Memory Allocation Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide for Operating Systems

Question 1

Which memory allocation technique assigns memory in contiguous blocks?

Accepted Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Question 2

Which memory allocation technique partitions memory into variable-sized segments?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Question 3

What is the primary advantage of virtual memory over physical memory?

Accepted Answer

Increased address space

Answer

Faster memory access

Question 4

What is the purpose of a page table in paging?

Accepted Answer

To store the physical addresses corresponding to virtual addresses

Answer

To manage the allocation of memory pages

Question 5

What is the key difference between segmentation and paging?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation divides memory into fixed-sized blocks, while paging divides memory into variable-sized blocks.

Answer

Segmentation divides memory into variable-sized blocks, while paging divides memory into fixed-sized blocks.

Question 6

Which of the following is a drawback of employing paging for memory allocation?

Accepted Answer

It heightens the overhead of memory management.

Answer

It lessens memory fragmentation.

Answer

It enhances memory utilization.

Answer

It does away with the necessity for contiguous memory allocation.

Question 7

Which memory allocation technique divides memory into fixed-size units known as blocks?

Accepted Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Dynamic allocation

Question 8

Which memory allocation technique assigns memory to a process as a continuous block?

Accepted Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Virtual memory

Question 9

Which memory allocation technique divides memory into fixed-size blocks known as pages?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Dynamic memory allocation

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a drawback of contiguous allocation?

Accepted Answer

Speedier memory access

Answer

Internal fragmentation

Answer

External fragmentation

Answer

Complex implementation

Question 11

Which memory allocation technique is commonly used in modern operating systems due to its flexibility and support for virtual memory?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Dynamic memory allocation

Question 12

In the context of paging, what is the distinction between logical and physical addresses?

Accepted Answer

Logical addresses represent virtual memory, while physical addresses represent real memory

Answer

Logical addresses are larger than physical addresses

Answer

Physical addresses are used by the CPU, while logical addresses are used by programs

Answer

Logical addresses are used for protection, while physical addresses are used for data storage

Question 13

In contiguous memory allocation, the operating system assigns memory to a process:

Accepted Answer

In a single contiguous block

Answer

In scattered fragments of memory

Answer

In a non-contiguous block

Answer

In any available memory slot

Question 14

In paging, the basic unit of memory allocation is called a:

Accepted Answer

Page

Answer

Frame

Answer

Segment

Answer

Block

Question 15

The Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB) is used in:

Accepted Answer

Both paging and segmentation

Answer

Paging only

Answer

Segmentation only

Answer

Neither paging nor segmentation

Question 16

The algorithm that determines how memory is allocated to processes is called:

Accepted Answer

Page replacement algorithm

Answer

Demand paging

Answer

Memory management unit

Answer

Garbage collector

Question 17

The table that keeps track of which page frames are currently in use is called:

Accepted Answer

Page table

Answer

Segmentation table

Answer

TLB

Answer

Inversion table

Question 18

Which memory allocation technique assigns memory to processes in continuous blocks?

Accepted Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Buddy allocation

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of segmentation?

Accepted Answer

Adequate support for multiprogramming

Answer

Increased external fragmentation

Answer

Complex memory management

Answer

Limited support for virtual memory

Question 20

What is the purpose of a page table in a paging system?

Accepted Answer

Translating virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses

Answer

Managing the allocation of memory pages

Answer

Handling page faults

Answer

Optimizing the use of the translation lookaside buffer (TLB)

Question 21

How is external fragmentation reduced in contiguous allocation?

Accepted Answer

Merging adjacent free blocks

Answer

Compacting memory

Answer

Swapping processes to virtual memory

Answer

Employing a buddy allocation algorithm

Question 22

Which memory allocation strategy divides memory into fixed-size units known as pages?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Dynamic allocation

Answer

Buddy allocation

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a type of page fault?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation fault

Answer

Hard page fault

Answer

Soft page fault

Answer

Copy-on-write page fault

Question 24

In the context of paging, what is the typical size relationship between a page and a frame?

Accepted Answer

A page is equal in size to a frame.

Answer

A page is larger than a frame.

Answer

A page is smaller than a frame.

Answer

The page size depends on the specific operating system.

Question 25

In the realm of modern operating systems, which memory allocation technique is commonly employed?

Accepted Answer

A combination of paging and segmentation

Answer

Contiguous allocation exclusively

Answer

Paging exclusively

Answer

Segmentation exclusively

Question 26

What is the primary purpose of a page table?

Accepted Answer

Mapping virtual memory addresses to their physical counterparts

Answer

Managing the allocation of physical pages

Answer

Storing the contents of active pages

Answer

Translating logical addresses to physical addresses

Question 27

What is the primary distinction between paging and segmentation?

Accepted Answer

Paging utilizes fixed-sized units, while segmentation employs variable-sized units.

