Computer & IT · Topic 2
What an operating system does and the main operating systems.
Learn first
Learn what an operating system does and who makes the main ones.
Practise
Try each question, then open the answer. MCQs 1–50 of 218.
1.What is an operating system?
Answer: C. System software that manages hardware and runs programs
The OS sits between the user, the programs and the hardware.
2.Which of these is an operating system?
Answer: A. Windows
Windows is an operating system; the others are applications.
3.Which of these is not an operating system?
Answer: C. MS Excel
Excel is a spreadsheet application.
4.Which company makes the Windows operating system?
Answer: B. Microsoft
Microsoft released Windows 1.0 in 1985.
5.In which year was Windows 1.0 released?
Answer: A. 1985
Windows 1.0 came out in November 1985.
6.Which version of Windows introduced the Start button?
Answer: A. Windows 95
Windows 95 introduced the Start menu and taskbar.
7.Which is the latest major version of Windows (as of 2026)?
Answer: A. Windows 11
Windows 11 was released in 2021; Windows 10 support ended in October 2025.
8.Microsoft ended free support for Windows 10 in which year?
Answer: B. 2025
Free support ended on 14 October 2025; paid extended security updates are available.
9.Which company makes macOS?
Answer: D. Apple
macOS runs on Apple's Mac computers.
10.iOS is the operating system of which devices?
Answer: B. Apple iPhones
iOS runs on the iPhone; iPads use iPadOS.
11.Which company developed Android?
Answer: D. Google
Google bought Android Inc. in 2005 and released Android in 2008.
12.Android is based on which kernel?
Answer: B. Linux
Android uses a modified Linux kernel.
13.Which is the most widely used mobile operating system in the world?
Answer: A. Android
Android runs on about seven out of ten smartphones.
14.Who created the Linux kernel?
Answer: B. Linus Torvalds
Torvalds released Linux in 1991.
15.The Linux mascot is what?
Answer: D. A penguin named Tux
Tux the penguin is Linux's mascot.
16.Which of these is a Linux distribution?
Answer: B. Ubuntu
Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian are Linux distributions.
17.UNIX was developed at which laboratory?
Answer: A. Bell Labs
Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie developed UNIX at Bell Labs around 1969.
18.Who founded the GNU Project and the free software movement?
Answer: A. Richard Stallman
Stallman started GNU in 1983.
19.Which Chinese company developed HarmonyOS?
Answer: D. Huawei
Huawei launched HarmonyOS in 2019.
20.Chrome OS is developed by which company?
Answer: D. Google
Chrome OS runs on Chromebooks.
21.Which Microsoft operating system used only typed commands?
Answer: A. MS-DOS
MS-DOS had a command-line interface.
22.What does DOS stand for?
Answer: C. Disk Operating System
MS-DOS was Microsoft's Disk Operating System.
23.What does GUI stand for?
Answer: B. Graphical User Interface
A GUI uses windows, icons and menus.
24.What does CLI stand for?
Answer: C. Command Line Interface
In a CLI, users type commands.
25.Which company first popularised the GUI with the Macintosh in 1984?
Answer: B. Apple
Apple's Macintosh made the GUI popular; Xerox PARC developed early GUI ideas.
26.The core part of an operating system that manages hardware is called what?
Answer: D. Kernel
The kernel controls memory, processes and devices.
27.The part of the OS that takes user commands is called what?
Answer: D. Shell
The shell interprets commands from the user.
28.The process of starting a computer and loading the OS is called what?
Answer: C. Booting
Booting loads the operating system into memory.
29.Starting a computer that was switched off is called what?
Answer: D. Cold booting
A cold boot starts from power off.
30.Restarting a computer that is already on is called what?
Answer: C. Warm booting
A warm boot restarts without cutting power.
31.The key combination Ctrl+Alt+Del is used for what in Windows?
Answer: B. Opening security options or Task Manager
It opens the security screen, from which Task Manager can be started.
32.Which Windows tool shows running programs and lets you end them?
Answer: B. Task Manager
Task Manager shows processes and resource use.
33.Which shortcut opens Task Manager directly in Windows?
Answer: D. Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager.
34.Which Windows program is used to browse files and folders?
Answer: A. File Explorer
File Explorer was earlier called Windows Explorer.
35.Which shortcut opens File Explorer in Windows?
Answer: C. Windows+E
Windows key + E opens File Explorer.
36.Which shortcut locks a Windows computer?
Answer: C. Windows+L
Windows key + L locks the screen.
37.Which shortcut shows the desktop in Windows?
Answer: B. Windows+D
Windows key + D minimises all windows.
38.Which shortcut opens the Run dialog box in Windows?
Answer: D. Windows+R
Windows key + R opens Run.
39.Which shortcut switches between open programs?
Answer: C. Alt+Tab
Alt+Tab cycles through open windows.
40.Which key combination takes a screenshot of the active window in Windows?
Answer: C. Alt+PrtScn
Alt+Print Screen copies only the active window.
41.In Windows, deleted files first go where?
Answer: A. Recycle Bin
Files can be restored from the Recycle Bin until it is emptied.
42.Which shortcut deletes a file permanently without sending it to the Recycle Bin?
Answer: D. Shift+Delete
Shift+Delete skips the Recycle Bin.
43.Which Windows file system supports large files and file permissions?
Answer: D. NTFS
NTFS is the standard Windows file system.
44.What is the maximum size of a single file on a FAT32 drive?
Answer: C. 4 GB
FAT32 cannot store files larger than 4 GB.
45.Preparing a disk to store data by creating a file system is called what?
Answer: A. Formatting
Formatting erases the disk and sets up a file system.
46.Dividing a hard disk into separate sections is called what?
Answer: B. Partitioning
Each partition appears as a separate drive, such as C: and D:.
47.Rearranging the scattered pieces of files on a hard disk is called what?
Answer: B. Defragmentation
Defragmenting can speed up hard disk drives.
48.In Windows, the main drive where the OS is installed is usually which letter?
Answer: A. C:
A: and B: were reserved for floppy drives.
49.A file extension ".exe" usually means what kind of file?
Answer: B. An executable program
.exe files run programs in Windows.
50.The file extension ".docx" belongs to which program?
Answer: A. Microsoft Word
.docx is the Word document format.
Test yourself
Each quiz has 50 MCQs from this topic and 50 minutes. A correct answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer takes off 0.25; skipped questions score nothing. No password needed.
