139 TExES Technology Applications 8 - 12 Exam Practice Questions
1. Basic concepts in information technology include:
A. Genetics
B. ASCb
C. Chemical reactions
D. All of the above
2. Effects of the evolution of information technology may include:
A. More time available for research
B. Budget restraints
C. Stable and fixed hardware
D. All of the above
3. Graphic design uses:
A. Typography and visual arts skills
B. Social science skills
C. Memorization and public speaking skills
D. All of the above
4. Industries that use graphic designs include:
A. Technical writers
B. Journalism
C. Marketers
D. All of the above
5. Which of the following is not part of the history of digital animation?
A. Zoetrope
B. Stop-action photography
C. Still photographs
D. Computer generation
6. Desktop publishing is used in:
A. Point of sale displays
B. Promotional items
C. Package design
D. All of the above
7. Which of the following describes characteristics of multimedia sources?
A. Static and unchanging
B. Versatile
C. Restricted and limited avenues
D. All of the above
8. Uses of multimedia include:
A. Commercial
B. Educational
C. Entertainment
D. All of the above
9. Benefits of the Internet include:
A. There are no benefits
B. Increased business expense
C. Reduced business expense
D. Reduction of the workforce
10. Negative consequences of the information technology boom include:
A. Cost of computer equipment
B. Lower production costs
C. Availability of health information
D. All of the above
ANSWER KEY EXAM 139
1. Answer: B
There are six basic concepts important to understanding information technology (IT):
- Binary: Brief representations of long strings of numbers used in computations
- ASCb (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): Letters and punctuation signs combined with strings of binary numbers
- Hierarchy: An order to understanding and using information technology; sometimes referred to as "nesting quality"
- World Wide Web: A communication tool that links information via bursts of binary data
- Stored Program: A CPU (central processing unit) stores multiple sets of instructions and determines the next step in a process.
- Routing: Sequences of binary numbers move through a connected network
2. Answer: B
Information technology changes rapidly. It may be only a few months before the next generation is introduced. Because of this, it can be a challenge to keep current hardware accessible and be knowledgeable about the newest versions of popular software. Educators face especially difficult obstacles because of budget restraints and the time needed to research, prepare requests and obtain approval for new software and hardware; which in all probability means most school districts are several generations behind. How can a teacher cope with this real-world situation? The best way is to stay current with advances through reading and research. Develop lesson plans that show students how to approach new and/or unfamiliar software and hardware. Most software does not change dramatically from one version to the next. Many improvements are slight and based on user requests. New hardware usually just adds more memory and faster response time along with a few "bells and whistles." The basics do not change.
3. Answer: A
Graphic design is both the process of visual communication and the product created. Using typography (the features of an object), the visual arts (paintings, sculptures, drawings, etc.) and page layout (fonts, margins, object placement, etc.), designers create an image that tells a story. The primary tools for the graphic designer are a creative, imaginative mind and a keen eye for detail and balance. They must also understand the message to be conveyed and the audience for which the message is meant.
4. Answer: D
Technical Writers use graphics to illustrate schematics, explain complicated diagrams and enhance complex text. Sometimes pictures are needed when words are not able to convey the message accurately or adequately. Marketers use graphics to sell a product, introduce a concept or enhance a company's identity. When color and copy are combined with a logo to create a corporate identity, it is known as branding. EDUCATORS rely on graphics to illustrate and explain. Creatively formatting information using pictures, graphs and white space makes books easier to read and understand. The Entertainment Industry tells stories. Whether it's a film, theatrical production or comic book, graphic designs are used to set the scene and create a mood. Journalism reports facts, analyzes events and offers opinions on diverse topics in print and on television. Graphics are used to illustrate, inform and entertain.
5. Answer: C
Animation is the process of making drawings and inanimate objects appear to move. It began in the mid 1850s with the use of the zoetrope to simulate movement, graduated to stop-action photography as seen in the early cartoons of Walt Disney in the 1930s and has progressed to the computer-generated films currently being produced. Digital animation creates moving images using a computer. It is the same process used to produce movement on television and in films. A simple explanation for the process: An image is displayed on the screen; it is quickly replaced with another image that is similar to the first but has shifted ever so slightly. This process is repeated as many times as necessary to complete the desired action. The images are then layered onto a virtual skeleton. Details are added (eyes, mouth, ears, hair) and all the related images are shown sequentially, creating the illusion of movement.
