Which of the following commercial software products are examples of operating system software and application software respectively in basic computer knowledge?

Introduction / Context:
Computer software is often grouped into system software, which supports the basic functioning of the computer, and application software, which helps users perform specific tasks. This question tests the ability to distinguish between operating system software and application software by identifying a correct pair that lists them in order. Understanding this distinction is essential for anyone studying computer fundamentals or preparing for general knowledge exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks for an example of operating system software and application software respectively.
• The options combine different well known software products such as Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office XP, MS DOS, UNIX, LINUX, and Microsoft Excel.
• We assume the learner knows which items are operating systems and which are applications.
• The correct pair must list an operating system first and an application program second.

Concept / Approach:
Operating system software manages hardware resources and provides core services that allow other programs to run. Examples include Microsoft Windows XP, MS DOS, UNIX, LINUX, and other similar systems. Application software is designed to perform specific user tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheets, or presentations, and relies on the operating system to function. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are classic examples of application software. The approach is to classify each item in the options and then choose the pair that follows the pattern: operating system, then application.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Microsoft Windows XP as an operating system that controls computer hardware and runs application programs.Step 2: Recognise Microsoft Word as a word processing application used for creating and editing documents.Step 3: Examine option A, which lists Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Word. This pair follows the correct order of operating system followed by application software.Step 4: Check the other options. Microsoft Office XP is a suite of applications, not an operating system, and MS DOS, UNIX, LINUX are all operating systems, not application programs.Step 5: Conclude that only option A correctly matches an operating system with an application program in the required order.

Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, recall that operating systems are responsible for booting the computer and managing files, memory, and devices. Microsoft Windows XP clearly fits this role. In contrast, Microsoft Word is something that you install and run on top of Windows to create documents. If you think about installation media, an operating system is usually installed when you set up the computer, while application software such as Word or Excel is often installed later. This mental image reinforces that Windows XP is system software and Word is application software, validating option A.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B lists Microsoft Office XP, which is a collection of applications, followed by Microsoft Windows XP, which is an operating system. The order is reversed and does not match the requirement of operating system then application. Option C contains MS DOS and Microsoft Windows XP, both of which are operating systems, so there is no application program in the pair. Option D lists UNIX and LINUX, and both are operating systems, not application software. Option E combines Linux, an operating system, and Microsoft Excel, an application, but again the order is application second rather than a clear required pattern in the statement and is not the standard textbook example usually used in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may mix up the roles of suites like Microsoft Office and individual applications such as Word or Excel. Another common confusion is to think that anything made by Microsoft might be an operating system, even when it is actually an application. It is also possible to overlook the word respectively in the question, which indicates that the first item must be an operating system and the second must be an application. Careful reading and solid understanding of basic definitions help avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The correct pair of operating system software and application software respectively is Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Word.