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Quizzes > Computers & Technology > Computers & IT

Operating Systems & Applications Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Think you know windows, macOS, Linux and embedded operating systems inside out? Start the quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art icons of laptop gear and circuit shapes labeled Windows macOS Linux on sky blue background for free OS quiz

Are you ready to test your tech prowess? Dive into our Windows, macOS & Linux Examples Quiz: Test Your OS IQ! Whether you're a budding IT enthusiast, everyday computer user, or seasoned pro, you'll learn why windows mac os and linux are examples of top-tier platforms powering our devices and even why a standard desktop computer comes with an embedded operating system behind the scenes. This engaging operating systems quiz blends computer OS trivia with tricky Linux vs Windows quiz challenges to sharpen your skills. Think you've got what it takes? Start the fun by clicking this Operating System Quiz and see your score soar!

Which of these is a Linux distribution?
iOS
macOS Big Sur
Ubuntu
Windows 10
Linux distributions are complete operating systems built around the Linux kernel, providing users with package management, desktop environments, and utilities. Ubuntu is one of the most popular and user-friendly Linux distributions used on desktops and servers. Windows 10 and macOS Big Sur are proprietary operating systems by Microsoft and Apple, respectively. iOS is Apple's mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad.
Which file system was introduced by Apple in macOS High Sierra?
APFS
NTFS
HFS+
FAT32
Apple File System (APFS) was introduced with macOS High Sierra to replace the older HFS+ format. APFS offers improved performance, stronger encryption, and snapshot capabilities. FAT32 and NTFS are file systems primarily used by Windows, while HFS+ was the legacy Apple format before APFS.
Which command lists directory contents in Linux?
ls
show
list
dir
In Unix-like systems such as Linux, the "ls" command is used to list files and directories in the current working directory. The "dir" command is more common in Windows environments, while "list" and "show" are not standard UNIX utilities. "ls" supports various flags for long format, hidden files, and sorting options.
Which of these is a real-time operating system commonly used in embedded devices?
macOS Catalina
Ubuntu Server
Windows 10
FreeRTOS
FreeRTOS is an open-source real-time operating system kernel designed for microcontrollers and small embedded devices. It provides deterministic task scheduling and minimal footprint. Windows 10, Ubuntu Server, and macOS Catalina are general-purpose operating systems unsuitable for strict real-time constraints.
Which feature in macOS allows you to dual-boot Windows on Intel-based Macs?
Parallels Desktop
Siri
Time Machine
Boot Camp
Boot Camp is Apple's utility that lets users partition their Intel-based Mac's drive and install Windows alongside macOS. It provides native performance by allowing the Mac to boot directly into Windows. Parallels Desktop is a virtualization solution, while Time Machine is for backups and Siri is a voice assistant.
Which Windows version first introduced the Metro (Modern) user interface?
Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
The Metro user interface, featuring tiles and a full-screen Start screen, was first introduced in Windows 8. It marked a major departure from the traditional Start menu paradigm of earlier Windows versions. Windows 7 and Vista retained the classic desktop UI, and Windows 10 later combined elements of both the Metro and classic interfaces.
Which init system has replaced SysVinit in many modern Linux distributions?
Upstart
launchd
systemd
SMF
systemd is the init and service manager adopted by many major Linux distributions like Fedora, Ubuntu, and Debian. It replaces the traditional SysVinit scripts with parallel startup, socket activation, and more. Upstart was an earlier alternative used by some distributions, while launchd is used by macOS and SMF by Solaris.
In Linux, which command displays the current working directory?
whereami
pwd
cwd
dir
The "pwd" command stands for "print working directory" and outputs the absolute path of the current directory. It is a standard POSIX command available on virtually all Unix-like operating systems. "dir" and "cwd" are not standard POSIX utilities, and "whereami" is not a built-in shell command.
Which Windows feature enables running Linux ELF binaries natively on Windows 10?
WSL
Babun
Cygwin
MinGW
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows execution of Linux ELF binaries directly on Windows 10 by providing a compatibility layer. Cygwin and MinGW provide POSIX-like environments but do not run native ELF binaries. Babun is a Cygwin-based shell environment.
Which partitioning scheme is used by modern UEFI firmware to replace the legacy MBR?
EBR
GPT
MBR
APBR
The GUID Partition Table (GPT) is part of the UEFI standard and replaces the older Master Boot Record (MBR) scheme. GPT supports larger disks, more partitions, and CRC protection of partition tables. EBR is used for extended partitions in MBR, and APBR is not a standard partitioning scheme.
On macOS, which system process is responsible for managing and compositing graphical windows?
Dock
launchd
SystemUIServer
WindowServer
WindowServer is the core macOS process that handles window compositing, drawing, and event delivery for graphical applications. The Dock manages the application launcher and taskbar, launchd handles service startup, and SystemUIServer manages menu bar items. WindowServer operates at a low level to render the GUI.
In real-time operating systems, which protocol raises the lower-priority task's priority to that of a higher-priority task to prevent priority inversion?
Priority suspension
Priority ceiling
Priority inheritance
Priority donation
Priority inheritance is a protocol in real-time systems where a lower-priority task holding a needed resource temporarily inherits the higher priority to avoid priority inversion. Priority ceiling is a related protocol assigning ceilings to resources, while priority donation is not a standardized term and priority suspension is not a common solution. The inheritance protocol is widely documented in RTOS design.
What is the name of the hybrid kernel used by macOS?
XNU
BSD
Darwin
Mach
macOS uses the XNU kernel, a hybrid kernel combining the Mach microkernel, components from FreeBSD, and I/O Kit for device drivers. Darwin is the open-source operating system base that includes XNU, but Darwin itself is not the kernel. Mach and BSD are kernel and userland origins, respectively, within XNU.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Core Desktop OS Types -

