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

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

NTFS

HFS+

EXT4

FAT32

2. 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.

3. What is a system call in an operating system, and why is it important?

A system call is a way for a program to request services from the operating system, such as file operations, process management, and device I/O. It is important because it provides a controlled and secure interface for user programs to interact with the operating system kernel.

A system call is a call to technical support for help with the operating system.

A system call is a call made by the operating system to users for assistance.

A system call is a way for the operating system to request services from user programs.

4. What is the main purpose of the 'Task Manager' in Windows?

To play games

To browse the internet

To manage running processes and applications

To create documents

5. Which component of an operating system's user interface allows users to interact with files and folders?

Task Manager

Control Panel

File Explorer (or File Manager)

Start Menu

6. What is 'RAID' in the context of storage management in operating systems?

A type of computer virus

A technique for data backup

A system for controlling external devices

A method of combining multiple disks to improve performance and redundancy

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

Windows 10

Linux

macOS

Unix

8. What is the primary function of the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) in a computer?

To manage computer memory

To manage network connections

To control the computer's power supply

To facilitate the initial startup of the computer

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

Running applications

Managing hardware resources

Displaying graphical user interfaces

Sending emails

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

Windows

Linux

iOS

macOS

11. What is the purpose of the 'registry' in the Windows operating system?

To store user passwords

To maintain a record of all file changes

To store system configuration settings

To store software installation files

12. What is 'context switching' in the context of operating systems?

Switching between different keyboard layouts

Switching between user accounts

Switching between different operating systems

Switching between processes or tasks in the CPU

13. 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.

14. What is 'system call' in the context of operating systems?

A call for technical support

A request for a system upgrade

An interface for applications to request services from the operating system

A call made to report system errors

15. Which operating system is known for its use in servers and mainframes?

Windows

Linux

macOS

IBM z/OS

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

To schedule software updates

To manage appointments and calendars

To allocate CPU time to different tasks

To control screen brightness

17. 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.

18. What is the role of an operating system in a computer?

To manage hardware resources

To create documents and spreadsheets

To browse the internet

To play video games

19. 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

20. 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

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

Application software

Device drivers

System software

Firmware

22. What does RAM stand for in the context of computer memory?

Random Access Memory

Read-Only Memory

Remote Access Memory

Revolving Access Memory

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

macOS

Windows

Linux

iOS

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

Common Language Interface

Command Line Interface

Control Language Interpreter

Computer Language Interface

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. What is a 'shell' in the context of operating systems?

A protective case for computer hardware

A user interface for interacting with the operating system

A type of file format

A type of hardware device

29. 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)

30. Which operating system is known for its use in scientific and research computing due to its scalability and performance?

Windows

Linux

macOS

iOS

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

Windows

macOS

Linux

Android

32. What is a deadlock in an operating system, and how can it be resolved?

A deadlock is a situation where two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for the other to release a resource. It can be resolved using techniques like deadlock detection and recovery or preventing the conditions that lead to deadlocks.

A deadlock is a lock that cannot be opened. It can be resolved by breaking the lock.

A deadlock is a situation where a system is completely frozen and cannot be resolved.

A deadlock is a type of error that cannot be resolved.

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

Windows

Linux

iOS

macOS

34. 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

35. Which operating system is known for its use in gaming consoles like the PlayStation?

Windows

Linux

iOS

PlayStation OS

36. Which operating system is commonly used on smartphones and tablets?

Windows

macOS

Linux

Android

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

Windows

macOS

Linux

iOS

38. What is a 'kernel' in the context of operating systems?

The outermost layer of an OS

A type of computer virus

The central component that manages hardware and provides services to software

A user interface element

39. What is a 'process' in the context of operating systems?

A program in execution

A type of computer virus

A peripheral device

A system configuration file

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

Windows 3.1

Windows 95

Windows XP

Windows 10

Operating System MCQ Test 2