Name: Class: Date:

Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

Invitation to Computer Science 7th Edition

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1. An interface prevents accidental damage to hardware, programs, and data.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 281

2. All modern operating systems provide GUIs.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 284

3. Machine language allows only numeric memory addresses.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

4. Each symbolic assembly language instruction is translated into one or more machine language instructions.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

5. One of the problems with machine language is that it uses binary.

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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

6. Machine language is a high-level programming language.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

7. Assembly language does not allow the use of symbolic operation codes.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 288

8. One of the services provided by pseudo-ops is program construction.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 293

9. In a time-sharing system, a program can keep the processor until it initiates an I/O operation and has run for the
maximum length of time.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 323-324

10. Clients cannot perform local computations without access to the network.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 325

11. Assemblers, compilers, and interpreters are all examples of ____________________ services.
ANSWER: language
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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 284

12. ____________________ labels increase the maintainability of a program.

ANSWER: Symbolic
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 290

13. A(n) ____________________ character is displayed on screen to indicate that an operating system is waiting for
input.
ANSWER: prompt
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 309

14. It is the responsibility of the ____________________ to safeguard the password file that stores all valid user
name/password combinations.
ANSWER: OS
operating system
OS (operating system)
operating system (OS)
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 312

15. Typically, all requests to a(n) ____________________ operating system are prioritized.
ANSWER: real time
real-time
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 327

16. For a program to run on a naked machine, it must be represented in decimal. _________________________
ANSWER: False - binary
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 280

17. A single high-level language instruction is typically translated into many high-level language instructions.
_________________________
ANSWER: False - machine
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 287

18. The variable used to determine the address of a given instruction or piece of data is called the program counter.
_________________________
ANSWER: False - location
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 303

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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

19. The user interfaces on the operating systems of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s were text oriented.
_________________________
ANSWER: True
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 309

20. Second-generation operating systems are called multiprogrammed operating systems. _________________________
ANSWER: False - Third, 3rd
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 321

21. A Von Neumann computer without any helpful user-oriented features is called a(n) ____ machine.
a. distributed b. virtual
c. assembler d. naked
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 280

22. The ____ hides from the user the messy details of underlying hardware.
a. interface b. operating system
c. system software d. machine code
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 281

23. System software acts as a(n) ____ between the users and the hardware.
a. translator b. intermediary
c. tester d. security agent
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 282

24. The set of services and resources created by the system software and seen by the user is called a(n) ____ machine.
a. naked b. virtual
c. assembler d. Von Neumann
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 282

25. ____, such as text editors, are sometimes organized into collections called program libraries.
a. Programming tools b. Office tools
c. Packages d. Utilities
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

REFERENCES: 285

26. In ____ language, if we insert or delete an instruction, all memory addresses following that instruction will change.
a. assembly b. machine
c. low-level programming d. high-level programming
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

27. C++ and Java are examples of ____ languages.

a. low-level programming b. high-level programming
c. machine d. assembly
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286

28. A program written in assembly language is called the ____ program.

a. virtual b. object
c. data d. source
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 287

29. A machine language program is called the ____ program.

a. source b. object
c. data d. virtual
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 287

30. Translators for ____ are called compilers.

a. assembly language b. machine language
c. low-level languages d. high-level languages
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 287

31. In assembly language, a(n) ____ is a name, followed by a colon, placed at the beginning of an instruction.
a. op code mnemonic b. comment
c. address field d. label
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 290

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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

32. A(n) ____ invokes a service of the assembler.
a. compiler b. pseudo-op
c. loader d. operation
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 291

33. A(n) ____ operation involves the comparison of values and the subsequent use of the outcome to decide what to do
next.
a. iterative b. conditional
c. sequential d. transformer
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 296

34. The ____ problem-solving cycle involves inputting code to an assembler, translating it to machine language, loading it
into a Von Neumann computer, and executing to produce answers to the problem.
a. Von Neumann b. modern
c. algorithmic d. conditional
ANSWER: c
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 299

35. The conversion of symbolic op codes such as LOAD, ADD, and SUBTRACT to binary makes use of a structure
called the ____.
a. op code table b. assembler
c. loader d. library
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 301

36. If the op code table is sorted alphabetically, the ____ search algorithm is used to find an op code.
a. sequential b. binary
c. op code d. table
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 301

37. After all the fields of an assembly language instruction have been translated into binary, the newly built machine
language instruction and the address of where it is to be loaded are written out to a file called the ____ file.
a. table b. source
c. data d. object
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1

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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

REFERENCES: 305

38. Icons displayed on the screen are selected with a mouse and a button using a technique called ____.
a. windows interface b. point-and-click
c. panel interface d. command line
ANSWER: b
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 309-310

39. ____ operation codes are restricted to be used in the operating system or other system software.
a. Privileged b. User
c. Specialized d. System
ANSWER: a
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 322

40. A ____-generation operating system will typically be a parallel processing operating system that can efficiently
manage computer systems containing tens, hundreds, or even thousands of processors.
a. second b. third
c. fourth d. fifth
ANSWER: d
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 328

41. What are three major advantages to writing programs in assembly language rather than machine language?
ANSWER: 1) Use of symbolic operation codes rather than numeric (binary) ones
2) Use of symbolic memory addresses rather than numeric (binary) ones
3) Pseudo-operations that provide useful user-oriented services such as data generation
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 288
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

