WGU D386 HARDWARE AND
OPERATING SYSTEMS ESSENTIALS,
USABO TEST PREP. EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
Operating system - ANS system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer
hardware and other software to communicate with each other
What is the purpose of a computer operating system? - ANS It functions as a resource
manager.
Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs? - ANS Operating system
(OS)
Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified and redistributed? -
ANS Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available,
and anyone can modify and redistribute it.
Cloud-based operating systems - ANS primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual
machines within a virtualized environment.
What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems? - ANS They are primarily stateless.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,System calls - ANS 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) - ANS 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? - ANS Unique system calls
single-user systems - ANS multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
mobile device operating systems - ANS 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: - ANS 1.
Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
Mainframe Systems - ANS large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and
complex computations; used by corporations and government agencies
network server systems - ANS designed and named for a specific purpose such as database
servers, web servers, and print servers
real-time systems - ANS designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Embedded control systems - ANS specialized operating systems designed to control a single
piece of equipment or machinery
distributed systems - ANS geared toward allocating process power, programs, files, and
databases to network users
Application Software - ANS software program that helps you use the computer to do
particular tasks
Drivers - ANS instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
version - ANS 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 - ANS actual code that defines how a piece of software works
Open Source - ANS Software that is created for free use by everyone
closed source - ANS source code that is highly protected and only available to trusted
employees and carefully vetted contractors
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - ANS A visual display on a computer's screen that allows you
to interact with your computer more easily by clicking graphical elements.
network - ANS a group of two or more computer systems linked together
Cooperative multitasking - ANS Multiple processes must work together for the operating
system to work effectively.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
OPERATING SYSTEMS ESSENTIALS,
USABO TEST PREP. EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND
UPDATED)
Operating system - ANS system software that acts as a "go-between", allowing computer
hardware and other software to communicate with each other
What is the purpose of a computer operating system? - ANS It functions as a resource
manager.
Which kind of software are Mac OS X and Windows 10 programs? - ANS Operating system
(OS)
Which operating system allows for its source code to be modified and redistributed? -
ANS Android is an open-source mobile operating system; therefore, source code is available,
and anyone can modify and redistribute it.
Cloud-based operating systems - ANS primarily manages the operation of one or more virtual
machines within a virtualized environment.
What is a feature of cloud-based operating systems? - ANS They are primarily stateless.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,System calls - ANS 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) - ANS 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? - ANS Unique system calls
single-user systems - ANS multitasking systems, found in laptops and workstations
mobile device operating systems - ANS 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: - ANS 1.
Processor
2. Storage
3. Devices
4. Input/Output
5.Memory
Mainframe Systems - ANS large, fast, and powerful, used for high transaction processing and
complex computations; used by corporations and government agencies
network server systems - ANS designed and named for a specific purpose such as database
servers, web servers, and print servers
real-time systems - ANS designed to direct CPU access immediately when needed or required
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Embedded control systems - ANS specialized operating systems designed to control a single
piece of equipment or machinery
distributed systems - ANS geared toward allocating process power, programs, files, and
databases to network users
Application Software - ANS software program that helps you use the computer to do
particular tasks
Drivers - ANS instructs a particular OS on how to access a piece of hardware
version - ANS 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 - ANS actual code that defines how a piece of software works
Open Source - ANS Software that is created for free use by everyone
closed source - ANS source code that is highly protected and only available to trusted
employees and carefully vetted contractors
Graphical User Interface (GUI) - ANS A visual display on a computer's screen that allows you
to interact with your computer more easily by clicking graphical elements.
network - ANS a group of two or more computer systems linked together
Cooperative multitasking - ANS Multiple processes must work together for the operating
system to work effectively.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
