Which term describes the main piece of software that manages the computer's hardware and resources, provides a platform for applications to run on and lets the user interact with the computer?
Operating system
What is meant by 'user interface'?
The part of the operating system that takes input from the user and displays output back to them
Which term describes the operating system transferring programs and data between secondary storage and RAM, and giving each running application its own area so that several can run at once?
Memory management and multitasking
What is meant by 'peripheral management and drivers'?
The operating system managing the data sent between devices and the processor, using drivers to communicate with each device
Which term describes the operating system giving each person an account with access rights and keeping the computer secure?
User management
What is meant by 'file management'?
The operating system naming files, allocating them to folders and moving and saving them
Which of these is a purpose of an operating system?
To manage the computer's hardware and resources
Which of these is an example of an operating system?
Linux
A student has a word processor open and can still use a web browser at the same time. Which function makes this possible?
Memory management and multitasking
A student renames a document and moves it into a different folder. Which function of the operating system is this?
File management
Why does the operating system need a driver for a printer?
So the operating system can communicate with that printer
A video editing program needs to use the computer's sound card. What happens?
The program asks the operating system, which controls the sound card
Which of these is NOT one of the main functions of an operating system?
Translating programs into machine code
An operating system is described as providing a platform for application software. What does this mean?
Applications run on the operating system, which manages the hardware they need
The operating system gives each member of staff an account and decides which folders they may open. Which function is this?
User management
A user types a command and the reply from the computer appears on the screen. Which function of the operating system is this?
User interface
A document is sent to a printer and waits in a queue until the printer is ready for it. Which function of the operating system is this?
Peripheral management and drivers
What is the purpose of Utility Software?
Allows the user to maintain a computer
Which of the following is not an example of Utility Software?
Word Processor
Which of the following is an example of Utility Software?
Compression software
What is the name of the algorithm which encrypts data?
Cipher
Which of the following is needed by an algorithm to encrypt data?
Key
How do files become fragmented on a Hard Disk Drive?
When files are deleted they leave empty space, new files are fragmented in order to fit them into the empty space
What is defragmentation?
The process of ensuring files are stored contiguously on a Hard Disk Drive
What is the first step of the defragmentation process?
Empty space is grouped together
What is lossless compression?
When file size is reduced but the original can be restored
What is lossy compression?
When data is permanently removed from a file
Which one of the following is a purpose of compression?
Reducing the amount of data sent over networks
Which one of the following is a purpose of compression?
Reducing the amount of secondary storage capacity files take up
Which other of these software packages is an example of utility software?
Anti-malware software
What is meant by the term 'user interface'?
The part of the operating system that lets the user interact with and control the computer
Which term describes software that reads aloud the text and buttons shown by a computer, for a user with poor eyesight?
Screen reader
What is meant by customisation of a user interface?
Changing settings such as the text size, language or background so that the interface suits the person using it
Which term describes a feature that makes the part of the display the user is looking at larger?
Magnification
What is meant by a consistent layout in a user interface?
The same items appear in the same place and work in the same way in every program
Which term describes giving commands to a computer by speaking instead of using a keyboard or mouse?
Voice control
What is meant by accessibility features in a user interface?
Features that help users with disabilities to use the computer
Why can a user open a file without knowing how the computer reads it from the disk?
The user interface hides the complexity of the hardware
A user learns to save a file in one program, then finds the Save option in the same place in another program. Which feature of a user interface is this?
A consistent layout
A user with a visual impairment needs the text and buttons on the screen to be read out loud. Which feature of the user interface is needed?
A screen reader
A user finds it hard to tell the difference between pale text and the background behind it. Which feature of the user interface would help most?
High contrast colours
A user changes the language of the operating system and picks a different desktop background. Which feature of a user interface are they using?
Customisation options
Which feature of a user interface helps a new user see what tasks are available without having to learn commands?
Icons and menus that show the options
Which of these is NOT a helpful feature of a user interface?
Error messages that only show a code number
A user types a letter into a word processor and it appears on the screen. What is the user interface doing?
Taking the user's input and displaying it as output
A user has three programs open at the same time. How does the user interface help them?
It lets the user switch between the open programs
A first-time user is part way through a task in a new program and cannot remember which button to press next. Which feature of the user interface should they use?
The help facility
Which term describes the operating system giving each running program its own section of RAM and keeping track of which sections are free?
Allocation of memory
What is meant by the transfer of data between memory?
Copying programs and data into RAM and saving data back to secondary storage
Which term describes the operating system removing a closed program from RAM so that its space can be used again?
Freeing of memory
When the operating system loads a program, what is copied from secondary storage into RAM?
The program and the data it needs
What does the memory management function of an operating system do?
