Question 1:
Which of the following is responsible for managing the hardware resources in an operating system?
A) Kernel
B) Compiler
C) Scheduler
D) File System
Answer: A) Kernel
Explanation: The kernel is the core component of an operating system that manages hardware resources, provides essential services, and serves as a bridge between software and hardware.
Question 2:
What is the purpose of the ‘scheduler’ in an operating system?
A) Memory Management
B) Process Synchronization
C) Resource Allocation
D) Input/Output Management
Answer: C) Resource Allocation
Explanation: The scheduler is responsible for allocating system resources to various tasks or processes efficiently, ensuring optimal utilization of CPU time and other resources.
Question 3:
Which file system is commonly used in Linux operating systems?
A) NTFS
B) FAT32
C) ext4
D) HFS+
Answer: C) ext4
Explanation: The ext4 (fourth extended filesystem) is a widely used file system in Linux operating systems, known for its performance, reliability, and features.
Question 4:
What is the primary purpose of virtual memory in an operating system?
A) Increase RAM capacity
B) Enhance CPU speed
C) Facilitate multitasking
D) Manage disk space
Answer: A) Increase RAM capacity
Explanation: Virtual memory allows the operating system to use a portion of the hard drive as an extension of RAM, providing additional memory space when the physical RAM is insufficient.
Question 5:
Which of the following is an example of a preemptive scheduling algorithm?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
C) Round Robin (RR)
D) Priority Scheduling
Answer: C) Round Robin (RR)
Explanation: Round Robin is a preemptive scheduling algorithm that assigns a fixed time unit per process, allowing each process to execute for a specified time before moving to the next.
Question 6:
What is the role of the ‘shell’ in an operating system?
A) Memory Management
B) User Interface
C) File System
D) Scheduler
Answer: B) User Interface
Explanation: The shell is the interface between the user and the operating system, providing a command-line or graphical interface for interacting with the system.
Question 7:
Which scheduling algorithm aims to minimize the waiting time of processes?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
C) Priority Scheduling
D) Round Robin (RR)
Answer: B) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Explanation: SJN scheduling selects the process with the smallest total remaining processing time, minimizing waiting time and improving system efficiency.
Question 8:
What is the purpose of the ‘page table’ in virtual memory management?
A) Manage CPU registers
B) Translate logical to physical addresses
C) Allocate disk space
D) Control input/output operations
Answer: B) Translate logical to physical addresses
Explanation: The page table is used in virtual memory systems to map logical addresses generated by the CPU to their corresponding physical addresses in RAM.
Question 9:
Which file system is commonly used in Microsoft Windows operating systems?
A) ext4
B) FAT32
C) HFS+
D) NTFS
Answer: D) NTFS
Explanation: NTFS (New Technology File System) is the default file system for modern Windows operating systems, providing features like file-level security and encryption.
Question 10:
What is the primary purpose of the ‘interrupt’ in an operating system?
A) Enhance CPU speed
B) Provide additional memory
C) Transfer control to a specific routine
D) Manage file operations
Answer: C) Transfer control to a specific routine
Explanation: Interrupts are signals that transfer control to a specific routine, often in response to hardware or software events, allowing the operating system to handle various tasks efficiently.
Question 11:
Which component of the operating system is responsible for managing files and directories?
A) Compiler
B) File System
C) Scheduler
D) Kernel
Answer: B) File System
Explanation: The file system is responsible for organizing and managing files and directories, providing a structure for storing and retrieving data.
Question 12:
What is the purpose of the ‘swap space’ in virtual memory management?
A) Store temporary files
B) Facilitate inter-process communication
C) Increase the size of RAM
D) Provide additional storage for the operating system
Answer: C) Increase the size of RAM
Explanation: Swap space is used to temporarily move data from RAM to disk, allowing the operating system to free up physical memory and effectively increase the available RAM.
Question 13:
Which process scheduling algorithm may lead to the “Starvation” problem?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Priority Scheduling
C) Round Robin (RR)
D) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Answer: B) Priority Scheduling
Explanation: Priority scheduling may result in the starvation problem, where processes with lower priority may not get a chance to execute for an extended period.
Question 14:
What is the purpose of the ‘device drivers’ in an operating system?
