1. D. The top priority of any software designer is to design a program that is useful to the end user.
2. C. Spreadsheets are too complicated for young children. As a result, it is typically more appropriate to start them out with a simpler file format such as a database.
3. A. Students should be familiar with common phishing ploys as well as the process of authenticating websites.
4. C. A peripheral is a device outside of the computer that either brings information into the system or allows the system to create an output.
5. B. Students can learn new computer programs much faster when they are allowed to participate and make progress through trial and error.
6. D. In the early years of school, children should only use software that reinforces the concepts that they have acquired through traditional instruction.
7. A. A virus hidden in a seemingly harmless program is known as a Trojan horse. Students should learn how to scan programs with anti-virus software to minimize the risk of Trojan horses.
8. B. Students need to work together in order to obtain all of the social and cognitive benefits that technology offers.
9. B. Social networking sites, blogs, and wikis are all considered to be part of Web 2.0.
10. D. Websites that are created and updated by users on their own browsers are typically called wikis. The best known wiki is Wikipedia, the user-generated encyclopedia. However, it is important to remember that the information on wikis is not always trustworthy.
11. 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 We 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
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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?
21. 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 We The www is 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
22. Answer: D. Software design is the process of plotting a solution to solve a problem. Developers analyze requirements, determine specifications and write a program to address the needs. The process may be automated (no discussion with users) or semi-automated which involves end user input. A design may be a simple flow chart defining a sequence of events or a complicated series of interrelated instructions. The result may be platform-specific, meaning it can only be used on a particular framework or platform-independent, meaning it will work on most frameworks.
23. Answer: B. When designing software, there are several things to consider depending upon the desired goals: * Extension: Ease with which new features can be added without changing the architecture * Robust: Ability to tolerate unpredictable input * Reliable: Does what it is supposed to do * Secure: Ability to withstand unwanted intrusions * Maintain: Easily accepts updates when needed * Compatible: Operates with other software * Modular: Made of independent components * Reuse: All components contain essential functions, so they can be used in similar designs
24. Answer: A. Good computer programming is an art, a science, a craft and part engineering all rolled into one discipline. Programming or coding is the writing, testing, troubleshooting and maintaining of source code (files used to convert human-readable data to a computer-executable format). It is a precise set of instructions that allows a computer to perform a specific task. The code may be a modification of an existing code or completely new code needed to provide a solution to a different issue. There are application programs written to create documents and databases and system programs to control the functions of the computer itself.
25. Answer: B. Programming language is an artificial communication tool used to write the specific instructions a computer needs to execute its functions and an application required to perform its tasks. These specialized languages are defined by precise syntax and semantic rules that describe their structure and meaning. They are used to organize and manipulate information and turn algorithms into executable instructions. Computers do exactly what they are told to do, so programs must supply explicit directions. A programmer selects a particular language based on its: * Function: Is it being used to control applications, systems or other devices such as printers, robots, etc.? * Target: Is it being used by people to control machines or by one device to control another? * Constructs: Is it being used to control the actions of machines or to manipulate data? * Expressive Power: What kinds of instructions are needed?
26. Answer: A. BAL or Basic Assembly Language is also known as Assembly Language Common (ALC) or simply assembler. It is used on IBM mainframe computers and is the closest a programmer will come to the hardware. It is a very basic, low-level language that uses source code to create a specific set of instructions in words instead of numbers for a particular type of machine. Because of its simplicity, BAL will be longer than other languages. Its instructions are also harder to read. However, it is very fast and even though it is not used much anymore, IBM upgrades assembler periodically when speed or very detailed control, rather than brevity, is essential to the program.
27. Answer: C. COBOL is an acronym for Common Business-Oriented Language and is one of the oldest programming languages still in use. It was developed to address business, finance and administrative functions, hence its name. It is an object-oriented programming language, i.e., it uses things and their interactions in developing applications and programs. COBOL has over four hundred (400) reserved words or keywords. Keywords have a particular grammatical meaning and cannot be used as identifiers. According to the Gartner Group, an information technology company that predicts industry trends and rates IT-related companies, in 1997 eighty percent (80%) of the world’s governments, militaries and businesses ran COBOL programs. Because it is business oriented and dates are important elements in its function, the year two thousand, Y2K, caused great concern and a flurry of activity. Programmers worked diligently to update the code and implement new programs in an effort to avoid potential problems.
28. Answer: D. The general-purpose programming language C was developed in 1972 at the Bell Telephone Laboratories to use with the UNIX operating system. This client-server system is used in servers and individual workstations and was instrumental in the development of networks as well as the Internet. C is used on microcontrollers and supercomputer platforms and has influenced many programming languages. It is used in both implementation programs and applications. C is an imperative, procedural language that gives a series of commands that require action. It is a relatively straightforward compiler, provides easy access to memory, responds effectively to machine instructions and requires minimal support while operating. Because of its characteristics, a program or application written in C can be modified with relatively little change to its source code, so it can be used on many different platforms (the hardware and software required to operate an application).
29. Answer: A. Java was developed by Sun Microsystems and is used on Microsoft Windows, Linux and Solaris operating systems. The majority of its syntax (the set of rules that define the particular sequence of the source code) of this programming language is derived from C and C++. Java has a simpler object model (the communication method or interface used between two entities), its code can run on any Java virtual machine (software that runs programs like a computer) and its portability makes it one of the most widely used programming languages.