Decides how RAM is shared between running programs
A student opens a spreadsheet program. Where must the program be copied before the CPU can run it?
Into RAM from secondary storage
A user saves a document they are working on. What does the operating system do with the data?
Transfers it from RAM to secondary storage
A user closes a photo editing program. What happens to the memory that the program was using?
It is freed so it can be allocated to other programs
Why does the operating system give each running program its own area of RAM?
So one program cannot overwrite another program's data
Which statement best describes multitasking?
Running more than one program at the same time
How does memory management allow a computer to multitask?
Several programs are held in RAM at once in separate areas
A game stops responding and the operating system closes it. What effect does this have on the other programs held in RAM?
They continue to run, each in its own area of RAM
A computer has several programs open at the same time. Why does the operating system need to manage how RAM is used?
RAM is limited and all the open programs share it
The operating system keeps a record of which areas of RAM are in use and which are free. Why does it need this record?
So it knows where to place a program when it is opened
A user is typing a report but has not saved it yet. Where is the report being held?
In RAM, in the word processor's own area
A user closes a word processor. The program file is stored on secondary storage. What happens to that file?
It stays on secondary storage and can be opened again
Which term describes a piece of hardware, such as a printer or a keyboard, that is connected to a computer but is not part of the CPU or main memory?
Peripheral
Which term describes the operating system function that controls communication with each connected device and makes sure data reaches the right program or device?
Peripheral management
What is meant by a 'driver update'?
A newer version of a driver that fixes problems or improves performance
Which term describes a piece of hardware used to enter data into a computer, such as a keyboard or a microphone?
Input device
Which term describes a peripheral, such as an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, that holds data for later use?
Storage device
What is the main purpose of a device driver?
To translate the operating system's instructions into commands a device understands
A device is connected to a computer but the correct driver for that operating system is not available. What is the most likely result?
The device may not work, or may only partly work
A printer driver written for Windows is installed on a computer running macOS. What is the most likely result?
The printer will not work with that operating system
After an operating system upgrade, an old scanner no longer works. What is the most likely explanation?
The scanner's driver was written for the previous version of the operating system
What is the most appropriate way to make the old scanner work with the new operating system?
Install an updated driver supplied by the scanner's manufacturer
A user is printing a document while music is playing through the speakers. What does peripheral management ensure?
That data from each program reaches the correct device
A user connects a new printer to a computer for the first time. What does the operating system usually do to make the printer work?
Installs the printer's driver automatically
A computer has a keyboard, a mouse and a printer connected to it. How many device drivers are needed?
Three, one for each device
Which of these is an example of data being transferred from a peripheral to the processor?
A key press is sent from a keyboard
Which term describes the operating system function that controls who can use a computer and what each person is allowed to do?
User management
What is meant by file management?
Organising and using files and folders without knowing where data is stored
What is the name for the process where the operating system checks a user's identity when they log in, for example with a password, PIN or fingerprint?
Authentication
What is meant by access rights?
The permissions that decide what each user is allowed to do
What is the name for the part of a file name that shows the file type and tells the operating system which application opens the file, such as .docx or .jpg?
File extension
What is meant by 'saving' a file?
The file is written to secondary storage and its location is recorded
A pupil wants to leave their original file in their own folder and also put the same file into a shared folder. Which file management operation does this?
Copying
When an account is allocated for a new user on a shared computer, what does that user get?
Their own username, files and settings
An administrator creates a user account for a new employee, giving them a username, a password and their own home folder. What is the administrator doing?
Allocating a user account
What can an administrator account do that a standard user account cannot?
Install software and change system settings
A user places their finger on a scanner to log in to a computer. What is the operating system doing?
Authenticating the user's identity
Why does an operating system keep a log of which users logged in and when?
So activity on the computer can be traced to a user
A pupil saves work so that it sits inside Documents, then School, then Computer Science. What does this show?
Files being allocated to folders in a hierarchy
A shared worksheet is set so that pupils can open it but cannot change it. What does this describe?
File permissions that allow reading but not editing
A pupil moves files into new folders, renames them and deletes the ones they no longer need. Which function of the operating system are they using?
File management
A pupil can only remember part of a file's name. Which file management feature will find the file anyway?
Searching for the file by name
Two pupils share a computer, and each one logs in with their own account. Why can one pupil not open the other pupil's saved work?
User management keeps each user's files private
A pupil wants to find every image file saved in their folder. What should they search for?
The file extension used for images, such as .jpg
Why is user management important on a computer network shared by many pupils and staff?
It controls who can use the computer and what each can do
A pupil logs in with the correct password but still cannot open the folder of staff reports. What is the reason?