Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately?
Difficulty: Medium
About this MCQ
This Medium Operating Systems MCQ checks one syllabus fact.
The question is: “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately?”
The accepted answer is B. Interrupt. Interrupt is the person, body, or term that satisfies “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately” (option B). Option A (“File system”) does not match the stem; it is a near-miss used to catch incomplete recall of Interrupt. Option C (“Deadlock”) does not match the stem; it is a near-miss used to catch incomplete recall of Interrupt. Remaining alternatives (Context switching) fall outside the same rule and should be eliminated once Interrupt is identified. Operating Systems questions of this type reward precise definitions rather than approximate associations. Operating Systems recall of this distinction is a regular item in FPSC, PPSC, NTS, and CSS papers.
- A. File system
Why not A: “File system” is not correct. The accepted answer is B. Interrupt. Interrupt is the person, body, or term that satisfies “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately” (option B)
- B. Interrupt ✓
- C. Deadlock
Why not C: “Deadlock” is not correct. The accepted answer is B. Interrupt. Interrupt is the person, body, or term that satisfies “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately” (option B)
- D. Context switching
Why not D: “Context switching” is not correct. The accepted answer is B. Interrupt. Interrupt is the person, body, or term that satisfies “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately” (option B)
Correct answer
B. Interrupt
Explanation
Interrupt is the person, body, or term that satisfies “Which term refers to a signal that pauses the CPU's current activity so it can handle an urgent event immediately” (option B). Option A (“File system”) does not match the stem; it is a near-miss used to catch incomplete recall of Interrupt. Option C (“Deadlock”) does not match the stem; it is a near-miss used to catch incomplete recall of Interrupt. Remaining alternatives (Context switching) fall outside the same rule and should be eliminated once Interrupt is identified. Operating Systems questions of this type reward precise definitions rather than approximate associations. Operating Systems recall of this distinction is a regular item in FPSC, PPSC, NTS, and CSS papers.
Source: Operating Systems Official Reference Guide
Tags: computer science, operating systems, OS concepts, process management
Submitted by: MCQsHub Editorial
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