Module 3 challenge: Installing and Using Operating Systems (Technical Support Fundamentals) Answers 2025

Question 1

You’re entering data in a spreadsheet. You open a menu that you haven’t opened in several weeks. Then, you notice that the spreadsheet program slows down. Which of the following is the likely cause?

❌ Your kernel has scheduled its processes inefficiently and you should restart your computer.
✅ Your computer needs to load the page for that menu from virtual memory into RAM.
❌ Your computer needs to load the page for that menu from RAM into virtual memory.
❌ Your computer does not have enough RAM to load the menu.

🔹 Explanation:
When a program hasn’t been used recently, parts of it might have been moved to virtual memory (disk storage) to free up RAM. Accessing it again requires loading it back into RAM, which can cause a brief slowdown.

Question 2

Why are virtual machines (VMs) popular in business settings?

✅ VMs are easier to maintain and provision than physical machines.
✅ VMs allow a user to run multiple operating systems at once.
❌ VMs don’t require physical resources like memory, CPU, or storage.
✅ Resources used by a VM can be reclaimed once the VM is no longer needed.

🔹 Explanation:
VMs are flexible, cost-efficient, and easy to manage. They run on physical hardware but can be started, stopped, or reallocated dynamically.

Question 3

Which of the following commands would you use to create a folder called Folder1 in Linux?

❌ touch Folder1
❌ mkdir FOLDER1
✅ mkdir Folder1
❌ Folder1 nwdir

🔹 Explanation:
In Linux, the mkdir (make directory) command creates a new folder. Command syntax is case-sensitive, so mkdir Folder1 is correct.

Question 4

What is Ubuntu’s main screen called?

❌ Background
✅ Desktop
❌ System environment
❌ Search pane

🔹 Explanation:
In Ubuntu and most operating systems, the Desktop is the main screen where icons, windows, and files appear for user interaction.

Question 5

Which part of a file’s metadata tells a user what type of file it is?

❌ Its data block.
❌ Its name.
✅ Its file extension.
❌ Its storage location.

🔹 Explanation:
A file extension (e.g., .txt, .jpg, .exe) indicates the file type and tells the operating system which application can open it.

Question 6

What does an operating system’s User Space do?

❌ Breaks stored files into data blocks to increase accessibility and storage space efficiency.
✅ Allows humans to interact with the operating system through a GUI or CLI shell.
❌ Manages the input and output of external devices.
❌ Manages system resources by creating, scheduling, and managing processes.

🔹 Explanation:
The User Space provides an environment for users and applications to interact with the system — for example, through the graphical user interface (GUI) or command-line interface (CLI).

Question 7

Which of the following operating systems is packaged and distributed by a variety of different organizations?

❌ Windows
✅ Linux
❌ ChromeOS
❌ Mac OS

🔹 Explanation:
Linux is open-source software, meaning different organizations can package and distribute their own versions (called distributions), like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of Chrome OS?

❌ It has high hardware resource requirements.
❌ It is very popular with gamers who play video games that require powerful computers.
✅ It is designed for simplicity, security, and speed.
❌ Because it is cloud-based, it is particularly susceptible to malware and security hacks.

🔹 Explanation:
Chrome OS is lightweight and cloud-focused, offering simplicity, fast boot times, and strong security, especially for web-based use.

Question 9

What process does the BIOS/UEFI run to ensure a computer is in proper working order before it runs the bootloader?

❌ PIVOT
✅ POST
❌ TEST
❌ REVIEW

🔹 Explanation:
POST (Power-On Self-Test) checks the computer’s hardware (RAM, CPU, keyboard, etc.) to ensure everything is working before loading the OS.

Question 10

You want to create a file called Secret_document in Linux. Which of the following commands would you use?

❌ Secret_document touch
✅ touch Secret_document
❌ mkdir Secret_document
❌ TOUCH Secret_document

🔹 Explanation:
In Linux, the touch command creates a new empty file. The correct syntax is touch Secret_document (case-sensitive).

🧩 Summary:

Virtual memory slows things down when swapping data between disk and RAM.
VMs are flexible and efficient for running multiple OS environments.
Linux commands like mkdir and touch are used for folder and file creation.
The Desktop is the main user interface in Ubuntu.
File extensions identify file types.
User Space lets users interact with the OS.
Linux is open-source and has many distributions.
Chrome OS focuses on simplicity, security, and speed.
The POST process checks system health before boot.
The touch command creates new files.

✅ Key takeaway:
Understanding how operating systems manage memory, files, and user interaction helps in diagnosing performance issues, using Linux efficiently, and knowing how system components work together.