WGU D386 EXAM SCRIPT WITH VIEW AHEAD
TESTED QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS 2026.
⫸ What is the purpose of a computer operating system? Answer: It
functions as a resource manager.
⫸ Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10
programs? Answer: Operating system (OS)
⫸ Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified
and redistributed? Answer: Android is an open-source mobile
operating system; therefore, source code is available, and anyone can
modify and redistribute it.
⫸ Cloud-based operating systems Answer: primarily manages the
operation of one or more virtual machines within a virtualized
environment.
⫸ What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems? Answer:
They are primarily stateless.
⫸ System calls Answer: unique set of services provided by
operating systems for use by applications and have to be accounted
for by different operating systems.
,⫸ Application Programming Interface (API) Answer: A set of
software routines that allows one software system to work with
another.
⫸ Why do applications designed to work on one operating system
not work on a different operating system? Answer: Unique system
calls
⫸ single‐user systems Answer: multitasking systems, found in
laptops and workstations
⫸ mobile device operating systems Answer: provides single-user
and multitasking at a scaled-down level due to power and memory
limitations
⫸ Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer
instructions: Answer: 1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
⫸ Mainframe Systems Answer: large, fast, and powerful, used for
high transaction processing and complex computations; used by
corporations and government agencies
,⫸ network server systems Answer: designed and named for a
specific purpose such as database servers, web servers, and print
servers
⫸ real‐time systems Answer: designed to direct CPU access
immediately when needed or required
⫸ Embedded control systems Answer: specialized operating
systems designed to control a single piece of equipment or machinery
⫸ distributed systems Answer: geared toward allocating process
power, programs, files, and databases to network users
⫸ Application Software Answer: software program that helps you
use the computer to do particular tasks
⫸ Drivers Answer: instructs a particular OS on how to access a
piece of hardware
⫸ version Answer: particular revision of a piece of software,
normally described by a number that tells you how new the product is
in relation to other versions of the product
⫸ source code Answer: actual code that defines how a piece of
software works
, ⫸ Open Source Answer: Software that is created for free use by
everyone
⫸ closed source Answer: source code that is highly protected and
only available to trusted employees and carefully vetted contractors
⫸ Graphical User Interface (GUI) Answer: A visual display on a
computer's screen that allows you to interact with your computer
more easily by clicking graphical elements.
⫸ network Answer: a group of two or more computer systems
linked together
⫸ Cooperative multitasking Answer: Multiple processes must work
together for the operating system to work effectively.
⫸ preemptive multitasking Answer: When the operating system
processes the task assigned a higher priority before processing a task
that has been assigned a lower priority.
⫸ Multithreading Answer: Allows different parts of a single
program to run concurrently.
⫸ Interrupt driven I/O Answer: involves the use of interrupt to
exchange data between I/O and memory.
TESTED QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS 2026.
⫸ What is the purpose of a computer operating system? Answer: It
functions as a resource manager.
⫸ Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10
programs? Answer: Operating system (OS)
⫸ Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified
and redistributed? Answer: Android is an open-source mobile
operating system; therefore, source code is available, and anyone can
modify and redistribute it.
⫸ Cloud-based operating systems Answer: primarily manages the
operation of one or more virtual machines within a virtualized
environment.
⫸ What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems? Answer:
They are primarily stateless.
⫸ System calls Answer: unique set of services provided by
operating systems for use by applications and have to be accounted
for by different operating systems.
,⫸ Application Programming Interface (API) Answer: A set of
software routines that allows one software system to work with
another.
⫸ Why do applications designed to work on one operating system
not work on a different operating system? Answer: Unique system
calls
⫸ single‐user systems Answer: multitasking systems, found in
laptops and workstations
⫸ mobile device operating systems Answer: provides single-user
and multitasking at a scaled-down level due to power and memory
limitations
⫸ Basic resources OS organizes before users can give a computer
instructions: Answer: 1. Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
⫸ Mainframe Systems Answer: large, fast, and powerful, used for
high transaction processing and complex computations; used by
corporations and government agencies
,⫸ network server systems Answer: designed and named for a
specific purpose such as database servers, web servers, and print
servers
⫸ real‐time systems Answer: designed to direct CPU access
immediately when needed or required
⫸ Embedded control systems Answer: specialized operating
systems designed to control a single piece of equipment or machinery
⫸ distributed systems Answer: geared toward allocating process
power, programs, files, and databases to network users
⫸ Application Software Answer: software program that helps you
use the computer to do particular tasks
⫸ Drivers Answer: instructs a particular OS on how to access a
piece of hardware
⫸ version Answer: particular revision of a piece of software,
normally described by a number that tells you how new the product is
in relation to other versions of the product
⫸ source code Answer: actual code that defines how a piece of
software works
, ⫸ Open Source Answer: Software that is created for free use by
everyone
⫸ closed source Answer: source code that is highly protected and
only available to trusted employees and carefully vetted contractors
⫸ Graphical User Interface (GUI) Answer: A visual display on a
computer's screen that allows you to interact with your computer
more easily by clicking graphical elements.
⫸ network Answer: a group of two or more computer systems
linked together
⫸ Cooperative multitasking Answer: Multiple processes must work
together for the operating system to work effectively.
⫸ preemptive multitasking Answer: When the operating system
processes the task assigned a higher priority before processing a task
that has been assigned a lower priority.
⫸ Multithreading Answer: Allows different parts of a single
program to run concurrently.
⫸ Interrupt driven I/O Answer: involves the use of interrupt to
exchange data between I/O and memory.
