Survey of Operating Systems 3e
Chapter 1
Solutions
Chapter 1 Textbook Solutions
Answers to Key Terms Quiz
1. kernel
2. security
3. operating system (OS)
4. virtual memory
5. task management
6. input/output (I/O)
7. server
8. device driver
9. multitasking
10. user interface
Answers to Multiple-Choice Quiz
1. Correct answer: A. Mac OS X, because it only runs on Apple computers.
B is incorrect because Windows Vista is designed for PCs.
C is incorrect because Windows NT is designed for PCs.
D is incorrect because Red Hat Linux comes in a version for PCs.
E is incorrect because Windows XP is designed for PCs.
2. Correct answer: B. Integrated circuit (IC) is a small electronic component made up of
transistors and other miniaturized parts.
A is incorrect because a peripheral is a device connected to a computer.
C is incorrect because a handheld is a type of microcomputer.
D is incorrect because a mouse is a peripheral device.
E is incorrect because a vacuum tube is a component that the integrated circuit replaced.
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Survey of Operating Systems 3e
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3. Correct answer: E. Lotus 1-2-3, an electronic spreadsheet, was the “killer app” application
program that made the IBM PC a must-have business tool.
A is incorrect because Microsoft Word was a word processor that evolved with the PC, but
did not have the “killer app” effect of Lotus 1-2-3.
B is incorrect because, although VisiCalc was a very important application for users of the
personal computers that predated the IBM PC, and was the obvious model for Lotus 1-2-3, it
did not play the role that Lotus 1-2-3 did.
C is incorrect because BASIC is a programming language, and although the IBM PC
included a BASIC interpreter in ROM, it was not a compelling must-have business tool.
D is incorrect because PC-DOS is an OS and not an application, and it alone could not play
the role that Lotus 1-2-3 did.
4. Correct answer: E. Windows Server 2008.
A is incorrect because MS-DOS is a desktop operating system.
B is incorrect because Mac OS X is a desktop operating system (available in both desktop
and server versions).
C is incorrect because Windows 7 is a desktop operating system.
D is incorrect because Linux is a desktop operating system (available in both desktop and
server versions).
5. Correct answer: C. A keyboard is a computer input device.
A is incorrect because a display is an output device.
B is incorrect because a printer is an output device.
D is incorrect because RAM is a form of computer memory used for temporary storage.
E is incorrect because ROM is a nonvolatile form of computer memory used to store
programs.
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6. Correct answer: B. A file and print server is a networked computer that allows end users to
save and access files stored on it.
A is incorrect because the purpose of a desktop computer on a network is usually to allow
users to access network servers.
C is incorrect because a hand-held computer does not play the role described in the question.
D is incorrect because a laptop does not usually play the role described in the question.
E is incorrect because a PC does not usually play the role described in the question.
7. Correct answer: D. Speed and the ability to support real-time application programs.
A is incorrect because a GUI and the ability to run great games is not a characteristic of realtime operating systems.
B is incorrect because, although many real-time OSs are single-tasking, this is not necessarily
a characteristic of real-time operating systems.
C is incorrect because large and fast are not characteristics of real-time operating systems.
E is incorrect because running on a terminal server is not a characteristic of real-time
operating systems.
8. Correct answer: B. Mac OS X is built on NextStep, an OS based on the UNIX kernel.
A is incorrect because while Linux is UNIX-like, it is not the basis for Mac OS X.).
C is incorrect because DOS is a very old single-tasking OS that is not the basis for Mac OS
X.
D is incorrect because Windows is not the OS on which Mac OS X is built.
E is incorrect because BASIC is a very simple programming language and not an operating
system.
9. Correct answer: D. A government agency was a typical end-user in the 1950s.
A is incorrect because there were no computer gamers in the 1950s.
B is incorrect because a medical doctor would not have been an end user in the early 1950s.
C is incorrect because a politician would not have been an end user in the early 1950s.
E is incorrect because a secretary would not have been an end user in the early 1950s.
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Survey of Operating Systems 3e
Chapter 1
Solutions
10. Correct answer: E. An operating system is to a computer as a manager is to a department.
A is incorrect because “salesman” does not describe the role of an operating system in a
department.
B is incorrect because “spreadsheet” does not describe the role of an operating system. It
describes a type of application.
C is incorrect because “steering wheel” does not describe the role of an operating system.
D is incorrect because “ignition” does not describe the role of an operating system.
11. Correct answer: D. The computing trend over the last 60-plus years has been toward
physically smaller, more powerful computers.
A is incorrect because the trend has been toward smaller computers.
B is incorrect because the trend has not been toward larger, less powerful computers.
C is incorrect because the trend has not been toward less powerful computers.
E is incorrect because the trend has not been toward single-use computers.
12. Correct answer: B: When a client computer accesses a file and print server, opens a file and
edits it, the processing is done on the client computer. All the file and print server is doing is
allowing the client computer to access files; after the processing is done on the client
computer.
A is incorrect because the processing required for editing the file is done by the computer’s
resources.
C is incorrect because the only role of the file and print server is to “serve” up the file for use
on the client computer.
D is incorrect because in this example processing is not done “over the network.” The role
the network plays in this transaction is allowing for the communication between the client
and server.
E is incorrect because the file and print client software is only required for requesting the
services of the file and print server.
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13. Correct answer: B. A specialized hand-held computer would be used by someone taking
inventory in a grocery store.
A is incorrect because a laptop is not likely to be the computer used.
