Test your knowledge of communications in a connected world by answering the following networking questions. Each correct answer is highlighted in green and explained below.
Question 1
What is the internet?
- the type of physical media used by computers to access the World Wide Web
- a network of networks ✅
- an application used to access the World Wide Web
- a small isolated internal network of a company
Why this is correct: The internet is often described as a “network of networks,” connecting millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks worldwide. It allows global communication and information sharing across devices and platforms.
Question 2
What is an example of a binary value from everyday life?
- room temperature
- a simple light switch ✅
- speed of a traveling car
- brightness of a light bulb
Why this is correct: A light switch has only two states: on (1) or off (0), which is exactly how binary values work in computing. This makes it a perfect real-world example of binary data representation.
Question 3
Which category of network components includes wires and cables used in a wired network?
- media ✅
- devices
- peripherals
- hosts
Why this is correct: In networking, media refers to the physical channels through which signals travel, such as copper cables, fiber optics, or wireless transmission paths.
Question 4
What type of device is able to create physical movement?
- actuator ✅
- sensor
- RFID tag
- console
Why this is correct: An actuator is a device that converts electrical signals into physical movement, such as motors that open valves, move robotic arms, or adjust mechanical systems.
Question 5
What are three options for signal transmission on a network? (Choose three.)
- radio waves ✅
- vibration pulses
- sound waves
- electrical pulses ✅
- light pulses ✅
Why this is correct: Networks transmit signals using radio waves (wireless), electrical pulses (copper cables), and light pulses (fiber optics). These three methods are the backbone of modern data transmission.
Question 6
Who owns the internet?
- Bill Gates
- Cisco
- the government
- no one person or group ✅
Why this is correct: The internet is a decentralized system with no single owner. It is governed by shared standards and protocols, managed collaboratively by organizations and service providers worldwide.
Question 7
Which type of connected device is placed on objects to track and monitor them?
- RFID tags ✅
- sensors
- actuators
- consoles
Why this is correct: RFID tags are small devices that use radio waves to transmit data. They are commonly attached to objects for tracking in logistics, supply chains, and inventory systems.
Question 8
A byte consists of how many bits?
Why this is correct: A byte is a standard unit of digital information made up of 8 bits. Bytes are used to represent characters, numbers, and other data in computing systems.
Question 9
Which two numbers are possible values of a bit? (Choose two.)
Why this is correct: A bit can only have two values: 0
or 1
. These binary values are the foundation of digital systems, representing two possible states such as off/on or false/true.
Question 10
What measurement is used to indicate thousands of bits per second?
Why this is correct: Kbps stands for Kilobits per second and is equal to 1,000 bits per second. It is commonly used to measure smaller network speeds or data transfer rates.
Question 11
What type of network must a home user access in order to do online shopping?
- a SOHO network
- the internet ✅
- a local area network
Why this is correct: Online shopping requires access to the internet, which connects users to e-commerce websites and services. While LANs and SOHO networks provide local connectivity, only the internet allows global online transactions.