Computer Skills Pre-Employment Quiz: Are You Tech-Savvy?

The correct method for saving a document as a PDF is to use the “Save As” function within the program and choose the PDF format from the dropdown options. This is the most reliable way to preserve formatting and ensure the document remains uneditable in typical viewers. Emailing to IT wastes time, printing and scanning reduces quality, and screenshots are inefficient for multi-page files. Choosing PDF directly ensures professional quality and file integrity, especially when sharing with employers, clients, or government portals that require fixed layouts.

Excel formulas not updating usually means automatic calculation is disabled or stuck. Pressing F9 triggers a manual recalculation of all cells, which solves this without altering any data or needing to retype anything. Dragging might help in applying a formula but not in recalculating stale outputs. Restarting the system may work but is overkill. Pressing F9 is efficient, non-intrusive, and the standard method among professionals for recalculation in spreadsheets with complex dependencies or disabled auto-calc settings.

A .zip file from an unknown sender poses a high risk of containing malware or phishing tools. Deleting it immediately minimizes security exposure. Opening it blindly is dangerous. Forwarding it could spread malware unintentionally. Scanning might detect some threats but isn’t full-proof, especially if it’s a zero-day exploit. The golden rule in digital hygiene: if you weren’t expecting it and don’t know the sender, it’s better to trash it. Company systems prioritize data security over curiosity or courtesy in such cases.

Formatting issues in Word documents are commonly caused by copying and pasting text from web pages or external files. These sources often bring hidden formatting or HTML styles that conflict with your document’s settings. To fix this, paste text as plain text or use the "Clear Formatting" option. Wi-Fi, printers, or background apps don't affect text appearance inside a Word document. Recognizing this saves time and prevents frustration during document editing for professional reports or resumes.

To apply a formula across multiple cells in Excel, the fastest and correct method is to use the fill handle (a small square at the bottom-right of the selected cell) and drag it downward. This replicates the formula for the selected range. Manually retyping is slow and error-prone. Screenshots don’t capture formulas. Pasting in Word is irrelevant. The drag feature ensures efficiency, consistency, and prevents calculation errors, making it a must-know for spreadsheet users in office environments.

To share a Google Sheet with full editing rights, you must change the share settings to “anyone with the link can edit.” Sending a PDF locks the content. “View only” denies edit access, and pasting in a group chat without permissions leads to access errors. Editing access is crucial in collaborative workspaces, especially in remote teams. Just be careful—edit access gives full control, so only grant it when absolutely necessary and with trusted collaborators.

A 100MB file often exceeds most email attachment limits (commonly 25MB). The most efficient method is uploading it to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox and sending a secure shareable link. This keeps the recipient's inbox light and prevents failed delivery. Compressing might not reduce size enough. Breaking into parts is tedious. Pasting in the email body will either crash the app or fail. Cloud links are standard practice in most workplace environments for large-file sharing.

Pressing Windows + L locks your computer instantly and is essential for workplace privacy, especially in shared or open office settings. Ctrl + S saves a document, Alt + F4 closes windows, and Ctrl + Alt + Delete brings up system controls—but none of these secure your screen. Locking protects sensitive files and open communications while you're away, minimizing unauthorized access risks. It's one of the most basic yet critical digital habits every tech-savvy employee must master.

In Word, removing an image’s background is done via the “Format” tab when the image is selected, using the "Remove Background" option. This built-in tool uses AI to detect edges and isolate the main object. Other tabs like Insert or Design are unrelated to editing existing images. Tracking changes and watermarks affect text and document styling, not visuals. Knowing such shortcuts helps employees handle creative document requests without needing external tools like Photoshop or Canva.

When a system slows down due to too many tabs or apps, the first thing to do is open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Delete) to see which processes are hogging memory. This avoids guesswork and helps terminate unnecessary apps. Restarting routers won’t help if the issue is RAM or CPU usage. Clearing recycle bins doesn’t impact memory. Switching browsers might reduce load, but Task Manager gives direct insight into the bottleneck.