what is an instance? what are the background processes?

what happens when executing the select statement behind the scene? what happens when executing the same satement again? can we create a unique constraint when the table has duplicate records? Diff btn the procedure and function? can we use the procedure as a function? what the types of cursors? What do you mean by ref cursor and give one example. what is the difference between the view and the materialized view. Did you ever work with the materialized views. What happens when you press the ctrl+c while the export job running? how can you resume the job? source has one tablespace ex:pavan and destination has the different tablespace ex:srinivas what parameters you use? can we have the same name for the table and materialized view? How can you tune the single query performance problem and the database performan ce problem. for a single sql statement where can you find the number of loads and cpu time. which view you use to find the information.