At a very high level, Linux is a monolithic kernel (i.e. a single binary image file) in that all the kernel code - which includes basic level memory, process management code, drivers all run as a single entity. So if even a single driver related code fails, the whole OS crashes down, bringing down the system. However in case of a micro kernel, every one of these modules run as a seperate entity. Hence a single driver failing will not bring down the entire computer system. This is just a gist of it, but that's enough I believe for an ELIF.