CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which term describes the ability of an operating system to run several programs apparently at the same time?
A. Formatting
B. Defragmentation
C. Bootstrapping
D. Multitasking
Correct Answer: D
Multitasking lets multiple processes make progress by sharing CPU time or cores.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which layer normally provides the lowest-level software interface to a specific hardware device?
A. Device driver
B. Word processor
C. Compiler
D. Spreadsheet macro
Correct Answer: A
Device drivers translate OS requests into device-specific operations.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
What is the main purpose of a shell in an operating system?
A. Format every disk automatically
B. Interpret user commands and launch programs
C. Allocate physical RAM directly without the kernel
D. Replace the CPU scheduler
Correct Answer: B
A shell is a command interpreter or user interface for invoking OS services and programs.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which architecture combines features of monolithic and microkernel designs?
A. Shell kernel
B. Spooling kernel
C. Hybrid kernel
D. Batch kernel
Correct Answer: C
Hybrid kernels mix design ideas to balance performance and modularity.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system design keeps only essential mechanisms in kernel space and moves more services to user space?
A. Monolithic kernel
B. Single-user batch system
C. Bootloader
D. Microkernel
Correct Answer: D
Microkernels minimize kernel-space functionality and run more services as user processes.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which design places most operating-system services inside one large kernel address space?
A. Monolithic kernel
B. Microkernel
C. Virtual machine
D. Batch system
Correct Answer: A
A monolithic kernel runs many OS services in kernel space for performance.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
A system call provides a controlled transition from:
A. RAM to secondary storage
B. User mode to kernel mode
C. Kernel mode to BIOS setup only
D. Cache memory to RAM
Correct Answer: B
System calls let user programs request privileged kernel services.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system component remains resident in memory and directly manages core hardware resources?
A. Spreadsheet
B. Assembler
C. Kernel
D. Text editor
Correct Answer: C
The kernel is the central privileged part of an operating system.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which of the following is NOT a primary responsibility of an operating system?
A. Process management
B. Memory management
C. File management
D. Designing application algorithms
Correct Answer: D
The OS manages system resources; application algorithm design is the programmer's task.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which component acts as an intermediary between users/applications and computer hardware?
A. Operating system
B. Compiler
C. Database
D. Web browser
Correct Answer: A
An operating system manages hardware resources and provides services/interfaces for applications.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: is a synchronization primitive used to coordinate concurrent tasks?
A. exFAT
B. Semaphore
C. Multiprocessing
D. Minimize
Correct Answer: B
Semaphore: is a synchronization primitive used to coordinate concurrent tasks.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: ensures only one task at a time accesses a critical resource or critical section when required?
A. Mutual exclusion
B. PowerShell
C. Access control list
D. Registry
Correct Answer: A
Mutual exclusion: ensures only one task at a time accesses a critical resource or critical section when required.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: is a state in which processes wait indefinitely for resources held by one another?
A. Multitasking
B. dir
C. Standard user
D. Deadlock
Correct Answer: D
Deadlock: is a state in which processes wait indefinitely for resources held by one another.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: is a restricted execution mode used by ordinary applications?
A. User mode
B. Window
C. Encryption
D. del
Correct Answer: A
User mode: is a restricted execution mode used by ordinary applications.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: is a privileged CPU execution mode used by the operating-system kernel?
A. Program
B. Kernel mode
C. Starvation
D. Defragmentation
Correct Answer: B
Kernel mode: is a privileged CPU execution mode used by the operating-system kernel.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: is the controlled interface through which user programs request kernel services?
A. Hibernate
B. Process
C. Disk Management
D. system call
Correct Answer: D
system call: is the controlled interface through which user programs request kernel services.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: deletes files in Windows Command Prompt?
A. Start menu
B. del
C. cd
D. Mounting
Correct Answer: B
del: deletes files in Windows Command Prompt.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: copies files in Windows Command Prompt?
A. Bootloader
B. Thread
C. copy
D. Page replacement
Correct Answer: C
copy: copies files in Windows Command Prompt.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: lists directory contents in Windows Command Prompt?
A. Time sharing
B. Desktop
C. dir
D. copy
Correct Answer: C
dir: lists directory contents in Windows Command Prompt.
CSS - PMS - CCE - PCS - Basic Computing
Operating Systems
Which operating-system term best matches this description: removes files or directories on Unix-like systems?
A. Aging
B. TRIM
C. rm
D. Mobile OS
Correct Answer: C
rm: removes files or directories on Unix-like systems.