    Identify why windows mac os and linux are examples of popular desktop operating systems and what distinguishes each platform.

  2. Differentiate Embedded vs Desktop OS Platforms -

    Explain how a standard desktop computer comes with an embedded operating system and contrast it with embedded OS found in devices like routers and smart appliances.

  3. Apply OS Quiz Strategies -

    Use operating systems quiz challenges to apply problem-solving skills and reinforce your understanding of system management tasks.

  4. Analyze Windows vs Linux Features -

    Evaluate windows vs linux questions to compare file systems, security models, and user interfaces across platforms.

  5. Recall Computer OS Trivia -

    Demonstrate familiarity with computer OS trivia by recalling key facts and history of Windows, macOS & Linux distributions.

  6. Evaluate Your OS IQ -

    Interpret your operating systems quiz results to identify your strengths and areas for further learning.

Cheat Sheet

  1. General-Purpose vs. Embedded OS Classification -

    Windows, macOS and Linux are examples of general-purpose operating systems designed for everyday desktop use, as noted in academic overviews (e.g., ACM Digital Library). In contrast, embedded operating systems power specialized hardware in appliances or IoT devices, illustrating why a standard desktop computer comes with an embedded operating system firmware (UEFI/BIOS). Mnemonic tip: "GE" for General-purpose & Embedded helps you recall the two main OS categories.

  2. Kernel Architecture: Monolithic, Microkernel & Hybrid -

    Linux employs a monolithic kernel architecture where core services run in a single address space, while macOS uses a microkernel-inspired design and Windows implements a hybrid kernel (Microsoft Docs). Kernel design is a staple of windows vs linux questions in operating systems quizzes. Remember "MMH" (Monolithic-Microkernel-Hybrid) as a quick classification trick.

  3. File System Innovations -

    NTFS (Windows), APFS (macOS) and ext4 (Linux) showcase how file systems optimize for performance and reliability (Linux Foundation, Apple Developer). A favorite in computer OS trivia is comparing journaling behaviors: NTFS logs metadata, ext4 logs both metadata and data, and APFS uses copy-on-write snapshots. Try the mnemonic "NAPe" (NTFS-APFS-ext4) to lock in the three flagship file systems.

  4. Process Scheduling & Memory Management -

    Round-robin, priority and multi-level feedback queue algorithms underpin how Windows, macOS and Linux share CPU time, a topic often seen in operating systems quizzes. Virtual memory techniques - paging in Windows, Mach memory objects in macOS and demand paging in Linux - ensure efficient RAM use. Recall "RPM" (Round-Robin, Priority, Multi-level) to outline the top three scheduling strategies.

  5. Security Models & Permission Schemes -

    Windows leverages Access Control Lists (ACLs), Linux uses Discretionary Access Control (DAC) with optional SELinux, and macOS adds App Sandbox constraints (NIST publications). Discussions around user privileges and sandboxing frequently appear in windows vs linux questions and computer OS trivia. A handy phrase is "ASA" (ACL-SELinux-App-Sandbox) to remember the three major security frameworks.

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