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FC0-U71 Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are examples of system…
Which TWO of the following are examples of system software?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between system software and application software, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly classify database management systems or web browsers as system software because they are essential for many tasks, but they are actually application software that runs on top of the OS.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Device drivers
Option A (Device drivers) is correct because device drivers are low-level system software that act as an interface between the operating system and hardware peripherals, translating OS requests into device-specific commands. Option C (Operating system) is correct because the OS is the core system software that manages hardware resources, memory, processes, and provides services for application software. Options B (Database management system), D (Spreadsheet), and E (Web browser) are not system software; they are application software designed to perform user-oriented tasks such as data management, calculations, and web navigation, and they run on top of the operating system rather than managing the system itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Device drivers
Why this is correct
Device drivers are system software because they sit between the operating system kernel and hardware, translating OS instructions into device-specific commands. They load at boot or on demand, unlike application software such as browsers or word processors, satisfying the stem's requirement for a system software example.
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Database management system
Why it's wrong here
A database management system is application software, sitting above the OS to organise and query data for users. It is tempting because DBMSs manage storage and memory resources, but they still depend on the operating system's file and process services rather than providing them.
- ✓
Operating system
Why this is correct
An operating system is system software: it manages hardware resources, memory, processes and file systems, and provides the platform on which application software runs. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement, distinguishing it from application software such as spreadsheets or media players.
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Spreadsheet
Why it's wrong here
A spreadsheet is application software, used for user-directed calculation and data presentation. It is tempting because spreadsheets ship bundled with office suites and can automate tasks via macros, but they run atop the OS rather than managing hardware, memory or files themselves.
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Web browser
Why it's wrong here
A web browser is application software, running on top of the operating system to serve user tasks. It is tempting because browsers ship preinstalled with the OS, but that bundling does not make them system software; utilities like disk defragmenters manage hardware directly.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.