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Parsons Problems: Utility Software

Arrange the steps in the correct order

Drag and drop the steps into the correct order. Each problem describes a process related to utility software. Think carefully about the logical sequence of each operation.

Problem 1 Encrypting a File

Arrange the steps for encrypting a confidential file:

Encryption algorithm scrambles data using the key

Select the file to be encrypted

Encrypted ciphertext file is saved

Enter password/generate encryption key

Original plaintext is unreadable without the key

Problem 2 Decrypting an Encrypted File

Arrange the steps for decrypting a file:

Original plaintext file is restored

Enter the correct decryption key/password

Open the encrypted ciphertext file

Decryption algorithm reverses the encryption

File can now be read and edited normally

Problem 3 Defragmenting a Hard Drive

Arrange the steps of the defragmentation process:

Calculate optimal arrangement of data

Update file system with new file locations

Analyse disk to identify fragmented files

Move file fragments to contiguous locations

Disk performance is improved

Problem 4 How Fragmentation Occurs

Arrange the steps showing how a disk becomes fragmented:

New files fill in the gaps, often split across locations

Files are saved to disk in contiguous blocks

Over time, single files become scattered across disk

Some files are deleted, creating gaps

Read/write head must move to multiple locations to access one file

Problem 5 Lossless Compression (ZIP)

Arrange the steps for compressing files with lossless compression:

Compressed archive is smaller than original files

Select files to compress

Algorithm analyses data for repeated patterns

Files can be extracted with no data loss

Patterns are encoded more efficiently

Problem 6 Lossy Compression (JPEG)

Arrange the steps for compressing an image with lossy compression:

Algorithm identifies data humans won't easily notice

File size greatly reduced but quality cannot be fully restored

Unimportant data is permanently removed

Load original high-quality image

Remaining data is compressed efficiently

Problem 7 Choosing Between Lossy and Lossless

Arrange the decision process for choosing compression type:

If yes: use lossless (ZIP, PNG)

Ask: "Does this file need to be exactly the same after decompression?"

Identify the type of file (text, code, image, audio, video)

If no: lossy compression acceptable (JPEG, MP3)

Consider if any data loss would cause problems

Problem 8 Diagnosing Slow Computer Performance

Arrange the diagnostic steps for a slow computer with HDD:

Check fragmentation level of the HDD

Run defragmentation if fragmentation is high

Confirm the computer uses HDD (not SSD)

Identify if fragmentation is causing slow file access

Check how long since last maintenance

Your Progress

Completed: 0 / 8 problems