Chapter 1

1 - The invention of the

microprocessor was the hardware revolution that brought about desktop and handheld computing.

2 - To satisfy the requirements of handheld devices, the classic microprocessor is giving way to the
system on a chip (SoC), where not just the CPUs and caches are on the same chip, but also many of the other components
of the system, such as DSPs, GPUs, I/O devices, and main memory.

3 - The processing required for a single instruction is called a(n) instruction cycle.

4 - The fetched instruction is loaded into the instruction register.

5 - When an external device is ready to accept more data from the processor, the I/O module for that external device sends
an interrupt signal to the processor.

6 - The
cache memory is a device for staging the movement of data between main memory and processor registers to improve
performance and is not usually visible to the programmer or processor.

7 - External, nonvolatile memory is also referred to as secondary memory or auxiliary memory.

8 - When a new block of data is read into the cache, the

cache mapping function determines which cache location the block will occupy.

9 - In a symmetric multiprocessor, all processors can perform the same functions, so the failure of a single processor does
not halt the machine.

10 - A Multicore computer combines two or more processors on a single piece of silicon.

11 - A Control/Status register that contains the address of the next instruction to be fetched is
called the
program counter.

12 - Each location in Main Memory contains a binary value that can be interpreted as either
an instruction or data.

13 - A special type of address register required by a system that implements user visible stack
addressing is called a
Stack Pointer.

14 -Registers that are used by system programs to minimize main memory references by optimizing register use are called
general-purpose registers.

15 - The concept of multiple programs taking turns in execution is known as multiprogramming.

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 1 - "The __________ contains the data to be written into memory and receives the data read from memory."
Correct answer: (D) memory buffer register (MBR)

2 - "Instruction processing consists of two steps:"

Correct answer: (A) fetch and execute

3 - "The ___________ routine determines the nature of the interrupt and performs whatever actions are needed."

Correct answer: (A) interrupt handler

4 - "__________ is more efficient than interrupt-driven or programmed I/O for a multiple-word I/O transfer."
Correct answer: (B) Direct memory access (DMA)

Extra MCQ
1. What is the main function of an operating system?
a) Controlling the execution of application programs

b) Developing new programs

c) Managing hardware resources

d) Providing error detection and response

Answer: a

2. Which of the following is not an operating system service?

a) Program development

b) System access
c) Network security

d) Error detection and response

Answer: c

3. How does the operating system function as a resource manager?

a) By executing all programs simultaneously

b) By controlling the use of a computer's resources

c) By limiting access to I/O devices

d) By providing unlimited memory to all programs

Answer: b

4. What are the key interfaces of an operating system?

a) Input and output interfaces

b) User interfaces

c) Instruction set architecture, application binary interface, application programming interface

d) Hardware and software interfaces

Answer: c

5. What is the purpose of an application binary interface (ABI)?

a) To provide a way for applications to interact with hardware

b) To define the interface between the operating system and applications

c) To standardize the interface between the operating system and hardware

d) To allow applications to communicate with each other

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 Answer: a

6. In the evolution of operating systems, what was the main issue with serial processing?

a) Lack of memory

b) Lack of input devices

c) Scheduling problems
d) Slow processor speed

Answer: c

7. What is the main difference between simple batch systems and serial processing?

a) Simple batch systems allow for direct interaction with the processor

b) Simple batch systems maximize processor utilization

c) Simple batch systems do not require a monitor program

d) Simple batch systems do not involve job submission

Answer: b

8. From the processor's point of view, what does it mean when "control is passed to a job"?

a) The processor is executing instructions from the monitor program

b) The processor is fetching and executing instructions in a user program

c) The processor is waiting for input from the user

d) The processor is in an error state

Answer: b

9. What is the role of a monitor in a simple batch system?

a) To control the sequence of events

b) To execute user programs

c) To manage I/O devices

d) To provide error detection

Answer: a

10. How did early computers with no operating system handle program execution?
a) Users interacted directly with the hardware

