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As an attorney, you often spend your time running from one
client's crisis to the next. There's always an emergency to deal
with, and as a result, computer training is relegated to the back
burner. The problem this situation poses is that computers have
become such an integral part of law offices that you're doing
yourself (and possibly your clients) a disservice by not mastering
at least the fundamentals.
In order to help you assess your place on the literacy spectrum,
we've prepared a multiple choice quiz covering what we consider to
be the basics. If you flunk miserably, you might want to take a
beginner's course at the local community college or buy an
entry-level book. If you pass with flying colors, congratulations.
Be careful, there are plenty of places to lose points. We recommend
reading the questions and answers carefully. Usually, there is more
than one correct answer, i.e., (a) and (c). You must try to pick ALL
the correct answers.
Scoring. Each correct answer is worth a point and there
are 17 possible points. Subtract one point for each incorrect answer
you marked as correct. Do not subtract a point for correct answers
that you failed to mark. For example, if the correct answers to a
question were (a) and (c) and you picked only (a), you would score
one point for picking (a). Your failure to also select (c) would not
count against you. However, if you picked (a) and (b), you would add
a point for the correct selection and subtract one for picking a
wrong answer (b). Finally, don't take this test in front of a
computer. It's not an open book test!
14 to 17 - You pay attention to details and you're
aware there's more than one way to perform any task. In terms of
the basics, you qualify as a nerd or geek. In recognition of your
achievement, you should wrap some tape around the bridge of your
eyeglasses.
9 to 13 - The nerds may think you're not worth a
pocket protector, but at least, on average, you were able to pick at
least one correct answer with respect to each of the nine areas
covered. Not bad.
5 to 8 - Weak. Remember, this isn't rocket science;
it's the basics. At five points you barely have half of the nine
areas covered. If you got eight points you're not so bad, but at
five, yikes!
4 or less - You're a support technician's nightmare.
You make a five-minute call last an hour. Why are you working in a
law office? You should be asking people whether they want their
order super-sized. Good-bye.
The Questions
1. You're in Windows Explorer and you have a file named
"MYFILE.DOC" highlighted. If you want to delete the file, which
of the following statements are correct?
a. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
b. You cannot delete files from Windows Explorer.
c. Right-click your mouse and pick Delete from the pop-up menu.
d. With both mouse buttons down and your head about eight
inches from the computer speaker, clearly say, "I command you to
delete."
2. Since the earliest DOS days, computer file names have had
extensions. Which of the following statements about extensions are
correct?
a. They are the part of the file name that follows the period.
b. They are the part of the file name that precedes the period.
c. They usually denote a file's type.
d. They are small, or rubber feet that you can place under your
hard drive as protection against static electricity.
3. Almost every Windows program has a File menu with a
Save command and a Save As command. In connection with these two
commands, which of the following statements are correct?
a. The two commands are identical.
b. Save saves your file to the hard drive; Save As saves your
file to the floppy drive.
c. Save As sometimes permits you to save your file in a
different file format.
d. Save saves your file using the file's current name; Save
As lets you choose a different name for saving the file.
4. You're in Windows Explorer, you have a file named
"MYFILE.DOC" highlighted, and you want to give it a new name.
Which of the following statements is correct?
a. Press <F2> on you keyboard and type the new name.
b. Trace a circle counterclockwise around the file name with
your mouse cursor and then type the new name.
c. You cannot rename files from Windows Explorer.
d. Press the Delete key on your keyboard; in the confirmation
dialog, select No and then type the new name.
5. In connection with the Internet, which of the following are
correct?
a. You visit a Web site by typing the URL, i.e.,
www.puritas-springs.com, in the Address box of your browser.
b. Uploading is the process of copying a file from somewhere on
the Internet to your own computer.
c. A self-extracting file is a file that must be decompressed
or unzipped using utility software like WINZIP.
d. Downloading is the process of copying a file from somewhere
on the Internet to your own computer.
6. You need to find a file named "MYFILE.DOC" and you know
it's somewhere on your hard drive, but you don't know where.
Which of the following is the best way to find it?
a. Ask someone in the office who knows something about
computers.
b. Click the Start button, then Find, then Files and Folders
…. In the Find dialog enter MYFILE.DOC in the Named field; leave
Containing text blank; and make sure C:\My Documents is in the
Look in field.
c. Click the Start button, then Find, then Files and Folders
…. In the Find dialog enter MYFILE.DOC in the Named field; leave
Containing text blank; and make sure C:\ is in the Look in field.
d. Click the Start button, then Find, then Files and Folders
…. In the Find dialog enter *.DOC in the Named field; in the
Containing text field type: MYFILE.DOC; and make sure C:\ is in
the Look in field.
