Operating System Questions 5. Which of the following is not a role of the operating system?

1. What is the primary purpose of an operating system? A. Memory management

A. Compiling programs B. Process scheduling
B. Managing hardware and software resources C. Word processing
C. Running application programs only D. File management
D. Formatting disks Answer: C
Answer: B 6. Which type of memory is volatile?
2. Which of the following is considered hardware? A. Hard disk
A. Word Processor B. ROM
B. Compiler C. Flash memory
C. CPU D. Main memory (RAM)
D. Operating System Answer: D
Answer: C 7. What is a ‘bit’?
3. A modern general-purpose computer system consists of: A. A programming instruction
A. One CPU and no memory B. A storage location
B. Multiple CPUs and device controllers C. A binary digit
C. Only a keyboard and mouse D. A hardware device
D. A display and battery Answer: C
Answer: B 8. What is typically stored in ROM?
4. The software that manages hardware resources and provides services to A. Application programs
applications is called:
B. Operating System
A. Compiler
C. Bootstrap program
B. Operating System
D. User files
C. Database
Answer: C
D. Browser
Answer: B
9. Which type of system allows many users to interact with one computer 13. Which of these is considered secondary storage?
simultaneously?
A. RAM
A. Single-tasking
B. Cache
B. Multiprocessing
C. Hard disk
C. Timesharing
D. Registers
D. Real-time
Answer: C
Answer: C
14. An operating system acts as an intermediary between:
10. What does CPU stand for?
A. User and software
A. Central Process Unit
B. Hardware and power supply
B. Central Processing Unit
C. User and hardware
C. Control Processing Unit
D. Application and user
D. Central Programming Unit
Answer: C
Answer: B
15. A trap is:
11. The smallest unit of data in a computer is:
A. A hardware failure
A. Byte
B. A software-generated interrupt
B. Bit
C. A security threat
C. Word
D. A timer
D. Kilobyte
Answer: B
Answer: B
16. Which of these is not an operating system?
12. Which of the following is a control program that manages system resources?
A. Linux
A. Scheduler
B. Windows
B. Compiler
C. Mac OS
C. Operating System
D. Java
D. Monitor
Answer: D
Answer: C
17. The program running at all times in the OS is: 21. Which of the following components is responsible for performing calculations?
A. Scheduler A. Monitor
B. Kernel B. RAM
C. Shell C. CPU
D. Compiler D. Hard disk
Answer: B Answer: C
18. Which of these is typically not part of a computer system structure? 22. The OS component that chooses which process runs next is called:
