Top 50 MCQs with Answers on System Software, covering key topics:

• Lexical Analysis
• Parsing
• Syntax-Directed Translation
• Runtime Environment
• Code Generation
• Static & Dynamic Linking

System Software – MCQs (1–50)

1. The output of lexical analysis is:
A) Parse tree
B) Syntax tree
C) Token stream
D) Intermediate code
Answer: C
2. Which of the following tools helps in lexical analysis?
A) YACC
B) LEX
C) BISON
D) GCC
Answer: B
3. The job of parser is to:
A) Generate tokens
B) Match grammar rules
C) Generate intermediate code
D) Perform semantic analysis
Answer: B
4. Syntax errors are detected in which phase?
A) Lexical Analysis
B) Syntax Analysis
C) Semantic Analysis
D) Code Generation
Answer: B
5. Which of the following is a bottom-up parser?
A) Recursive descent
B) LL(1)
C) LR
D) Predictive parser
Answer: C
6. Which parser uses a stack for parsing?
A) LL Parser
B) LR Parser
C) Shift-Reduce Parser
D) All of the above
Answer: D
7. In syntax-directed translation, semantic actions are associated with:
A) Tokens
B) Non-terminals
C) Grammar rules
D) Terminals only
Answer: C
8. Intermediate code is generated in which phase?
A) Syntax Analysis
B) Semantic Analysis
C) Code Optimization
D) Intermediate Code Generation
Answer: D
9. A symbol table is used to:
A) Store source code
B) Store grammar rules
C) Store identifiers and attributes
D) Store errors
Answer: C
10. In a compiler, heap memory is managed in:
A) Code generation
B) Lexical analysis
C) Runtime environment
D) Parser
Answer: C
11. A linker is used to:
A) Parse the code
B) Optimize the code
C) Combine object files
D) Compile source code
Answer: C
12. Which is faster: static or dynamic linking?
A) Static
B) Dynamic
C) Both are same
D) Depends on OS
Answer: A
13. Which of the following is true about dynamic linking?
A) Libraries are embedded at compile-time
B) Libraries are loaded at runtime
C) Source code is required
D) More memory efficient
Answer: B
14. Which phase handles type checking?
A) Lexical
B) Syntax
C) Semantic
D) Intermediate
Answer: C
15. Which of the following is not part of lexical analysis?
A) Removing comments
B) Recognizing keywords
C) Parsing grammar
D) Identifying literals
Answer: C
16. Which is used for syntax analysis?
A) DFA
B) NFA
C) Context-Free Grammar
D) Regular Grammar
Answer: C
17. What is the first step in compiling a program?
A) Semantic analysis
B) Code generation
C) Lexical analysis
D) Optimization
Answer: C
18. Peephole optimization is performed during:
A) Lexical phase
B) Semantic phase
C) Intermediate code generation
D) Code generation
Answer: D
19. A recursive descent parser is an example of:
A) Bottom-up parser
B) Top-down parser
C) LR parser
D) SLR parser
Answer: B
20. Tokens are generated by:
A) Parser
B) Semantic analyzer
C) Lexical analyzer
D) Optimizer
Answer: C
21. Which is not an intermediate code form?
A) Quadruples
B) Triples
C) Tokens
D) Three-address code
Answer: C
22. What is the role of a loader?
A) Load compiled code into memory
B) Link source files
C) Translate code
D) Analyze syntax
Answer: A
23. Which of these is a static data structure used by compilers?
A) Stack
B) Heap
C) Symbol table
D) Activation record
Answer: C
24. LR(k) parsers are used for:
A) Lexical analysis
B) Top-down parsing
C) Bottom-up parsing
D) Dynamic linking
Answer: C
25. Code optimization improves:
A) Correctness
B) Execution time
C) Syntax
D) Memory errors
Answer: B
26. The control stack in runtime environment stores:
A) Variable values
B) Symbol tables
C) Function return addresses
D) Errors
Answer: C
27. In static linking, libraries are linked at:
A) Run time
B) Compile time
C) Load time
D) Execution time
Answer: B
28. Which phase generates assembly code?
A) Intermediate code generation
B) Syntax analysis
C) Code generation
D) Lexical analysis
Answer: C
29. Which of these is not used in parsing techniques?
A) DFA
B) Stack
C) Parse table
D) Hash table
Answer: D
30. An example of a dynamic runtime structure is:
A) Global variable
B) Static table
C) Activation record
D) Register
Answer: C
31. Which grammar is used for parsing?
A) Regular
B) Context-sensitive
C) Context-free
D) Machine grammar
Answer: C
32. Which parser handles left recursion?
A) LL
B) Recursive descent
C) LR
D) Predictive parser
Answer: C
33. Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) is used in:
A) Lexing
B) Parsing
C) Optimization
D) Linking
Answer: C
34. Lexical analyzer works based on:
A) DFA
B) PDA
C) Turing Machine
D) Stack
Answer: A
35. Which of these is not part of runtime memory?
A) Heap
B) Stack
C) Text
D) Parser
Answer: D
36. What does LEX produce?
A) Symbol table
B) DFA
C) Tokens
D) Source code
Answer: C
37. YACC stands for:
A) Yet Another Compiler Compiler
B) Your Advanced C Compiler
C) Yes And Code Compiler
D) None of the above
Answer: A
38. Register allocation is part of:
A) Parsing
B) Code generation
C) Semantic analysis
D) Linking
Answer: B
39. A shift-reduce parser belongs to:
A) Top-down parsing
B) Recursive parsing
C) Bottom-up parsing
D) Syntax-directed translation
Answer: C
40. Which helps manage function calls?
A) Parser
B) Symbol table
C) Stack
D) Lexer
Answer: C
41. Relocation is handled by:
A) Parser
B) Optimizer
C) Loader
D) Lexer
Answer: C
42. In compilation, errors like undeclared variables are found in:
A) Lexical phase
B) Syntax phase
C) Semantic phase
D) Linking phase
Answer: C
43. In parsing, FIRST and FOLLOW sets are used in:
A) Top-down parsers
B) Bottom-up parsers
C) Code generation
D) Symbol resolution
Answer: A
44. Machine code is produced in:
A) Lexical analysis
B) Syntax analysis
C) Code generation
D) Linking
Answer: C
45. A symbol table does not store:
A) Variable names
B) Grammar rules
C) Function names
D) Types
Answer: B
46. Parser generators produce:
A) Intermediate code
B) Lexers
C) Parsing tables
D) Machine code
Answer: C
47. Which grammar supports backtracking?
A) LL(1)
B) LR(1)
C) Regular grammar
D) Recursive descent
Answer: D
48. The part of compiler checking scope rules is:
A) Lexer
B) Syntax analyzer
C) Semantic analyzer
D) Optimizer
Answer: C
49. Syntax-directed definitions are used for:
A) Code generation
B) Type checking
C) Attribute evaluation
D) All of the above
Answer: D
50. Which is the final phase of a compiler?
A) Lexical analysis
B) Parsing
C) Optimization
D) Code generation
Answer: D