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Systems software 3: consolidation and application

This worksheet brings together OCR J277 section 1.5. Operating systems provide the essential environment for users, applications and hardware. Utility software performs additional housekeeping or maintenance tasks.

You will practise:

the overall purpose of an operating system
user interface, memory management and multitasking
peripheral management and device drivers
user management and file management
the purpose of utility software
encryption, defragmentation and data compression

In each explanation, name a real task and its result. Repeating a heading, such as “peripheral management manages peripherals”, is not enough.

Use the early tasks to identify gaps, then complete the application and final challenge independently.

Multiple choice, several answers5 marks

Which five statements are accurate? Select all that apply.

AMemory management allocates areas of RAM to running applications
BA firewall is one of the five required operating-system functions
CA device driver helps the operating system communicate with a peripheral
DFile management allows files to be named, moved and organised into folders
ECompression is the operating system's method for creating every user account
FA user interface allows a person to provide input and receive output
GUser management can apply access rights to an account

Fill in the blanks7 marks

A label 1 allows interaction with the computer. label 2 allocates RAM and supports label 3. label 4 coordinates connected devices, while label 5 manages accounts and permissions. label 6 organises files and folders. Additional housekeeping tasks can be performed by label 7.

memory management
peripheral management
user interface
file management
encryption
utility software
bandwidth
multitasking
user management

Written answer4 marks

Explain the overall purpose of an operating system and the overall purpose of utility software.

Give a distinct purpose for each. Do not answer with examples alone.

Students type their answer here.

Community-library scenario

A library is replacing its public computers. Visitors:

sign in using restricted accounts
open a browser and word processor at the same time
connect a specialist document scanner
save work into named folders

The library also stores confidential membership records, uses a magnetic archive drive and sends compressed publicity files to local schools.

Written answer10 marks

Identify the most directly responsible operating-system function for each library task: restricted accounts, two open applications, the scanner, named folders and controls used to open applications. State one precise action for each function.

Write five function-action pairs. Use the exact function names rather than broad phrases such as 'the OS deals with it'.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer6 marks

Explain how memory management allows the browser and word processor to remain in use, and how peripheral management allows the specialist scanner to communicate with the computer.

For memory, include transfer, allocation and multitasking. For the scanner, include data transfer and the device driver.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which statement most accurately explains the purpose of a device driver?

AIt gives every peripheral permanent access to all files
BIt stores every application currently open in secondary storage
CIt allows the operating system to communicate correctly with a particular type of hardware
DIt increases the clock speed of the processor

Written answer6 marks

Explain how encryption, defragmentation and data-compression utilities work. Give one suitable purpose for each.

For each utility, explain how it works and what happens as a result. Keep defragmentation linked to a magnetic hard disk drive.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice, several answers3 marks

Which three statements are accurate? Select all that apply.

AEncryption prevents a file from ever being intercepted or copied
BEncrypted data should be meaningless without the correct key
CDefragmentation creates additional physical capacity on a full drive
DDefragmentation can place fragments consecutively on a magnetic HDD
ECompression reduces the number of bits needed to represent a file

Written answer6 marks

Recommend a suitable utility for the confidential membership records, the fragmented magnetic archive drive and the large publicity files. Explain why each utility is required.

State the utility first, then connect how it works to the exact library problem.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer8 marks

Challenge: evaluate the claim, “The operating system performs every task a computer needs, so utility software is unnecessary.”

Reach a judgement. Explain several essential OS functions, several focused utility tasks and how the two categories work together.

Students type their answer here.

Final Systems Software check

Without looking back, check that you can:

state the overall purpose of an operating system
name all five required OS functions
explain memory allocation, transfer and multitasking
explain peripheral data transfer and the role of a driver
apply accounts, permissions, files and folders to scenarios
describe useful GUI and command-line interface features
state the housekeeping purpose of utility software
explain encryption using plaintext, ciphertext and a key
explain why defragmentation applies to a magnetic HDD
explain compression through fewer bits, storage and transmission
distinguish an operating-system function from a utility task

Improve any answer that merely repeats a function name without saying what it does.