A question for the experts(YOU)to make sense of.

[flo]

Hi everyone,

I have recently completed my A+ course and have just started my N+.I am doing the properly sanctioned courses and also loads and loads of reading outside the box(which in truth is what is actually preparing me for my intended career).Thing is,that I find a lot of the questions Im asked when tested rely more on my guessing of how the writer has interpreted their own question,than my actual knowledge of the subject matter.So below,to prove the point to myself(with your expert help)and for you to see what they are teaching us these days,are two questions that I noted down while doing my last test.Please give your thoughts,because I think that not even the most skilled of you will be able to unravel the mysteries of at least the second question.

(1) The most important feature of the OSI model is that it enables________

communications components to smoothly transport information packets.

a. Diverse

b. Similar

c. Expensive

d. Proprietary

Now,is it a. Diverse - because it allows various vendors to all produce products that will work together when adhering to the OSI framework,but that will by default all be different in some ways from each other....and so, "diverse"?

Or is it d. Proprietary - for pretty much the same reason?

(2) The following exercise represents a real-world illustration of the OSI model.

Match the sequence of steps of a voice telephone call to a business associate with whom you are confirming an appointment to the functional performance level of the OSI model.

________1. Physical Layer

________2. Data Link Layer

________3. Network Layer

________4. Transport Layer

________5. Session Layer

________6. Presentation Layer

________7. Application layer

A. Dial tone

B. Extension look up

C. Telephone number

D. Receptionist

E. Modular telephone cord

F. Confirming conversation

G. "Please dial a 1......"

Okay,so heres the problem.I dont think that many of us could arrange the lettered answers in order on their own,let alone match them with the OSI layers.And thats bad,because the question isnt actually testing whether you know and can arrange the OSI layers in their correct order because thats already done(allbeit from the receiving end).The question is actually testing whether you can arrange the phone call in the order that the question writer thinks it would take place.QAnd thats where it really makes no sense:

Im confident that the "Modular telephone cord" represents the "Physical Layer",and that the "Telephone number" is the"Network Layer",and the "Dial tone" matches with the "Data Link Layer" as well as telling me that the order is from my end as the sender.So,whatever order the rest goes in it comes before the physical layer.Which must mean that in this "Real world example".....I am able to pick up my phone,dial a number and talk to someone,and all before any kinds of signals have travelled down my telephone cord. Figure that out??????

Thankyou for your time everyone who attempts this!!

Yours

John

Edited July 4, 2005 by flo

[DonDamm]

I don't see a problem. For 1. "Prorietary" seems completely wrong as the very nature of proprietary precludes interoperablility. So, my instinct says "Diverse".

For 2. I first tried to order the phone call. That alos seems straightforward:

E. Modular telephone cord

A. Dial tone

C. Telephone number

G. "Please dial a 1......"

D. Receptionist

B. Extension look up

F. Confirming conversation

From what I see that matches the OSI model quite well.

Now, as to the value of these questions as a test, that is another thing altogether. That these questions can be answered without any reference or knowledge about the OSI model means its not a very good test. give the teacher an F for test writing!!!

[flo]

You're missing my point on the first one.....Im talking semantics.

If you look at it from the point of view that any product made by any vendor is proprietary to that vendor then that answer is correct too.It depends how you read the question.Ive had loads like this,and believe me kn owledge isnt always a guarantee.

Dont get me wrong I have no doubt in my mind that "diverse" is the answer to question 1,but I didnt write the question.

As for question 2.I wrote the same as you actually,but if were using a phone call as the analogy(and usually analogies are meant to simplify things),then "dial tone"shouldnt be there as it makes you think that you can have some layers in use at the sender end and some at the receiver end.The rest makes sense at the receiver end as an analogy(just) but the "dial tone" bit just doesnt work...its obvious where it goes,it just doesnt work.

Thanks form replying

John

[flo]

Sorry,

to clarify in one sentence(or two,or three).The problem isnt matching the answers,the problem is that when they are matched it makes no sense as an analogy when refernced to the OSI model,because it reads as if you can use some layers sending,and then some different ones receiving.And it does so because the use of the "dial tone " answer in the context of the analogy places it on the senders order of the OSI model.

[chilifrei64]

One thing I have found through certification tests and school tests is to not to read too much into it.. Most of the questions can be broken down and flaws can be found...

[flo]

Thats what Ive found.....Thing is I got the answers both right.(Just found out).Infact Ive got all the answers right,on every part of my A+ too.Im not asking for help with the questions I was just wondering if the ambiguity and vagueness of some of the written english was only in my mind.Thats why I put that first question up too.The answer is obviously "diverse",but from an English language point of view the word "proprietary" has a broader meaning.And,as such could quite easily refer to manufacturers all being able to make their own( proprietary) products.

I remember another question I did ages ago that involved TTL signalling and how a logical 0 was anything between 0v and 0.8v and a logical 1 was between 2v and 5v, any voltage between 0.8v and 2v may be read as either,its an uncertainty. So again I was wondering how the writers mind worked as with the above questions. As written like that,what is 0v,0.8v,2v,and 5v? because 0v and 0.8v for instance arnt voltages BETWEEN 0v and 0.8v. Again,I know the answer but my point is the ambiguity not the difficulty of the question.Why not say from 0v to 0.8v inclusive?It just makes you wonder if what you read to gain the knowledge was misleading in the first place and for instance in this case could 0.8v not be a logical 0,and the last logical 0 is 0.799999999 etc(it is a logical 0 by the way).You can see though why after a few months of this you'd have to think twice about somebodys interpretation of the word proprietary!!

[darkfiber1010]

Yeah those questions look pretty normal. Most of the IT cert tests are like that. It’s never about just knowing the content, you also have to be able to deduct, reason, and think logically. Just from personal experience I found the Net+ easier than the A+. If you think these tests suck, wait till you try a Cisco test. The CCNA test was brutal as far as "tricky" questions go. Microsoft isn't any better either. All's I can tell you is welcome to the wonderful world of IT cert exams.

P.S. I personally don't care but I know a lot of the cert exams state at the beginning that you can't copy and reproduce questions and doing so will result in consequences or something, so you might want to be careful about posting exact copies of the questions.

[chilifrei64]

Interesting.. I found the CCNA way more straight forward than A+ and NET+ and Microsoft. I've gotten past them all with M$ being the hardest of them all

[darkfiber1010]

That is interesting, although I know every person is different so what seems straight forward for one isn't for another and vice versa. I heard the old CCNA was much more straight forward. I think that was the 640-607 exam but I can't be sure I use to know the numbers but don't anymore lol.

[chilifrei64]

Actually you know your right... There is a newer version now than the one I took. I haven't heard much feedback on the new one yet.. I am taking the CCNP ones now.... those are gettin a little crazy but i would still say pretty straight forward.... I am really a Cisco guy though.. I just find that kinda stuff easier. Too much marketing and propaganda in Microsoft Certs