1. What is an Operating System?
2. What is its function?
3. What role does OS play between the user and the computer hardware? How does it work? What means does it use?
4. What are the categories of OS?
5. Describe briefly each OS category.
Exercise 2. Match English words and word combinations with their Russian equivalents.
| share resources | a | ||
| backbone of a computer | b | ||
| memory allocation | c | ||
| to transmit output | d | ||
| act as an interface | e | ||
| system calls | f | ||
| application programming interface | g | ||
| come in very handy | h | ||
| work environment | i | ||
| respond instantly | j | ||
| consistent input | k | ||
| without delay | l | ||
| medical imaging system | m | ||
| general-purpose OS | n |
Exercise 3. Match the words which are very close in their meaning.
| react | a | at the same time | |
| compatible | b | particular | |
| control | c | without delay | |
| use | d | respond | |
| simultaneously | e | convenient | |
| handy | f | exploit | |
| certain | g | monitor | |
| instantly | h | adaptive |
Exercise 4. Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.
| OS which executes processes on several CPU simultaneously is called | a | multitasking | |
| OS which enables a user to run more than one application at the same time is called | b | real-time | |
| OS which gives a user an opportunity to exploit different parts of an application without delays is called | c | multiuser | |
| OS which allows many people to have programs executed at the same time is called | d | multithreading | |
| when OS is able to react to data or user calls immediately is called | e | multiprocessing |
Exercise 5. Match the functions of OS on the right with their definitions on the left.
| OS creates a process by loading a program code from the disk and allocating memory to it. | a | Program execution | |
| OS handles the allocation and management of memory. | b | Memory management | |
| OS is in charge of organizing data storage and handling the application program access to files stored on the disk. | c | File management | |
| OS prevents unauthorized users from accessing the computer system. | d | Security | |
| OS controls the functionality of all peripherals like a keyboard and printers. | e | Device management | |
| OS constantly monitors the system for finding bugs and faults | f | Error detecting |
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Exercise 6. Make all possible word combinations from the words given below.
| to manage | a | devices | |
| to access | b | purpose | |
| to execute | c | environment | |
| to recognize | d | services | |
| to detect | e | error | |
| external | f | program | |
| work | g | a file | |
| general | h | input |
Exercise 7. Mark the sentences: True/False/ No information.
1. OS is the most important type of application software.
2. OS serves the needs of only hardware.
3. Application programming interface serves for communication between OS and a user.
4. OS is a program that functions as an intermediary between a person and computer hardware and is responsible for the execution of any kinds of programs.
5. A user can run on his computer only those programs which correspond to the requirements of the OS installed on his computer.
6. The main function of any OS is to protect a computer from malicious programs and an unauthorized user.
7. GUI facilitates the communication between a user and a computer by means of graphical symbols used to represent a process or a program.
