Unit 9 – Operating Systems: Managing, Coordinating, and Monitoring Resources

44 fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from Unit 9 on operating systems, including GUI elements, memory management, OS types, file handling, utilities, security, and virtual machines.

System software includes the most important component, the __.

operating system

The OS and __ programs control behind-the-scenes operations of a device.

utility

A __ is a collective term for all the ways you interact with the device.

graphical user interface (GUI)

Small pictures that represent programs, files, or hardware devices are called __.

icons

A graphic you click to execute a command is known as a __.

button

A list of related items, such as folders, applications, and commands, is a __.

menu

A __ is a list of additional commands associated with a selected command on a menu.

submenu

A __ menu lists frequently used commands related to an object.

shortcut

The box with controls that lets you tell the OS how to complete a command is a __.

dialog box

Round buttons in a dialog box that present one choice are called __ buttons.

option (radio)

Placing data into a buffer is called __.

spooling

A __ operating system allows only one program or app to run at a time.

single-tasking

__ allows an OS to temporarily store data on a storage medium until it can be swapped into RAM.

virtual memory

The technique of swapping items between memory and storage is known as __.

paging

An area of memory that stores data waiting to be sent to an I/O device is a __.

buffer

The program currently displayed on-screen is the __ program.

foreground

An OS that enables two or more users to run programs simultaneously is called a __ operating system.

multiuser

Operating systems that serve both desktop and server roles are sometimes called __ operating systems.

multipurpose

An OS installed on a single computer is known as a personal computer (PC) or __ operating system.

desktop

Windows, macOS, UNIX, Linux, and Chrome OS are examples of __ operating systems.

desktop

A specialized laptop running Chrome OS is called a __.

Chromebook

Software whose source code is publicly available for modification is called __ software.

open-source

Microsoft Windows and macOS are examples of __-source operating systems.

closed

A program that runs only on a specific type of device is described as __-dependent.

device

A file extension is the __-letter sequence following a period that identifies the file type.

three or four

The OS utility that catalogs specific files in a central location regardless of where they are stored is a __.

library

The Windows file manager is called __.

File Explorer

To save RAM, you can use the task manager to __ programs you are not using.

shut down (close/terminate)

A utility that searches for and removes unnecessary files to free disk space is called __.

disk cleanup

A program that assesses and reports information about various computer resources is a __ monitor.

performance

The desktop area that shows the date, time, and shortcuts to utilities is the __ area.

notification

Vertical or horizontal bars that you drag to view content out of sight are called __ bars.

scroll

An account granting full access to all files and settings is known as an __ account.

administrator

Defining who can access certain resources and when is handled through __.

permissions

A temporary access account with limited privileges is often called a __ account.

guest

A __ application runs the same way on multiple operating systems.

cross-platform

A section of a hard drive that functions like a separate drive is called a __.

partition (volume)

A __ enables a computer to run another operating system in addition to the one installed.

virtual machine

Putting a computer into a low-power state while preserving the current session is called __.

sleep

Placing multiple files into a single smaller package to save space is known as file __.

compression

The OS feature that copies selected files to another location for safekeeping is called __.

backup

The storage location that temporarily holds open apps and data is known as __.

RAM

To move or copy items in Windows, you can use the __, which holds the item until you paste it.

Clipboard

Uninstalling a program removes it along with associated entries in the __ files.

system