BrainSnail

Technology · Unit 3

Meet the Computer

What a computer is and its main parts

A computer is a machine that follows instructions on data, and everything else about it - the screen, the keyboard, the apps - is an interface to that one capability.

The unit covers what a computer is, its main parts, apps and programs, using one effectively, and the computers hidden in things that do not look like computers.

This unit breaks down into 23 short steps and 119 questions, starting at difficulty 1 and building to 4. Below you can see exactly what it covers, how the path is structured, and worked examples with explanations.

Steps
23
Questions
119
Difficulty
1-4

What this unit covers

  • Using a Computer
  • Apps and Programs
  • What a Computer Is
  • Parts of a Computer
  • Computers Everywhere

Where this fits

Follows Everyday Technology. Computer Hardware and Software both build on it.

Where people slip

Hardware is the physical machine and software is the instructions. The same hardware runs entirely different software, which is what makes a computer general-purpose.

How the unit is structured

Meet the Computer runs as 23 short steps that unlock in order. 17 are practice rounds and 6 are challenge rounds that pull together everything before them. Questions start at difficulty 1 and climb to 4 as you progress.

Step 1 · easierStep 23 · harder

Challenge rounds

Example questions

30 real questions from this unit, with the answer and the reason behind it, grouped by what they practise. There are 119 in the unit altogether.

Apps and Programs

  • True or falseLevel 1

    1. A game you play on a tablet is a kind of app.

    Answer: True

    A game is a program that does a job, which makes it an app.

  • Choose all that applyLevel 2

    2. Which of these are apps you might use on a computer? Choose all that apply.

    • A gamecorrect
    • A drawing programcorrect
    • A music playercorrect
    • A sandwich
    • A bicycle

    A game, a drawing program, and a music player are all apps, but a sandwich and a bicycle are not.

  • Match the pairsLevel 2

    3. Match each app to its main job.

    Answer: Web browser = Visit websites; Calculator = Do math; Camera = Take photos; Music player = Play songs

    Each app is made to do one main job well.

  • Fill the blankLevel 3

    4. Before you can use most new apps, you first have to ____ them onto your device.

    • installcorrect
    • imagine
    • iron
    • invite

    Installing an app copies it onto your device so it is ready to use.

  • Multiple choiceLevel 4

    5. Software is a set of instructions, while the physical parts you can touch are called what?

    • Hardwarecorrect
    • Hardwood
    • Headphones
    • Homework

    Hardware is the name for the physical parts of a computer, like the screen and keyboard.

  • Odd one outLevel 4

    6. Which of these is NOT a piece of software?

    • A computer keyboardcorrect
    • A web browser
    • A photo editor
    • A video game

    A keyboard is a physical part you can touch, called hardware, while the others are all software.

Computers Everywhere

  • Multiple choiceLevel 1

    7. Which of these has a tiny computer inside it?

    • A smartphonecorrect
    • A wooden spoon
    • A paper book
    • A rock

    A smartphone is really a small computer you can carry in your pocket.

  • Odd one outLevel 2

    8. Which of these does NOT have a computer inside?

    • A garden rakecorrect
    • A smartphone
    • A smart TV
    • A tablet

    A garden rake is a simple tool with no electric parts, while the others all use computers.

  • Sort into groupsLevel 2

    9. Sort each thing by whether it has a computer inside or not.

    Answer: Smartphone = Has a computer; Tablet = Has a computer; Wooden chair = No computer; Paper book = No computer

    Smartphones and tablets have computers inside, while a wooden chair and a paper book do not.

  • Choose all that applyLevel 3

    10. Which everyday devices usually have a computer chip inside? Choose all that apply.

    • A microwave ovencorrect
    • A digital watchcorrect
    • A game consolecorrect
    • A drinking glass
    • A paper notebook

    A microwave oven, a digital watch, and a game console all use computer chips, but a drinking glass and a paper notebook do not.

  • Fill the blankLevel 3

    11. A modern smartphone is really a powerful ____ with a touchscreen, camera, and apps.

    • computercorrect
    • hammer
    • mirror
    • candle

    A smartphone is a small but powerful computer that fits in your pocket.

  • True or falseLevel 3

    12. The internet lets many small computers, in homes and pockets, connect and share information.

    Answer: True

    The internet links computers of all sizes so they can talk to each other and share information.

Parts of a Computer

  • Fill the blankLevel 1

    13. You look at the ____ to see what the computer is showing.

    • screencorrect
    • mouse
    • cable
    • plug

    The screen shows pictures, words, and everything the computer wants you to see.

