INTERNET FUNDAMENTALS — Measuring access speed When people talk about the speed of an internet connection, which unit is typically used to specify data rate?

Introduction / Context:
Internet service providers and network tools report link speeds in units of data rate. Recognizing the correct unit avoids confusion between memory size, CPU clock rate, and network throughput.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Older and entry-level links are often described in kilobits per second (Kbps); modern links use Mbps or Gbps.
• Question asks for the correct kind of unit, not the latest magnitude.
• We are not distinguishing bits from bytes in the distractors; we simply identify a data-rate unit.

Concept / Approach:
Network speed is a rate of data transfer, conventionally expressed in bits per second. Common scales: Kbps (10^3 bps), Mbps (10^6 bps), and Gbps (10^9 bps). The stem lists Kbps, which is a valid data-rate unit, unlike RAM (memory capacity), MHz (clock frequency), or Megabytes (storage/size).

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify a throughput unit → bits per second family.Among options, Kbps fits (others are capacity or frequency measures).Select Kbps as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Routers, modems, and ISP plans advertise “20 Mbps,” “100 Mbps,” etc. Kbps is the same family and historically common for dial-up or low-bandwidth links.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
RAM — random access memory (capacity), not a speed unit.MHz — megahertz measures frequency of a signal or CPU clock.Megabytes — measures data size, not the transfer rate.Frames per second — video/graphics rate, not network throughput.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing MB/s (megabytes per second) with Mbps (megabits per second). 1 byte = 8 bits, so 80 Mbps ≈ 10 MB/s.

Final Answer:
Kbps