Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

Which of the following refers to software that allows multiple tasks to be executed simultaneously on a computer?

1. Multithreading

2. Multitasking

3. Multiprocessing

4. Multicore

The correct answer is: Multitasking

The term that best describes software allowing multiple tasks to be executed simultaneously on a computer is multithreading. Multithreading is a programming model that allows concurrent execution of multiple threads within a single process, maximizing CPU utilization and improving performance, especially in tasks that require significant computational resources or time. When comparing this with other concepts, multitasking refers to the operating system's ability to execute more than one task at the same time, but it does not specifically point to the execution of multiple threads within a single program. Multiprocessing involves using multiple processors to execute processes simultaneously, which is a different scope concerning hardware rather than software control. Lastly, multicore refers to a processor design that incorporates multiple processing units (or cores) on a single chip, enhancing the ability to perform parallel processing, but again, it does not inherently describe the software aspect. Thus, multithreading encapsulates the concept of executing multiple tasks simultaneously at the thread level within software, marking it as the correct choice in this context.