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MCQ On Bootstrap Loader

Q1. The primary function of a bootstrap loader is to:.
  1. Manage files on disk
  2. Load the operating system kernel into memory
  3. Provide a user interface to run programs
  4. Compile device drivers

Answer: b, Load the operating system kernel into memory

Solution: At startup, the bootstrap loader’s main job is to load the OS kernel into RAM and transfer control to it.

Q2. The bootstrap loader is executed immediately after:.
  1. The OS kernel starts
  2. The user logs in
  3. BIOS/UEFI completes hardware initialization
  4. Application programs start

Answer: c, BIOS/UEFI completes hardware initialization

Solution: BIOS/UEFI runs POST and selects a boot device, then hands control to the boot/ bootstrap loader.

Q3. Which of the following is TRUE about bootstrap loader?.
  1. It is stored only in RAM
  2. It is part of the application layer
  3. It is typically stored in ROM/firmware or boot sector/EFI partition
  4. It runs after the OS is fully loaded

Answer: c, It is typically stored in ROM/firmware or boot sector/EFI partition

Solution: Early boot code is stored in firmware (ROM) and the boot loader resides on disk (MBR/EFI partition).

Q4. Why is a boot loader needed?.
  1. Kernel cannot execute machine instructions
  2. CPU cannot directly load a full OS from disk at power on
  3. RAM cannot store the kernel
  4. OS cannot access the keyboard

Answer: b, CPU cannot directly load a full OS from disk at power on

Solution: CPU begins executing from firmware; loader bridges to disk OS images.

Q5. In a traditional BIOS-based system, the boot loader is usually loaded from:.
  1. Cache memory
  2. MBR (Master Boot Record)
  3. Swap space
  4. Registers

Answer: b, MBR (Master Boot Record)

Solution: BIOS loads the first boot code from the MBR of the selected boot disk.

Q6. In UEFI systems, boot information/boot loaders is typically stored in:.
  1. MBR only
  2. EFI System Partition (ESP)
  3. Swap partition
  4. User home directory

Answer: b, EFI System Partition (ESP)

Solution: UEFI uses the EFI System Partition to store bootloader files (like .efi).

Q7. Which component loads device drivers, starts services, and manages memory?.
  1. Bootstrap loader
  2. OS Kernel
  3. BIOS
  4. Compiler

Answer: b, OS Kernel

Solution: After the boot loader, the kernel takes over and initializes the full OS.

Q8. A "multi-boot" system typically requires:.
  1. Only BIOS
  2. Only kernel
  3. Boot loader that can select among OS images
  4. Only swap space

Answer: c, Boot loader that can select among OS images

Solution: Multi-boot is managed by loaders like GRUB with boot menu/chainloading.

Q9. A boot loader that provides a menu to select between Linux and Windows is an example of:.
  1. Single-stage loader
  2. Multi-boot loader
  3. Device driver
  4. File system

Answer: b, Multi-boot loader

Solution: Multi-boot loaders (like GRUB) can load different OS kernels.

Q10. Which of these is a common Linux boot loader?.
  1. NTFS
  2. GRUB
  3. FAT32
  4. DNS

Answer: b, GRUB

Solution: GRUB is a widely used boot loader in Linux.

Q11. Why can’t the OS be loaded directly by the CPU at power on?.
  1. CPU needs internet access first
  2. CPU cannot access secondary storage without initial firmware/loader code
  3. OS is always stored in cache
  4. OS kernel is always encrypted

Answer: b, CPU cannot access secondary storage without initial firmware/loader code

Solution: At start, CPU runs firmware instructions; it needs a small loader to read disk and load the kernel.

Q12. The correct boot sequence is:.
  1. Kernel -> BIOS/UEFI -> Boot loader -> OS services
  2. BIOS/UEFI -> Boot loader -> Kernel -> OS services
  3. Boot loader -> BIOS/UEFI -> Kernel -> OS services
  4. BIOS/UEFI -> Kernel -> Boot loader -> OS services

Answer: b, BIOS/UEFI -> Boot loader -> Kernel -> OS services

Solution: Firmware initializes hardware, then the boot loader loads the kernel, then OS services start.

Q13. Which statement best distinguishes a bootstrap loader from the OS kernel?.
  1. Bootstrap loader runs after the OS boots
  2. Kernel loads the bootstrap loader
  3. Bootstrap loader loads the kernel
  4. Both do the same work

Answer: c, Bootstrap loader loads the kernel

Solution: Boot loader’s job is to load kernel; kernel’s job is to run the OS.

Q14. If the boot loader is corrupted, the system will most likely:.
  1. Run normally but slower
  2. Fail to boot the OS
  3. Only lose network connectivity
  4. Only lose audio drivers

Answer: b, Fail to boot the OS

Solution: Without a working boot loader, the kernel won’t load, so the OS won’t start.

Q15. "Chain loading" refers to:.
  1. Loading multiple device drivers in a chain
  2. Boot loader handing control to another boot loader
  3. Kernel loading applications sequentially
  4. CPU executing instructions in pipeline

Answer: b, Boot loader handing control to another boot loader

Solution: Chainloading = one loader passes control to another (often for Windows boot manager).

Q16. Secure Boot (UEFI) primarily ensures:.
  1. Faster boot time
  2. Only signed/trusted boot components are executed
  3. More RAM available
  4. Better file compression

Answer: b, Only signed/trusted boot components are executed

Solution: Secure Boot checks signatures to prevent boot-time malware/rootkits.

Q17. A common reason for using a “two-stage” boot loader is:.
  1. To increase CPU speed
  2. First stage is too small to contain file system drivers and features
  3. To reduce RAM size
  4. To avoid BIOS/UEFI usage

Answer: b, First stage is too small to contain file system drivers and features

Solution: Stage 1 is tiny (space-limited); Stage 2 contains richer functionality.

Q18. Which statement about BIOS vs UEFI is generally TRUE?.
  1. BIOS uses EFI System Partition
  2. UEFI supports booting via .efi files and can read partitions like ESP
  3. BIOS stores boot loaders in swap
  4. UEFI cannot support Secure Boot

Answer: b, UEFI supports booting via .efi files and can read partitions like ESP

Solution: UEFI uses .efi executables, ESP, and supports Secure Boot.

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