Identify Features of macOS

Question 1

Answer 1

Menu bars with different apps running. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 2

Answer 2

Mission control

Question 3

Answer 3

System Preferences. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 4

Answer 4

Configuring the trackpad. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 5

Answer 5

Accessibility prefpane showing Zoom options. (Screenshot reprinted with permission Apple Inc.)

Question 6

Answer 6

The Sign In button in System Preferences allows you to link an Apple ID to the local account.
(Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 7

Answer 7

Security & Privacy prefpane showing privacy options. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 8

Answer 8

Using the Apple ID prefpane to configure iCloud synchronization options. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 9

Answer 9

Monitoring the App Store for available updates. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 10

Answer 10

Software Update prefpane showing that a macOS version upgrade is available.

Question 11

Answer 11

Status menus in the Menu bar. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 12

Answer 12

Select the Advanced button in the Network prefpane to configure Wi-Fi options, IP and DNS settings,
and proxy settings.

Question 13

Answer 13

Use the Disk Utility to report storage status and configure and format volumes.

Question 14

Answer 14

Configuring Time Machine.

Question 15

Answer 15

Using Force Quit to stop an app that is not responding. Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 16

Answer 16

macOS Recovery menu. (Screenshot reprinted with permission from Apple Inc.)

Question 17

dock

Answer 17

provides quick access to favorite apps and files, functioning similarly to the Windows taskbar; open applications in the dock are indicated by a dot beneath their icon.

Question 18

Spotlight Search

Answer 18

provides quick access to files, apps, settings, and web results. To start a search, click the magnifying glass in the menu bar or press COMMAND+SPACE to open the search box.

Question 19

The Terminal

Answer 19

provides access to the command-line environment, using either Z shell (zsh) or Bash—older versions defaulted to Bash, while Catalina and later use zsh as the default shell.

Question 20

Mission Control

Answer 20

provides window management and allows users to create multiple desktops, each with its own apps and backgrounds. Activate it with F3, then drag windows onto a specific desktop to assign them. Switch desktops using F3, CONTROL+LEFT/RIGHT, or a 3-/4-finger swipe gesture.

Question 21

System Preferences

Answer 21

functions like Windows Settings, serving as the central hub for adjusting system configurations, network settings, and input device preferences. Notably, Mac input devices often differ from PC counterparts, requiring users to familiarize themselves with macOS-specific settings.

Question 22

Mac keyboards

Answer 22

replace the CTRL, ALT, ALTGR, and START keys found on PC and Linux keyboards with COMMAND, OPTION, CONTROL, and the APPLE/POWER key. COMMAND functions similarly to CTRL, while OPTION is typically mapped to ALT. If using a non-Apple keyboard, key mappings can be adjusted in System Preferences > Keyboard.

Question 23

Magic Mouse and Trackpad

Answer 23

Macs lack touchscreen support but offer gesture-enabled interaction through the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. Users can check or customize gesture settings by opening the Trackpad preferences pane.

Question 24

Displays preferences pane

Answer 24

lets users adjust desktop scaling, brightness, color calibration, and Night Shift settings, which adapt the display to ambient light for improved visibility and reduced eye strain.

Question 25

**Accessibility preferences pane**

Answer 25

provides options for **assistive vision and sound settings**, including **VoiceOver narration, cursor customization, zoom tools, display contrast, font sizing**, and **captioning**, ensuring improved usability for all users.

Question 26

User Management

Answer 26

macOS automatically creates an **Administrator account** upon installation, with an optional **Guest User account**. To add a new user, navigate to **System Preferences > Users & Groups**.

Question 27

# security and user management **Apple ID**

Answer 27

links local macOS accounts to **App Store purchases, iCloud, and other Apple services**. Users may already have an Apple ID from **iTunes purchases or iOS devices**. Signing in or out can be managed via the **System Preferences home page**.

Question 28

**Security & Privacy settings**

Answer 28

to manage **telemetry data, app permissions**, and access to features like **location services, camera, contacts, and calendar**, similar to Windows. Users can configure these preferences via the **Security & Privacy preferences pane**.

