Top 40 Operating System MCQs Every IT Professional Should Ace!

Understanding the fundamentals of operating systems (OS) is crucial for anyone in the field of computer science and information technology (IT). Mastering OS fundamentals and concepts is important for screening. You can go through Operating Systems MCQs and do a self-assessment to know where you stand.

These MCQs are the first step towards any big interviews. As we progress in our careers and gain practical experience, we often become proficient in various tasks but tend to forget the basic terminologies associated with them. So, multiple-choice questions are the best way to revisit the fundamentals and gauge your knowledge.  

MCQs on operating systems are commonly featured in technical job interviews, especially for roles such as system administrators, software developers, and IT support specialists.

This set of questions covers a broad range of operating system concepts, including command interpreter functions, CPU Scheduling Algorithms, Operating System Identification, Threads, System Calls, OS Interfaces, File systems, kernel functions, historical OS development, and so on.

These MCQs also include answers on the operating system fundamentals. 

Also Read: Linux Fundamentals MCQs for System Administrators 

Operating System MCQs with Answers

Here are some of the most asked operating system MCQs in some companies to evaluate your understanding of computerscience fundamentals. 

You will also find questions on resource management, deadlock, and interrupts. 

Q1. Choose the Primary Function of the Command Interpreter.

1. To achieve and execute the next user-specified command

2. To provide an interface between APIs and application program

3. To manage database

4. All of the above

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - To achieve and execute the next user-specified command

Q2. Choose the Correct Option for CPU Scheduling Algorithms.

1. Shortest Job First

2. Priority scheduling

3. Round Robin

4. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above

Q3. Which of the following isn't an Operating System?

1. Oracle

2. Linux

3. DOS

4. Windows

Answer: a. Oracle

Q4. A Thread is Also Known as _______.

1. A lightweight process

2. A scheduler

3. A virtual process

4. A heavyweight process

Answer: a. A lightweight process 

Q5. Which Interface is Provided to Access the Services of the Operating System?

1. System calls

2. APIs

3. Library

4. Assembly instructions

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - System calls

Q6. Operating System _________

1. Connects programs with subroutines

2. Aids in generating the program's flowchart 

3. Offers a layer to act as a user-friendly interface that allows programmers to create flowchart

4. All of the above

Answer: c. Offers a layer to act as a user-friendly interface that allows programmers to create flowchart

Q7. ________ is the Maximum Length of the Filename in DOS.

1. 4

2. 8

3. 5

4. 12

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘b’ - 8

Q8. What are the Three Types of Audio Formats in OS?

1. Lossy Compressed Format

2. Uncompressed Format

3. Lossless Compressed Format

4. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above

Q9. Choose the Invalid Statement from the Following:

1. kernel is created with several modules that cannot be loaded in running OS

2. kernel is the first part of the OS exhibiting load into memory while booting

3. kernel executes multiple programs that constitute the central core of the OS

4. All of the above

Answer: a. The kernel is created with several modules that cannot be loaded in running OS.

Q10. _________ is a Process Copied From Primary Memory to Secondary Memory with Respect to the Requirement.

1. Threads

2. Paging

3. Segmentation

4. Demand paging

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - Demand paging

Q11. The First Operating System was Developed in ______.

1. 1988

2. 1974

3. 1991

4. 1950

Answer: d. 1950

Q12. Different Types of Uncompressed Formats of Operating Systems are:

1. Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)

2. MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

3. Windows Media Audio (WMA)

4. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above

Q13. Linux is a/an _________.

1. Word processor

2. Database management system

3. Operating software 

4. Application software 

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘c’ - Operating System

Q14. Choose the First Windows Version From the Following.

1. Windows NT

2. Windows 1.01

3. Windows XP

4. Windows 3.0

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘b’ - Windows 1.01

Q15. In the Memory, the Operating System is Placed _____

1. In the high-memory

2. In the low-memory 

3. in both high and low memory

4. Either low or high memory based on the interrupt vector location

Answer: d. Either low or high memory based on the interrupt vector location

Q16. Choose the Operating System Type that Reads and Reacts with Respect to Actual Time.

1. Real-time OS

2. Time Sharing OS

3. Batch OS

4. Quick sharing OS

Answer: a. Real-time OS

Q17. The Two Types of Operating Modes of AT are______.

1. Direct mode, indirect mode

2. Virtual mode, direct mode

3. Private mode, public mode

4. Real mode, protected mode

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - Real mode, protected mode

Q18. Choose the Invalid File Extension of an Audio File From the Following:

1. .rar

2. .mp3

3. .wav

4. .mid

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - .rar

Q19. Choose the Correct Type of Extension that Notepad Uses:

1. .txt

2. .png

3. .jpeg

4. .xip

Answer: a. .txt

Q20. Transient OS Code Refers to a Code that:

1. Comes and goes as required

2. Is not easily accessible

3. Never needs in the memory space

4. All of the above

Answer: a. Comes and goes as required

Also Read: Skills Required to Become an Embedded Systems Engineer

Q21. First in, First out (FIFO) Scheduling is a Type of __________.

