First Email

Professor Camarillo,

Hello. I just finished taking the Lesson 2 quiz and I missed three questions. However, I’m not sure that the answers to these questions actually appear in the textbook. I think it’s possible that at least one of these questions may be unanswerable.

I can find no evidence in the textbook that this is the correct answer:

Question text: “Data travels to the microprocessor on the….”

As far as I know, Apple has been using Intel processors since 2005; the most recent revision date of the textbook is 2012:

Question text: “The processor that is used in Apple computers to run OSX natively is manufactured by….”

I can find no data on what the internal bus speed of the first Pentium processors were anywhere. The book says that “[t]he first Pentium CPUs ran at the same speed as the bus–60Mhz”:

Question text: “The internal bus for the original Pentium series microprocessor is ____ bits in length.”

Thank you,
Clifton

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Clifton, thanks for the email.

1. External data bus is the correct answer. If you look at page 28, second sentence, it states, “The processor is called the CPU (central processing unit) or microprocessor. Therefore, if you look at page 29 it states, “The external data bus connects the processor to adapters…”

2. Motorola is the correct answer. If you look at page 28, last sentence of the first paragraph, it states, “The processor designed by Motorola have been used in Apple computers for years.”

3. 32 is the correct answer. If you look at page 30, second paragraph, it states, “Intel’s 80386D CPU has 32-bit internal…data buses.”

Regards,
Rene

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Professor Camarillo,

Thank you for your response.

1. Though the textbook does say that the external data bus connects the processor to adapters, etc., it does not provide the direction of that data flow. The question on the quiz states “Data travels to the processor….”

So, again, the textbook does not give the direction of data flow in writing. However, if you look at the , it shows an arrow going away from the CPU. The arrow is labelled “External data bus.” So, this tells me that the external data bus carries data away from the CPU not to CPU. Nowhere does the textbook explicitly state that the data flow goes both directions. I can see that perhaps I was supposed to just infer this. However, because of how the book relays the information, I feel that a reader would be equally justified in assuming that some other process relays data back to the CPU.

I didn’t think my answer was right, but I also don’t think that the other answers are right based on the information given in the book.

2. Yes, I read that sentence. I know that Motorola used to manufacture processors used by Apple. In fact, I double-checked that before messaging you. However, the question does not say, “Which company has been manufacturing Apple processors for years?” The question is asked in present tense. Apple currently uses Intel processors. So, the book info is clearly outdated. Also, and even more confusingly, I can’t find any reference in the chapter to OSX. Is it possible that this question just needs to be updated?

3. Yes, I read that sentence as well. The problem is that Intel’s 80386D CPU was developed in 1985 while the first Pentium processor (i.e., the original Pentium processor) didn’t come about until 1993. So, tell me this: how could the 80386D CPU developed in 1985 be the original Pentium processor if that didn’t come along until 1993? Again, either the book is wrong or every other source is wrong.

I feel like I wasted a lot of time trying to figure out the right answers to these poorly-worded questions. My biggest hope is that, even if I don’t get the points back, the questions are at least corrected. I’ve taken several classes at Rio so far and, in my experience, the quizzes almost always include a few questions that are poorly worded or out of date. So, I wasn’t surprised to encounter that on this quiz.

–Clifton

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[no response from Professor Camarillo]

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Second Email

Professor,

Attached are two questions that appear to need updating or correction.
Neither answer appears in the book as far as I can tell and both seem suspect to me based on my own experience.

Question text: “Joe, the junior technician, is helping with a department move to a different area of the building. Look at items 1–5, and then select the answer that includes two true statements.”

Question text: “The two most common types of computer power connectors are Molex and Berg.”

–Clifton

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Clifton, thanks for the email.

1. In regards to the first question, of the textbook mentions Berg and Molex connectors.

2. In regards to the second question. Answer 1 is correct as Joe needs to ensure the surge strips are not installed in a walking path and the other answer is 4 to assist him in the movement of the equipment. Answer 3 would not be correct as surge strips utilize common electrical outlet voltage; therefore, there would be no reason to verify the electrical outlet voltage.

Regards,
Rene

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Professor,

Could you please direct me to the passage on page 115 where it is stated that Molex and Berg are the two most common types of connectors?

Also, could you please tell me where in the book it is stated that a cart should be employed when moving computer equipment? (Incidentally, the word “cart” does not appear in this chapter.)

Thank you in advance.

–Clifton

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Clifton,

I’m checking with Rio Salado as they are the ones who develop the quizzes.

Regards,
Rene

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From the “Meet Your Instructor” section of my course (BPC125 – Microcomputer Set Up and Maintenance):

My name is Rene Camarillo and I have a Master of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. I definitely enjoy instructing at Rio Salado Community College as it’s great to collaborate with students on their experience in using computer technology. My hobbies include learning new concepts in information technology and broadening my professional career in project management activities. I’m currently a Senior Information Technology Project Manager as it’s very interesting how technology affects all aspects of an organization.