Stretch tasks Systems Software

Round 1: Quiz Blitz

1. A disk defragmenter Utilities keep the computer running well. The others are applications that do a job for the user.
2. Memory management; File management; User management The five on the specification: user interface, memory, peripherals, users and files.
3. Software that translates OS instructions for a specific device Each type of device needs its own driver to understand the operating system.
4. False The OS switches the core between programs so fast that they only appear to run at once.
5. It gains no speed and uses up write cycles An SSD has no head to move, and every extra write shortens its life.
6. Moves the parts of each file together into contiguous blocks With each file in one place, the read/write head moves less, so access is faster.
7. incremental Incremental backups are quick to make but slower to restore.
8. GUI A graphical user interface. A CLI uses typed commands.
9. True With no graphics to draw, a CLI needs far less processing power and memory.
10. Restoring is slower: every backup since the full one must be applied To restore, apply the last full backup, then each incremental one in order.
11. Setting access rights; Checking usernames and passwords User management covers accounts, logging in and what each user may reach.
12. It gives each program its own area of memory Memory management keeps each program's data separate.

Round 2: Quick Fire

1. • Providing a user interface
   • Memory management and multitasking
   • Peripheral management, using drivers
   • User management
   • File management
   Model answer

   It provides a user interface, it manages memory and multitasking, and it manages files and folders.

2. • It moves the parts of each file together into contiguous blocks
   • So the read/write head moves less to read a file
   Model answer

   Defragmentation moves the scattered parts of each file together into contiguous blocks, so the read/write head has to move less to read a file.

3. • A full backup copies every file: slow to make, but quick to restore
   • An incremental backup copies only files changed since the last backup: quick, but slower to restore
   Model answer

   A full backup copies every file, so it is slow to make and uses a lot of storage, but it is quick to restore. An incremental backup copies only the files changed since the last backup, so it is quick to make, but slower to restore.

4. • It translates operating system instructions into commands
   • That a specific piece of hardware understands
   Model answer

   A device driver translates instructions from the operating system into commands that a specific piece of hardware, such as a printer, understands.

Round 3: Big Think

1. • A GUI uses windows, icons, menus and a pointer
   • A GUI is easy for beginners
   • A GUI needs more processing power and memory
   • A CLI uses typed commands that must be memorised
   • A CLI is more powerful for experienced users
   Model answer

   A GUI uses windows, icons, menus and a pointer, so it is easy for beginners, but it needs more processing power and memory. A CLI uses typed commands, which must be memorised, so it has a steep learning curve, but it uses very few resources and is more powerful for experienced users.

2. • A full backup copies every file
   • It is slow to make and uses a lot of storage
   • An incremental backup copies only files changed since the last backup
   • It is quick to make and uses little storage
   • Restoring needs the full backup then each incremental one in order
   • For example, a full backup weekly and incremental backups daily
   • This balances the time to back up against the time to restore
   • Copies are kept off site or in the cloud
   Model answer

   A full backup copies every file. It is slow to create and uses a lot of storage, but restoring is quick because everything is in one place. An incremental backup copies only the files that have changed since the last backup, so it is fast and uses little storage, but restoring is slower because the last full backup and then every incremental backup since must be applied in order. The business could make a full backup weekly and an incremental backup daily. This balances the time spent making backups against the time it takes to restore, and the copies should be kept off site or in the cloud.

This or That

1. System software It maintains the computer rather than doing a job for the user, so it is a utility: system software.
2. A command line interface A CLI draws no windows or icons, so it needs very little memory or processing power.
3. A full backup Everything is in one place, so there is only one backup to apply.
4. An SSD An SSD has no moving head, so file fragments cost no time, and the extra writes wear it out.
5. The OS needs its device driver The driver translates the operating system's instructions into the printer's commands.
6. Switching between programs very quickly Each program gets a tiny slice of CPU time, so they only appear to run together.
7. Useless without the key Encryption scrambles the data, so the thief cannot understand it.
8. Allocating RAM to programs Memory management is an OS job. A spelling checker is part of an application.

Memory Match

• A 4 Operating system: Manages the hardware and software
• B 5 Device driver: Translates OS commands for hardware
• C 1 Defragmentation: Gathers each file's parts together
• D 6 Multitasking: Switching between programs very fast
• E 3 Full backup: A copy of every file
• F 2 Incremental backup: Copies only what changed since the last

Sort It

1. Utility Backs up files every night Backup software is a utility.
2. Utility Compresses files to save space Compression software is a utility.
3. Application A web browser A browser is application software.
4. Application A word processor It does a job for the user, so it is application software.
5. Application A spreadsheet program A spreadsheet is application software.
6. Operating system Provides the graphical user interface The user interface is provided by the operating system.
7. Operating system Allocates RAM to each program Memory management is one of the operating system's jobs.
8. Operating system Manages user accounts and passwords User management is an operating system job.
9. Utility Defragments a hard disk Defragmentation is maintenance, so it is a utility.
10. Utility Encrypts the whole disk Encryption software is a utility.
11. Operating system Talks to printers through their drivers Peripheral management is an operating system job.
12. Application A photo editor A photo editor is application software.