Question

The __________ level is the primary interface with the environment outside of the computer system.

A) logical I/O
B) basic I/O supervisor
C) physical I/O
D) access method

Answer 1

The physical I/O level is responsible for the actual hardware and communication interfaces for data exchange between a computer and external devices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The physical I/O level is the primary interface with the environment outside of the computer system. This level is responsible for the actual hardware and communication interfaces that allow a computer system to connect and exchange data with external devices. When data is transferred between a computer and a device, it must be converted to a form that can be physically transmitted over the interface, such as electrical signals, optical signals, or radio waves. The physical I/O level oversees this process, often through controllers and drivers tailored to specific types of hardware. This contrasts with the logical I/O level, which is more concerned with the presentation of data to the operating system or application, rather than the actual hardware interactions.