This set of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is designed to test your understanding of Process Synchronization, a critical concept in operating systems. Process Synchronization refers to the coordination and management of concurrent processes to ensure that they work together harmoniously and avoid common issues such as data races, deadlocks, and contention for shared resources. These MCQs cover various aspects of process synchronization, including key techniques, synchronization primitives, and the challenges involved in managing parallel execution.
- What is the primary goal of process synchronization in an operating system?
a. To speed up all processes.
b. To ensure fairness in process execution.
c. To prevent processes from accessing shared resources simultaneously.
d. To increase the number of concurrent processes.
View Answer
2. Which of the following is NOT a common synchronization primitive used in process synchronization?
a. Semaphores
b. Mutexes
c. Barriers
d. Caches
View Answer
3. What is a race condition in the context of process synchronization?
a. A condition where processes compete to finish a task.
b. A situation where a process is stuck and unable to make progress.
c. A scenario where multiple processes access shared resources concurrently, leading to unexpected behavior.
d. A condition where processes synchronize perfectly.
View Answer
4. Which of the following is a potential issue that can arise in the absence of proper process synchronization?
a. Efficient resource utilization
b. Deadlocks
c. Increased throughput
d. Improved system performance
View Answer
5. What is a semaphore’s role in process synchronization?
a. It is used to implement mutexes.
b. It helps to prevent priority inversion.
c. It is a signaling mechanism to coordinate processes and manage access to shared resources.
d. It is a lightweight process.
View Answer
6. Question: Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a Mutex in process synchronization?
a. A Mutex allows multiple processes to access a shared resource simultaneously.
b. A Mutex is used to increase the efficiency of resource utilization.
c. A Mutex ensures that only one process can access a shared resource at a time.
d. A Mutex is primarily used for process communication.
View Answer
Explanation: A Mutex, short for “mutual exclusion,” is a synchronization primitive used in process synchronization to provide exclusive access to shared resources. It ensures that only one process or thread can access the protected resource at any given time, preventing data races and ensuring data integrity.
7. Question: What is the purpose of a “Semaphore” in process synchronization?
a. To manage processor scheduling.
b. To provide mutual exclusion for processes.
c. To signal the completion of a process.
d. To control access to a shared resource and manage concurrency.
View Answer
Explanation: Semaphores are synchronization primitives that are used to control access to shared resources and manage concurrency in multithreaded or multiprocess environments. They allow processes or threads to coordinate and avoid conflicts when accessing shared resources by using counters or flags to signal the availability of the resource.
8. Question: What is a “Race Condition” in the context of process synchronization?
a. A situation where processes compete to finish a task.
b. A scenario where a process is stuck and unable to make progress.
c. A condition that guarantees the correct execution of concurrent processes.
d. A scenario where multiple processes access shared resources concurrently, leading to unexpected behavior.
View Answer
Answer: d. A scenario where multiple processes access shared resources concurrently, leading to unexpected behavior.
Explanation: A race condition occurs when multiple processes or threads access shared resources concurrently, and the final outcome depends on the order in which these accesses take place. Race conditions can lead to unpredictable and erroneous behavior in a program, making them a common issue in process synchronization.
9. Question: What is the purpose of a “Barrier” in process synchronization?
a. To provide exclusive access to shared resources.
b. To signal the completion of a process.
c. To synchronize the execution of multiple processes at a predefined point.
d. To prioritize processes based on their execution time.
View Answer
Explanation: A barrier in process synchronization is a synchronization primitive used to ensure that multiple processes or threads reach a specific point in their execution before any of them can proceed further. It is commonly used to synchronize tasks that need to wait for all participating processes to reach a specific point in their execution before continuing.
10. Question: What does “Deadlock” refer to in the context of process synchronization?
a. A situation where a process is stuck and unable to make progress.
b. A condition where multiple processes access shared resources concurrently.
c. A mechanism for controlling access to shared resources.
d. A situation where processes compete to finish a task.
View Answer
Answer: a. A situation where a process is stuck and unable to make progress.
Explanation: Deadlock is a scenario in process synchronization where two or more processes are unable to proceed because they are waiting for each other to release resources. It results in a standstill, where no progress can be made, and is a common issue in concurrent systems.
11. Question: What is the primary purpose of a “Reader-Writer Lock” in process synchronization?
a. To allow only one reader at a time to access a shared resource.
b. To allow multiple readers to access a shared resource simultaneously while preventing writers from accessing it concurrently.
c. To provide exclusive access to shared resources for both readers and writers.
d. To control the execution of processes based on their priority.
View Answer
Answer: b. To allow multiple readers to access a shared resource simultaneously while preventing writers from accessing it concurrently.
Explanation: A Reader-Writer Lock is a synchronization primitive that allows multiple readers to access a shared resource concurrently, as long as there are no writers. When a writer is modifying the resource, it ensures that no other readers or writers can access it simultaneously. This lock is particularly useful in scenarios where read operations are frequent and write operations need to be controlled for data consistency.
12. Question: What is a “Critical Section” in process synchronization?
a. A section of code that can be executed by multiple processes simultaneously.
b. A section of code that should be executed by a single process at a time.
c. A section of code where processes compete to complete a task.
d. A section of code that controls processor scheduling.
View Answer
Answer: b. A section of code that should be executed by a single process at a time.
Explanation: A critical section is a part of a program or code segment that needs exclusive access by a single process or thread at a time. It is used to prevent data races and ensure data integrity when multiple processes access shared resources. Proper synchronization mechanisms, like mutexes or semaphores, are used to control access to critical sections.
View all Topic Operating System MCQ
