n Name: Grade: 9 Section:

Unit 4 Software Worksheet 2

Which utility programs are being described below?

Software that runs in the background and checks for malware; suspect
programs are quarantined and deleted if necessary.

Software that rearranges data on a hard disk drive (HDD) to reduce the
scattering of the data stored on the HDD.

Software that manages access control and user accounts and also protects
network interfaces.

Program that supplies static or moving images on a monitor when the

computer has been idle for a period of time.

Software that communicates with the operating system and translates data
into a format understood by an input/output device

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 1

An operating system performs memory management.
a Describe memory management. [3]

b Give two other functions of an operating system. [2]

A printer sends an interrupt to the computer to say that it is out

of paper.
Describe the stages involved in the processor handling the interrupt. [5]

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 2

Use the following list of words to complete the paragraph below.

firmware turns on application bootstrap

operating system

The _ _ _ _ _ _ software cannot run on a computer without an operating

system. The _ _ _ _ _ _ cannot run unless there instructions given to it,

these are provided by the _ _ _ _ _ _. The firmware cannot run unless it is

told to run, this is done using the _ _ _ _ _ _ program, which is loaded

when the computer first _ _ _ _ _ _.

Complete the following diagram which represent software on a

computer. [4]

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 3

Create a PowerPoint presentation to explain the role of a typical
operating system in the following areas:

 File management

 Memory management

 Security management

 Process management

 Hardware management

 Multitasking

 Interrupt management

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 4

Answers

One mark per bullet to max three.

• It allocates memory to processes.
• It moves data between memory.
• E.g. It fetches data from RAM.
• It stores data in RAM.
• It prevents two processes from accessing the same memory location.

One mark each from:

• Managing files
• Handling interrupts
• Providing an interface
• Managing peripherals and drivers
• Managing multitasking
• Providing a platform for running applications
• Managing user accounts.

One mark per bullet to max five.

• The interrupt handler puts the interrupt in the queue depending on its priority.
• The processor finishes the current FDE cycle.
• It checks if there is a higher level interrupt,
• if there is, it stores the current contents of memory…
• ... it then accesses the ISR for that interrupt…
• ... when finished it reloads the current contents of memory and continues,
• if not, it processes the next instruction.

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 5

The application software cannot run on a computer without an operating
system. The operating system cannot run unless there instructions given
to it, these are provided by the firmware. The firmware cannot run unless it
is told to run, this is done using the bootstrap program, which is loaded
when the computer first turns on.

IGCSE Computer Science [0478] 6