A. Users A. Memory Manager
B. Compiler B. Process Scheduler
C. Hardware C. File Manager
D. Operating System D. Dispatcher
Answer: B Answer: B
19. A system call is used to: 23. What type of OS structure moves most components to user space?
A. Format a hard disk A. Layered
B. Request a service from the OS B. Monolithic
C. Run an antivirus C. Simple
D. Optimize memory D. Microkernel
Answer: B Answer: D
20. Which storage unit is larger? 24. What does GUI stand for?
A. Kilobyte A. General User Interface
B. Gigabyte B. Graphical User Interface
C. Megabyte C. Global User Input
D. Byte D. Graph Use Interface
Answer: B Answer: B
25. Which of these is not a type of system call? 29. The time it takes for the OS to respond to an input is called:
A. Process control A. Latency
B. File management B. Boot time
C. Device management C. Response time
D. Virus scanning D. Uptime
Answer: D Answer: C
26. Which mode allows execution of all privileged instructions? 30. Virtual memory allows:
A. User mode A. Better security
B. Kernel mode B. Execution of large processes
C. Sleep mode C. Virus protection
D. GUI mode D. Faster CPU
Answer: B Answer: B
27. A dual-mode system uses: 31. Which memory is typically non-volatile?
A. One mode A. RAM
B. Two processors B. ROM
C. User and kernel modes C. Cache
D. Only CLI D. Registers
Answer: C Answer: B
28. What is the function of a shell in an OS? 32. A collection of bits is called a:
A. Run antivirus A. Kilobyte
B. Interact with users B. Byte
C. Compile programs C. Instruction
D. Print documents D. Register
Answer: B Answer: B
33. Which of these is an example of a computing environment? C. Multiple processes simultaneously
A. Compiler D. One user to play games
B. GUI Answer: C
C. Cloud Computing 38. Which of these is not volatile memory?
D. OS Kernel A. RAM
Answer: C B. Cache
34. SaaS stands for: C. ROM
A. Software as a Storage D. DRAM
B. Software as a Service Answer: C
C. Storage as a System 39. Which of the following is used for high-speed storage?
D. System as a Software A. Cache
Answer: B B. Floppy Disk
35. What component typically controls the system bus? C. CD-ROM
A. CPU D. USB
B. Kernel Answer: A
C. Disk Controller 40. A device driver is:
D. Monitor A. A hardware component
Answer: A B. A program that controls a device
36. The operating system is loaded into memory during: C. A kernel
A. Execution D. An interpreter
B. Installation Answer: B
C. Bootstrapping 41. What is the kernel?
D. Formatting A. Application software
Answer: C B. User interface
37. A multitasking OS allows: C. Core of OS
A. One program to run only D. Hardware driver
B. Multiple users at once Answer: C
42. A command line interface is also known as: C. GUI
A. GUI D. VMM
B. Shell Answer: C
C. BIOS 47. Which term refers to the conversion of a program into an executable form?
D. Loader A. Compilation
Answer: B B. Execution
43. Which process scheduling type decides which job enters the ready queue? C. Scheduling
A. Short-term D. Switching
B. Medium-term Answer: A
C. Long-term 48. A layer-based OS design:
D. IO-scheduler A. Uses a flat structure
Answer: C B. Has only user and kernel modes
44. Which queue holds processes waiting for an I/O device? C. Has well-defined levels
A. Job queue D. Is obsolete
B. Device queue Answer: C
C. Ready queue 49. The program used to start the computer is called:
D. Long queue A. Bootloader
Answer: B B. Shell
45. Which of these allows file reading and writing? C. Scheduler
A. CPU D. GUI
B. RAM Answer: A
C. File system 50. Which of these is typically the fastest type of memory?
D. BIOS A. Hard disk
Answer: C B. RAM
46. Which interface uses icons and a pointer device? C. Cache
A. CLI D. USB
B. API Answer: C
51. Which of the following best defines multiprogramming? 55. A system call for reading from a file belongs to which category?
A. Running one program at a time A. Device management
B. Running multiple threads in a single process B. Protection
C. Organizing jobs so that CPU always has one to execute C. File management
D. Executing multiple operating systems D. Communication
Answer: C Answer: C
52. What is the purpose of the interrupt vector? 56. Which of the following is an example of system software?
A. To manage hardware devices A. Web browser
B. To contain addresses of service routines B. Word processor
C. To schedule processes C. Operating system
D. To boot the system D. Video editor
Answer: B Answer: C
53. What component transitions the CPU from user mode to kernel mode? 57. In asymmetric multiprocessing:
A. Timer A. All processors perform all tasks
B. System call B. Tasks are shared equally
C. Scheduler C. Each processor is assigned a specific task
D. BIOS D. There is no need for a master processor
Answer: B Answer: C
54. Which of the following is not a computing environment discussed in modern 58. The UNIX kernel is responsible for:
systems?
A. Power management only
A. Distributed computing
B. Application management
B. Virtual machines
C. File system, memory management, CPU scheduling
C. Real-time gaming consoles
D. Virus protection
D. Cloud computing
Answer: C
Answer: C
59. A job scheduler is also known as the: 63. Which scheduling type temporarily removes processes from memory?
A. Short-term scheduler A. Short-term
B. Medium-term scheduler B. Medium-term
C. Long-term scheduler C. Long-term
D. I/O scheduler D. Interrupt scheduler
Answer: C Answer: B
60. The user interface used by touch devices is called: 64. In symmetric multiprocessing (SMP):
A. Shell A. All processors perform all tasks
B. GUI B. Only master processor does all work
C. Touchscreen interface C. Processors work sequentially
D. Command line D. Only one CPU is active
Answer: C Answer: A
61. Which instruction cannot be executed in user mode? 65. A layered OS architecture:
A. Printing A. Prevents modularity
B. Memory allocation B. Is easy to debug and modify
C. I/O instruction C. Requires minimal abstraction
D. Arithmetic operation D. Is used only in embedded systems
Answer: C Answer: B
62. What happens when a trap occurs? 66. In the hierarchy of memory, which has the lowest speed?
A. Power failure A. RAM
B. CPU resets B. Registers
C. Control is transferred to OS C. Cache
D. Keyboard input D. Magnetic disk
Answer: C Answer: D
67. Which of these is true about virtual memory? 71. Which of these is not typically managed by the OS?
A. It slows down the system A. CPU
B. It requires user permission B. I/O devices
C. It allows execution of programs not in memory C. Application software updates
D. It replaces physical memory D. Main memory
Answer: C Answer: C
68. Which system call category is used to create and delete files? 72. The term "heap" in process memory layout refers to:
A. Process control A. Return addresses
B. File management B. Static variables
C. Device management C. Dynamically allocated memory
D. Communication D. Program counter
Answer: B Answer: C
69. CLI stands for: 73. Which communication model is used in distributed systems?
A. Command Layer Interface A. RPC only
B. Control Line Interpreter B. Shared memory only
C. Command Line Interface C. Message passing
D. Common Language Interface D. BIOS interrupts
Answer: C Answer: C
70. Which of the following is a benefit of microkernel architecture? 74. The system program used to write new programs is a:
A. Increased file system access A. Compiler
B. Less modularity B. File editor
C. Enhanced portability and security C. Shell
D. Decreased reliability D. Debugger
Answer: C Answer: A
75. The hardware-software interface to the OS is: 79. A short-term scheduler selects:
A. Kernel A. Long-term jobs
B. GUI B. Jobs to swap out
C. API C. The next process to run
D. Firmware D. Device drivers
Answer: C Answer: C
76. The stack memory holds: 80. Interprocess Communication (IPC) allows:
A. Global variables A. Processes to operate independently
B. Local variables and function calls B. Process synchronization
C. OS code C. Memory leakage
D. Kernel data D. External attacks
Answer: B Answer: B
77. A process in 'waiting' state is: 81. In message passing IPC:
A. Executing A. Shared memory is used
B. Ready to execute B. Signals are required
C. Waiting for an event C. Messages are sent via the OS
D. Terminated D. Only one process is active
Answer: C Answer: C
78. Which is not a valid process state? 82. In a process control block (PCB), the program counter stores:
A. Running A. PID
B. Sleeping B. Status flags
C. Ready C. Address of next instruction
D. Waiting D. File list
Answer: B Answer: C
83. In a multitasking environment, what ensures fairness in CPU allocation? 87. The process ID (PID) is used for:
A. Memory segmentation A. Identifying user accounts
B. Process synchronization B. Device enumeration
C. Scheduling algorithms C. Identifying processes
D. BIOS D. Network packets
Answer: C Answer: C
84. A parent process may create child processes using: 88. Which of the following can cause a trap?
A. Fork A. Timer interrupt
B. Wait B. Division by zero
C. Execute C. User logon
D. Clone D. Boot process
Answer: A Answer: B
85. What maintains information about open files in a process? 89. A kernel thread is:
A. Stack A. Invisible to the OS
B. File descriptor table B. Managed by the user
C. Scheduler C. Managed by the OS
D. Heap D. A type of device driver
Answer: B Answer: C
86. Which system call is used to terminate a process? 90. The process of bringing a process back from disk to memory is called:
A. Kill A. Forking
B. Open B. Swapping in
C. Execute C. Trapping
D. Suspend D. Scheduling
Answer: A Answer: B
91. A word in computer architecture refers to: 95. Which one is not a benefit of threads?
A. A character A. Responsiveness
B. A storage block B. Scalability
C. The native unit of data C. High memory overhead
D. An ASCII code D. Economy
Answer: C Answer: C
92. CPU registers in PCB store: 96. In many-to-many threading model:
A. Instructions only A. One user thread maps to one kernel thread
B. Address of system calls B. Many user threads map to one kernel thread
C. Process-centric values C. Many user threads map to many kernel threads
D. File names D. No threads are created
Answer: C Answer: C
93. Which of the following is considered a user goal for OS design? 97. Which thread model is used by Linux?
A. Modularity A. Many-to-many
B. Safe and fast operation B. One-to-one
C. Compiler support C. Two-level
D. High voltage support D. Single-thread
Answer: B Answer: B
94. Which of the following statements is true for device controllers? 98. Which type of thread is managed without kernel support?
A. They're only used in cloud systems A. Kernel thread
B. They handle device-level operations B. Device thread
C. They manage virtual memory C. User thread
D. They execute user code D. Real-time thread
Answer: B Answer: C
99. Which thread library is used in UNIX-like systems? 103. The major goal of layered OS architecture is:
A. Windows A. Eliminate system calls
B. POSIX Pthreads B. Enhance portability and modularity
C. JVM C. Increase monolithic size
D. .NET Threads D. Prevent multitasking
Answer: B Answer: B
100. In the two-level thread model: 104. The interrupt vector table is typically located in:
A. Only kernel threads exist A. ROM
B. Only user threads exist B. Hard disk
C. A user thread may be bound to a kernel thread C. Cache memory
D. There is no thread mapping D. Main memory at a fixed location
Answer: C Answer: D
101. In microkernel systems, most of the OS services are executed in: 105. Which of the following is not a component of the Process Control Block (PCB)?
