1. What is an operating system?
- A hardware device for input/output
- A software that acts as an intermediary between user and hardware
- A device driver for input devices
- None of the above
Basics of Operating Systems MCQs – 30 Essential Questions
Test your knowledge of operating systems with these 30 MCQs covering fundamental concepts, types and components. Perfect for students and professionals aiming to strengthen their basics in OS.
📌 Important Exam Instructions
- ✅ This is a free online test. Do not pay anyone claiming otherwise.
- 📋 Total Questions: 30
- ⏳ Time Limit: 30 minutes
- 📝 Marking Scheme: +1 for each correct answer. No negative marking.
- ⚠️ Avoid page refresh or closing the browser tab to prevent loss of test data.
- 🔍 Carefully read all questions before submitting your answers.
- 🎯 Best of Luck! Stay focused and do your best. 🚀
Time Left (min): 00:00
2. Which of the following is NOT an operating system?
- Windows
- Linux
- Google Chrome
- MacOS
3. What is the primary function of an operating system?
- To translate programming languages
- To manage system resources and provide a user interface
- To design hardware components
- To control network traffic
4. Which type of operating system is designed for mobile devices?
- Real-time operating system
- Distributed operating system
- Mobile operating system
- Batch operating system
5. Which of the following is an example of a real-time operating system?
- Windows XP
- Linux Mint
- RTOS
- macOS
6. What is the kernel in an operating system?
- The graphical user interface of the system
- The core part of the OS that controls all operations
- A utility program for disk management
- A security feature
7. What is a multitasking operating system?
- An OS that allows multiple users to log in simultaneously
- An OS that can run multiple processes simultaneously
- An OS designed only for batch processing
- An OS for mobile devices
8. Which component of the operating system manages the CPU?
- File system
- Kernel
- Process scheduler
- Memory manager
9. What is the purpose of a device driver?
- To enable communication between the OS and hardware devices
- To manage system processes
- To schedule tasks
- To provide user interfaces
10. Which of the following is an example of a distributed operating system?
- Windows
- Android
- Linux Mint
- Hadoop
11. What does the term “bootstrapping” refer to in an operating system?
- The process of upgrading system hardware
- The process of starting up a computer and loading the OS
- The process of compiling programs
- None of the above
12. Which type of operating system is used in embedded systems?
- Batch operating system
- Real-time operating system
- Mobile operating system
- Distributed operating system
13. What is a shell in an operating system?
- The hardware of the system
- The user interface to interact with the kernel
- The antivirus program of the system
- A system utility
14. What does a batch operating system do?
- Processes jobs in real-time
- Processes jobs in groups or batches without user interaction
- Processes multiple tasks simultaneously
- None of the above
15. Which of these is a popular open-source operating system?
- MacOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
16. What is the function of virtual memory in an operating system?
- To physically expand RAM
- To allow execution of processes that may not completely fit into physical memory
- To connect external memory devices
- To act as an operating system scheduler
17. What is the purpose of the task manager in operating systems like Windows?
- To manage user accounts
- To monitor and control running processes
- To configure hardware devices
- To design software interfaces
18. Which of the following operating systems is NOT UNIX-based?
- Linux
- Windows
- macOS
- FreeBSD
19. What does GUI stand for?
- General User Interface
- Graphic Utility Interpreter
- Graphical User Interface
- Graphics Used in Internet
20. What is the role of system calls in an OS?
- To facilitate hardware communication directly from the application
- To provide the OS with updates
- To monitor network traffic
- To enable communication between user applications and the OS
21. Which operating system is most commonly used for mainframes?
- macOS
- z/OS
- Windows Server
- Android
22. What is the primary difference between a process and a program?
- A process is active while a program is passive
- A process is hardware-based while a program is software-based
- A process is compiled while a program is interpreted
- A process is stored while a program is executed
23. Which of the following is NOT a type of operating system?
- Batch operating system
- Multiprogramming operating system
- General-purpose operating system
- Time-sharing operating system
24. What is the function of an interrupt in an OS?
- To store system logs
- To signal the OS to handle an event or execute a task
- To process user input
- To connect external devices
25. Which of the following is an example of a closed-source operating system?
- Android
- Linux
- Windows
- Ubuntu
26. What is the primary purpose of a time-sharing OS?
- To execute a single task at a time
- To allow multiple users to share system resources effectively
- To improve hardware reliability
- To connect multiple devices to a network
27. What is a system daemon in an OS?
- A hardware device
- A process that runs in the background
- A security program
- A user interface
28. Which component is responsible for loading the OS into memory during boot?
- Compiler
- Bootloader
- Device driver
- Scheduler
29. What is the purpose of the command interpreter in an OS?
- To execute commands entered by the user
- To debug system errors
- To connect hardware to software
- To manage storage devices
30. Which type of operating system ensures a quick response to critical tasks?
- Real-time operating system
- Batch operating system
- Time-sharing operating system
- Distributed operating system