A) Manage system memory
B) Control input/output operations
C) Allocate CPU time
D) Provide user interfaces
Answer: B) Control input/output operations
Explanation: Device drivers facilitate communication between the operating system and hardware devices, allowing proper control and coordination of input and output operations.
Question 15:
Which of the following is a function of the ‘command interpreter’ in an operating system?
A) Manage system resources
B) Translate program instructions
C) Provide a user interface
D) Allocate disk space
Answer: C) Provide a user interface
Explanation: The command interpreter, often part of the shell, interprets user commands and provides a means for users to interact with the operating system.
Question 16:
Which memory management scheme allows programs to be executed even if they are not completely loaded into the main memory?
A) Paging
B) Segmentation
C) Contiguous Memory Allocation
D) Virtual Memory
Answer: D) Virtual Memory
Explanation: Virtual Memory allows programs to execute, even if they are not fully loaded into the main memory, by using disk space as an extension of RAM.
Question 17:
In a multi-programming environment, what is the purpose of the ‘dispatcher’ in the context of process scheduling?
A) Allocate memory to processes
B) Load programs into memory
C) Transfer control to the selected process
D) Manage input/output operations
Answer: C) Transfer control to the selected process
Explanation: The dispatcher transfers control from the scheduler to the selected process for execution in a multi-programming environment.
Question 18:
Which of the following is NOT a state in the process state diagram of a process in an operating system?
A) Ready
B) Waiting
C) Running
D) Completed
Answer: D) Completed
Explanation: The process state diagram typically includes states like Ready, Waiting, and Running, but “Completed” is not a standard state in this context.
Question 19:
What is the purpose of the ‘superblock’ in a file system?
A) Manage file permissions
B) Store file metadata
C) Allocate disk space
D) Control process execution
Answer: B) Store file metadata
Explanation: The superblock contains metadata about the file system, including information about the size and status of files and directories.
Question 20:
Which of the following is a benefit of using a multi-user operating system?
A) Improved system performance
B) Enhanced user interface
C) Increased security
D) Efficient resource utilization
Answer: D) Efficient resource utilization
Explanation: A multi-user operating system allows multiple users to run programs simultaneously, leading to more efficient utilization of system resources.
Question 21:
In the context of process synchronization, what is the purpose of a ‘mutex’?
A) Memory Management
B) File System Control
C) Resource Locking
D) Input/Output Handling
Answer: C) Resource Locking
Explanation: A mutex (short for mutual exclusion) is used in process synchronization to control access to shared resources, ensuring that only one process can access the resource at a time.
Question 22:
Which of the following is a characteristic of a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)?
A) High User Interaction
B) Predictable Response Time
C) General-Purpose Functionality
D) Support for Multi-User Environments
Answer: B) Predictable Response Time
Explanation: RTOS is designed to provide predictable and timely responses to events, making it suitable for applications with strict timing requirements, such as embedded systems.
Question 23:
What is the purpose of the ‘fork’ system call in Unix-like operating systems?
A) Create a new process
B) Terminate a process
C) Allocate memory
D) Manage file permissions
Answer: A) Create a new process
Explanation: The ‘fork’ system call in Unix-like operating systems is used to create a new process, often resulting in a parent and child process.
Question 24:
Which page replacement algorithm aims to minimize the number of page faults in a system?
A) Least Recently Used (LRU)
B) First-In-First-Out (FIFO)
C) Optimal Page Replacement
D) Clock Page Replacement
Answer: C) Optimal Page Replacement
Explanation: The Optimal Page Replacement algorithm selects the page that will not be used for the longest time in the future, aiming to minimize page faults.
Question 25:
What is the purpose of the ‘inode’ in a Unix-like file system?
A) Manage file permissions
B) Store file data
C) Identify file types
D) Maintain file metadata
Answer: D) Maintain file metadata
Explanation: The inode (index node) in a Unix-like file system stores metadata about a file, such as permissions, owner, size, and pointers to data blocks.
Question 26:
Which memory allocation method involves dividing memory into fixed-sized blocks, assigning one block per process?
A) Contiguous Memory Allocation
B) Paging
C) Segmentation
D) Virtual Memory
Answer: A) Contiguous Memory Allocation
Explanation: Contiguous memory allocation assigns each process a contiguous block of memory, making it easier to manage but potentially leading to fragmentation.
Question 27:
What is the purpose of the ‘RAID’ (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology in operating systems?
