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 7 of 26
Question #121
Which Linux command can be used to view the list of currently running processes for the active user?
A. ps
B. ls
C. df
D. cat
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The 'ps' command outputs a static snapshot list detailing active user or system processes running within the current environment configuration.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #122
What is the primary function of the 'Page Table' in virtual memory systems?
A. To map the virtual addresses used by a process to corresponding physical addresses in RAM.
B. To record the collection of active internet cookies.
C. To log the date and time files were created.
D. To arrange text content in alphabetical order.
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The page table is a structural database used by the Memory Management Unit (MMU) to translate a process's virtual memory pages into real RAM frames.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #123
Which Windows component stores the low-level system settings, device driver profiles, and application parameters in a hierarchical database format?
A. Control Panel
B. Program Files
C. System.ini
D. Windows Registry
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
The Windows Registry functions as a unified, hierarchical system data vault holding fundamental configurations for the OS kernel and applications.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #124
Which process state corresponds to a thread that is currently blocked while awaiting an input/output operation to complete?
A. Ready
B. Running
C. Waiting (or Blocked)
D. Terminated
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
A process enters the Waiting or Blocked state when it cannot continue execution until an external event or hardware I/O transfer concludes.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #125
What command-line tool can be used in Linux to find the configuration metadata of network interfaces and IP addresses?
A. ip address (or ifconfig)
B. ipconfig
C. ping
D. netstat -s
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Linux environments use the modern 'ip address' command (or legacy 'ifconfig') to inspect network card settings, MAC paths, and assigned IP values.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #126
Which component of an operating system is responsible for managing the allocation and deallocation of main memory blocks to active applications?
A. File System Manager
B. Memory Manager
C. I/O Spooler
D. Process Scheduler
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The memory management subsystem tracks memory allocation status, allocating chunks to active processes and reclaiming them upon task completion.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #127
What is the primary function of the Android 'Activity Manager' service?
A. To compile native C source files into machine code.
B. To manage the operational lifecycle of applications and regulate the navigation stack of active user screens.
C. To download APK files from cloud application stores.
D. To track hardware battery percentage details dynamically.
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The Activity Manager monitors system activities, manages application processes, handles task stacks, and enforces runtime runtime constraints.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #128
Which mechanism ensures that only one process can execute inside a critical section of code at any given time?
A. Mutual Exclusion
B. Spooling Routine
C. Context Swapping
D. Paging Allocation
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Mutual Exclusion (Mutex) guarantees that if a process is executing inside its critical section, no other processes are permitted to enter that code path.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #129
Which Microsoft Windows command line utility is used to clear all previous text from the command prompt screen window?
A. clean
B. clear
C. reset
D. cls
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
The 'cls' command stands for clear screen and resets the visible text buffer of the Windows command prompt terminal environment.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #130
What is the purpose of the 'initrd' or 'initramfs' image file during the Linux booting phase?
A. To run background cron jobs before initialization.
B. To compile user space terminal environments.
C. To provide a temporary root file system in RAM containing essential storage drivers needed to mount the real root file system.
D. To act as a desktop wallpaper storage module.
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Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
initramfs acts as an initial RAM file system that equips the booting kernel with necessary hardware and storage controller drivers to read the actual disk partition.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #131
Which CPU scheduling algorithm can potentially lead to 'Starvation' where long processes are indefinitely delayed because shorter tasks keep arriving?
A. Uniform Multi-Level Queue
B. Round Robin (RR)
C. First-Come, First-Served (FCFS)
D. Shortest Job First (SJF)
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Shortest Job First scheduling can starve longer processes if a continuous stream of shorter tasks keeps getting prioritized by the scheduler.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #132
Which Windows feature allows full volume disk encryption to protect system files and user data from unauthorized access if a device is stolen?
A. Windows Defender
B. Storage Spaces
C. Windows Hello
D. BitLocker
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
BitLocker Drive Encryption is an advanced security feature that encrypts entire logical volumes to prevent offline data access or physical tampering.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #133
What structural concept enables an application to continue running even if one of its sub-tasks is blocked or performing a slow operation?
A. Defragmentation
B. Paging Out
C. Single-tasking
D. Multithreading
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Multithreading splits an application into distinct execution pathways, enabling a background thread to wait for slow inputs while a foreground thread handles user interaction.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #134
Which command in Linux is used to display the currently logged-in user accounts and terminal details?
A. pwd
B. id
C. uname
D. who
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
The 'who' command queries system accounting data to display information about users currently logged into the operating system session.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #135
What is the core purpose of a 'Microkernel' design pattern?
A. To maximize execution performance by putting all drivers into kernel space.
B. To handle only mobile device microchips.
C. To run systems without any random access memory.
D. To keep the kernel space highly minimal, moving non-essential services like file handlers into isolated user space processes.
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Microkernels maximize system reliability and safety by offloading complex operations like networking and file system layers to user-level tasks.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #136
Which component of the Android system architecture manages individual application installation and tracks package permissions?
A. PackageManager
B. SurfaceFlinger
C. Dalvik Engine
D. Zygote Init
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The Android PackageManager service tracks installed APK packages, handles component resolution, and enforces application permissions.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #137
What does a 'Page Table Base Register (PTBR)' store in a hardware configuration?
A. The layout coordinates of the desktop wallpaper.
B. The total count of connected external monitor screens.
C. The current CPU clock frequency.
D. The physical memory address pointing to the start of the active process's page table.
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Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
The PTBR is a dedicated processor register that holds the physical starting address of the active thread's page table map.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #138
Which Windows shortcut instantly minimizes all open program windows and displays the desktop interface screen?
A. Windows Key + D
B. Alt + F4
C. Windows Key + L
D. Ctrl + Shift + Esc
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Pressing Windows Key + D triggers the shell interface to toggle between minimizing all open windows to show the desktop and restoring them.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #139
Which Linux terminal utility command is explicitly used to check network connectivity to a remote host by sending ICMP Echo Request packets?
A. traceroute
B. ping
C. netstat
D. ssh
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Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The 'ping' utility verifies network reachability by dispatching ICMP echo packets and measuring return times from target network interfaces.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems
Question #140
What does 'Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)' achieve compared to asymmetric multiprocessing?
A. SMP allows all processors to handle any workload in parallel without a single bottleneck master node.
B. SMP isolates memory blocks from being modified by applications.
C. SMP binds the operating system kernel execution strictly to a single master processor.
D. SMP operates without using physical random access memory modules.
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Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
SMP distributes operating system overhead and user execution dynamically across all available peer processors, eliminating master-slave bottlenecks.
This question belongs to: Computer Operating Systems

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