MCQs on Computer Operating System
Q1 Which of the following is an example of a real-time operating system?
a) Windows
b) Linux
c) macOS
d) RTLinux
Answer: d) RTLinux
Q2 What does the acronym GUI stand for?
a) Graphical Unifying Interface
b) General User Interface
c) Graphical User Interface
d) General Unified Interface
Answer: c) Graphical User Interface
Q3 Which of the following is not an operating system?
a) Unix
b) Oracle
c) Linux
d) Windows
Answer: b) Oracle
Q4 What is the primary function of the operating system?
a) Provides an interface for users to interact with the computer
b) Manages the computer’s hardware resources
c) Run applications
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Q5 What is the kernel of an operating system?
a) It’s the interface between the user and the hardware
b) It’s the part of the operating system that interacts directly with the hardware
c) It’s a type of operating system
d) It’s the outer layer of the operating system
Answer: b) It’s the part of the operating system that interacts directly with the hardware
Q6 What is the main function of the device drivers?
a) Connect to the internet
b) Act as translator between hardware devices and the applications or operating systems that use them
c) To provide a GUI
d) To save files
Answer: b) Act as translator between hardware devices and the applications or operating systems that use them
Q7 Which of the following is not a type of operating system?
a) Single-user
b) Multi-tasking
c) Multi-operating
d) Batch operating system
Answer: c) Multi-operating
Q8 What is the purpose of a swap space in an operating system?
a) To hold an active program
b) To hold a program that is running right now
c) To provide space for the temporary storage of data that can’t fit into physical RAM
d) To save files when the computer is turned off
Answer: c) To provide space for the temporary storage of data that can’t fit into physical RAM
Q9 What is an example of a mobile operating system?
a) Android
b) macOS
c) Linux
d) Windows Server
Answer: a) Android
Q10 What does the acronym BIOS stand for in the context of operating systems?
a) Basic Input Output System
b) Binary Input Output System
c) Base Input Output System
d) Binary Input Only System
Answer: a) Basic Input Output System
Q11 What is the function of an operating system’s shell?
a) It acts as an interface between the user and the kernel
b) It handles the memory management
c) It controls the hardware devices
d) It provides the GUI
Answer: a) It acts as an interface between the user and the kernel
Q12 Which one of the following is a disk management task handled by operating systems?
a) Disk formatting
b) Process scheduling
c) File editing
d) None of the above
Answer: a) Disk formatting
Q13 What does the Windows Registry in the Windows operating system do?
a) Stores configuration settings and options
b) Handles the boot sequence
c) Manages the file system
d) Provides a user interface
Answer: a) Stores configuration settings and options
Q14 In Linux, what is a ‘daemon’?
a) A type of virus
b) A type of software program
c) A background service
d) A graphical user interface
Answer: c) A background service
Q15 What is the purpose of a firewall in an operating system?
a) To control incoming and outgoing network traffic
b) To manage memory
c) To manage file storage
d) To provide a user interface
Answer: a) To control incoming and outgoing network traffic
Q16 In the context of operating systems, what is a ‘process’?
a) A command issued by the user
b) A program in execution
c) The part of the operating system that interacts with the hardware
d) The time it takes for an operation to complete
Answer: b) A program in execution
Q17 What is a ‘deadlock’ in an operating system?
a) A situation where a system is unable to perform any operation
b) A situation where a process is unable to proceed because the resources it needs are being held by other processes
c) A failure in the system
d) A type of error in a program
Answer: b) A situation where a process is unable to proceed because the resources it needs are being held by other processes
Q18 What is the primary role of a ‘scheduler’ in an operating system?
a) It allocates CPU time to processes
b) It handles memory management
c) It controls access to the hardware
d) It handles file storage
Answer: a) It allocates CPU time to processes
Q19 What does the acronym ‘API’ stand for, and what is its role in operating systems?
a) Application Programming Interface; it allows applications to interact with the operating system
b) Advanced Process Integration; it handles the execution of programs
c) Application Process Integration; it manages the memory used by applications
d) Advanced Programming Interface; it provides a user interface for applications
Answer: a) Application Programming Interface; it allows applications to interact with the operating system
Q20 Which of these operating systems is open source?
a) macOS
b) Windows
c) Linux
d) iO
Answer: c) Linu