A) File Compression
B) Disk Partitioning
C) Disk Mirroring and Striping
D) Virtual Memory Management
Answer: C) Disk Mirroring and Striping
Explanation: RAID technology is used for disk mirroring and striping, providing redundancy and performance improvements in storage systems.
Question 28:
In the context of file systems, what is the purpose of a ‘journaling’ file system?
A) Efficient File Compression
B) Improved File Encryption
C) File Metadata Logging
D) Dynamic File Allocation
Answer: C) File Metadata Logging
Explanation: Journaling file systems log changes to file metadata, improving recovery after system crashes or power failures.
Question 29:
What is the role of the ‘process control block’ (PCB) in an operating system?
A) Manage Disk Space
B) Control Input/Output Operations
C) Store Process Metadata
D) Allocate CPU Time
Answer: C) Store Process Metadata
Explanation: The PCB stores essential information about a process, including its state, program counter, registers, and other context information.
Question 30:
Which scheduling algorithm uses a priority value associated with each process to determine the order of execution?
A) Round Robin (RR)
B) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
C) Priority Scheduling
D) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Answer: C) Priority Scheduling
Explanation: Priority scheduling assigns priority values to processes, and the process with the highest priority is scheduled first.
Question 31:
What is the primary purpose of the ‘Semaphore’ in operating systems?
A) Process Synchronization
B) File Compression
C) Memory Management
D) Virtual Memory Allocation
Answer: A) Process Synchronization
Explanation: Semaphores are synchronization tools used to control access to shared resources and avoid conflicts between processes.
Question 32:
Which file system is commonly used in macOS?
A) NTFS
B) HFS+
C) ext4
D) FAT32
Answer: B) HFS+
Explanation: HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus) is the file system used in macOS, known for its support of features like journaling and extended attributes.
Question 33:
In the context of input/output operations, what is the purpose of a ‘buffer’ in an operating system?
A) Manage Disk Space
B) Speed Up Data Transfer
C) Allocate Memory
D) Control CPU Operations
Answer: B) Speed Up Data Transfer
Explanation: Buffers are used to temporarily store data during input/output operations, helping to smooth out variations in data transfer rates.
Question 34:
What is the function of the ‘TLB’ (Translation Lookaside Buffer) in virtual memory management?
A) File Compression
B) Cache Memory Management
C) Efficient Translation of Virtual Addresses
D) Input/Output Control
Answer: C) Efficient Translation of Virtual Addresses
Explanation: The TLB is a cache that stores mappings between virtual and physical addresses, speeding up the translation process in virtual memory systems.
Question 35:
Which scheduling algorithm allows a process to be interrupted and resumed later?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Priority Scheduling
C) Round Robin (RR)
D) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Answer: C) Round Robin (RR)
Explanation: Round Robin scheduling allows each process to run for a fixed time slice before being interrupted and moved to the back of the queue.
Question 36:
What is the purpose of the ‘DMA’ (Direct Memory Access) controller in a computer system?
A) Manage Disk Space
B) Facilitate Process Synchronization
C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
D) Control CPU Execution
Answer: C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
Explanation: DMA allows data to be transferred between peripherals and memory without CPU intervention, enhancing input/output operations’ efficiency.
Question 37:
Which memory allocation method involves dividing memory into variable-sized partitions to accommodate processes?
A) Contiguous Memory Allocation
B) Paging
C) Segmentation
D) Virtual Memory
Answer: C) Segmentation
Explanation: Segmentation involves dividing memory into variable-sized segments to fit processes with different memory requirements.
Question 38:
What is the purpose of the ‘mutex’ in concurrent programming and operating systems?
A) Process Synchronization
B) File Compression
C) Memory Management
D) Input/Output Handling
Answer: A) Process Synchronization
Explanation: A mutex (mutual exclusion) is used to control access to shared resources in concurrent programming, preventing conflicts between processes.
Question 39:
In the context of file systems, what is the purpose of a ‘hard link’?
A) Efficient File Compression
B) Establishing Symbolic Connections
C) Creating Redundant Copies
D) Associating Multiple Filenames with the Same Inode
Answer: D) Associating Multiple Filenames with the Same Inode
Explanation: A hard link associates multiple filenames with the same inode, allowing multiple paths to reference the same file content.
Question 40:
Which RAID level provides both disk striping and mirroring for improved performance and fault tolerance?