A. Kernel space A. Program counter
B. User space B. I/O status
C. Cache memory C. Virtual memory manager
D. BIOS D. CPU registers
Answer: B Answer: C
102. The main performance issue in a microkernel design is due to: 106. Swapping affects:
A. Lack of device support A. Only system calls
B. Complex hardware B. CPU execution
C. Increased system calls and context switches C. Memory usage and responsiveness
D. Memory leakage D. File systems
Answer: C Answer: C
107. Which statement about traps is true? 111. The mode bit in dual-mode operations is set to 0 for:
A. They are hardware interrupts only A. User mode
B. They are generated only by the user B. Kernel mode
C. They are software-generated interrupts C. Protected mode
D. They are errors in RAM D. Interrupts
Answer: C Answer: B
108. A user application can access privileged instructions by: 112. Which thread model enables more efficient utilization of multiprocessor systems?
A. Executing them directly A. Many-to-one
B. Triggering a system call B. One-to-one
C. Writing assembly code C. Many-to-many
D. Changing user mode D. Two-level
Answer: B Answer: C
109. Which OS architecture provides the most flexibility in adding or modifying system 113. What is the advantage of separating user and kernel modes?
components?
A. Prevents unauthorized access to hardware
A. Simple
B. Allows faster CPU scheduling
B. Monolithic
C. Reduces program size
C. Layered
D. Improves GUI performance
D. Microkernel
Answer: A
Answer: D
114. Which of these happens during a system call?
110. The main drawback of symmetric multiprocessing is:
A. Transition from kernel to user mode
A. Hardware compatibility
B. Transition from user to kernel mode
B. High cost
C. Device formatting
C. Complex synchronization
D. CPU restart
D. Single point of failure
Answer: B
Answer: C
115. In UNIX, system programs are typically executed in: 119. Which mechanism is used by OS to prevent simultaneous access to resources?
A. Kernel space A. Interrupts
B. Supervisor mode B. Locks
C. User mode C. File descriptors
D. Privileged mode D. Paging
Answer: C Answer: B
116. What causes a context switch? 120. A process’s stack is primarily used for:
A. Hardware failure A. Static data
B. File system call B. Dynamic memory
C. Process scheduling C. Temporary data like function parameters
D. GUI interaction D. Instruction storage
Answer: C Answer: C
117. Which of the following is not a valid thread benefit? 121. What is true of message passing IPC?
A. Resource sharing A. Fastest method of IPC
B. Better responsiveness B. Needs shared memory
C. Better energy efficiency C. Works across distributed systems
D. Better scalability D. Ignores OS boundaries
Answer: C Answer: C
118. In layered OS design, each layer: 122. Which API is most portable across different OS types?
A. Is dependent on all lower layers A. Win32
B. Has unrestricted access to hardware B. POSIX
C. Communicates only with adjacent layers C. JVM
D. Can execute without system calls D. Python
Answer: C Answer: B
123. Which statement best describes the Two-level threading model? 127. Which process state means the process is ready but not executing?
A. Each user thread maps to multiple kernel threads A. Running
B. User threads operate without kernel knowledge B. Terminated
C. Allows optional binding of user thread to kernel thread C. Waiting
D. It is outdated and unused D. Ready
Answer: C Answer: D
124. Which layer in the UNIX OS structure interacts with the hardware directly? 128. Which instruction must be privileged?
A. Shell A. Reading memory
B. Kernel B. Disabling interrupts
C. System program C. Printing data
D. Application D. Multiplying two integers
Answer: B Answer: B
125. Which is not a component of memory hierarchy? 129. How does OS detect hardware errors?
A. Register A. Through the BIOS
B. Cache B. By system calls
C. Monitor C. Using error detection service
D. Main memory D. It cannot detect hardware errors
Answer: C Answer: C
126. System programs such as debuggers and editors are: 130. What are system calls used for?
A. Kernel processes A. Running Java programs
B. Part of BIOS B. Handling user input
C. Not part of the OS C. Requesting services from OS
D. System-level applications D. Compiling programs
Answer: D Answer: C
131. Which interrupt type is generated by an error in a program? 135. What mechanism ensures the user process doesn’t corrupt OS code?