6. Answer: D
Paul Brainerd, the founder of Aldus Corporation, created the term "desktop publishing" in 1985 as a marketing slogan to differentiate his smaller, easier to use and more affordable products from the commercial photo-typesetting equipment in use at the time. The art of desktop publishing uses graphics and word processing software to create more than just newsletters and illustrations in documents. It is used to produce goods for a multitude of purposes. Point of sale displays in retail outlets, promotional items with logos that reinforce company branding efforts, the backdrop for trade show exhibits and package designs for products in many industries are just a few examples of ways to use desktop publishing skills.
7. Answer: B
Multimedia includes text (words), audio (sounds), animation (moving images), still images (pictures, drawings, illustrations) and video (pre-recorded visual images). Linear multimedia moves without any control by the viewer, i.e., filmstrips, movies and PowerPoint presentations. Non-linear multimedia has an interactive component that requires manipulation by the user, i.e., computer games, computer based training. Multimedia presentations may be prerecorded or live action. They may be seen in person (stage production, movie theater, rock concert) or watched on a media player (television, DVD, online). The presentation may be staged in a theater with actors, projected on a screen or transmitted via an electromagnetic signal. Broadcasts and recordings can be analog (data represented by physical entities) or digital (an electronic logic circuit represented by the binary number system). Multimedia is versatile, engaging and entertaining.
8. Answer: D
Companies and Corporations: Multimedia presentations are used to introduce new products to customers, enliven internal and external training seminars, inform employees of changes in company policies and procedures and communicate with shareholders.
Commercial: Professionals in journalism, advertising and marketing use multimedia to enhance products and presentations. Government agencies and non-profit organizations employ multimedia in business-to-business communications and to explain their mission to the community.
Entertainment and Fine Arts: Movies and television use animation and special effects in many of their productions. Video games have a huge following of devoted users. Artists create works that encourage and invite interaction.
Education: Computer based training (CBT) is a popular method of teaching in corporate settings. Online dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference books often use animation and detailed illustrations to explain complex topics.
Engineering, Medicine, Scientific Research: Computer simulations help engineers manipulate data to create potential scenarios; medical personnel practice surgical techniques and study the effects of diseases in virtual reality situations; researchers use multimedia in modeling and simulations.
9. Answer: C
The Internet has had a profound effect on society. Communication is almost instantaneous; information is abundant, readily available and easily accessible on the World Wide Web. Individuals use it and companies rely on it. More and more people are turning to the Internet for the news of the day, analyses of current events, sports scores, health information, financial transactions and security (home, day care, nanny cams, etc.). The growth of the Internet has allowed companies to expand their business reach beyond traditional borders and reduce expenses, thereby increasing the bottom line. Companies are more willing to let employees work from home, which lowers gasoline consumption, reduces pollution and makes for happier, more productive workers because of a better work/life balance. Students have easy access to a myriad of resources and reference material, which adds to background knowledge and enhances learning. Teachers can utilize computer based training programs to acquire new skills and enrich their arsenal of teaching tools.
10. Answer: A
While there are many positives about the growth of the Internet, there are also some consequences that are not so welcome. In spite of the decreasing cost of computer equipment, many people still cannot afford to purchase and maintain it. This is especially true in developing countries, as well as many of our own inner cities. How will this inequity affect the labor pool in the future? Will the world economy eventually have to pay a steep price for a computer-illiterate work force? There is no doubt that computers and the Internet have been a boon to industry. They have enabled businesses to attract new customers while cutting advertising and production costs. It has also meant eliminating many unskilled jobs; computers can do most of those tasks cheaper and quicker than humans. What will become of those whose jobs were eliminated? Will the tax burden be increased because of the need to provide for folks who don't have the necessary skills to find work?
