Bird
Raised Fist0

Which of the following best explains why implementing all OS services as system calls can reduce overall system efficiency?

medium🪤 Complexity Trap Q6 of Q15
Operating Systems - System Call - Mechanism & Modes (User vs Kernel)
Which of the following best explains why implementing all OS services as system calls can reduce overall system efficiency?
ABecause system calls execute in user mode, which is slower than kernel mode.
BBecause system calls require mode switches that add latency, increasing total execution time.
CBecause system calls bypass CPU caches, causing frequent cache misses.
DBecause system calls disable multitasking, reducing CPU utilization.
Step-by-Step Solution
Solution:

  1. Step 1: Identify overhead of system calls

    Each system call requires a mode switch, which adds latency.

  2. Step 2: Understand impact on efficiency

    Frequent mode switches increase total execution time, reducing efficiency.

  3. Final Answer:

    Option B -> Option B

  4. Quick Check:

    System calls add latency due to mode switches, not cache bypass or disabling multitasking. [OK]
Quick Trick: System calls add latency due to mode switches [OK]
Common Mistakes:
MISTAKES
  • Believing system calls bypass caches
  • Thinking system calls run in user mode
  • Assuming system calls disable multitasking
Trap Explanation:
PITFALL
  • Candidates confuse system call overhead with unrelated hardware or OS features.
Interviewer Note:
CONTEXT
  • Evaluates understanding of system call performance trade-offs.
Master "System Call - Mechanism & Modes (User vs Kernel)" in Operating Systems

2 interactive learning modes - each teaches the same concept differently

SolutionTrace

Want More Practice?

15+ quiz questions · All difficulty levels · Free

Free Signup - Practice All Questions
More Operating Systems Quizzes
Context Switch - Cost & Causes - Context Switch - Cost & Causes - Quiz 13medium Critical Section Problem - Requirements & Peterson's Solution - Critical Section Problem - Requirements & Peterson's Solution - Quiz 2easy Deadlock - Four Necessary Conditions (Coffman) - Deadlock - Four Necessary Conditions (Coffman) - Quiz 15hard Disk Scheduling - SSTF, SCAN, C-SCAN - Disk Scheduling - SSTF, SCAN, C-SCAN - Quiz 1easy FCFS Scheduling - Convoy Effect & Waiting Time - FCFS Scheduling - Convoy Effect & Waiting Time - Quiz 11easy FCFS Scheduling - Convoy Effect & Waiting Time - FCFS Scheduling - Convoy Effect & Waiting Time - Quiz 2easy Paging vs Segmentation - Address Translation - Paging vs Segmentation - Address Translation - Quiz 4medium Process State Machine - Five-State Model - Process State Machine - Five-State Model - Quiz 9hard Shortest Job First (SJF) - Preemptive vs Non-Preemptive - Shortest Job First (SJF) - Preemptive vs Non-Preemptive - Quiz 3easy Starvation vs Deadlock vs Livelock - Differences & Examples - Starvation vs Deadlock vs Livelock - Differences & Examples - Quiz 3easy