  • Multiple choiceLevel 1

    14. Which part do you use to type letters and numbers?

    • The keyboardcorrect
    • The monitor
    • The mouse
    • The speaker

    The keyboard has lots of buttons with letters and numbers that you press to type.

  • Guess the numberLevel 2

    15. How many main buttons does a standard computer mouse usually have on top, not counting the wheel?

    Answer: 2 buttons

    A standard mouse has two main buttons, a left button and a right button, with a wheel in the middle.

  • Odd one outLevel 2

    16. Which one is NOT a part of a computer?

    • A rainbowcorrect
    • A keyboard
    • A mouse
    • A monitor

    A rainbow is in the sky, while a keyboard, mouse, and monitor are all computer parts.

  • Match the pairsLevel 3

    17. Match each device to what it does.

    Answer: Printer = Puts your work onto paper; Scanner = Copies paper into the computer; Webcam = Takes video of you; Headphones = Play sound to your ears

    Each of these extra devices has its own special job.

  • Choose all that applyLevel 4

    18. Which of these parts are INPUT devices? Choose all that apply.

    • Keyboardcorrect
    • Mousecorrect
    • Microphonecorrect
    • Monitor
    • Speaker

    A keyboard, mouse, and microphone send information into the computer, while a monitor and speaker give it out.

Using a Computer

  • Fill the blankLevel 2

    19. The little arrow that moves on the screen when you move the mouse is called the ____.

    • pointercorrect
    • button
    • cable
    • window

    The pointer is the little arrow you move around with the mouse to point at things.

  • Multiple choiceLevel 2

    20. When you finish your work, what should you do so you do not lose it?

    • Save itcorrect
    • Delete it
    • Hide it
    • Close your eyes

    Saving your work keeps a copy so you can open it again later.

  • True or falseLevel 2

    21. A folder on a computer is used to keep files together and organized.

    Answer: True

    A folder holds related files together so they are tidy and easy to find.

  • Put in orderLevel 3

    22. Put these steps in order to save your work and close the app.

    Answer: Finish your work -> Click Save -> Choose a name for the file -> Close the app

    First finish, then click Save, name the file, and finally close the app.

  • Type the answerLevel 3

    23. A single box on the screen that shows one app or document is called a what?

    Answer: window

    A window is one box on the screen showing a single app or document.

  • Guess the numberLevel 4

    24. How many function keys, labeled F1, F2, and so on, does a standard computer keyboard usually have?

    Answer: 12 keys

    A standard keyboard has twelve function keys, labeled F1 through F12, along the top row.

What a Computer Is

  • Fill the blankLevel 1

    25. A computer follows ____ to do its work.

    • instructionscorrect
    • feelings
    • weather
    • colors

    A computer only does what its instructions tell it to do.

  • Fill the blankLevel 2

    26. Putting information into a computer, like typing or clicking, is called ____.

    • inputcorrect
    • output
    • dinner
    • sleeping

    Input is any information you put into the computer for it to use.

  • Multiple choiceLevel 2

    27. When a computer shows you the finished result on the screen, what is that called?

    • Outputcorrect
    • Input
    • Power
    • Storage

    Output is the information a computer gives back to you after it has done its work.

  • Odd one outLevel 2

    28. Which of these is NOT something a computer does with information?

    • Eats itcorrect
    • Stores it
    • Shows it
    • Works on it

    A computer can store, show, and work on information, but it does not eat anything.

  • True or falseLevel 2

    29. A computer takes in information, works on it, and then shows a result.

    Answer: True

    Computers work in three steps: they take information in, process it, and give a result out.

  • Type the answerLevel 3

    30. What is the general name for a list of instructions that tells a computer exactly what to do?

    Answer: program

    A program is a list of instructions that a computer follows step by step.

Where these questions come from. Each unit starts as a plan of the concepts it should cover and the difficulty it should span. Questions are written against that plan with AI assistance, then checked by a validator that rejects anything without a single defensible answer, an explanation, or plausible wrong options. How we write questions sets out the whole process, and corrections are fixed in the bank and reach the site and the app the same day.

How you practise

This unit mixes 10 different question formats, so you are recalling and applying rather than recognising the same layout every time.

  • Choose all that apply
  • Fill the blank
  • Guess the number
  • Match the pairs
  • Multiple choice
  • Odd one out
  • Put in order
  • Sort into groups
  • True or false
  • Type the answer

Practise Meet the Computer

119 questions across 23 steps. Start with step one and crawl at your own pace.

Play this unit

Read about Meet the Computer

Explainers from our blog on what this unit covers. Each one ends with real questions from the bank.

More units in Technology

See all 18 units in Technology →