Preview

03 - Operating Systems

1. Robot Operating System (ROS) is robotics middleware (i.e. collection of software frameworks for robot software development)

True

False

2. What is an operating system?

It is a piece of software that controls the general operation of a computer and provides an easy way for us to interact with computers

It is a piece of hardware that allows us to interact and interface with the computer

It is a piece of operational hardware that controls only the CPU and the internal registers

It is a piece of hardware and software (combined) that controls the operating of the entire computer system

3. Which two of the following options are valid operating systems

Linux & Windows

Google Chrome & Windows

Linux & Google Chrome

iOS & Yahoo

4. The operating system provides a helpful ______________ which aids the user in their interactions with the hardware (by hiding the computer's internal complexity)

interface

processor

security

utility

5. What does GUI stand for?

Graphical Utility Interchange

Graphical User Interface

Graphical User Interactions

Graphical Utility Icons

6. The operating system on most computers and smartphones provide an interface that has icons, titles and menus. This type of interface is the GUI.

False

True

7. Which of the following is an advantage of a CLI (Command Line Interface)?

The commands have to be remembered by the programmer

There is no advantage - it is a poor interface in comparison to all the others

It has text that is easy to read

can be much faster and more flexible than any other type of interface

8. The OS makes it possible to run several programs at once. Several programs can be stored in RAM at the same time, however only one program at a time is processed by the CPU.

False

True

9. Read the following excerpt and decide whether it is true or false. Look up "mainframes" and early computers.

The earliest computers were mainframes that lacked any
form of operating system. Each user had sole use of the
machine for a scheduled period of time and would arrive
at the computer with program and data, often on punched 
paper cards and magnetic or paper tape.

The program would be loaded into the machine, and the 
machine would be set to work until the program completed 
or crashed. Programs could generally be debugged via a 
control panel using dials, toggle switches and panel lights.

False

True

10. A program can be in only one of three possible states at a time. What are these three states?

Running, Waiting & Runnable

Breaking, Refreshing & Analysing

Running, Refreshing & Waiting

Jogging, Waiting & Runnable

11. Read the following historical excerpt and decide whether it is true or false. (source: Wikipedia)

The first operating system
===========================

The GM-NAA I/O input/output system of General Motors and North 
American Aviation is considered to be the first operating 
system for the IBM 704 computer.

It was created in 1956 by Robert L. Patrick of General Motors 
Research and Owen Mock of North American Aviation

False

True

12. Fill in the blanks…

The operating system uses _____ to set aside memory for the temporary storage of data

Stuttering

Swapping

Freezing

Buffering

13. Which of the following is a feature of a device driver?

Handles the translation of requests between a device and the computer

Manages which program runs in the RAM

Gives the illusion that multiple programs are running simultaneously

Increments the program counter by 1

14. Fill in the blanks…

The operating system organises where and how ____ are 
stored, deleted, read, found and ______.

files, created

folders, created

files, repaired

folders, shared

15. Files can become corrupt if a computer is turned off before a program is copied to a new location.

FALSE

TRUE

16. Which of the following in the list are functions of a typical operating system?

1. interface - provides a user interface so it is easy to interact
with the computer. It also manages the CPU - runs applications 
and executes and cancels processes

2. multi-tasks - allows multiple applications to run at the same time

3. manages memory - transfers programs into and out of memory, 
allocates free space between programs, and keeps track of memory 
usage, manages peripherals

4. opens, closes and writes to peripheral devices such as storage
attached to the computer organises

5. creates a file system to organise files and directories

6. security - provides security through user accounts and passwords

7. utilities - provides tools for managing and organising hardware

None of the items in the list are functions of operating systems

All of the items in the list are functions of operating systems

1,2,3 and 4 only.

1,2,3,5 and 7 only

17. The interface that an operating system provides is either :

apple or windows based

graphical or text based

text based or windows based

graphical or mouse based

18. The OS uses programs called ________________ to manage and control connections with peripherals (like printers)

memory bits

device drivers

RAM buffers

device patches

19. Which of the following statements are true?

Each peripheral is programmed with its own machine code

Protocols are arranged in 100s of layers in order for an operating system to function

Device drivers are used to connect the computer to the internet

Buffering reduces the amount of ROM you have

20. What does the operating system decide?

How main memory is used

What happens when there is not enough main memory to get the job done

All of the above are descriptions of what the operating system is responsible for deciding.