1. Deadline Scheduling

2. Preemptive scheduling

3. Non-preemptive scheduling

4. All of the above

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘c’ - Non preemptive scheduling

Q22. The Command Interpreter is Also Called _______.

1. shell 

2. command

3. kernel 

4. prompt 

Answer: a. shell

Q23. To Duplicate the Entire Disk, the Command that You Will Choose is:

1. Diskcopy

2. Chkdsk

3. Format

4. Copy

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - Diskcopy

Q24. FAT is Elaborated as _________.

1. Font attribute table

2. File allocation table

3. File format attribute

4. Font allocation tree

Answer: b. File allocation table

Q25. The First Come, First Serve (FCFS) Algorithm is Specifically Troublesome for Which of the Following?

1. Multiprocessor systems

2. Multiprogramming systems

3. Time-sharing systems

4. Operating systems

Answer:  c. Time-sharing systems

Q26. Name the Systematic Procedure that Moves the CPU to the New Process.

1. Starvation

2. Context Switching

3. Deadlock

4. Synchronization 

Answer: b. Context Switching

Q27. Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is Used by ______.

1. Operating system

2. Compiler

3. Application software

4. Interpreter 

Answer: a.  Operating system

Q28. Choose the Correct Purpose of a Page Table in a Paging System from the following:

1. Translate virtual addresses to physical addresses

2. Handle input/output operations

3. Store memory pages

4. All of the above

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - Translate virtual addresses to physical addresses

Q29. The Operating System Performs Operations That Include:

1. Opens a program

2. Maintaining the recycle bin

3. Transfer files

4. All of the above

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - All of the above 

Q30. In Case the Displayed System Time and Date are Incorrect, What Will You Use to Resit it?

1. Write

2. Calendar

3. Write file

4. Control panel

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - Control panel

Q31. The Primary Memory Accommodates ______

1. User processes

2. Operating systems

3. Both a and b

4. None of the above

Answer: b. Operating Systems

Q32. Choose the Correct Language in Which UNIX is Written.

1. C#

2. C

3. .NET

4. C++

Answer: b. C

Q33. From the Process Listed Below, Choose the Correct Waiting Time of Process P3 Within the Shortest Job First or Pre-emptive.

1. 0

2. 2

3. 1

4. 3

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - 0

Q34. What is Possible From the Following Options if the Hard Disk has Multiple Recycle Bins?

1. Different sizes for each recycle bin can be set

2. You can choose a favorable recycle bin to store the deleted field

3. Any one of the recycle bins can be taken as the default

4. All of the above 

Answer: a. Different sizes for each recycle bin can be set

Q35. Interrupt Latency Should be ______ for the Real-Time Operating System.

1. Minimal

2. Maximum

3. Zero

4. Depend on scheduling

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘a’ - Minimal

Q36. When n=___ and k=____, the Deadlock is Possible?

1. n = 21, k = 12

2. n = 20, k = 10

3. n = 41, k = 19

4. n = 40, k = 26

Answer: a. n=21, k=12

Q37. The Resource Management by the Operating System can be Performed by _______. 

1. Space division multiplex

2. Time-division multiplex

3. Both a and b

4. None of the above

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘c’ - Both a and b

Q38. How Many Types of Operating Systems are There?

1. 3

2. 8

3. 6

4. 7

Answer: d. 7

Q39. ________ is the Operating System that Runs on a Server and Offers the Server Capability to Manage Data, Groups, Users, and Others.

1. Mobile operating system

2. Real-time operating system

3. Batch operating system

4. Network operating system

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - Network operating system

Q40. From the Following, _______ is Not a Product of Microsoft.

1. ME

2. Vista

3. XP

4. Ubuntu

Answer: The correct answer to this operating system MCQ is ‘d’ - Ubuntu

Ace Tough Interviews with a Dedicated Interview Preparation Approach

Self-assessment is good, but having a guided and structured approach can help you ace interviews better.

Our Site Reliability course aims at offering you the right interview preparation so that you land your job at top-tier companies. This course is specifically designed for current SREs, DevOps Engineers, and System/Linux/Cloud admins with coding experience.

Mastering OS and its concepts is crucial for these roles, enabling you to handle complex systems for seamless operations. The course enhances your troubleshooting capabilities, positioning you to land jobs at top-tier companies. 

FAQs: OS Concepts MCQs

Q1. What is the Salary of an Operating System Engineer?

The average salary of an operating system engineer in the USA is $139,120 per year.

Q2. What are Some of the Job Roles in Operating Systems?

Some of the job roles in operating systems are operating system developer, operating system database test engineer, operating system engineer, advanced embedded system engineer, and operating system specialist.

Q3. What is the Benefit of Semaphores in the Operating System?

Semaphores enforce exclusion to avoid race conditions. Thus, they synchronize execution, prevent deadlocks, and offer efficient management of system resources.

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