A. Hardware interrupt A. CPU scheduling
B. Trap B. User-mode restrictions
C. User-defined C. Multiprocessing
D. Startup interrupt D. Layered structure
Answer: B Answer: B
132. The term ‘bootstrap’ refers to: 136. The VMM (Virtual Machine Manager) is responsible for:
A. Hardware startup A. Memory paging
B. Manual OS loading B. Booting OS
C. Initial loading of OS by firmware C. Managing virtual environments
D. BIOS reset D. Display management
Answer: C Answer: C
133. What is the primary function of the OS regarding I/O? 137. Cloud computing infrastructure is categorized into:
A. Execute programs A. Single-layered types
B. Control access and synchronization of I/O devices B. PaaS only
C. Allocate threads C. SaaS, PaaS, IaaS
D. Format storage D. GUI-based systems
Answer: B Answer: C
134. Which of these is true about system programs? 138. Which is not typically found in a distributed system?
A. They are loaded before the OS A. Shared memory
B. They directly access hardware B. LAN/WAN
C. They provide an environment for program development C. Remote procedure calls
D. They replace the kernel D. Message passing
Answer: C Answer: A
139. Which computing model uses thin clients for security and maintenance? 143. What type of scheduling algorithm is used in time-sharing systems?
A. Virtual memory model A. First Come First Serve
B. Mainframe systems B. Round Robin
C. Web-based network computing C. Shortest Job First
D. Batch processing D. Longest Job First
Answer: C Answer: B
140. If multiple processes use a printer simultaneously, what mechanism prevents 144. When an OS allows more memory to be used than physically available, it uses:
conflict?
A. Paging
A. Deadlock
B. Virtual memory
B. Scheduling
C. Memory leak
C. Resource locking
D. Disk formatting
D. Page replacement
Answer: B
Answer: C
145. Which storage is organized in terms of tracks and sectors?
141. Which storage type is typically the slowest but most cost-efficient?
A. SSD
A. Cache
B. RAM
B. RAM
C. Hard Disk
C. Solid-state drive
D. Cache
D. Magnetic tape
Answer: C
Answer: D
146. A context switch saves and loads:
142. What is the function of the API?
A. Only program counters
A. Abstract system call interface
B. Hardware device states
B. Control file access
C. Process state and CPU registers
C. Execute kernel code directly
D. File table
D. Design GUI only
Answer: C
Answer: A
147. What part of the OS handles process creation and termination? True/False Questions:
A. Scheduler 1. The operating system is responsible for managing hardware and software
B. CPU resources. True
C. Process control subsystem 2. RAM is used for long-term data storage. False
D. File system 3. All operating systems are designed to run on both desktops and mobile
Answer: C devices. False

148. Which feature protects concurrent processes from interfering with each other? 4. A process is an instance of a program in execution. True
A. Resource allocation 5. The kernel of an operating system manages the system's hardware resources.
True
B. Memory swapping
C. Protection
6. Multiprocessing systems use only one processor to complete tasks.
False
D. Paging
7. A system call is used by programs to interact with the operating system. True
Answer: C
8. Virtual memory allows programs to access more memory than is physically
149. In cloud computing, which type gives direct control over virtualized hardware?
available in the system. True
A. SaaS
9. A deadlock occurs when multiple processes are blocked, waiting for
B. PaaS resources. True
C. IaaS 10. In symmetric multiprocessing, each processor has its own memory but
D. GUI shares peripheral devices. False
Answer: C 11. The user interface is part of operating-system services. True
150. The most efficient method for interprocess communication on a single machine is: 12. CLI requires a mouse to operate. False

A. Message passing 13. File-system manipulation includes creating and deleting files. True

B. RPC 14. Error detection improves system reliability. True

C. Shared memory 15. APIs are only used in Windows systems. False
D. Kernel mode trapping 16. System programs are part of the kernel. False
Answer: C 17. POSIX API is specific to UNIX-like systems. True
18. Layered systems allow free movement between layers. False
19. Microkernels include only essential services. True
20. System calls directly interact with hardware without OS control. False
21. A program and a process are the same thing. False
22. The PCB contains the user’s password. False
23. A process can move from waiting to ready if its event finishes. True
24. The heap grows as dynamic memory is allocated. True
25. The short-term scheduler selects from the job queue. False
26. Context switching always happens during I/O. False
27. Message passing is slower than shared memory. True
28. The stack can shrink during recursion return. True
29. Processes in the device queue are waiting for CPU. False
30. PCB helps the OS manage multiple processes. True
26. Each thread has its own data section. False
27. Threads can improve program responsiveness. True
28. In the One-to-One model, creating a user thread requires a kernel thread.
True
29. Java does not support multithreading. False
30. Threads share open files and signal handlers. True
31. Many-to-One model supports parallelism on multicore systems. False
32. Kernel threads are managed by the operating system. True
33. Pthreads is a Windows-only library. False
34. Two-Level model allows more control over thread-to-kernel mapping. True
In multithreaded systems, threads must not share memory. False