Operating Systems MCQs

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Operating Systems MCQs

Practice Operating System MCQs covering Windows, Linux, Android, booting, multitasking and multiprocessing concepts with answers and explanations.

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Total Questions

Practice Questions

Page 16 of 26
Question #301
What is the purpose of the Linux 'nano' command?
A. To view system processes
B. A simple text editor
C. To manage network interfaces
D. To set environment variables

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
nano is a user-friendly text editor for the command line, often pre-installed on many Linux distributions.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #302
Which of the following is a characteristic of a real-time operating system?
A. Large storage support
B. Preemptive multitasking
C. High throughput
D. Deterministic response times

Correct Answer: Option D


Explanation:
RTOS guarantees that critical tasks are executed within a specified time constraint (deterministic), essential for embedded systems.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #303
In Windows, the 'System Information' tool (msinfo32) displays:
A. Hardware resources, components, and software environment
B. Event logs
C. Performance metrics
D. Startup programs

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
msinfo32 provides a comprehensive summary of system hardware, drivers, and software settings.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #304
Which Linux command is used to change the group ownership of a file?
A. groupmod
B. chown
C. chgrp
D. chmod

Correct Answer: Option C


Explanation:
chgrp changes the group ownership of a file or directory; chown can change both owner and group.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #305
What is the maximum file size supported by the NTFS file system?
A. 256 TB
B. 16 EB
C. 2 TB
D. 4 GB

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
NTFS supports file sizes up to 16 exabytes (EB) theoretically, though practical limits are lower due to implementation.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #306
In Android, the 'back stack' is used to:
A. Cache recent apps
B. Store system logs
C. Manage the navigation history of activities
D. Hold background services

Correct Answer: Option C


Explanation:
Android uses a back stack to keep track of activities launched; pressing back pops the top activity.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #307
Which of the following is a key feature of the Windows 11 operating system?
A. Cortana integration only
B. Live Tiles
C. Windows Media Center
D. Centered Start Menu and Taskbar

Correct Answer: Option D


Explanation:
Windows 11 introduced a centered Start menu and taskbar, rounded corners, and a new interface; Live Tiles were removed.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #308
What is the role of the 'swap space' in Linux?
A. It serves as virtual memory (paging space) on disk
B. It stores system logs
C. It caches frequently accessed files
D. It is used for temporary file storage

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
Swap space is a partition or file used as an extension of physical memory, allowing the system to page out inactive memory pages.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #309
Which of the following is an example of a desktop environment for Linux?
A. Unity
B. GNOME
C. Aqua
D. Windows Shell

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
GNOME is a popular desktop environment for Linux; Unity was used by Ubuntu earlier, but GNOME is common.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #310
In Windows, the 'Event Viewer' is used to:
A. Edit system registry
B. Configure system startup
C. Manage network connections
D. View system, application, and security logs

Correct Answer: Option D


Explanation:
Event Viewer displays logs of system events, errors, warnings, and informational messages for troubleshooting.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #311
Which Linux command is used to view the last lines of a file?
A. tail
B. cat
C. less
D. head

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
tail displays the last few lines of a file; useful for checking recent log entries.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #312
What is the purpose of the Android 'Sandbox'?
A. To store temporary files
B. To restrict app access to system resources and data, enhancing security
C. To provide a virtual environment for testing
D. To run multiple instances of the same app

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
Android's sandboxing isolates each app, preventing it from accessing other apps' data or system functions without permissions.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #313
Which of the following is a disadvantage of monolithic kernels?
A. A bug in one module can crash the entire system
B. They cannot support multiple CPUs
C. They are slower than microkernels
D. They require more memory

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
Because all services run in kernel space, a driver or module failure can cause a system crash, reducing stability.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #314
In Windows, the 'disk management' utility can be accessed via:
A. compmgmt.msc
B. diskmgmt.msc
C. devmgmt.msc
D. services.msc

Correct Answer: Option B


Explanation:
diskmgmt.msc opens the Disk Management snap-in, used for partition management; compmgmt.msc also includes it.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #315
Which Linux command is used to copy files or directories?
A. rsync
B. scp
C. cp
D. mv

Correct Answer: Option C


Explanation:
cp copies files/directories; mv moves/renames; rsync is for synchronization; scp is secure copy over network.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #316
What is the main role of the Android 'Window Manager'?
A. To handle input events
B. To manage app permissions
C. To manage the layout and display of windows and views
D. To control power management

Correct Answer: Option C


Explanation:
Window Manager organizes the screen's surface and coordinates how windows are rendered and layered.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #317
Which of the following is a scheduling algorithm that gives each process a fixed time quantum?
A. Priority Scheduling
B. Shortest Job First
C. Round Robin
D. First-Come, First-Served

Correct Answer: Option C


Explanation:
Round Robin assigns each process a time slice (quantum) and cycles through them, ensuring fairness and responsiveness.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #318
In Windows, the 'Task Manager' performance tab shows:
A. CPU, memory, disk, and network usage graphs
B. Startup programs
C. User accounts
D. List of running processes

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
The performance tab provides real-time graphs and statistics for system resources like CPU, RAM, disk, and network.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #319
Which Linux command is used to change the current directory?
A. cd
B. ls
C. pwd
D. dir

Correct Answer: Option A


Explanation:
cd (change directory) moves the user to a different directory.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #320
What is the purpose of the 'Secure Boot' feature in UEFI?
A. To provide a password protection
B. To speed up boot process
C. To encrypt the hard disk
D. To prevent unauthorized operating systems or bootloaders from loading during startup

Correct Answer: Option D


Explanation:
Secure Boot ensures that only signed and trusted boot loaders and OS kernels can run, protecting against malware like rootkits.

This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems