AQA - Section 4 - Operating Systems 1

What is multitasking in the context of operating systems?

• A system that prevents users from opening more than one application to ensure security.

• A feature that allows only one program to run at a time to optimize performance.

• A method to increase the processor's speed.

• Running multiple applications at the same time by allocating each a small time slice of the processor.

How does the operating system manage memory for multitasking?

• By allocating specific places in the RAM for each program.

• By deleting unused programs from the memory.

• By storing all programs in the hard disk instead of the RAM.

• By increasing the RAM size dynamically as more programs are opened.

What happens to memory locations of a program when it is closed?

• They are permanently deleted from the RAM.

• They are physically moved to the hard disk.

• They are locked until the computer is restarted.

• They are marked as free and available for reuse.

Why is memory fragmentation a concern in operating systems?

• It slows down the internet speed.

• It makes the memory management more complex.

• It causes the RAM to physically break into pieces.

• It deletes important system files.

What is the purpose of a device driver?

• To increase the RAM capacity.

• To clean the computer's hard disk.

• To translate operating system instructions into commands that the hardware understands.

• To protect the computer from viruses.

How do operating systems handle the execution of multiple applications simultaneously?

• By requiring user intervention to switch between applications.

• By running all applications in parallel without any time allocation.

• By giving each application a small time slice of the processor.

• By only allowing certain applications to run at the same time.

What role does virtual memory play in operating systems?

• It replaces the need for RAM in modern computers.

• It is used when the RAM is full to extend memory.

• It is used to store the operating system's kernel exclusively.

• It acts as a temporary storage for deleted files.

Why do different printers require different device drivers?

• Because the operating system cannot communicate with printers without them.

• Because all printers use the same technology but different software.

• Because device drivers are needed to connect the printer to the internet.

• Because they use different technologies to produce output.

What is the effect of multitasking on the user's experience?

• It allows users to perform multiple tasks without noticeable delays.

• It requires users to manually switch between programs.

• It makes the computer slower as more programs are opened.

• It restricts the user to only using one application at a time for better focus.

How does the operating system decide where a program is held in memory?

• Based on the size of the program.

• Randomly, to ensure fairness among programs.

• The user decides the location for each program.

• The operating system decides based on available memory spaces.