The reading module. The operating system and utility programs are the two major categories of system software

I.Read the text:

The operating system and utility programs are the two major categories of system software. Just as the processor is the nucleus of the computer system, the operating system is the nucleus of all software activity.

An operating system (commonly abbreviated OS and O/S) is the software component of a computer system that is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer. The operating system acts as a host for applications that are run on the machine. As a host, one of the purposes of an operating system is to handle the details of the operation of the hardware. This relieves application programs from having to manage these details and makes it easier to write applications. Almost all computers, including handheld computers, desktop computers, supercomputers, and even video game consoles, use an operating system of some type. Some of the oldest models may however use an embedded operating system that may be contained on a compact disk or other data storage device.

OS is the first program loaded into memory when the computer is turned on and, in a sense, brings life to the computer hardware. Without it, you cannot use your word processing software, spreadsheet software, or any other applications.

Without an operating system, you cannot communicate with your computer. When you give the computer a command, the operating system relays the instructions to the 'brain' of the computer, called the microprocessor or CPU. You cannot speak directly to the CPU because it only understands machine language. When you are working in an application software program, such as Microsoft Word, commands that you give the application are sent through the operating system to the CPU.

Operating systems offer a number of services to application programs and users. Applications access these services through application programming interfaces (APIs) or system calls. By invoking these interfaces, the application can request a service from the operating system, pass parameters, and receive the results of the operation. Users may also interact with the operating system with some kind a software user interface (UI) like typing commands by using command line interface (CLI) or using a graphical user interface (GUI, commonly pronounced “gooey”). For hand-held and desktop computers, the user interface is generally considered part of the operating system. On large multi-user systems like Unix and Unix-like systems, the user interface is generally implemented as an application program that runs outside the operating system. (Whether the user interface should be included as part of the operating system is a point of contention.)

Common contemporary operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Solaris. Microsoft Windows has a significant majority of market share in the desktop and notebook computer markets, while servers generally run on Linux or other Unix-like systems.

I. Reading exercises:

Exercise1. Read and memorize using the dictionary:

Nucleus, handheld computers, video game consoles, embedded operating system, relay the instruction, invoke interfaces, system calls, command line interface, graphical user interface

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. What is an operating system?

2.What happens when you give your computer a command?

3.What interfaces do you know?

4.What is the difference between interface implementation on large multi-user systems and hand-held or desktop computers?

5. What are the common contemporary operating systems?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. As a host, one of the purposes of an operating system is to handle	a. a computer system that is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer.
2. By invoking these interfaces, the application can	b. memory when the computer is turned on.
3. OS is the first program loaded into	c. the details of the operation of the hardware.
4. An operating system is the software component of	d. request a service from the operating system, pass parameters, and receive the results of the operation.

Exercise 4. Open brackets using the right words:

1. Some of the oldest models may however use (an embedded operating system/ a command line interface) that may be contained on a compact disk or other data storage device.

2. On large multi-user systems like Unix and Unix-like systems, the user interface is generally implemented as (an application program/a software component) that runs outside the operating system.

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