Oral Activity
A: Do you know what the most important software is in a computer?
B: Of course, I do. It is an operating system, but I do not know clearly why it is.
A: Because an operating system manages all of software and hardware in computer.
B: You know I am computer-illiterate and learn little language of computer, so I am afraid that I cannot communicate with my computer.
A: No problem. The operating system helps you to do so.
B: By the way, can you explain the meaning of the word “boot” in term of computer for me?
A: Yes, booting is the process that occurs when you turn on your computer, during which the computer begins to run tests to make sure everything is working correctly, to check for new hardware and then to start up the operating system.
B: Are all of the programs installed in computer operated after the operating system has started up?
A: Most of the time, there are many different programs running at the same time, and they all need to access your computer's CPU, memory, and storage. The operating system coordinates all of this to make sure that each program gets what it needs.
B: You mean the computer doesn’t work without an operating system. Now I see how important it is.
A: That’s why we should know what roles the operating system plays.
B: Can you tell me what kinds of tasks does an operating system perform?
A: It mainly manages different programs such as the processor, the random access memory, execution of application, authorization and so on.
B: How many types of operating systems are mentioned in our text?
A: Six. They are multi-threaded, pre-emptive, shared time, multi-processing, embedded and real time systems.
B: I will first remember the special terms and then try to understand the principles of their work. Thanks a lot for what you’ve explained today.
A: You are welcome.

