Understanding Computers Today and Tomorrow Comprehensive 16e Deborah Morley Charles S Parker – Test Bank

Complete Test Bank With Answers

 

 

Sample Questions Posted Below

 

Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

1. In practice, the difference between system and application software is not always straightforward.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 177

2. When you issue the command for your computer to store a document on your hard drive, the application software must

make sure that the specified hard drive exists.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 178

3. Most operating systems today use a text-based user interface.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

4. The Windows Action Manager lists all the program and processes currently running on a computer.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

5. As you work on your computer, the operating system continuously manages your computer’s resources and makes them

available to devices and programs when they are needed.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 180

6. Filename rules are the same in all operating systems.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 1Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

7. File extensions should not be changed by the user because the operating system uses them to identify the program that

should be used to open the file.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

8. Using virtual memory is faster than just using RAM.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 184

9. There are two primary forms of DOS: PC-DOS and MS-DOS.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

10. Windows 98 was built from the ground up using a different kernel than the other versions of Windows.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189

11. Windows Vista replaced Windows XP.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189

12. Although Linux originally used a command line interface, most recent versions of Linux programs use a graphical

user interface.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 193

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 2Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

13. Larger computers—such as high-end servers, mainframes, and supercomputers—sometimes use operating systems

designed solely for that type of system.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 198

14. Linux is increasingly being used with both mainframes and supercomputers.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 198

15. There are many stand-alone utility programs available as an alternative to the operating system’s utility programs.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 198-199

16. Stand-alone utility programs are often available in a suite of related programs.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 199

17. Once a file management program is open, you can look at the folders and files stored on your computer.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 199

18. In Windows, users can use the search box located at the lower-left corner of the File Explorer window to search for

files and folders in the current location that match the keywords entered into the search box.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: False

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 3Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

19. File compression programs reduce the size of files so they take up less storage space on a storage medium or can be

transmitted faster over the Internet.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 203

20. Using the Save As option on the File tab, before editing a document is a good idea, so you can return to the

original version if needed.

a. True

b. False

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 204

21. Application software runs in the background at all times, making it possible for you to use your computer.

_________________________

ANSWER: False – System software

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 177

22. In general, the operating system serves as an intermediary between the user and the computer.

_________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 178

23. Most application systems today look for and recognize new devices each time the computer boots.

_________________________

ANSWER: False – operating systems

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 180

24. If a device driver file is deleted, becomes corrupted, or has a conflict with another piece of software, then the device

will no longer work. _________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 180

25. Folders can contain both files and other folders (called subfolders). _________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 4Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

26. All programs and data located in RAM are divided into fixed-length pages or variable-length files.

_________________________

ANSWER: False – segments

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 183-184

27. The documents waiting to be printed are said to be in a(n) print queue, which designates the order the documents will

be printed. _________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 184

28. The older DOS operating system and some versions of the UNIX and Linux operating systems use a(n) graphical user

interface. _________________________

ANSWER: False – command line

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 185

29. Most operating systems are designed for either 16-bit or 32-bit CPUs. _________________________

ANSWER: False – 64, sixty-four

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 186

30. There have been many different versions of Windows over the years. _________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

31. In 1994, Microsoft announced that all versions of Windows after 3.11 would be full-fledged operating systems instead

of just application environments. _________________________

ANSWER: False – operating

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189

32. With File Explorer, use the View tab to specify how the items in the right pane are displayed.

_________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 199

33. Cleanup programs evaluate your system, looking for problems and making recommendations for fixing any errors that

are discovered. _________________________

ANSWER: False – Diagnostic

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 5Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

34. Disk management programs diagnose and repair problems related to your hard drive. _________________________

ANSWER: True

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

35. Uninstall utilities are designed to delete temporary files (such as deleted files still in the Recycle Bin, temporary

Internet files, temporary installation files, and so forth) in order to free up disk space. _________________________

ANSWER: False – Cleanup

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 203

36. System software is usually divided into two categories: operating systems and ____ programs.

a. planning system b. utility

c. FAT system d. background

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 177

37. ____ consists of the operating system and utility programs that control your computer and allow you to use it.

a. Background software b. Front-end software

c. Application software d. System software

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 177

38. ____ includes all the programs that allow you to perform specific tasks on your computer, such as writing a letter.

