Operating System Quiz – Test Your Knowledge!

Think you know your way around operating systems? Test your knowledge with these 20 questions! Answers and explanations are provided at the end.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following is NOT an operating system?
a) Windows
b) Linux
c) Oracle ✅
d) macOS
Explanation: Oracle is a database management system, not an OS.

2. What is the main function of an operating system?
a) Compiling code
b) Managing hardware and software resources ✅
c) Running web applications
d) Designing websites
Explanation: The OS manages system resources, including memory, CPU, and hardware, to ensure efficient operation.

3. Which of the following is an example of an open-source operating system?
a) Windows 10
b) macOS
c) Linux ✅
d) iOS
Explanation: Linux is open-source, meaning its source code is freely available for modification.

4. Which OS is based on UNIX?
a) Windows
b) Android
c) macOS ✅
d) MS-DOS
Explanation: macOS is built on a UNIX-based system, known as Darwin.

5. What does GUI stand for?
a) Graphical User Interface ✅
b) General User Interaction
c) Graphic Uniform Interface
d) Global User Interface
Explanation: GUI allows users to interact with a system using graphical elements like windows, icons, and buttons.

True or False Questions

6. Linux is a type of proprietary operating system.
❌ False – Linux is open-source and freely available.

7. Multitasking allows multiple users to access a system at the same time.
❌ False – Multitasking allows multiple processes to run simultaneously, but multi-user systems enable multiple users.

8. The kernel is the core component of an operating system.
✅ True – The kernel manages system resources and enables communication between hardware and software.

9. In a batch processing system, programs are executed one at a time interactively.
❌ False – In batch processing, multiple jobs are executed without user interaction.

10. Android is based on the Windows operating system.
❌ False – Android is based on the Linux kernel.

Fill in the Blanks

11. The process of loading the operating system into memory is called booting.

12. Memory management is the part of the OS that manages memory allocation.

13. The command-line interface in Windows is called Command Prompt (CMD).

14. The most popular Linux shell is Bash (Bourne Again Shell).

15. The file management system in Windows uses NTFS format for modern file storage.

Short Answer Questions

16. What is a real-time operating system (RTOS)?
Answer: An RTOS is designed to process data and execute tasks within a strict time limit, making it ideal for critical systems like medical devices and industrial machines.

17. Name two types of operating systems used in mobile devices.
Answer: Android and IOS.

18. What is the purpose of virtual memory in an OS?
Answer: Virtual memory extends physical RAM by using disk space, allowing a system to run larger applications or multiple programs simultaneously.

19. How does an OS handle deadlocks?
Answer: Deadlocks are handled using methods like deadlock prevention (avoiding conditions that cause deadlocks), deadlock detection (identifying and resolving them), and deadlock recovery (terminating processes).

20. What is the difference between a monolithic kernel and a microkernel?
Answer: A monolithic kernel manages all system functions within one large block of code, while a microkernel keeps only essential functions in the kernel and moves others to user space, improving modularity and security.