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1.5.1b Operating Systems ANSWERS

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109 views

1.5.1b Operating Systems ANSWERS

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emona.mocku
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1. Define the term ‘System Software’.

[2]

 System software is software which allows a computer to run and to be maintained.


 “Operating System” software and “Utility Software” are the two main types of system software.
Question Zone 1-3

2. “The CPU sits between the user’s applications and the hardware”. What is meant by this statement? [3]

 Applications (such as a word processor) do not know how to communicate with every single hardware device that exists. It is not efficient to write programs that can.
 However, the operating system can communicate with the great range of different devices as the operating system has a library of drivers which enable this communication.
 The operating system can also communicate with all applications.
 As a result, the operating system sits between the two, passing on messages from the applications to the hardware and back again.

3. Briefly describe the 5 major roles of an ‘Operating System’.[5]

 Memory Management – Allows applications to be loaded onto the RAM effectively.


 Peripheral Management – Allows applications to communicate with the peripheral devices and visa versa.
 Multi-Tasking – Enables the CPU to process the instructions from multiple applications, in quick succession.
 Security – Provides different users with their own accounts and workspace, keeping their data secure.
 User Interface – Enables the user to interact with the computer.
Question Zone 4-6

4. Explain how the OS manages memory. [4]

 When you load an application, the OS will copy the application to the RAM.
 In addition, the OS will ensure that each program that loads has its own space on the RAM.
 This stops other programs reading and writing to the memory area for another application.
 It is also responsible for managing virtual memory when the RAM gets full.

5. Explain how the OS enables multi-tasking. [4]

 A CPU’s core can only process one instruction at a time.


 An operating system enables multi-tasking by managing the CPU’s processes so that several programs can run at once.
 The operating system enables this to happen by either allowing processes to take it in turn, or getting the shortest job done first.
 Because CPU’s are so quick now-a-days, it appears to be simultaneous and allows many programs to be used at once.

6. Explain the role of the ‘Kernel’ in an ‘Operating System’. [2]

 The kernel is the heart of the operating system and is responsible for looking after “the most low-level hardware operations”.
Question Zone 7-9

 It is the kernel that applications make use of when they want to operate the computer’s hardware.

7. Discuss the need for the 3 major types of interface. [6]

All three types of interface have their uses:


 Command Line Interfaces require the use of written commands to carry out computer processes.
 They are highly useful as they are simple and therefore stable and allow users to have a great deal of control over the processes they wish the computer to carry out.
 Menu Driven Interfaces make use of pre-set menus to carry out computer processes.
 They are very useful when you want to limit what the user can do to make for a more simplified user experience.
 Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) make use of windows, icons, menus and pointers (WIMP) to control the computer.
 This type of interface is very intuitive for the user making it a simple user experience but also providing users with a great deal of control over the computer.

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