Question 29

**Internet Accounts** preferences pane

Answer 29

links email and cloud accounts to macOS logins, while **Keychain** manages passwords for websites, Wi-Fi, and system credentials. **iCloud Keychain** syncs passwords across devices, making access seamless. The **Keychain Access app** helps troubleshoot issues and recover forgotten passwords, and **Keychain First Aid** can attempt repairs if errors occur.

Question 30

FileVault

Answer 30

**disk encryption tool**, designed to protect data from unauthorized access if the disk is removed and accessed using a foreign OS. When **enabled**, each user account must have a **password**, and a **recovery method** should be configured for password recovery. The **recovery key** can be stored in **iCloud** or recorded locally—but never on the same encrypted disk—to ensure secure access.

Question 31

Finder and iCloud

Answer 31

macOS allows file storage on **local drives**, similar to Windows, but **iCloud** provides a **secure cloud storage option**, making it easier to **synchronize data** across multiple devices while offering backup and accessibility benefits.

Question 32

Finder

Answer 32

**file navigation tool**, similar to **File Explorer in Windows**. It provides access to **files, folders, and storage locations** and is **always open in the dock** for quick access.

Question 33

iCloud

Answer 33

**cloud storage service**, offering **5 GB of free storage** for syncing **mail, contacts, calendar, photos, notes, and reminders** across macOS and iOS devices, with upgrade options available for additional space.

Question 34

App Installation and Management

Answer 34

macOS apps can be installed via **two main distribution methods**: the **App Store**, which offers verified apps with easy updates, and **direct downloads**, where apps are obtained from developers’ websites or third-party sources, often requiring manual installation and security verification.

Question 35

**App Store**

Answer 35

serves as the primary platform for Apple and developers to distribute **free and paid** software, as well as **macOS updates and new releases**, requiring an **Apple ID** for access and purchases.

Question 36

Installation of Download Apps

Answer 36

Some macOS apps must be downloaded from vendor sites instead of the App Store, requiring users to adjust security settings in **System Preferences > Security & Privacy** to allow installations. macOS supports **DMG** format for simple installs and **PKG** for complex setups, with installed apps placed in the **Applications folder** under a `.APP` extension.

Question 37

**App Store**

Answer 37

central hub for **free and paid software**, as well as **macOS updates and new releases**, requiring an **Apple ID** for access and purchases.

Question 38

apps can be installed

Answer 38

via the **App Store** using an **Apple ID**, or through **direct downloads**, which require adjusting security settings, selecting the correct **DMG** or **PKG** installer format, and placing the installed app in the **Applications folder**.

Question 39

Network settings

Answer 39

can be managed via the **Status menu** in the **menu bar** or through **System Preferences**, where the **Advanced button** allows configuration of **IP properties and proxy settings**.

Question 40

**Disk Utility** app

Answer 40

is used to **verify, repair, or erase disks** securely, especially when transferring ownership. **Regular defragmentation is unnecessary**, but it can be performed in rare cases if needed.

Question 41

Optical Drives and Remote Disc

Answer 41

Since **2016**, Apple Macs have not included an **internal optical drive**, but users can connect an **external USB drive** or use the **Remote Disc app** to access a **CD/DVD drive** on another Mac or Windows computer. **Remote Disc** is not suitable for **audio CDs, DVD movies, recordable CDs/DVDs, or Windows installation disks**. To set up **Remote Disc sharing**, go to **System Preferences > Sharing**, check the box for **DVD or CD sharing**, and access the drive via **Finder > Remote Disc**.

Question 42

**Time Machine preferences pane**

Answer 42

enables **automatic backups** to an **external drive or partition**, retaining **hourly, daily, and weekly backups**, and allowing file restoration via a **timeline and Finder navigation**. .

Question 43

App Crashes and Force Quit

Answer 43

If a macOS app becomes unresponsive, the **spinning wait cursor** may indicate it's stuck in an **endless loop** or unable to complete its process. Instead of restarting the computer, users can **force quit** the app via the **Apple menu > Force Quit** or using the shortcut **COMMAND + OPTION + ESC**.

Question 44

**Recovery menu**

Answer 44

allows users to **restore from Time Machine**, **reinstall macOS**, **repair or reformat the system disk**, and—if the startup drive is unavailable—**boot from a web-based recovery**, accessed by holding **COMMAND + R** during startup.