a. System software b. Utility programs

c. Application software d. Background programs

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 177

39. A computer’s ____ is a collection of programs that manage and coordinate the activities taking place within the

computer.

a. database system b. storage system

c. application system d. operating system

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 178

40. The ____ boots the computer, launches application software, and ensures that all actions requested by a user are valid

and processed in an orderly fashion.

a. startup b. operating system

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 6Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

c. driver d. registry

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 178

41. The means by which an operating system or any other program interacts with the user is called the ____.

a. user login b. programming interface

c. program front-end d. user interface

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

42. Small programs called ____ are used to communicate with peripheral devices, such as monitors, printers, portable

storage devices, and keyboards.

a. interfaces b. utilities

c. drivers d. managers

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 180

43. An important task that the operating system performs is ____, which keeps track of the files stored on a computer so

that they can be retrieved when needed.

a. disk management b. file management

c. file listing d. file recovery

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

44. Filenames typically include a ____ at the end of the filename.

a. file extension c. file subname b. file subscript

d. file attachment

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

45. Most operating systems include security features, such as an integrated ____, to protect against unauthorized access

via the Internet.

a. router b. firewall

c. hub d. modem

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 182

46. Most operating systems include security features, such as an option to download and install ____ automatically from

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 7Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

the operating system’s manufacturer on a regular basis.

a. security walls b. device patches

c. security patches d. device drivers

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 182

47. ____ refers to the ability of an operating system to have more than one program open at one time.

a. Multidimensional b. Multiprogramming

c. Polyprogramming d. Multitasking

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 182

48. All programs and data located in RAM are divided into fixed-length ____ or variable-length segments, depending on

the operating system being used.

a. pies b. sectors

c. pages d. cylinders

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 183-184

49. ____ memory allows you to use more memory than is physically available on your computer.

a. Shared b. Virtual

c. Multithreading d. Buffer

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 184

50. A ____ is an area in RAM or on the hard drive designated to hold input and output on their way in or out of the

computer system.

a. segment b. buffer

c. page d. sector

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 184

51. ____ allow the user to issue commands by selecting icons, buttons, menu items, and other objects—typically with a

mouse, pen, or finger.

a. Graphical user interfaces b. Command line interfaces

c. Desktops d. Command-driven interfaces

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 8Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

REFERENCES: 185

52. During the 1980s and early 1990s, ____ was the dominant operating system for microcomputers.

a. Mac OS b. DOS (Disk Operating System)

c. Linux d. desktop operating system

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

53. In DOS, the command ____ displays the files and folders in the current location.

a. CD b. FORMAT

c. DIR d. COPY

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

54. One of the most obvious initial changes in Windows Vista was the ____ interface.

a. Leopard b. Android

c. Aero d. Symbian

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189

55. Windows ____ was released in 2012.

a. Leopard b. 7

c. 8 d. Vista

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189

56. The proprietary operating system for Mac computers made by Apple Corporation was ____.

a. Linux b. Solaris

c. Mac OS d. Unix

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 192

57. ____ was originally developed in the late 1960s at AT&T Bell Laboratories as an operating system for midrange

servers.

a. Linux b. UNIX

c. Solaris d. Mac OS X

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 9Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

REFERENCES: 192

58. ____ is one of the most widely-used versions of Linux.

a. Ubuntu b. Chrome

c. Cisco d. Uhuru

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 193

59. Chrome OS is the first ____.

a. cloud operating system b. high-performance operating system

c. virtual operating system d. storage operating system

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 194

60. ____ are designed to be used with everyday objects, such as home appliances, gaming consoles, digital cameras, e-

readers, digital photo frames, ATMs, toys, watches, GPS systems, home medical devices, voting terminals, and cars.

a. Virtual operating systems b. Embedded operating systems

c. High-performance operating systems d. Storage operating systems

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 194

61. Windows 10 replaces older mobile versions of Windows, including ____ and Windows RT, as well as older embedded

versions of Windows.

a. Windows Phone Dragon c. Windows Phone 8 b. Windows Phone 5

d. Windows Server 2014

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 196

62. ____ is a Linux-based operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance.

a. Android b. UNIX

c. Mac OS X d. Vista

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 196

63. ____ is the most widely used mobile operating system in the United States.

a. Mac OS b. Palm OS

c. Windows Mobile d. Android

ANSWER: d

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 10Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 196

