#1 Operating System Test - 69+ MCQs: Operating System Quiz: Test Your Knowledge with Operating System Questions and Answers

1. What is a race condition in multi-threaded programming, and how can it be avoided?

A race condition is a competition between multiple threads to access shared resources, leading to unpredictable and undesirable behavior. It can be avoided using mutexes (mutual exclusion) or synchronization primitives.

A race condition is a type of marathon race organized for programmers. It can be avoided by training harder.

A race condition is a situation where one thread is faster than others, and it cannot be avoided.

A race condition is a condition that occurs only in single-threaded programs.

2. Which operating system was developed by Microsoft as a successor to MS-DOS?

Windows 3.1

Windows 95

Windows XP

Windows 10

3. What is the purpose of virtual memory in an operating system?

To store virtual reality content

To provide a virtual workspace for users

To create virtual machines

To expand the available physical memory by using a portion of the hard disk

4. In the context of file permissions, what does 'Read' permission allow a user to do?

Modify the file

View the contents of the file

Delete the file

Rename the file

5. Which of the following is not an example of a multi-user operating system?

Windows 10

Linux

macOS

Unix

6. What is 'file fragmentation' in the context of file systems?

A method of encrypting files

The process of breaking a file into smaller fragments

The process of defragmenting a hard drive

The scattered distribution of file data on a storage medium

7. Which operating system is known for its use in Apple's line of personal computers?

Windows

Linux

iOS

macOS

8. Which operating system is designed primarily for use on servers and is known for its stability?

Windows

macOS

Linux

iOS

9. What is the primary function of a file system in an operating system?

To manage computer memory

To manage network connections

To organize and store data on storage devices

To control the computer's power supply

10. Which type of software manages the allocation of system resources in an operating system?

Application software

Device drivers

System software

Firmware

11. What is the difference between a process and a thread in an operating system?

A process is a standalone program with its own memory space, while a thread is a smaller unit of a process that shares the same memory space as other threads in the same process.

A process and a thread are the same thing; the terms are used interchangeably.

A process is a collection of threads, and a thread is a collection of processes.

A process and a thread both refer to the same concept in an operating system.

12. Which operating system is known for its use on Apple's iPhones and iPads?

Windows

macOS

Linux

iOS

13. What is the main function of a device driver in an operating system?

To manage computer memory

To manage network connections

To facilitate communication between the operating system and hardware devices

To organize files and folders

14. In the context of operating systems, what does 'GUI' stand for?

Graphical User Interface

Global User Integration

General Utility Interface

Graphical User Integration

15. Which file system is commonly used in Windows operating systems?

NTFS

HFS+

EXT4

FAT32

16. Which operating system is often used in scientific and supercomputing applications?

Windows

Linux

macOS

Android

17. What is 'file permissions' in the context of file systems and operating systems?

A list of files in a directory

A set of rules that determine who can access or modify a file

A file's location on a storage medium

A method of compressing files

18. What is a page fault in virtual memory management, and how is it handled?

A page fault occurs when a page of data is not found in physical memory and needs to be loaded from secondary storage. It is handled by the operating system's memory management unit, which fetches the required page from secondary storage and updates the page table.

A page fault is a type of memory error that cannot be handled.

A page fault is a situation where a program crashes.

A page fault is a situation where virtual memory is disabled.

19. What is the role of a 'bootloader' in the startup process of a computer?

To load the operating system into memory

To create a backup of user data

To manage network connections

To play startup sounds

20. What is the purpose of an 'interrupt' in the context of operating systems?

To stop the computer from functioning

To request the operating system's attention for a specific task

To initiate a computer shutdown

To send a signal to external devices

21. What is 'paging' in memory management of an operating system?

Turning pages of a book

A technique to divide physical memory into fixed-size blocks

A way to organize files in a file system

Printing documents

22. What is the purpose of the 'scheduler' in an operating system?

To schedule appointments for users

To manage the schedule of software updates

To manage the execution of processes and allocate CPU time

To schedule disk defragmentation tasks

23. What does 'BIOS' stand for in the context of computer systems?

Basic Input/Output System

Binary Input/Output System

Biometric Identification Operating System

Backup and Information Organization System

24. What is multitasking in the context of operating systems?

Running multiple applications simultaneously

Using multiple monitors

Typing on a keyboard and using a mouse at the same time

Running a single application at a time

25. What is 'spooling' in the context of operating systems?

A technique for printing multiple copies of a document

A method of storing data in a spreadsheet

A way to organize files in a directory

A process of buffering data to be processed by a device or program

26. What is 'virtual memory' in an operating system?

A memory card used in virtual reality gaming

A feature that allows multiple operating systems to run simultaneously

A technique that uses disk space to simulate additional RAM

A type of memory used in graphics processing units (GPUs)

27. Which operating system is open-source and often used in servers and embedded systems?

Windows

macOS

Linux

Android

28. What is a context switch in an OS, and why is it necessary?

It is the process of switching between different user accounts.

It is the process of switching between different applications.

It is the process of saving and restoring the state of a CPU to allow multiple processes to share the same CPU.

It is the process of switching between different operating systems.

29. Which operating system is open-source and widely used in server environments?

macOS

Windows

Linux

iOS

30. What is virtual memory, and why is it used in modern operating systems?

Virtual memory is a type of memory used in virtual machines.

Virtual memory is a marketing term for high-capacity RAM.

Virtual memory is a technique that uses disk space to simulate additional RAM, allowing larger programs and more processes to run.

Virtual memory is a type of memory used exclusively by graphics cards.

31. What is the purpose of a file system in an operating system?

To store and organize data files

To control the computer's power supply

To manage the CPU's clock speed

To connect to the internet

32. What does CPU stand for in the context of operating systems?

Central Processing Unit

Computer Programming Unit

Central Power Unit

Computer Performance Unit

33. In the context of operating systems, what does 'CLI' stand for?

Common Language Interface

Command Line Interface

Control Language Interpreter

Computer Language Interface

34. Which component of the operating system is responsible for managing memory?

Kernel

Compiler

Scheduler

File system

35.

36. What is the purpose of an operating system's kernel?

To provide a graphical user interface

To manage memory and hardware resources

To create software applications

To design user interfaces

37. Which operating system is commonly used on Apple Macintosh computers?

Windows

Linux

iOS

macOS

38. What is the primary function of an operating system's 'shell'?

To provide protection against malware

To manage network connections

To provide a user interface for running commands and programs

To control the computer's power supply

39. Which operating system is known for its use in Google's mobile devices like smartphones and tablets?

Windows

Linux

iOS

Android

40. Which operating system is known for its penguin mascot?

Windows

macOS

Linux

Android

Operating System MCQ Test 2