How memory is shared between processes

21. The job of working out when to move on (swap) to carry out another process is known as what?

Hint: Time slices are allocated in _____________.

Disk defragmentation

Scheduling

Thrashing

Translating

22. The Operating System uses ________________to set aside memory for the temporary storage of data

*buffers are also used when you stream online content

Processing

Buffering

Thrashing

Threshing

23. The operating system deals with "File Management" and how data is organised into files. This makes it easier for ________

Operating on particular types of files

the user to see files using programs like the Windows File Explorer or Mac OS X Finder.

Buffering

multitasking

24. The OS uses applications called _______________ software to allow the user to control and manage the computer (often acessed via control panel or special menu)

office documents

processors

utlities

drivers

25. There are "maintenance" utilities and "security" utilities - what is Disk defragmentation software?

A type of security utility that protects all files from hackers

A type of maintenance utility that helps files to be copied over into RAM

A type of maintenance utility - which helps rearranging information on a disk to improve file access times

A type of security utility - which helps rearranging information on a disk to improve file access times

26. Examples of "security" utility software includes: useraccounts, encryption programs, firewalls and anti-virus software

FALSE

TRUE

27. Mobile phones do not have operating systems

False

True

28. To summarise, what four things could be said to be the 'purpose' of operating systems?

1. to control the hardware of the system 

2. to manage the running of the monitor 

3. to manage software (and how it is loaded into main memory) 

4. to provide security (user and password control) 

5. to provide word processing and spreadsheet facilities to the user 

6. to provide a user interface (to allow interaction with a computer, 
hiding the complexity of the hardware from the user)

1,2,3,6

1,3,5

1,3,4,6

1,2,3,4

29. The kernel is a key component of any operating system. Read the following excerpt and decide whether it is true:

The kernel is a computer program that is the core of a computer's 
operating system, with complete control over everything in the system. 
On most systems, it is one of the first programs loaded on start-up 
(after the bootloader). It handles the rest of start-up as well as 
input/output requests from software, translating them into data-processing 
instructions for the central processing unit. It handles memory and 
peripherals like keyboards, monitors, printers, and speakers.

False

True

30. An operating system (or 'OS') controls the general operation of a computer, and provides an easy way for us to ______________

Note: When the OS runs a piece of software it has to find the program
files on the storage drive, load them into main memory, and instruct
the CPU to start executing the program from the beginning

interact directly with the CPU and write machine code

interact with computers and run applications.

interact with other people on the internet and on social media

write in binary to control the CPU and fully understand the operations inside

31. Many games consoles have their own unique operating systems

TRUE

FALSE

32. Functions of an operating system include: I,M,M,M,M,O,S,U where I is interface, O is organises, S is security and U is utilities. What are the four Ms?

Manages the ROM, Manages the arithmetic logic unit, manages the coding, Multi-tasks

All of the above are valid options

Manages the CPU, Manages Memory, Manages Peripherals and Multi-tasks

Manages the human, Manages the monitor, Manages the mouse and Multi-misks

33. An OS interface can be either:

multi-task or single-task based

graphical or text-based

ceramic or CPU based

glass or silicon based

34. Advantages of using a CLI (Command line interface) include:

a faster way to get tasks done

All of the above are valid options

uses less memory

more flexibility than a GUI

35. Some games, such as Minecraft, also make use of a command line tool which allows the user to bypass the main interface and alter the game's mechanics or environment.

False

True

36. A real-time OS could be installed in special purpose embedded systems like robots, cars, and modems

True

False

37. Single-user and single-task OS: These are typically installed on single-user devices like _______.

robotic arms

main frame servers

networked machines

phones

38. Single-user and multitask OS: These are usually installed and found on contemporary personal computers

True

False

39. Multi-user OS: These tend to be installed in network environments where _____________ Server OS's are examples of multi-user operating systems.

a single user has to share resources with the world

many users have to share resources.

multiple comptuers use a single server

none of these options are valid

40. A network OS is typically used to share resources such as files and printers in a network setup or environment

True

False

Report an error