Question

    Which of the following best describes the concept of ‘Concurrency’ in the context of Operating Systems? 

    A Concurrency refers to multiple tasks running at the same time on different processors Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B Concurrency is the execution of multiple tasks in a parallel fashion Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Concurrency refers to the management of multiple tasks by the operating system without necessarily executing them simultaneously Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Concurrency allows only one task to be executed at a time Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E Concurrency ensures tasks are completed faster by executing them in a parallel environment Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    Concurrency in the context of operating systems refers to the ability of the OS to manage multiple tasks, processes, or threads at once. These tasks may not necessarily run at the same time (simultaneously); rather, they are interleaved, with the CPU switching between tasks. This is essential in multi-tasking environments, especially when there is only a single CPU or a limited number of processors. The operating system handles task management, ensuring that all processes are given attention, even if they are not running at the exact same moment. Option A (Multiple tasks running at the same time): This is parallelism, not concurrency. Concurrency involves handling multiple tasks but not necessarily at the same time. Option B (Execution in parallel): Again, this is parallelism. Concurrency doesn’t always require parallel execution. Option D (Only one task executed at a time): This is a sequential execution model, which is not related to concurrency. Option E (Completing tasks faster): While concurrency can improve throughput, its primary focus is on task management, not necessarily speeding up execution.

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