C is incorrect because a desktop computer would be awkward to use for this purpose.
D is incorrect because a server would be even more awkward to use for this purpose.
E is incorrect because a mainframe would be impossible to carry into the aisles of a grocery
store.
14. Correct answer: D. ROM BIOS is a chip that contains the basic input/output system for a
computer.
A is incorrect because a microprocessor does not contain the basic input/output system for a
computer.
B is incorrect because CMOS does not contain the basic input/output system for a computer.
C is incorrect because RAM does not contain the basic input/output system for a computer.
E is incorrect because a floppy disk does not contain the basic input/output system for a
computer.
15. Correct answer: C. log on with a user name and password.
A is incorrect because, while it is a good idea to back up all data, it is not the first thing a user
must do to gain access to a secure computer.
B is incorrect because connecting to the Internet is not the first thing a user must do to gain
access to a secure computer.
D is incorrect because double-clicking the Start menu is not the first thing a user must do to
gain access to a secure computer.
E is incorrect because rebooting is not the first thing a user must do to gain access to a secure
computer.
Answers to Essay Quiz
1. Answers will vary, but many will have at least as many interactions as Brianna and Justin in
the scenarios in this chapter. Optionally, lead a classroom discussion among the students and
have one of them list on the board each unique interaction as it is mentioned.
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Survey of Operating Systems 3e
Chapter 1
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2. Answers will vary. Since this question will not apply to some students, consider leading a
class discussion so that all students are exposed to the experiences of the others. There are
several possible comparisons, but some points students may make might refer to the
differences and similarities in working with the various GUIs. Some may work with an
operating system in a text mode, such as a version of UNIX or Linux without one of the GUI
shells. These people might discuss having to remember commands and the syntax for the
commands. Others may sit at a computer dedicated to a single purpose, like hospital patient
admittance, where they are always in that single application, and quite often, it is not a GUI
screen. These are often monochrome screens of terminal systems, and these people may use
only the keyboard, not a mouse.
3. Windows 98 was not a good choice of OS for a computer holding confidential information
on the local hard drive because Windows 98 offered no local security. It did not have a local
security database for authentication, nor did it support NTFS for file and folder security.
4. Virtual memory is disk space used by the OS as memory. It allows for more programs and
data to be in memory than the actual physical system memory can hold. This is accomplished
by moving data and portions of background programs out of memory, as necessary, to a
portion of disk that has been defined as virtual memory. An operating system that does not
use virtual memory is DOS.
5. Answers will vary widely, and this would make a great discussion topic. In considering what
operating system to select for a new company, you first look at the needs of the user
community and determine which operating system would best fulfill those needs. Select the
applications first. In this case, we know only that the users require standard business
applications. It is best to select a set of business applications that most of your users are
probably familiar with, like the Microsoft Office suite. Because these applications are
available in both Macintosh and Windows versions, it is time to consider something called
total cost of ownership, or TCO. TCO includes the cost of the initial purchase of the software
and hardware, plus the cost of consumables used in operating those systems, including the
cost of training the users in the applications and the cost of training support people to help
the users keep their computers running. It can also include things you might not ordinarily
think of, like the cost to upgrade the software on a regular basis and the cost of owning the
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Chapter 1
Solutions
network to which the computers are connected. So when you consider TCO, the initial
purchase price can be trivial when compared with the ongoing cost to own the computers,
software, and network. If you use an Internet search engine and search on TCO, you will find
many articles on calculating TCO. Before making a decision about the computer and
software purchases in this case, you will want to research which combination will help you
achieve the lowest TCO.
Solution to Lab Project 1.1
1. Answers will vary based on the availability of the software and the pricing at the time the
student completes this step. We found all of the following at Amazon.com:
Operating System
Cost
Operating System
Cost
Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade
63.51
Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade
183.97
Windows Vista Ultimate full
122.95
Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional
99.98
Windows 7 Professional full
266.99
Mac OS X Tiger
209.99
176.22
Mac OS X Snow Leopard
27.49
(32-bit and 64-bit)
Windows 7 Professional Upgrade (32bit and 64-bit)
Windows 7 Ultimate full
269.99
Solution to Lab Project 1.2
1. Answers will vary but it will be a version of Windows, MAC OS, or Linux.
2. Answers will vary. A reasonable description of the user interface of a Windows or
Macintosh OS should describe the GUI, including the background, icons, and other
visible graphic elements. It should also describe how the user manipulates a cursor to
select an object, click an object, and launch a program by clicking an icon or selecting the
program from a menu.
3. Answers will vary. If the student is using Windows 7, an example of job management is
the Task Scheduler, an administrative tool easily accessed by entering “scheduler” in the
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Survey of Operating Systems 3e
Chapter 1
Solutions
Start Menu’s Search box. It allows you to schedule a task that does not require user
intervention to run automatically one or more times.
4. A good way to demonstrate task management in Windows or on a Macintosh is to open
two or more programs and switch between them on the desktop.
5. Answers will vary. If you’re using Windows, open Explorer, select a file on the hard
disk, right-click the file, select Copy from the context menu, right-click the icon for the
flash drive, and select Paste. The file is now copied.
6. Answers will vary. Requiring authentication is proof of security support. Proof of
authentication is the logon screen.
Other evidence of security support in your operating system is the permissions set on
local resources. You can look at the properties for a file, folder, or local printer and see
the Security tab. However, file and folder security can only apply if your computer is
running a version of Windows that supports the NTFS file system, and if the file or folder
is on a drive formatted with NTFS.
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