Which statement best describes how TCP/IP sends data around the Internet?

Which statement best describes how TCP/IP sends data around the Internet?

• A. Data is sent as a single block and all packets are delivered automatically.
• B. Packets are sent without routing and arrive in order automatically.
• C. Computers split messages into packets and the destination acknowledges each packet to ensure delivery.
• D. The destination computer never acknowledges receipt.

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested is how data travels over TCP/IP by being broken into pieces and verified on receipt. In practice, messages are split into packets that travel through the network and may take different paths. The transport layer (TCP) adds reliability by having the destination acknowledge the received data, using sequence numbers to keep track of what’s arrived and to trigger retransmission if something is missing. This combination lets data be sent efficiently and still arrive correctly and in order. So describing it as computers splitting messages into packets and the destination acknowledging each packet to ensure delivery captures the essential mechanism of reliable TCP/IP communication. The other statements are off because data isn’t guaranteed to arrive as a single block, routing is involved and packets can be delayed or different paths, and a destination does not never acknowledge receipt.

The main idea tested is how data travels over TCP/IP by being broken into pieces and verified on receipt. In practice, messages are split into packets that travel through the network and may take different paths. The transport layer (TCP) adds reliability by having the destination acknowledge the received data, using sequence numbers to keep track of what’s arrived and to trigger retransmission if something is missing. This combination lets data be sent efficiently and still arrive correctly and in order.

So describing it as computers splitting messages into packets and the destination acknowledging each packet to ensure delivery captures the essential mechanism of reliable TCP/IP communication. The other statements are off because data isn’t guaranteed to arrive as a single block, routing is involved and packets can be delayed or different paths, and a destination does not never acknowledge receipt.