42. What are the four tasks to be performed by an assembler?

ANSWER: 1) Convert symbolic op codes to binary
2) Convert symbolic addresses to binary
3) Perform the assembler services requested by the pseudo-ops
4) Put the translated instructions into a file for future use
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 300
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

43. What is the most important task of the operating system?

ANSWER: The most important task of the operating system is to wait for a user command delivered via the
keyboard, mouse, finger tap, or other input device. If the command is legal, the operating system
activates and schedules the appropriate software package to process the request.
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POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 308
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

44. How does a GUI communicate with a user?

ANSWER: To communicate with the user, a GUI supports visual aids and point-and-click operations, rather than
textual commands. The interface uses icons, pull-down menus, scrolling and resizable windows, and
other visual elements and graphical metaphors that make it easier for a user to formulate requests.
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 309-310
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

45. Briefly explain the function of the operating system as a security guard.
ANSWER: The operating system controls access to the computer and its resources. It must prevent unauthorized
users from accessing the system and prevent unauthorized users from doing unauthorized things. At a
minimum, the operating system must not allow people to access the computer if they have not been
granted permission.
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 311
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

46. To make a Von Neumann computer usable, what must you create between the user and the hardware? What must this
created item do?
ANSWER: To make a Von Neumann computer usable, we must create an interface between the user and the
hardware. This interface does the following things:
• Hides from the user the messy details of the underlying hardware
• Presents information about what is happening in a way that does not require in-depth knowledge of the
internal structure of the system
• Allows easy user access to the resources available on this computer
• Prevents accidental or intentional damage to hardware, programs, and data
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 281
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

47. List four responsibilities of the system software.

ANSWER: The system software has the following responsibilities:
• Hides the complex and unimportant (to the user) details of the internal structure of the Von Neumann
architecture
• Presents important information to the user in a way that is easy to understand
• Allows the user to access machine resources in a simple and efficient way
• Provides a secure and safe environment in which to operate
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 282-283
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

48. What is the single most important piece of system software on the computer? Discuss its function, and discuss at
length its software packages that handle the requests of other programs.
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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

ANSWER: The program that controls the overall operation of the computer is the operating system, and it is the
single most important piece of system software on a computer. It is the operating system that
communicates with users, determines what they want, and activates other system programs, applications
packages, or user programs to carry out their requests. The software packages that handle these requests
include the following:

• User interface—All modern operating systems provide a powerful graphical user interface (GUI) that
gives the user an intuitive visual overview as well as graphical control of the capabilities and services of
the computer.
• Language services—These programs, called assemblers, compilers, and interpreters, allow you to write
programs in a high-level, user-oriented language rather than machine language and to execute these
programs easily and efficiently. They often include components such as text editors and debuggers.
• Memory managers—These programs allocate memory space for programs and data and retrieve this
memory space when it is no longer needed.
• Information managers—These programs handle the organization, storage, and retrieval of information
on mass storage devices such as hard drives, CDs, DVDs, flash drives, and tapes. They allow you to
organize your information in an efficient hierarchical manner, using directories, folders, and files.
• I/O systems—These software packages allow you to easily and efficiently use the many different types
of input and output devices that exist on a modern computer system.
• Scheduler—This system program keeps a list of programs ready to run on the processor, and it selects
the one that will execute next. The scheduler allows you to have a number of different programs active at
a single time, for instance, surfing the Web while you are waiting for a file to finish printing.
• Utilities—These collections of library routines provide a wide range of useful services either to a user
or to other system routines. Text editors, online help routines, image and sound applications, and control
panels are examples of utility routines. Sometimes these utilities are organized into collections called
program libraries.
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 284-285
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

49. Describe four problems with machine language.

ANSWER: • Machine language uses binary. There are no natural language words, mathematical symbols, or other
convenient mnemonics to make the language more readable.
• Machine language allows only numeric memory addresses (in binary). A programmer cannot name an
instruction or a piece of data and refer to it by name.
• Machine language is difficult to change. If we insert or delete an instruction, all memory addresses
following that instruction will change. For example, if we place a new instruction into memory location
503, then the instruction previously in location 503 is now in 504. All references to address 503 must be
updated to point to 504. There may be hundreds of such references.
• Machine language makes it difficult to create data. If a user wants to store a piece of data in memory,
he or she must compute the internal binary representation for that data item. These conversion
algorithms are complicated and time consuming.
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 286
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

50. Explain what a real-time operating system does. Then give a detailed example.
ANSWER: A real-time operating system manages the resources of embedded computers that are controlling ongoing
physical processes and that have requests that must be serviced within fixed time constraints. This type
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Chapter 06: An Introduction to System Software and Virtual Machines

of operating system guarantees that it can service these important requests within that fixed amount of
time. For example, it may guarantee that, regardless of what else it is currently doing, if an airline
collision detection message arrives, the software implementing collision avoidance will be activated and
executed within 50 milliseconds. Typically, the way that this guarantee is implemented is that all
requests to a real-time operating system are prioritized. Instead of being handled in first-come, first-
served order, they are handled in priority sequence, from most important to least important, where
“importance” is defined in terms of the time-critical nature of the request. A real-time operating system
lets passengers be uncomfortably cool for a few more seconds while it handles the problem of avoiding a
midair collision.
POINTS: 1
REFERENCES: 327
TOPICS: Critical Thinking

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