Free Practice Quiz Question List

1 Operating System Foundations Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 1 Operating System Foundations, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

True or false: Every library call transfers execution from user mode into the kernel.

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

An operating system coordinates access to hardware and provides convenient abstractions to programs. In these two roles, it acts as a and an .

Written response

1 point

What is the central part of an operating system that handles essential work such as managing execution, memory, and device access?

Choose one

1 point

An application running normally tries to execute an instruction that requires kernel privilege. What should happen?

A
The processor permits the application to access any protected device because it requested access.
B
The processor enforces user-mode restrictions, preventing the application from directly executing certain privileged instructions.
C
The application automatically switches itself to kernel mode before executing the instruction.
D
The operating system disables all hardware protection while the application runs.

True or false

1 point

True or false: A microkernel design can improve isolation by running more services as separate user-space processes, though communication between components may require additional message passing.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A system designer wants to keep a graphical interface outside the privileged kernel. Is this consistent with the operating-system designs described?

A
A graphical interface must run in kernel mode because it is part of the operating system.
B
Every system service must execute privileged instructions directly.
C
A graphical interface may run as an ordinary user-space program.
D
The kernel runs in user mode whenever a graphical interface is open.

Fill in the blank

1 point

A library wrapper may invoke one or more to ask the kernel to perform an operation.

Choose all

1 point

Select all statements that accurately describe the trade-offs between monolithic kernels and microkernels.

A
In a monolithic kernel, many core services run within the privileged kernel.
B
A microkernel places every operating-system service in the processor.
C
Direct communication between services can be a feature of a monolithic design.
D
A fault in privileged code can have broad consequences in a monolithic design.
E
A microkernel necessarily eliminates all communication between components.

Written response

1 point

What is the two-word name for software that knows how to communicate with a particular hardware device or device class?

Choose one

1 point

Which hardware role helps make it possible for an operating system to enforce privilege levels and controlled entry into the kernel?

A
A device controller decides which instructions are privileged.
B
The processor enforces privilege rules and provides mechanisms for controlled transitions into the kernel.
C
A device driver enforces all memory permissions without hardware support.
D
A library wrapper determines whether the processor enters kernel mode.

Choose all

1 point

Select all accurate descriptions of how hardware and device software contribute to operating-system operation.

A
The processor executes instructions and enforces privilege rules.
B
A device controller translates every program address and enforces process memory permissions.
C
Memory-management hardware translates program addresses and enforces access permissions.
D
A device controller operates hardware such as a disk, while a driver coordinates with it through approved interfaces.

Open ended

1 point

Describe how a program's request to read data from an already-open file reaches the kernel and returns a result. Include the role of the library wrapper, the privilege transition, kernel handling, and the return to the program.

True or false

1 point

True or false: A system call is initiated by software, whereas a hardware interrupt is initiated by an event from a device or timer.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

An application must work with storage devices without directly controlling each device. Which design approach supports this?

A
Applications directly control each device controller to guarantee consistent device behavior.
B
Drivers and kernel interfaces let applications use consistent OS services without directly controlling each device.
C
The operating system removes the need for device-specific software.
D
Device controllers provide applications with unrestricted access to hardware.

Choose one

1 point

Several applications need to use the same processor, storage, and input/output devices. Which description best explains the operating system's role in this situation?

A
It manages shared hardware resources and provides useful abstractions to applications.
B
It gives each application direct, unrestricted control of hardware.
C
It replaces the processor and device controllers when programs run.
D
It only provides a graphical interface and does not coordinate hardware.

Choose one

1 point

A program needs the operating system to create a process, an operation it cannot perform directly in user mode. Which mechanism should it use?

A
The program directly executes a privileged instruction from user mode.
B
The program requests the service through a controlled entry point to the kernel.
C
The program asks a device controller to bypass the operating system.
D
The program changes its own privilege level before performing the operation.

Choose one

1 point

An OS designer wants more services to run outside privileged mode to improve isolation, accepting that communication between components may require extra message passing. Which kernel approach best fits this goal?

A
It runs all services and device drivers in privileged mode to make failures harmless.
B
It removes the need for communication between OS components.
C
It keeps a smaller set of essential mechanisms privileged and runs more services as separate user-space processes.
D
It places the entire kernel in each application's address space.

Written response

1 point

Through which hardware component does a device driver coordinate when controlling a device through approved interfaces?

Choose one

1 point

A system must translate program addresses and enforce memory-access permissions so that processes are separated from kernel memory. Which hardware provides this support?

A
A device controller, because it translates every program address.
B
A network interface, because it enforces permissions on kernel memory.
C
A timer, because it translates application addresses into storage locations.
D
Memory-management hardware, because it translates addresses and enforces access permissions.

Written response

1 point

What broad design label does the material use for operating-system approaches that combine kernel-structure features, such as supporting loadable components while retaining many services in kernel space?