is system software.

To determine a student’s previous academic year’s course load, the most crucial piece of information is the course identification number. This unique identifier allows for the retrieval of specific data related to each course, such as the number of credit hours or units associated with the course, which directly contributes to the calculation of the course load.

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how this information is used:

1.Identify the Student: The database must have a record of the student for whom the course load is being determined.

2.Retrieve Course Records: Using the student’s identification, the database retrieves all course records associated with that student for the specified academic year.

3.Use Course Identification Numbers: Each course taken by the student will have a unique course identification number.

4.Determine Credit Hours: The course identification number can be used to look up the credit hours or units for each course, as this information is typically tied to the course ID in the database.

5.Calculate Course Load: By summing the credit hours for all courses taken in the previous academic year, the student’s course load can be calculated.

The third generation of computing is strongly associated with the introduction and widespread use of integrated circuits. Integrated circuits, often called ICs, combine many electronic components such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors onto a single silicon chip. This integration dramatically reduced the physical size of computers while increasing processing speed, reliability, and efficiency. Compared with second-generation transistor-based computers, third-generation machines produced less heat, required less maintenance, and offered better overall performance. This era also enabled more sophisticated computer designs, supporting improved input and output devices and stronger system capabilities for business and scientific computing. In many standard Information Technology references, the generational shift is summarized as first generation using vacuum tubes, second generation using transistors, third generation using integrated circuits, and fourth generation using microprocessors. Fifth generation is generally linked with artificial intelligence and advanced parallel processing concepts rather than the initial adoption of ICs. Therefore, the generation most clearly identified with integrated circuits is the third generation.

IT professional organizations publish codes of ethics to provide moral guidance for individuals and organizations working in the technology field. In Information Technology, a code of ethics outlines principles and standards of conduct related to responsibilities such as protecting privacy, ensuring security, avoiding harm, maintaining professional competence, being honest about system capabilities, and respecting intellectual property. These ethical standards help professionals make responsible decisions, especially when technical choices can affect users, society, or critical infrastructure. Regulations are legal requirements issued by governments and enforced through law. Policies are internal rules set by organizations to guide behavior within a specific company or institution. Bylaws are governance rules that define how an organization operates, such as membership, elections, and leadership structure, but they do not primarily serve as moral guidance for the broader profession. Professional ethics documents, on the other hand, are meant to guide behavior across the industry and promote trust and accountability. Therefore, the correct answer is ethics.

Hardware refers to the physical, tangible components of a computer system, while software refers to programs and instructions. Random-access memory, or RAM, is hardware because it is a physical set of memory chips installed in the computer, typically on removable modules. RAM provides temporary working storage for the operating system and applications while they are running, allowing fast read and write access compared to long-term storage devices. A compiler is software that translates source code into machine code. The kernel is software and is the core part of an operating system that manages resources such as processes, memory, and device access. The operating system itself is also software that controls the computer and provides services to applications. In Information Technology fundamentals, distinguishing hardware from software is a key concept: hardware includes CPU, RAM, motherboard, storage, and peripherals; software includes the operating system, applications, and programming tools. Since RAM is a physical component, it is the correct answer for the hardware part listed.

Freeware is software that is distributed at no monetary cost while still remaining protected by copyright laws. In Information Technology, freeware is typically fully usable without payment, but the creator or publisher retains ownership and controls the license terms. This means users may be allowed to install and use the software for free, yet they are not automatically allowed to modify the source code, resell it, or redistribute it beyond what the license permits. This distinguishes freeware from public domain software, which has no intellectual property protections and can be used, modified, and redistributed freely. It also differs from shareware, which is often free only as a trial or feature-limited version intended to encourage later purchase. Closed-source describes whether source code is available, not whether the software is free of charge. Many freeware products are also closed-source, but the key idea in the question is free availability with copyright protection. Therefore, the correct category is freeware.