Vaidikalaya

MCQ On Kernel

Q1. The kernel is best described as:.
  1. A user application
  2. A device driver only
  3. The core of the operating system that manages resources
  4. A compiler

Answer: c, The core of the operating system that manages resources

Solution: Kernel controls CPU, memory, I/O, processes—core OS component.

Q2. Which of the following is NOT a function of the kernel?.
  1. Process scheduling
  2. Memory management
  3. File access control
  4. Word processing

Answer: d, Word processing

Solution: Word processing is an application, not kernel responsibility.

Q3. In a system call, control is transferred from:.
  1. Kernel mode to kernel mode
  2. User mode to kernel mode
  3. Kernel mode to user mode
  4. User mode to user mode

Answer: b, User mode to kernel mode

Solution: System calls switch from user space to kernel space to access privileged services.

Q4. Which mode allows execution of privileged instructions?.
  1. User mode
  2. Kernel mode
  3. Virtual mode
  4. Cache mode

Answer: b, Kernel mode

Solution: Privileged instructions (I/O, memory control) run only in kernel mode.

Q5. Which kernel type keeps most OS services inside the kernel?.
  1. Microkernel
  2. Monolithic kernel
  3. Exokernel
  4. Nano kernel

Answer: b, Monolithic kernel

Solution: Monolithic kernels include drivers, file system, networking et inside kernel space.

Q6. A key advantage of a microkernel is:.
  1. Larger kernel size
  2. Easier to crash the whole system
  3. Better modularity and reliability
  4. No context switches

Answer: c, Better modularity and reliability

Solution: Microkernels keep minimal code in kernel; services in user space -> safer/modular.

Q7. A key disadvantage of a microkernel (compared to monolithic) is:.
  1. More secure
  2. Higher overhead due to IPC/context switches
  3. Smaller size
  4. Better fault isolation

Answer: b, Higher overhead due to IPC/context switches

Solution: Communication between services via IPC can add overhea

Q8. Linux is typically classified as:.
  1. Microkernel
  2. Monolithic kernel (modular monolithic)
  3. Pure hybrid kernel
  4. No kernel

Answer: b, Monolithic kernel (modular monolithic)

Solution: Linux is monolithic but supports loadable modules (drivers can be loaded/unloaded).

Q9. Windows kernel is commonly described as:.
  1. Pure microkernel
  2. Pure monolithic kernel
  3. Hybrid kernel
  4. Distributed kernel

Answer: c, Hybrid kernel

Solution: Windows uses a hybrid approach (microkernel ideas + many services in kernel).

Q10. The main purpose of the kernel is to:.
  1. Provide GUI only
  2. Compile programs
  3. Manage system resources and provide services to programs
  4. Run only one program at a time

Answer: c, Manage system resources and provide services to programs

Solution: Kernel is the resource manager + interface to hardware.

Q11. Which of the following runs in kernel space?.
  1. Text editor
  2. Web browser
  3. Device driver (generally)
  4. Spreadsheet

Answer: c, Device driver (generally)

Solution: Drivers typically run in kernel space (though some OSs support user-space drivers).

Q12. If a process performs a file read, it typically triggers:.
  1. A page fault always
  2. A system call
  3. A compiler pass
  4. A deadlock

Answer: b, A system call

Solution: File I/O uses OS services, accessed via system calls into kernel.

Q13. Which of the following is an example of a privileged operation?.
  1. Integer addition
  2. Reading/writing I/O device registers
  3. Printing to screen using an app
  4. Sorting an array

Answer: b, Reading/writing I/O device registers

Solution: Direct device access is privileged ? kernel mode only.

Q14. Kernel maintains which of the following for processes?.
  1. Only the source code
  2. Process Control Block (PCB)
  3. Only HTML pages
  4. Only keyboard buffer

Answer: b, Process Control Block (PCB)

Solution: PCB stores process state, registers, scheduling info, et

Q15. Context switch is:.
  1. Switching from one user to another
  2. Switching CPU from one process/thread to another
  3. Switching from RAM to ROM
  4. Switching from HDD to SSD

Answer: b, Switching CPU from one process/thread to another

Solution: Kernel saves current process state and loads next process state.

Q16. Which is correct about kernel and shell?.
  1. Kernel is command interpreter, shell manages hardware
  2. Shell is core OS, kernel is UI
  3. Kernel manages hardware/resources, shell is command interpreter interface
  4. Both are same

Answer: c, Kernel manages hardware/resources, shell is command interpreter interface

Solution: Shell provides interface; kernel is the core controller.

Q17. The kernel uses scheduling to decide:.
  1. Which file to delete
  2. Which process gets CPU next
  3. Which user logs in
  4. Which RAM chip to use

Answer: b, Which process gets CPU next

Solution: Scheduling allocates CPU time among processes/threads.

Q18. Which statement about user mode is correct?.
  1. Can execute all privileged instructions
  2. Cannot directly access hardware
  3. Can modify page tables directly
  4. Can disable interrupts

Answer: b, Cannot directly access hardware

Solution: User mode is restricted; kernel handles hardware access.

Q19. The main goal of having user mode and kernel mode is:.
  1. Faster typing
  2. Better graphics
  3. Protection and security (isolation of critical code)
  4. More storage

Answer: c, Protection and security (isolation of critical code)

Solution: Prevents apps from crashing/compromising the whole system.

Q20. If an application tries to access protected memory, the OS will typically:.
  1. Ignore it
  2. Give admin access
  3. Raise an exception/segmentation fault and stop/handle the process
  4. Format the disk

Answer: c, Raise an exception/segmentation fault and stop/handle the process

Solution: Memory protection enforced by hardware + kernel -> traps/interrupts.

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