A) RAID 0
B) RAID 1
C) RAID 5
D) RAID 10
Answer: D) RAID 10
Explanation: RAID 10 combines disk striping (RAID 0) and mirroring (RAID 1) for both performance and fault tolerance.
Question 41:
What is the primary purpose of the ‘inode’ in Unix-like file systems?
A) Manage file permissions
B) Store file data
C) Identify file types
D) Maintain file metadata
Answer: D) Maintain file metadata
Explanation: The inode (index node) in a Unix-like file system stores metadata about a file, such as permissions, owner, size, and pointers to data blocks.
Question 42:
Which of the following is NOT a state in the process state diagram of a process in an operating system?
A) Ready
B) Waiting
C) Running
D) Completed
Answer: D) Completed
Explanation: The process state diagram typically includes states like Ready, Waiting, and Running, but “Completed” is not a standard state in this context.
Question 43:
What is the purpose of the ‘page table’ in virtual memory management?
A) Manage CPU registers
B) Translate logical to physical addresses
C) Allocate disk space
D) Control input/output operations
Answer: B) Translate logical to physical addresses
Explanation: The page table is used in virtual memory systems to map logical addresses generated by the CPU to their corresponding physical addresses in RAM.
Question 44:
Which process scheduling algorithm may lead to the “Starvation” problem?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Priority Scheduling
C) Round Robin (RR)
D) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Answer: B) Priority Scheduling
Explanation: Priority scheduling may result in the starvation problem, where processes with lower priority may not get a chance to execute for an extended period.
Question 45:
In the context of file systems, what is the purpose of a ‘journaling’ file system?
A) Efficient File Compression
B) Improved File Encryption
C) File Metadata Logging
D) Dynamic File Allocation
Answer: C) File Metadata Logging
Explanation: Journaling file systems log changes to file metadata, improving recovery after system crashes or power failures.
Question 46:
Which scheduling algorithm aims to minimize the waiting time of processes?
A) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
B) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
C) Priority Scheduling
D) Round Robin (RR)
Answer: B) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Explanation: SJN scheduling selects the process with the smallest total remaining processing time, minimizing waiting time and improving system efficiency.
Question 47:
What is the primary purpose of the ‘swap space’ in virtual memory management?
A) Increase RAM capacity
B) Enhance CPU speed
C) Facilitate multitasking
D) Manage disk space
Answer: A) Increase RAM capacity
Explanation: Virtual memory allows the operating system to use a portion of the hard drive as an extension of RAM, providing additional memory space when the physical RAM is insufficient.
Question 48:
In the context of process synchronization, what is the purpose of a ‘semaphore’?
A) Memory Management
B) File System Control
C) Resource Locking
D) Input/Output Handling
Answer: C) Resource Locking
Explanation: Semaphores are synchronization tools used to control access to shared resources and avoid conflicts between processes.
Question 49:
Which of the following is a function of the ‘command interpreter’ in an operating system?
A) Manage system resources
B) Translate program instructions
C) Provide a user interface
D) Allocate disk space
Answer: C) Provide a user interface
Explanation: The command interpreter, often part of the shell, interprets user commands and provides a means for users to interact with the operating system.
Question 50:
What is the purpose of the ‘DMA’ (Direct Memory Access) controller in a computer system?
A) Manage Disk Space
B) Facilitate Process Synchronization
C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
D) Control CPU Execution
Answer: C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
Explanation: DMA allows data to be transferred between peripherals and memory without CPU intervention, enhancing input/output operations’ efficiency.
Question 51:
What is the role of the ‘shell’ in an operating system?
A) Memory Management
B) User Interface
C) File System
D) Scheduler
Answer: B) User Interface
Explanation: The shell is the interface between the user and the operating system, providing a command-line or graphical interface for interacting with the system.
Question 52:
In the context of file systems, what is the purpose of a ‘hard link’?
A) Efficient File Compression
B) Establishing Symbolic Connections
C) Creating Redundant Copies
D) Associating Multiple Filenames with the Same Inode
Answer: D) Associating Multiple Filenames with the Same Inode
Explanation: A hard link associates multiple filenames with the same inode, allowing multiple paths to reference the same file content.
Question 53:
What is the purpose of the ‘RAID’ (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology in operating systems?
