Writing exam answers about network hardware and addresses
Name:
Date:
Class:
A
Quick Questions
Shade in the A or B circle for each question.
1. Which answer earns the mark: 'What is the purpose of a MAC address?'
2. Which answer correctly compares IPv4 and IPv6?
3. Which answer describes the role of a router with a reason?
4. Which statement is a common mistake to avoid in an exam answer?
5. Which answer uses the correct terms about why a device needs a MAC address?
B
Match the Pairs
Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.
| Left column | Right column | |
|---|---|---|
| 1A router forwards each packet because it reads the destination IP address. | AA MAC address is set by the manufacturer. It is the IP address that the network assigns. | |
| 2A MAC address identifies the NIC because it is set by the manufacturer. | BA router sends a packet on its way because it chooses the best route to the destination. | |
| 3Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 for full marks: state the difference and explain it with 'because'. | CA full-mark sentence about a router: it uses the correct terms and links the action to a reason with 'because'. | |
| 4Describing a router's role for full marks: use the term router and give a reason for its action. | DA router reads the destination IP address in the packet header to choose the route, not the MAC address. | |
| 5A MAC address is given to a device by the network when it joins. | EA full-mark sentence about a MAC address: it states its purpose and gives a reason with 'because'. | |
| 6The router uses the MAC address to pick the route across the internet. | FIPv6 has more addresses than IPv4 because it uses 128 bits, not 32. |
C
Definitions
term + because + reason
D
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.
1.
A router reads the destination IP address
_______ it must pick a route.
2.
A ___________ is set by the manufacturer,
so the network cannot assign it.
3.
____ has more addresses than IPv4
because it uses 128 bits.
4.
A ___ connects a device to a network
because it sends and receives data.
5.
The router assigns an __________ to each
device because the network allocates it.
E
Spot the Error
Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.
Question 1
A
Q: Describe a MAC address.
B
It identifies a NIC
C
because it is unique.
D
It is given by the network.
E
It does not change.
Question 2
A
Q: Why use IPv6 over IPv4?
B
IPv6 has more addresses
C
because it uses 64 bits.
D
IPv4 uses only 32 bits.
Question 3
A
Q: What does a router do?
B
It reads the destination IP
C
because it stores the web page
D
for each packet.
Question 4
A
A NIC assigns IP addresses
B
to devices on the network
C
because each device needs
D
a unique IP address.
Question 5
A
Q: Compare MAC and IP address
B
A MAC address is permanent
C
An IP address can change
D
because the maker sets it
E
one when a device joins.
Answer Key
Writing exam answers about network hardware and addresses
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
B — It uniquely identifies a device's NIC on a network because it is set at manufacture and does not change.
Q2
A — IPv6 has more addresses than IPv4 because it uses 128 bits instead of 32 bits.
Q3
A — A router reads the destination IP address in each packet because it must choose the best route to send it on.
Q4
B — 'The network assigns the MAC address to a device when it joins.'
Q5
A — The NIC has a MAC address because it identifies the physical device, even if its IP address changes.
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
A router forwards each packet because it reads the destination IP address. → A full-mark sentence about a router: it uses the correct terms and links the action to a reason with 'because'.
Q2
A MAC address identifies the NIC because it is set by the manufacturer. → A full-mark sentence about a MAC address: it states its purpose and gives a reason with 'because'.
Q3
Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 for full marks: state the difference and explain it with 'because'. → IPv6 has more addresses than IPv4 because it uses 128 bits, not 32.
Q4
Describing a router's role for full marks: use the term router and give a reason for its action. → A router sends a packet on its way because it chooses the best route to the destination.
Q5
A MAC address is given to a device by the network when it joins. → A MAC address is set by the manufacturer. It is the IP address that the network assigns.
Q6
The router uses the MAC address to pick the route across the internet. → A router reads the destination IP address in the packet header to choose the route, not the MAC address.
Section C: Definitions
Q1
term + because + reason — A full-mark answer uses the correct terms (NIC, MAC address, IP address, router) and links each point to a reason, using 'because'.Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
A router reads the destination IP address
because it must pick a route.Q2
A MAC address is set by the manufacturer,
so the network cannot assign it.Q3
IPv6 has more addresses than IPv4
because it uses 128 bits.Q4
A NIC connects a device to a network
because it sends and receives data.Q5
The router assigns an IP address to each
device because the network allocates it.Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
D — A MAC address is given to the NIC when it is manufactured, not by the network. The network allocates IP addresses. The line should be 'It is given at manufacture.'
Q2
C — The reason given is factually wrong. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, which is why there are far more of them. The line should be 'because it uses 128 bits.'
Q3
C — The reason does not link to the point. A router reads the destination IP address because it must choose a route for each packet. It does not store web pages. The line should be 'because it must pick a route'.
Q4
A — The wrong term is used. A NIC connects a device to a network. The router assigns IP addresses. The line should be 'A router assigns IP addresses'.
Q5
D — The reason does not explain why an IP address can change. The network allocates an IP address when a device joins, so it can change. The manufacturer only sets the MAC address. The line should be 'because the network gives it'.