Another one for the mindreaders!!

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Hi everyone,
I have recently completed my A+ course and have just started my N+(on my way to the various CISCO levels.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 alone,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.And 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

questions taken from the Netpro Comptia N+ certification

 

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I must comment that in the many years since I got my NEt+ cert, I've NEVER seen an example where a phone call was used.

It's always been "So you want to send an email to a friend. Describe the sequence of events that occur in the OSI model......"

 

Ok, for question 1 I would say diverse. That second question looks quite rediculous as the answers don't appear to match, and surely speaking to the receptionist and confirming the conversation are one and the same thing?? Hmmm, unless... maybe it is adapting the OSI model to a real life situation instead of packets transporting down a telephone line, but even then the answers still don't apply. That is a really strange question.

 

I know....
I think diverse for the first one too,but you never can tell!!
But question two seems to involve splitting the OSI layers in two...some at the sender end some at the receiver end,which is just wrong!
It would actually work just at the receiver end(just about) if it wasnt for the "dial tone" bit I think.

 

I thought the process started from the application layer....
I have to agree the author could have thought of a better situation than that!
Just my 2P worth

 

It does Boyce at the sender end....and that dial tone bit sure does make it sound like thats the end we should be starting,but then were starting half way down the model and going back to the other half. WHAT?????

I posted this on another site and think they missed the point,they just answered it and said it was easy....Sure,we can answer it and probably get it right theb options match up,they just cant possibly be in the right order!

 

First I want to say hello Flo and welcome to CF.
Second thing is though. I'm assuming that you are pulling these question from one of your text books? If so you are breaking copyright laws. Please add to the bottom of your post the name of your book. Who wrote it, and the page you pull these questions from. Don't mean to be a stick in the mud but you could get CF in trouble otherwise. Thank you and again welcome to the CF.

 

Done that for ya!edited my first post to include the info.

Can you see what Im saying by the way?

 

I didnt find it so difficult....its just the fact that a lot of the questions really on the writers use of semantics.The first one from a computer point of view is obviously diverse,but if you spoke to an English student...theyd tell you that 1000 companies could each make 1000 products to work with the OSI model and each individual product would be "proprietary" to that company.As computer people we know that proprietary means something a little different in our world....but you cant just change what a word means on the assumption that everyone reading the question will be on the same wavelength.And the question doesnt make it clear the writer means proprietary as in belonging to the OSI.
As for question 2- The point is it has nothing to do with the OSI model really,because you can answer the question without knowing waht the OSI even is then you got a fifty fifty chance of arranging the answer the right way round.Why not just ask us to match the layers with descriptions,or put them in order or something.Analagys are supposed to make things easier to understand,but that doesnt because they way you would piece it together in your head is that the phone number,dial tone and cord all happen at your side and the rest at the receiver end.Thats not how its meant,and ofcourse the OSI model doesnt work that way,but it is the way it reads.In my coursework there was nothing written to state that the OSI worked one way at the senders end and vice versa to rebuild at the receiver end,I knew it did because I do my research.I should have mentioned that before actually -anyone reading this,please go back and read question 2 from the view point of someone who may believe that the OSI only works one way from application - physical layer. How confused would you be?

 

Interesting discussion Guys, and enjoyable reading.

Can I just once again remind everyone - please do not quote verbatim questions from your study materials. Innocent as this may be intended, it does breach the copyright in place on those materials, and leaves us open to legal action.

Thanks.


PS Flo - unless, I've missed it, have you swung by the New Members forum to drop a quick hello? Always nice to get the "intros" out the way, and meet the rest of the Guys...