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Computer & IT · Topic 2

Operating systems

What an operating system does and the main operating systems.

Explanation 218 MCQs Free timed quizzes
Computer & IT

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Explanation

Learn what an operating system does and who makes the main ones.

Functions

  • An operating system manages memory, processes, files and devices, and gives the user an interface.
  • A GUI (graphical user interface) uses windows and icons; a CLI (command-line interface) uses typed commands, as in MS-DOS.
  • Booting is starting the computer: a cold boot starts it from off; a warm boot restarts it.
  • Multitasking runs several programs at once.

Main operating systems

  • Windows is made by Microsoft; macOS and iOS by Apple.
  • Linux was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and is open source.
  • Android, developed by Google, is based on the Linux kernel.
  • Windows file systems include NTFS and FAT32.

Practise

Operating systems MCQs

Try each question, then open the answer. MCQs 201–218 of 218.

201.Software for macOS is commonly distributed in which file format?

  1. A. .exe
  2. B. .dmg
  3. C. .apk
  4. D. .deb
Show answer

Answer: B. .dmg

Windows uses .exe and .msi files.

202.Android apps are distributed in which file format?

  1. A. .dmg
  2. B. .ipa
  3. C. .apk
  4. D. .exe
Show answer

Answer: C. .apk

iPhone apps use .ipa files.

203.Windows installer packages commonly use which file extension?

  1. A. .apk
  2. B. .msi
  3. C. .deb
  4. D. .dmg
Show answer

Answer: B. .msi

.exe files can also be installers.

204.Ubuntu and Debian software packages use which file extension?

  1. A. .apk
  2. B. .rpm
  3. C. .dmg
  4. D. .deb
Show answer

Answer: D. .deb

Red Hat and Fedora use .rpm files.

205.Which key is pressed at start-up to enter BIOS setup on many PCs?

  1. A. Del or F2
  2. B. Ctrl+Z
  3. C. Esc only
  4. D. F12 only
Show answer

Answer: A. Del or F2

The key depends on the computer maker.

206.Starting a computer from a USB drive instead of the hard disk requires changing what?

  1. A. The keyboard layout
  2. B. The screen resolution
  3. C. The boot order
  4. D. The file system
Show answer

Answer: C. The boot order

The boot order is set in the BIOS or UEFI.

207.A security feature of UEFI that only allows trusted operating systems to start is called what?

  1. A. Secure Boot
  2. B. BitLocker
  3. C. Safe Mode
  4. D. Fast Startup
Show answer

Answer: A. Secure Boot

Windows 11 requires Secure Boot support.

208.The chip required by Windows 11 for security features is called what?

  1. A. TPM 2.0
  2. B. GPU 2.0
  3. C. BIOS 2.0
  4. D. USB 2.0
Show answer

Answer: A. TPM 2.0

TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module.

209.A computer with two operating systems installed, chosen at start-up, is called what?

  1. A. Thin client
  2. B. Dual boot
  3. C. Cloud computer
  4. D. Virtual machine
Show answer

Answer: B. Dual boot

For example, Windows and Linux on one PC.

210.Software that imitates another system so its programs can run is called what?

  1. A. Compiler
  2. B. Emulator
  3. C. Driver
  4. D. Kernel
Show answer

Answer: B. Emulator

Game emulators run old console games on PCs.

211.The ability of software to run on different operating systems is called what?

  1. A. Cross-platform compatibility
  2. B. Virtualisation
  3. C. Backward compatibility
  4. D. Multitasking
Show answer

Answer: A. Cross-platform compatibility

Chrome and Firefox are cross-platform.

212.The ability of new software to run older files or programs is called what?

  1. A. Portability
  2. B. Backward compatibility
  3. C. Forward compatibility
  4. D. Interoperability
Show answer

Answer: B. Backward compatibility

Newer Windows versions can still run many old programs.

213.The open-source operating system kernel used in Android, Chromebooks and servers is which?

  1. A. Windows NT
  2. B. MS-DOS
  3. C. XNU
  4. D. Linux
Show answer

Answer: D. Linux

XNU is the kernel used by macOS and iOS.

214.The kernel used by macOS and iOS is called what?

  1. A. Linux
  2. B. Minix
  3. C. XNU
  4. D. Windows NT
Show answer

Answer: C. XNU

It combines Mach and BSD parts.

215.The kernel used by modern Windows versions is based on which design?

  1. A. Unix BSD
  2. B. Linux
  3. C. Windows NT
  4. D. MS-DOS
Show answer

Answer: C. Windows NT

Windows XP and later are built on NT.

216.Which teaching operating system inspired Linus Torvalds?

  1. A. OS/2
  2. B. Unix V7
  3. C. Minix
  4. D. CP/M
Show answer

Answer: C. Minix

Minix was written by Andrew Tanenbaum.

217.CP/M was an early operating system for which kind of computers?

  1. A. Mainframes of the 1960s
  2. B. Early microcomputers of the late 1970s
  3. C. Smartphones of the 2000s
  4. D. Supercomputers of the 1990s
Show answer

Answer: B. Early microcomputers of the late 1970s

MS-DOS was partly modelled on CP/M.

218.IBM and Microsoft jointly developed which operating system in the late 1980s?

  1. A. Windows NT
  2. B. OS/2
  3. C. Xenix only
  4. D. MS-DOS 6
Show answer

Answer: B. OS/2

The partnership later broke up.

Test yourself

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