USB flash drive

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/usb-flash-drive

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the interface standard?Utilizes the USB Mass Storage Device Class standard for native OS compatibility
2. What is the power source?Draws power directly from the host computer via the USB connection
3. Why are USB flash drives better than floppy disks?They hold many more files, move data faster, and have no moving parts, so they’re shock‑resistant and more reliable.
4. How do USB flash drives keep data when the power is off?They use flash memory, a type of EEPROM, which stores data electrically even without power.

Non-Volatile Memory: Computer memory that retains stored information even when not powered.
EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, a type of non-volatile memory used in flash drives.
USB Controller: The integrated circuit that manages data transfer between the flash memory and the USB host.