DNS stands for Domain Name Server. That's simply a computer (may of them put together) that saves the addresses of each and every website on the network/cloud/internet. Let me give you an example.
Every city has got its zip code. In a similar way, every web page has got its unique IPv4 address (as for now, IPv4 would be helpful; as websites are moving on to IPv6 now) that looks like 74.125.236.84 (for google. Com).
Every time a company registers its website, it gets this address, and in turn they also have the domain name set for each of them (so that you don't have to remember these numbers). Now, they add up the domain/ip address to the DNS servers. It basically contais some 'routing' algorithms and tables in it.
Once you type in google.com in the address bar, the local DNS searches that in it's list (for the respective IPv4 address) and brings up th e page for you (on the browser). I think this would be enough for you. And if you could elaborate on 'padded with leading zeroes', i'd try to answer that as well (if you find me correct on this one.) :).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.