7. In Windows Explorer and many other Windows
programs, the result of left-clicking the mouse is different when
the <SHIFT> or <CTRL> keys are held down. Which of the
following are correct?
a. Both <SHIFT> and <CTRL> are alternate ways of
performing the same selection.
b. If you make a selection in a list and then select a
different item while holding the <CTRL> key down, the first
item you selected, the second item you selected and each item in
between will be selected.
c. If you make a selection in a list and then select a
different item while holding the <SHIFT> key down, the first
item you selected, the second item you selected and each item in
between will be selected.
d. If you make a selection in a list and then select a
different item while holding the <CTRL> key down, the first
item you selected and the second item you selected will both
remain selected, but the items in between will not be selected.
8. In just about any Windows program, especially word
processors, the ability to copy and paste text is a great timesaver.
On the subject of copying and pasting, which of the following are
correct?
a. The hot-key combination for the copy function is
<CTRL><C>.
b. The hot-key combination for the paste function is:
<CTRL><V>.
c. Another set of hot-keys that work for copying and pasting,
respectively, are: <CTRL><INS> and
<SHIFT><INS>.
d. The copy function is invisible in that it transfers the
selected text to an area of memory Windows refers to as the
Clipboard. In other words, you don't really see anything happen!
9. You're in Windows Explorer, you have a file named
"MYFILE.DOC" highlighted, and you want to move it to a floppy.
Which of the following statements is correct, assuming your floppy
drive is designated as A:?
a. Click the Edit menu and select the Move command.
b. Click the Edit menu and select the Copy command; then,
browse to the A:\ drive and click the Edit menu and select the
Paste command.
c. You need a move utility; you cannot move files in Windows
Explorer.
d. Click the Edit menu, and select the Cut command; then,
browse to the A:\ drive and click the Edit menu and select the
Paste command.
10. Which of the following statements are true in connection with
help files and manuals?
a. On a day when it's not too windy, manuals make good
kindling.
b. When all else fails, you should look to the manuals and help
files for clues.
c. Manuals and help files are written by people who need help,
but not with respect to computing.
d. All of the above.
The Answers
1. (a) and (c). One of the fundamentals that every computer user
should know is how to delete a file. There are more ways to delete
files than those we've listed here, but these are two common
methods. If you picked (b), you should subtract one point from your
score and expect to get a lot more wrong answers on questions 2
through 10. If you picked (d), you are a visionary and although you
get no credit for this answer, you don't have to subtract one
point either. If you picked (d) and also own speech to text/command
software, go ahead and give yourself a point.
2. (a) and (c). It can get a little confusing because Windows
95 and later Windows versions let you put more than one
period in a file name, but for the most part, the rule has always
been that the extension follows the period. The extension usually
denotes the file type; i.e., a TXT extension signifies an ASCII text
file.
3. (c) and (d). This was one of the trick questions. You probably
selected (d), but did you include (c)? Most programs, including your
word processor, let you use the Save As command to save a file in a
different format. Word, for example, allows you save in more
than two dozen file formats. Answers (a) and (b) are both pretty
lame. Deduct one for each.
4. (a). File maintenance is important to any computer. That means
you should know your way around the hard drive including how to
rename files. If you answered (b), (c) or (d), subtract one point
for each incorrect answer. (b) is obviously incorrect. If you
answered (c), you're doomed. If you answered (d) you should be
ashamed of yourself. Answer (d) contains bull and any worthwhile law
office staffer should be able to spot bull with one eye closed.
5. (a) and (d). H-E-L-L-O! You know, the Internet? Where millions
of computers all over the world communicate together as a network?
6. (c). This is another one of those that must be read carefully.
If you guessed (a), you're not being serious. You've got a good
sense of humor, but your computer skills are lacking. You should
probably run away and join the circus. Answer (b) is wrong because
it's only looking for the file in one folder (My Documents).
Answer (d) is wrong because it's looking for any DOC file that
contains the text "myfile.doc." Because answer (d) would be
correct if the MyFile.doc file contained the target text, we'll
let you slide. Don't give yourself a point, but don't deduct one
either.
7. (c) and (d). Answer (a)'s just plain wrong. Answer (b) is an
incorrect answer disguised as a correct one. Many programs that use
lists, including Windows Explorer, use this valuable mousing
technique.
8. (a), (b), (c) and (d). If you didn't at least choose (a) and
(b), you should have called Miss Cleo for a free reading BEFORE
taking the test. Call 1-800-325-2024 now!
9. (d). This question underscores the difference between copying
and moving a file. If you chose (a), you're really guessing
because there is no such command on the Edit menu. You're not far
off if you guessed (b), but that's the technique for copying the
file to a floppy, not moving it. If you chose (c), you might as well
have used a Ouija board in order to improve your chances on the rest
of the quiz.
10. We didn't think it would be right to stop at nine
questions, so we threw this one in for symmetry. Don't count it.
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