30. Answer: D. Visual Basic (VB) is an event driven (determined by user actions or messages from other programs) programming language that was developed by Microsoft to be easy to learn and easy to use. VB makes it relatively simple to create graphical user interface (GUI) applications, but it can also be used to design more complex applications. VB has default code that can be applied directly or modified as needed, which means new functions can be added and applications updated without having to write very many additional lines of source code. Microsoft mainly uses visual basic to design new applications for Windows and to create new communication methods for use with Internet-based data systems.
31. 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 We 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.
32. Answer: D. 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. The best way for a teacher to stay current with advances is 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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. Answer: C. 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.
37. Answer: D. 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.
38. Answer: C. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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. It has enabled them 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?
41. Answer: A. 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 punctuations signs combined with strings of binary numbers * Hierarchy: There is an order to understanding and using information technology; sometimes referred to as “nesting quality” * World Wide We The www is 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
42. Answer: D. 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.
43. Answer: B. 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.
44. Answer: A. 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.
45. Answer: B. In the last twenty-five years, manufacturing processes have undergone tremendous change. It is no longer possible to remain competitive and cost efficient without using technology. From the back office bookkeeper and inventory clerk to the production process on the plant floor, technology has created huge changes in the way business is conducted. From computerized accounting systems that include sophisticated inventory controls to complex machines that produce products for consumption in a myriad of industries, manufacturing has embraced technological tools. Information about raw materials, production time and the availability of the finished product must be accessible to everyone from purchasing and the machine operator, to marketing and sales in order to avoid costly delays, missed sales and ultimately, dissatisfied customers. Collaboration along the supply chain helps manufacturers build a better product, integrate new solutions and expand the business while striving to exceed customers’ expectations. A tech savvy workforce helps ensure accurate and timely information is easily accessible to those who need it, when they need it and where they need it.
46. Answer: D. The elements of a manufacturer’s information technology (IT) structure are:
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) are the teams in various departments that follow the product from concept to design to manufacturing, through testing and approval, to marketing and sales, to maintenance and final disposal. All parts of this process are interrelated and need to work together to ensure the success of the product and ultimately guarantee a satisfied customer. * Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the team responsible for communicating with and supplying information to the customer. * Supply Chain Management (SCM) team has the same function as CRM except its focus is on the various suppliers needed to produce the finished product. * Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the team responsible for ensuring the appropriate human and necessary financial resources are available to ensure the other areas can function.
47. Answer: B. Construction engineering is the planning, managing and building of highways, bridges, airports, railroads, buildings, dams and reservoirs. A construction engineer must be able to multitask and needs knowledge about and experience in engineering principles, management and business practices, budget and other financial requirements and human behavior. No matter what the structure, the project proceeds from concept to design to construction with many parts in each phase and many people with specific talents needed to ensure the structure is built within the required timeframe, according to the specifications and without exceeding the budget. As projects have become more complex, it has become expedient to integrate technology into the process. This has been a difficult transition for many construction companies because middle managers and field personnel often believe each project is unique; and therefore it is not feasible to “computerize” the process. Too often these well-meaning folks have been unable to see how technology can and does reduce errors, increase efficiency and avoid problems.
48. Answer: B. These definitions are from The American Heritage College Dictionary, Wikipedia and Webster’s New Explorer Desk Encyclopedia: * Architect: Plans, designs and supervises the construction of large structures such as bridges, buildings and airports * Interior Designer: Produces a functional, coordinated area using color, texture, lighting, scale and proportion * Surveyor: Determines the boundary, area and/or elevation of land or structures on the earth’s surface * Civil Engineer: Designs, constructs and maintains large structures such as highways, dams and bridges. After military engineering it is the oldest engineering discipline. * Mechanical Engineer: Analyzes the application of heat and mechanical power and the design, production and use of machines and tools * Electrical Engineer: Designs circuitry and equipment for power generation and distribution, machine control and communications * Structural Engineer: Inspects, analyzes, designs, plans and researches the technical, economic and environmental components of structures * Fire Protection Engineer: Identifies risks and designs safeguards to prevent, control and mitigate the effects of fire. Evaluates safety and property protection goals.
49. Answer: C. The United States Department of Agriculture defines biotechnology as “any technique or technological application that uses biological systems or living organisms to create or modify products and processes of food production, sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry.” The United Nations Convention in Biological Diversity defines it as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” The two definitions are essentially the same. Stated simply, both define biotechnology as any biology-based technology used in agriculture, food science and medicine. Biotechnology is not new. Our early ancestors used it when they discovered how to make wine, beer and bread and learned to manipulate the process. Fermentation mixes a one-celled organism with bacteria, yeast or mold. As the microorganism digests the food, this biological activity causes them to rearrange themselves and form new substances so they can continue to live and reproduce. That process, in its simplest form, explains how biotechnology works.
50. Answer: D. Biotechnology is used in health care, crop production, industrial use of agricultural products and environmental applications. Researchers identify the different branches of biotechnology as:
Red Biotechnology refers to any medical process or application such as gene therapy and the production of antibiotics and pathogen-derived compounds. * Green Biotechnology applies to any process with agricultural applications that might produce environmentally friendly solutions to a potential global food shortage. * White Biotechnology refers to industrial processes that consume fewer natural resources while producing industrial products. * Blue Biotechnology refers to currently relatively rare marine and aquatic applications. * Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary activity that uses computer applications to collect, organize and analyze biological data in the various branches.