USB connectors and cables

Name:

Date:

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Why can one USB cable type connect a keyboard, a printer and a phone to a computer?

A USB uses a standard connector shape and wiring

B Each device needs its own special connector

2. A USB-A plug is the standard rectangular type. How does it fit into its port?

A Either way round

B Only one way round

3. Which connector can be plugged in either way round?

A USB-C

B USB-A

4. A computer has only one free USB port but you need to connect four devices. What can you use?

A A USB hub

B A longer USB cable

5. Which statement about a USB standard connector is correct?

A A USB port only works with one kind of device

B The same port type can be used for many different peripherals

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1USB-A plug		AUSB port: keyboard, printer, phone
2USB-C plug		BUSB-A is not reversible. It fits only one way round. The reversible connector is USB-C.
3A USB hub lets one port on the computer connect several devices at once		C1 computer port -> USB hub -> 4 devices
4USB uses one standard connector, so the same type of port works with many different devices		DUSB uses a standard connector, so one type of port works with many devices. Special ports for each device are not needed.
5USB-A plugs fit either way up		EA flat, rectangular standard connector that fits into a USB port only one way round
6Every device needs its own special port type		FA small, oval, reversible connector that fits into the port whichever way up it is pushed in

Definitions

USB standard connector

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

USB-_ plug: fits only one way round

USB-_ plug: fits either way round

One ________ connector fits many devices

A USB ___ adds more ports to a computer

A USB _____ joins a device to a USB port

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A connector = "USB-A

B device = "keyboard"

C if connector == "USB-A":

D print(device, "fits")

Question 2

A port = "USB-C"

B plug = "USB-C"

C if plug = port:

D print("Connects")

Question 3

A hub_ports = 4

B used = 0

C used = used + 1

D free = hub_ports + used

Question 4

A def plug_in(device, port)

B if port == "USB-A":

C return device + " ok"

D return "No fit"

Question 5

A flipped = True

B cable = "USB-C"

C if cable == "USB-A":

D print("Works flipped")

Answer Key

USB connectors and cables

Section A: Quick Questions

A — USB uses a standard connector shape and wiring

B — Only one way round

A — USB-C

A — A USB hub

B — The same port type can be used for many different peripherals

Section B: Match the Pairs

USB-A plug → A flat, rectangular standard connector that fits into a USB port only one way round

USB-C plug → A small, oval, reversible connector that fits into the port whichever way up it is pushed in

A USB hub lets one port on the computer connect several devices at once → 1 computer port -> USB hub -> 4 devices

USB uses one standard connector, so the same type of port works with many different devices → USB port: keyboard, printer, phone

USB-A plugs fit either way up → USB-A is not reversible. It fits only one way round. The reversible connector is USB-C.

Every device needs its own special port type → USB uses a standard connector, so one type of port works with many devices. Special ports for each device are not needed.

Section C: Definitions

USB standard connector — A USB port and plug of a set shape and wiring, so one cable type connects many different devices to a computer, such as a keyboard, a printer or a phone.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

USB-A plug: fits only one way round

USB-C plug: fits either way round

One standard connector fits many devices

A USB hub adds more ports to a computer

A USB cable joins a device to a USB port

Section E: Spot the Error

A — The string is missing its closing quote. It should be connector = "USB-A".

C — A single = assigns a value. To check whether the plug matches the port, use ==: if plug == port:

D — Free hub ports are the total ports minus the ports already in use, so it should be free = hub_ports - used.

A — The def line must end with a colon: def plug_in(device, port):

C — USB-C is the reversible connector that works either way up. The test should be cable == "USB-C", because USB-A fits only one way round.