Answer

Segmentation utilizes fixed-sized units, while paging employs variable-sized units.

Answer

Paging operates within a single address space, whereas segmentation utilizes multiple address spaces.

Answer

Segmentation operates within a single address space, whereas paging utilizes multiple address spaces.

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using a buddy system for memory allocation?

Accepted Answer

Increased implementation complexity

Answer

Reduced fragmentation

Answer

Enhanced performance

Answer

Simplified implementation

Question 29

What is the key function of a memory management unit (MMU)?

Accepted Answer

Handling address translation and protection

Answer

Managing the allocation of physical memory

Answer

Swapping processes between primary and secondary storage

Answer

Scheduling processes for execution

Question 30

In Linux, which memory allocation technique enables multiple processes to utilize the same physical memory?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Segmentation

Question 31

Which memory allocation technique divides physical memory into fixed-size blocks called pages and uses a page table to map virtual addresses to physical addresses?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Segmentation

Question 32

What is the term used to describe the area of memory where processes and data that are currently being used are stored?

Accepted Answer

Main memory

Answer

Cache memory

Answer

Virtual memory

Answer

Secondary memory

Question 33

Which memory allocation technique assigns variable-sized blocks of memory to processes based on their specific needs?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Fixed partitioning

Answer

Dynamic partitioning

Answer

Buddy system

Question 34

What is the primary purpose of a page table in a paging system?

Accepted Answer

To map virtual addresses to physical addresses

Answer

To store the contents of the page

Answer

To track the status of pages

Answer

To translate logical addresses to physical addresses

Question 35

What is a key advantage of using contiguous allocation for memory management?

Accepted Answer

Improved performance

Answer

Reduced complexity

Answer

Increased security

Answer

Simplified implementation

Question 36

What is the term used to describe the process of moving infrequently used pages from main memory to secondary storage to free up space for more frequently used pages?

Accepted Answer

Swapping

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Caching

Question 37

What is a primary function of a memory management unit (MMU)?

Accepted Answer

Translate virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses

Answer

Allocate memory to processes

Answer

Detect and correct memory errors

Question 38

How do common operating systems like Windows, Linux, or macOS utilize paging to enhance their performance?

Accepted Answer

Windows uses paging to create a larger virtual memory space, enabling it to run more programs concurrently without memory limitations.

Accepted Answer

Linux employs paging to divide memory into uniform pages, facilitating faster memory access and management for improved processing speed.

Accepted Answer

macOS utilizes paging to allocate memory to individual processes, ensuring efficient resource allocation and system stability.

Question 39

Which memory allocation technique uses continuous blocks of fixed-size memory?

Accepted Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Dynamic allocation

Question 40

Which memory allocation technique divides memory into fixed-size blocks that are assigned to processes in a non-contiguous manner?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Question 41

What is the primary function of a page table in paging?

Accepted Answer

To translate virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses

Answer

To prevent page faults

Answer

To manage memory allocation

Question 42

What is the main objective of memory allocation in an operating system?

Accepted Answer

To optimize memory utilization and satisfy process memory requirements

Answer

To prevent memory leaks

Answer

To enhance CPU performance

Question 43

Which of the following factors should be considered when selecting a memory allocation technique for an application?

Accepted Answer

Application characteristics, memory requirements, and access patterns

Answer

Operating system version

Answer

Processor speed

Question 44

Which memory allocation technique divides physical memory into fixed-sized blocks of equal size, known as pages?

Accepted Answer

Paging

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Buddy system allocation

Question 45

Which memory allocation technique allows for the creation of memory segments of variable sizes?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Answer

Buddy system allocation

Answer

Paging

Question 46

What is the primary purpose of a page table in a paging system?

Accepted Answer

To translate virtual memory addresses to their corresponding physical memory addresses

Answer

To store the actual data contents of physical memory pages

Answer

To manage the allocation and deallocation of physical memory pages

Question 47

Which of the following is an example of internal fragmentation in memory allocation?

Accepted Answer

Unused memory within a block allocated using the Buddy system

Answer

Contiguous allocation of memory blocks

Answer

Paging with fixed-size pages

Answer

Segmentation with variable-sized segments

Question 48

What is a key benefit of employing a Least Recently Used (LRU) page replacement algorithm?

Accepted Answer

It prioritizes pages that have been recently accessed, increasing the likelihood they will be needed again

Answer

It improves the overall utilization of memory

Answer

It reduces the overall number of page faults

Question 49

Which memory allocation technique is most widely used in contemporary operating systems?

Accepted Answer

Paging with virtual memory

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Buddy system allocation

Answer

Contiguous allocation

Question 50

What is the fundamental distinction between logical and physical memory?

Accepted Answer

Logical memory is a virtual address space, while physical memory represents actual physical addresses

Answer

Logical memory has faster access speeds than physical memory

Answer

Physical memory is inherently larger than logical memory