b) Programs were executed simultaneously

c) Jobs were submitted to a computer operator

d) Computers ran from a console with display lights

Answer: a

11. What is the main purpose of a simple batch system?

a) To improve utilization of the computer

b) To execute multiple user programs simultaneously

c) To minimize processor time consumed by the monitor

d) To allocate all main memory to user programs

Answer: a

12. In a multiprogrammed batch system, what happens when one job needs to wait for I/O?

a) The job is terminated

b) The processor switches to another job

c) The job is given higher priority

d) The processor waits for the I/O to complete

Answer: b

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 13. What is another term for multiprogramming?
a) Uniprogramming

b) Multitasking

c) Batch processing

d) Time-sharing
Answer: b

14. How does a time-sharing system handle multiple interactive jobs?

a) By executing all jobs simultaneously

b) By sharing processor time among multiple users

c) By allocating separate processors for each job

d) By prioritizing jobs based on their size

Answer: b

15. What was the system clock interrupt rate for the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS)?

a) One every second

b) One every minute

c) One every 0.2 seconds

d) One every 5 seconds

Answer: c

16. Which group developed the Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS)?

a) Microsoft
b) Project MAC at MIT

c) IBM

d) Apple

Answer: b

17. What technique was utilized by CTSS to switch between users?

a) Time sharing
b) Time slicing

c) Batch processing

d) Multitasking

Answer: b

18. In a multiprogramming system, how many programs can memory hold at a time?
a) Only the OS

b) One user program

c) Three or more programs

d) Two user programs

Answer: c

19. What is the main advantage of a multiprogrammed batch system?

a) Minimizes processor time consumed by the monitor

b) Improves utilization of the computer

c) Executes only one user program at a time

d) Requires minimal main memory for the monitor
Answer: b

20. How does a simple batch system alternate processor time between user programs and the monitor?

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 a) By executing user programs first
b) By executing the monitor first

c) By switching between user programs and the monitor

d) By prioritizing user programs over the monitor
Answer: c

21. What are some major achievements in the development of operating systems?

a) Networking and communication protocols

b) Graphic user interfaces
c) Processes, memory management, information protection, and scheduling

d) Database management systems

Answer: c

22. What is fundamental to the structure of operating systems?

a) Networking capabilities

b) Process management
c) Memory management
d) File storage

Answer: b

23. What are the components of a process in an operating system?

a) Input and output devices
b) Execution context, executable program, and associated data

c) File directories and permissions

d) System resources and scheduling algorithms
Answer: b

24. What is contained in the execution context of a process?

a) User interface settings

b) Priority of the process and waiting status for I/O events

c) Network configurations

d) File system permissions

Answer: b

25. What can cause errors in program operation in an operating system?

a) Proper synchronization

b) Mutual exclusion mechanisms

c) Deadlocks and improper synchronization
d) Efficient resource sharing

Answer: c

26. What is virtual memory in an operating system?

a) A facility that allows programs to address memory logically
b) A physical memory module

c) A type of memory card

d) A storage device

Answer: a

27. What is paging in memory management?

a) Allowing processes to address memory physically

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 b) Dividing processes into fixed-size blocks called pages

c) Managing network protocols

d) Allocating memory to different programs
Answer: b

28. What is the purpose of a paging system in an operating system?

a) To allocate memory dynamically

b) To provide a static mapping between virtual and physical memory

c) To allow processes to access memory randomly

d) To provide a dynamic mapping between virtual and physical memory
Answer: d

29. What are the five principal storage management responsibilities of an operating system?
a) Process management, memory management, information protection, scheduling, and resource management

b) File management, network management, security management, memory management, and process management
c) Virtual memory management, paging, process management, memory protection, and scheduling
d) Memory management, process management, file management, network management, and security management

Answer: d

30. How can new features be incorporated into an operating system?

a) By expanding the context of a process
b) By increasing the number of processes

c) By adding more memory

d) By upgrading the hardware

Answer: a

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