A) File Compression
B) Disk Partitioning
C) Disk Mirroring and Striping
D) Virtual Memory Management
Answer: C) Disk Mirroring and Striping
Explanation: RAID technology is used for disk mirroring and striping, providing redundancy and performance improvements in storage systems.
Question 54:
Which memory allocation method involves dividing memory into fixed-sized blocks, assigning one block per process?
A) Contiguous Memory Allocation
B) Paging
C) Segmentation
D) Virtual Memory
Answer: A) Contiguous Memory Allocation
Explanation: Contiguous memory allocation assigns each process a contiguous block of memory, making it easier to manage but potentially leading to fragmentation.
Question 55:
What is the purpose of the ‘inode’ in a Unix-like file system?
A) Manage file permissions
B) Store file data
C) Identify file types
D) Maintain file metadata
Answer: D) Maintain file metadata
Explanation: The inode (index node) in a Unix-like file system stores metadata about a file, such as permissions, owner, size, and pointers to data blocks.
Question 56:
What is the primary function of the ‘DMA’ (Direct Memory Access) controller in a computer system?
A) File Compression
B) Memory Management
C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
D) Control CPU Execution
Answer: C) Speed Up Input/Output Operations
Explanation: DMA allows data to be transferred between peripherals and memory without CPU intervention, enhancing input/output operations’ efficiency.
Question 57:
Which memory management scheme allows programs to be executed even if they are not completely loaded into the main memory?
A) Paging
B) Segmentation
C) Contiguous Memory Allocation
D) Virtual Memory
Answer: D) Virtual Memory
Explanation: Virtual Memory allows programs to execute, even if they are not fully loaded into the main memory, by using disk space as an extension of RAM.
Question 58:
What is the primary purpose of the ‘Dispatcher’ in an operating system?
A) Load programs into memory
B) Allocate memory to processes
C) Transfer control to the selected process
D) Manage input/output operations
Answer: C) Transfer control to the selected process
Explanation: The dispatcher transfers control from the scheduler to the selected process for execution in a multi-programming environment.
Question 59:
Which file system is commonly used in Linux operating systems?
A) NTFS
B) FAT32
C) ext4
D) HFS+
Answer: C) ext4
Explanation: The ext4 (fourth extended filesystem) is a widely used file system in Linux operating systems, known for its performance, reliability, and features.
Question 60:
In the context of process synchronization, what is the purpose of a ‘Semaphore’?
A) Memory Management
B) File System Control
C) Resource Locking
D) Input/Output Handling
Answer: C) Resource Locking
Explanation: Semaphores are synchronization tools used to control access to shared resources and avoid conflicts between processes.
Question 61:
What is the purpose of the ‘superblock’ in a file system?
A) Manage file permissions
B) Store file metadata
C) Allocate disk space
D) Control process execution
Answer: B) Store file metadata
Explanation: The superblock contains metadata about the file system, including information about the size and status of files and directories.
Question 62:
In the context of RAID configurations, what does RAID 5 provide that RAID 0 does not?
A) Disk Striping
B) Disk Mirroring
C) Fault Tolerance
D) Increased Performance
Answer: C) Fault Tolerance
Explanation: RAID 5 provides fault tolerance by distributing parity information across multiple disks, allowing for data recovery in case of a disk failure.
Question 63:
What is the purpose of the ‘fork’ system call in Unix-like operating systems?
A) Create a new process
B) Terminate a process
C) Allocate memory
D) Manage file permissions
Answer: A) Create a new process
Explanation: The ‘fork’ system call in Unix-like operating systems is used to create a new process, often resulting in a parent and child process.
Question 64:
Which of the following scheduling algorithms may lead to the ‘Convoy Effect’?
A) Round Robin (RR)
B) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
C) Priority Scheduling
D) Shortest Job Next (SJN)
Answer: B) First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS)
Explanation: The Convoy Effect occurs in FCFS scheduling when short processes get stuck behind long processes, leading to inefficient CPU utilization.
Question 65:
What role does the ‘TLB’ (Translation Lookaside Buffer) play in virtual memory management?
A) Cache Memory Management
B) Efficient Translation of Virtual Addresses
C) Disk Space Allocation
D) Input/Output Control
Answer: B) Efficient Translation of Virtual Addresses
Explanation: The TLB is a cache that stores mappings between virtual and physical addresses, speeding up the translation process in virtual memory systems.