64. The file management program incorporated into recent versions of Windows is ____.

a. StuffIt b. WinZip

c. File Explorer d. Disk Cleanup

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 199

65. To restore a file or folder deleted from your computer’s hard drive, open the ____ and restore the file.

a. Recycle Bin b. Windows Explorer

c. System Restore program d. Recycle Menu

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 200

66. ____ are utility programs that search for documents and other files on a user’s hard drives.

a. Search tools b. Tool boxes

c. Search engines d. Tool programs

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

67. Rearranging the data on the hard drive so all files are stored in contiguous locations is called ____.

a. disk defragmentation b. file compression

c. disk backup d. disk cleanup

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

68. Creating a(n) ____ means making a duplicate copy of important files so that when a problem occurs, you can restore

those files using the copy.

a. mirror b. backup

c. index d. hidden file

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 204

69. A ____ is a software program that is designed to cause damage to a computer or perform some other malicious act.

a. firewall b. utility program

c. spyware d. computer virus

ANSWER: d

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 11Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 205

70. ____ programs can protect against someone accessing your computer via the Internet or a wireless connection.

a. Mirror b. Antispam

c. Firewall d. Modem

ANSWER: c

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 205

Case-Based Critical Thinking Questions

Case 5-1

Janet is studying operating systems as part of her Understanding Computers 101 class. After learning about the different

types of operating systems, she realizes that she uses a number of them in her daily life.

71. All the computers in Janet’s school computer lab have the latest version of Windows installed, which is ____.

a. Windows Vista b. Windows 8

c. Windows XP d. Windows 10

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 191

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

72. Janet recently purchased a new Apple computer. The operating system of that computer is ____.

a. Windows Vista b. Solaris

c. Windows Embedded d. OS X

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 192

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

Case-Based Critical Thinking Questions

Case 5-2

Dean has been using computers for some time now, but he is unfamiliar with a number of utility programs. In order to

better maintain his computer, he decides to ask his coworker Andrea for advice on basic utility programs.

73. Andrea tells Dean that he should periodically perform ____ on his computer to optimize the hard drive so that it works

more efficiently. This process works by rearranging the data on the hard drive so all files are stored in contiguous

locations.

a. disk defragmentation b. file compression

c. disk cleanup d. backup

ANSWER: a

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 12Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

74. Andrea advises Dean to remove unnecessary programs from his computer by using a(n) ____ utility.

a. delete b. uninstall

c. remove d. cleanup

ANSWER: b

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 202

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

75. Andrea tells Dean is that it is very important for him to ____ all of his important data on a regular basis to avoid data

loss in the case of a problem with the computer. He can use a(n) ____ utility to do this.

a. cleanup b. defragment

c. compress d. backup

ANSWER: d

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 204

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

76. One of the principal roles of every ____________________ is to translate user instructions into a form the computer

can understand.

ANSWER: operating system

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

77. During the boot process, the essential portion, or core, of the operating system (called the ____________________) is

loaded into memory.

ANSWER: kernel

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

78. Certain system configuration information is stored in the Windows ____________________ files.

ANSWER: registry

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 179

79. You may need to update or reinstall some device drivers if you ____________________ your operating system to a

newer version.

ANSWER: upgrade

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 180

80. ____________________ routines in the operating system determine the order in which jobs are carried out, as well as

which commands get executed first if the user is working with more than one program at one time or if the computer

supports multiple users.

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 13Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

ANSWER: Scheduling

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 181

81. One memory management technique frequently used by operating systems is ____________________, which uses a

portion of the computer’s hard drive as additional RAM.

ANSWER: virtual memory

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 183

82. The process of placing items in a buffer so they can be retrieved by the appropriate device when needed is called

____________________.

ANSWER: spooling

buffering

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 184

83. DOS traditionally used a command line interface, although later versions of DOS supported a(n)

____________________ interface.

ANSWER: menu-driven

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

84. Computers running the Windows operating system can still execute ____________________ commands via the

Command Prompt window.

ANSWER: DOS

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 188

85. The new Windows 8 Start screen uses ____________________ to represent apps, folders, Web sites, and more.

ANSWER: tiles

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 189-190

86. In Windows 8, the ____________________ bar is displayed by pointing to the upper or lower right corner of the

screen or by swiping in from the right edge of the screen.

ANSWER: charms

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 190

87. ____________________ was based on the UNIX operating system and originally set the standard for graphical user

interfaces.

