Lesson 4.6.1.3

4.6.1.3 System software and the operating system Quiz: AQA Computer Science, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.6.1.3, System software and the operating system: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Computer Science (7517), Unit 6: Fundamentals of computer systems, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which of the following is an example of system software?

    • An operating system such as Windows or Linux
    • A word processor used to write reports and essays
    • A spreadsheet used to model a household budget
    • A photo editing application installed by a user

  2. Which statement best describes how an operating system hides the complexity of hardware?

    • It translates each high-level source program into machine code before the program is run
    • It provides a simpler interface so that programs can use devices without handling each device's low-level details
    • It permanently stores all user files on the hard disk so that the processor never needs main memory
    • It converts analogue signals from sensors into a digital form for the processor to use

  3. Which describes the main purpose of a utility program?

    • To route data packets across a network between two hosts on different networks
    • To provide the graphical user interface for a business application used by staff
    • To perform maintenance tasks on a computer, such as defragmenting a disk or scanning for malware
    • To convert a high-level program into object code that the processor can execute

  4. A library is best described as:

    • A hardware component that holds a program's data temporarily while the processor works on it
    • A collection of pre-written, reusable routines that programs can call rather than writing their own code
    • A file that stores the saved state of a process while it is suspended by the scheduler
    • A program that executes source code one line at a time without producing an object file

  5. Which OS function allocates processor time among competing processes?

    • Scheduling, for example by giving each ready process a time slice in turn
    • Interrupt handling, which runs only when a key is pressed on the keyboard
    • Paging, which converts logical addresses into physical addresses for main memory only
    • Compilation, which converts every process into bytecode before it is allowed to start

  6. Which of the following is NOT a typical function of an operating system?

    • Allocating main memory to the processes that are currently running
    • Managing access to shared peripheral devices such as printers
    • Writing the object code for a new application written in a high-level language
    • Handling file storage and the directory structure on a disk

  7. An OS uses round robin scheduling with a 10 ms time slice. Three processes each need 25 ms of CPU time. Ignoring switching overhead, how long does it take for all three to complete?

    • 100 ms
    • 30 ms
    • 25 ms
    • 75 ms

  8. Which OS feature stops one running program from overwriting the memory used by another?

    • Use of a bytecode interpreter that runs every program in a separate process
    • Memory protection, which restricts each process to its own allocated address space
    • Storage of each program's data in the status register of the processor
    • Assembly of each program into machine code that uses direct addressing only

  9. Why might a system use shared library files instead of including the same routine in every program?

    • It allows the programs to run without any operating system being present on the machine
    • It means every program can be written in machine code only, with no need for a translator
    • It makes each program run faster because library code bypasses the processor completely
    • It avoids duplicating code, so programs are smaller and the routine can be updated in one place

  10. Which resources does the operating system allocate among competing processes?

    • Logic gates, flip-flops and the registers inside the processor
    • Keyboard input, mouse input and screen output only
    • Source code files, object code files and bytecode files
    • Processor time, main memory and input/output devices

  11. A printer is shared by several users. Which OS component queues print jobs so that each is handled in turn?

    • A print spooler managed by the operating system
    • The assembler, which translates the mnemonics of each print job into machine code
    • The compiler, which converts each print job into object code before printing
    • The interrupt service routine for the keyboard, which buffers each job for the printer

  12. Which statement about utility programs is correct?

    • Utility programs can run only after the user has logged on to a managed network domain
    • Utility programs are application software written mainly for business users in an office
    • Utility programs are system software that work alongside the operating system to maintain the computer
    • Utility programs replace the operating system kernel completely when the computer boots

  13. Which is an advantage of the OS hiding hardware complexity from application programmers?

    • Programmers can write portable programs without knowing the detail of every device
    • Hardware never needs upgrading because the operating system corrects all faults
    • Programs run faster because device details are copied into the source code file
    • Programmers must learn the binary code of every device before writing any program

  14. When a user clicks Print in an application, which best describes the OS's role?

    • It replaces the printer's firmware with the code of the document being printed
    • It converts the document into bytecode that the printer's own processor interprets
    • It compiles the document into an executable file that the printer can run directly
    • It passes the document to the printer driver and places it in a queue for the printer

  15. A computer has 4 GB of RAM. Three processes each need 1.5 GB and cannot all fit in memory at once. What is the most sensible OS response?

    • Move part of a process out to secondary storage so that the other processes can run
    • Increase the clock speed so that all three processes finish within one second
    • Refuse to start the operating system until one of the three processes has finished
    • Compile all three processes into a single shared executable file to reduce their size

  16. Why does the operating system, rather than an application, normally control access to I/O devices?

    • Applications cannot execute on a processor that does not have a clock circuit built in
    • Applications are forbidden from using any memory, so the OS must supply all the memory they need
    • Only the operating system is able to store data in binary form on any storage device
    • Devices are shared resources, and the OS prevents conflicting access and protects the system from faults

  17. Which feature lets the OS keep a word processor running when a music player in the same machine stops responding?

    • The status register being reset to zero by the clock each time a process is suspended
    • The word processor's use of the stored program concept to fetch its own instructions
    • The address bus carrying the word processor's data directly from its file to the screen
    • Process isolation and scheduling, which let the other processes continue while the faulty one is dealt with

  18. If several programs share one library file on a computer, what is the most likely result of replacing that library with a new version?

    • The operating system deletes all data stored in main memory as a safety measure
    • The processor switches permanently into interrupt mode until the library is removed
    • Every program that uses the library picks up the change, which may fix or break them
    • Each program must be recompiled into bytecode before it can run again on the machine

  19. Which statement about application software and system software is correct?

    • System software performs tasks for the user, such as word processing, and needs no operating system
    • Application software performs tasks for the user, such as word processing, and relies on system software to run
    • Application software manages the processor and memory, and so it replaces the operating system
    • Both types are identical, differing only in the programming language used to write each one

  20. Which describes a benefit of an operating system's multitasking?

    • It makes each process run at the full clock speed of the processor simultaneously on one core
    • It ensures that only one program can be loaded from disk at a time, which improves security
    • It lets several processes share the processor so that the user can work on more than one task
    • It removes the need for main memory, because processes are kept inside the processor at all times

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