Practice for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam with 17 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: A user is formatting an external hard drive for use between both Windows and Mac computers. Which file system should the. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- A user is formatting an external hard drive for use between both Windows and Mac computers. Which file system…
- A user notices that the back cover of their smartphone is bulging. The device has also been overheating recen…
- A client's laptop screen is flickering and occasionally goes black. You determine that the screen needs to be…
- A small business wants a comprehensive security solution that includes firewall, antivirus, spam filtering, a…
- A network administrator is configuring DNS and needs to map a hostname to its corresponding IPv4 address. Whi…
- An organization wants to segment its large network into smaller, isolated networks to improve performance and…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. A user is formatting an external hard drive for use between both Windows and Mac computers. Which file system should they use for compatibility with both operating systems?
Answer: C. exFAT
The exFAT file system is specifically designed for flash drives and external storage shared between Windows and macOS. NTFS is native to Windows with limited Mac write support, while HFS+ is Mac specific and Ext4 is for Linux.
Q2. A user notices that the back cover of their smartphone is bulging. The device has also been overheating recently. What should the user be concerned about?
Answer: B. The device has a swollen battery
A bulging smartphone cover paired with overheating is a classic sign of a swollen battery. This expansion happens as internal gases build up from battery degradation. A swollen battery is a severe safety hazard that requires immediate replacement to prevent fire or explosion.
Q3. A client's laptop screen is flickering and occasionally goes black. You determine that the screen needs to be replaced. Which of the following is the most important consideration when selecting a replacement screen?
Answer: A. Screen size and resolution
Matching the exact screen size, resolution, and connector type is critical for laptop display compatibility, as panels are not universally interchangeable. The processor and keyboard have no bearing on the physical display replacement.
Q4. A small business wants a comprehensive security solution that includes firewall, antivirus, spam filtering, and intrusion prevention. Which device should they consider implementing?
Answer: C. Unified Threat Management (UTM)
A Unified Threat Management appliance combines multiple security functions like firewall, antivirus, and intrusion prevention into a single integrated device. A standalone spam gateway only covers one of the required security features.
Q5. A network administrator is configuring DNS and needs to map a hostname to its corresponding IPv4 address. Which type of DNS record should they create?
Answer: B. A records
An A record is used in DNS to map a hostname directly to its corresponding IPv4 address. For the exam, remember that AAAA records handle IPv6 resolution, while MX records are strictly for routing email.
Q6. An organization wants to segment its large network into smaller, isolated networks to improve performance and security. Which technology should they implement?
Answer: B. VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
A Virtual Local Area Network logically segments a physical network into smaller, isolated broadcast domains to improve security and performance. A Virtual Private Network extends a private network across a public network, rather than segmenting it.
Q7. A multinational corporation requires a network to connect their offices across different countries. Which type of network is best suited for this purpose?
Answer: B. WAN (Wide Area Network)
A Wide Area Network connects local area networks across large geographical distances, such as linking offices in different countries. A Local Area Network is only designed for a single building or localized site.
Q8. A technician is creating custom lengths of network cables for a new office setup. Which tool should they use to attach RJ45 connectors to the ends of Cat5e Ethernet cables?
Answer: B. Crimper
A crimper is the designated tool for permanently attaching RJ45 connectors onto twisted-pair Ethernet cables. A punchdown tool is used to wire keystone jacks or patch panels, not to terminate modular plugs.
Q9. A network technician suspects a problem with a network card in a PC. Which tool can they use to test the functionality of the network interface card (NIC) without requiring a network connection?
Answer: D. Loopback plug
A loopback plug redirects transmit signals directly back into the receive pins to verify network interface hardware functionality without a live network. A cable tester simply checks for physical continuity across a cable.
Q10. A healthcare organization requires a cloud solution that ensures their critical applications are always accessible and operational. Which cloud characteristic is most important for this requirement?
Answer: C. High availability
High availability ensures that critical applications and services remain continuously accessible with minimal downtime. For the exam, associate metered utilization with billing, file synchronization with sharing, and shared resources with the basic cloud model.
Q11. A user reports that their computer is running unusually slow. What is the first step a technician should take according to standard troubleshooting methodology?
Answer: B. Ask the user about any recent changes to the system
The first step in standard troubleshooting methodology is to identify the problem by gathering information from the user. Asking about recent system changes often reveals the root cause before you attempt any destructive fixes or escalate the ticket.
Q12. During a software installation, a user encounters an error message that the installation failed. What is the first step the technician should take?
Answer: B. Check the system requirements of the software
Checking the software system requirements is the best first step because installation failures often occur when hardware or operating system specifications are not met. Always verify basic compatibility before taking drastic measures like reinstalling the operating system.
Q13. A gaming PC shuts down unexpectedly during intensive tasks. The user also notices that the system feels hot to the touch. What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
Answer: B. The system is overheating
The system is overheating, which triggers automatic shutdowns to protect critical components from thermal damage. While malware or a bad graphics card can cause crashes, the combination of intensive tasks and a hot case points directly to thermal throttling.
Q14. A computer does not power on at all. The technician observes no lights or fans turning on. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: B. Malfunctioning power supply unit
A malfunctioning power supply unit is the most likely cause when a computer shows absolutely no signs of life, such as lights or fan noise. Internal components like RAM or a hard drive cannot prevent the system from receiving power initially.
Q15. A server configured with RAID 5 reports a drive failure and is now operating in a degraded mode. What does this indicate?
Answer: B. One of the drives in the RAID array has failed, but data is still intact
Degraded mode means one drive has failed, but the RAID array is still functioning and your data remains intact. You must replace the failed drive immediately to rebuild the array, because losing a second drive will cause permanent data loss.
Q16. An organization requires a wireless standard that can operate in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and supports MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology. Which IEEE 802.11 standard should they use?
Answer: B. 802.11n
The 802.11n standard introduced the ability to operate in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands while supporting MIMO technology. However, 802.11ax also supports both bands and MIMO, making the wording slightly ambiguous.
Q17. An IT technician is setting up a system for employees to unlock doors using their smartphones. Which wireless technology is most suitable for this application?
Answer: B. NFC
Near Field Communication is the most suitable technology for unlocking doors with a smartphone due to its secure, short-range transmission. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi operate at longer ranges, while RFID typically requires a dedicated physical card.
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