ANSWER: Mac OS

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 192

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 14Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

88. OS X includes the Safari Web browser and a(n) ____________________, which you can use to launch programs and

open frequently used files and folders.

ANSWER: Dock

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 192

89. ____________________ is an operating system developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 when he was a student at the

University of Helsinki in Finland.

ANSWER: Linux

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 193

90. Over the years, the number of ____________________ users has grown, and volunteer programmers from all over the

world have collaborated to improve it, sharing their modified code with others over the Internet.

ANSWER: Linux

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 193

91. The mobile operating system designed for Apple mobile devices, such as the iPhone and the iPad,

is ____________________.

ANSWER: iOS

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 197

92. A(n) ____________________ is a software program that performs a specific task, usually related to managing or

maintaining a computer system.

ANSWER: utility program

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 198

93. With Windows File Explorer, to see the folders and files, click the appropriate letter or name for that medium in the

left pane (called the ____________________ pane).

ANSWER: Navigation

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 199

94. If a document has been manually or automatically assigned ____________________ tags (information about the file,

such as author, artist, or keywords), some search programs can search by those tags as well.

ANSWER: metadata

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 201

95. ____________________ is a software program installed without the user’s knowledge that secretly collects

information and sends it to an outside party via the user’s Internet connection.

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 15Name

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

:

Chapter 05: System Software

ANSWER: Spyware

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 205

96. Describe the functionality of an operating system.

ANSWER: A computer’s operating system is a collection of programs that manage and coordinate the activities

taking place within the computer and it is the most critical piece of software installed on the

computer. The operating system boots the computer, launches application software, and ensures that

all actions requested by a user are valid and processed in an orderly fashion. For example, when you

issue the command for your computer to store a document on your hard drive, the operating system

must perform the following steps: 1) make sure that the specified hard drive exists, 2) verify that there

is adequate space on the hard drive to store the document and then store the document in that location,

and 3) update the hard drive’s directory with the filename and disk location for that file so that the

document can be retrieved again when needed. In addition to managing all of the resources associated

with your local computer, the operating system also facilitates connections to the Internet and other

networks..

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 178

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

97. Explain multitasking with reference to an operating system.

ANSWER: Multitasking refers to the ability of an operating system to have more than one program (also called a

task) open at one time. Without the ability to multitask, an operating system would require the user to

close one program before opening another program. Virtually all operating systems today support

multitasking. Although multitasking enables a user to work with multiple programs at one time, a

single CPU core cannot execute more than one task at one time (unless Intel’s Hyper-Threading

Technology or another technology that allows a single core to function as two cores is used).

Consequently, the CPU rotates between processing tasks, but it works so quickly that it appears to the

user that all programs are executing at the same time.

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 182

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

98. Explain multithreading.

ANSWER: A thread is a sequence of instructions within a program that is independent of other threads, such as

spell checking, printing, and opening documents in a word processing program. Operating systems

that support multithreading have the ability to rotate between multiple threads (similar to the way

multitasking can rotate between multiple programs) so that processing is completed faster and more

efficiently, even though only one thread is executed by a single core at one time. Most operating

systems support multithreading.

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 182

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

99. Compare graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with command line interfaces.

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 16Name

:

Clas

s:

Dat

e:

Chapter 05: System Software

ANSWER: A user interface is the manner in which an operating system interacts with its users. Most

operating systems today use a graphical user interface (GUI). The older DOS operating system and

some versions of the UNIX and Linux operating systems use a command line interface, although

graphical versions of UNIX and Linux are available. Command line interfaces require users to input

commands using the keyboard; graphical user interfaces allow the user to issue commands by

selecting icons, buttons, menu items, and other graphical objects—typically with a mouse, pen, or

finger.

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 185

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

100. What is the purpose of uninstall utilities?

ANSWER: As programs are used, temporary data is often created. When programs are uninstalled (removed from

the hard drive), this data and other remnants of that program can be left behind on the hard drive or in

system files unless an uninstall utility is used. If a user removes programs by deleting the program’s

folder (which is not the recommended method for removing programs), the extraneous data is left

behind, using up valuable disk space and, sometimes, slowing down the computer. Uninstall utilities

remove the programs along with related extraneous data, such as references to those programs in your

system files.

POINTS: 1

REFERENCES: 202

TOPICS: Critical Thinking

Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero. Page 17