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Short-term storage of data on a motherboard is managed by Random Access Memory (RAM).

RAM is volatile memory, meaning it temporarily stores data that is actively being used or processed by the CPU.

The other options:

The hard drive is used for long-term storage.

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware for hardware initialization.

Read Only Memory (ROM) is used for permanent data storage that doesn't change.

Thus, RAM is the correct answer for short-term data storage.

References:

"Computer Organization and Architecture" by William Stallings, which covers the various types of memory.

"Operating System Concepts" by Abraham Silberschatz, Peter B. Galvin, and Greg Gagne, which explains memory management.

Machine-level languages, also known as assembly languages, are low-level programming languages that are closely related to machine code.

Definition: Machine-level languages consist of instructions that are directly executed by a computer's CPU.

Assemblers: An assembler is a tool that translates assembly language code into machine code.

Characteristics: Assembly languages are specific to a computer architecture and provide a way to write programs that can be executed by the hardware directly.

References

"Structured Computer Organization" by Andrew S. Tanenbaum

"Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective" by Randal E. Bryant and David R. O'Hallaron

A system administrator is responsible for managing, installing, and maintaining an organization's computer systems and networks. This role involves configuring new hardware, setting up user accounts, troubleshooting system and network issues, and ensuring the systems run efficiently.

The employee needs to execute a program from the command line, which requires inputting commands into the computer.

The primary device for inputting commands is the keyboard.

Other options like the hard drive, speaker, and printer are not used for inputting commands.

The hard drive is used for data storage.

The speaker outputs sound.

The printer outputs documents.

Therefore, the correct peripheral device for this task is the keyboard.

References:

"Computer Fundamentals" by Anita Goel, which discusses input devices and their uses.

"The Principles of Information Systems" by Ralph Stair and George Reynolds, which details peripheral devices and their functions.

When an organization decides to expand its business by selling products online, the IT department needs to ensure that the website is equipped to handle e-commerce transactions. This involves:

Setting up a secure online payment system: Ensuring that payment gateways and encryption methods are in place to protect sensitive customer data.

Scalability: Making sure the website infrastructure can handle increased traffic and transaction volumes without compromising performance.

Integration: Ensuring the e-commerce platform is integrated with the organization's existing systems, such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

Compliance: Adhering to regulatory requirements and industry standards for online transactions, such as PCI DSS compliance for payment processing.

Therefore, making sure the website can handle e-commerce transactions is crucial for a successful online business expansion.

References

Efraim Turban, Judy Whiteside, David King, and Jon Outland, "Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce," Springer.

Laudon, K.C. and Traver, C.G., "E-commerce 2020-2021: Business, Technology, Society," Pearson.

A floating-point data type is used for numerical calculations that require a decimal point, such as percentages. In this case, to calculate 90% of the retail price of an item, a floating-point data type is necessary because it can represent both the whole number and the fractional part of the number, allowing for precise calculations.

Alpha testing is a type of system testing that involves having end users test the system with simulated data and the help of the developer. This phase is crucial because:

Early feedback: Users provide early feedback on the usability and functionality of the system.

Bug identification: Developers can identify and fix bugs before the system is released for beta testing or production.

Simulated environment: The testing is done in a controlled, simulated environment, often within the development organization.

Alpha testing is followed by beta testing, where the system is tested in a real-world environment by end users without the developers' direct involvement.

References

Ron Patton, "Software Testing," Sams Publishing.

Glenford J. Myers, "The Art of Software Testing," Wiley.

Professional associations are vital for IT professionals because they:

Provide up-to-date training: Offering courses, certifications, and workshops to keep members current with the latest technologies, practices, and industry standards.

Networking opportunities: Facilitating connections with other professionals in the field, which can lead to job opportunities and collaborations.

Professional development: Offering resources and support for career growth and development.

Industry standards and best practices: Providing guidelines and frameworks to ensure high-quality work and ethical practices.

Staying engaged with professional associations helps IT professionals remain knowledgeable and competent in their field.

References

CompTIA, "Advancing the Global IT Industry."

ISACA, "Building a Better Digital World."

SQLis a standard language used to communicate with and manage databases. It allows applications to perform operations such as querying, updating, and managing data.

JDBCis an API in Java that enables Java applications to interact with databases. It provides methods for querying and updating data in a database using SQL.

DBMS (Database Management System)is the system software for creating and managing databases but not directly used by applications for database access.

ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)is another standard API but specific to applications in a broader range of languages and platforms.

GUI (Graphical User Interface)is a user interface and not a method for applications to access databases.

References:

"SQL: The Complete Reference" by James R. Groff and Paul N. Weinberg.

"Java Database Connectivity: JDBC and Java" by Daniel K. Akers.