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 laptop user complains about rapidly declining battery life. You conclude that the battery needs to be replaced. What s. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- A laptop user complains about rapidly declining battery life. You conclude that the battery needs to be repla…
- A remote worker has a laptop with limited I/O ports and needs to connect to dual monitors, a keyboard, a mous…
- A user requires a wireless network for high-bandwidth activities like streaming high-definition video. Which…
- A business needs to connect its network to the Internet but also wants to allocate IP addresses dynamically t…
- A company is seeking to improve network management and agility by separating the control plane from the data…
- A hotel wants to provide wireless internet access to its guests in all rooms. Which device should they instal…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. A laptop user complains about rapidly declining battery life. You conclude that the battery needs to be replaced. What should be the primary concern when choosing a replacement battery?
Answer: D. Battery voltage and capacity
Matching battery voltage and capacity is your primary concern to ensure safe operation and proper device compatibility. While physical size dictates fit, incorrect voltage can severely damage the laptop motherboard or create a fire hazard.
Q2. A remote worker has a laptop with limited I/O ports and needs to connect to dual monitors, a keyboard, a mouse, and an Ethernet cable at their home office. What is the most efficient solution?
Answer: C. A multi-port docking station
A multi-port docking station provides all the necessary connections, including video outputs for dual monitors, USB ports, and Ethernet, through a single connection to the laptop. Exam cue: Look for docking stations whenever a laptop user needs multiple permanent peripherals.
Q3. A user requires a wireless network for high-bandwidth activities like streaming high-definition video. Which frequency band should they use for higher data rates but reduced range?
Answer: B. 5GHz
The 5GHz band provides faster data rates for high-bandwidth activities like streaming media. For the exam, remember the tradeoff that higher frequencies deliver speed but sacrifice range and struggle to penetrate solid walls.
Q4. A business needs to connect its network to the Internet but also wants to allocate IP addresses dynamically to its devices. Which device should be used?
Answer: A. Router with DHCP capabilities
A router with DHCP capabilities connects the local network to the internet while dynamically assigning IP addresses. Switches and access points lack routing capabilities, and a modem alone simply translates the broadband signal.
Q5. A company is seeking to improve network management and agility by separating the control plane from the data plane in its network architecture. Which networking technology should they implement?
Answer: B. SDN (Software-Defined Networking)
Software-Defined Networking achieves dynamic management by decoupling the control plane from the data plane. This centralized approach contrasts with traditional hardware where switches and routers make independent forwarding decisions.
Q6. A hotel wants to provide wireless internet access to its guests in all rooms. Which device should they install throughout the property to achieve this?
Answer: C. Access point
Access points broadcast the wireless signal that allows client devices to connect to the network. Deploying multiple access points provides seamless roaming coverage across a large property like a hotel.
Q7. A company is implementing a secure method for employees to access internal servers remotely. Which protocol, known for being connection-oriented, should be used for secure, encrypted remote access?
Answer: C. SSH
Secure Shell provides encrypted remote management over TCP, ensuring reliable transmission. TFTP uses UDP, making it connectionless and insecure, which is unsuitable for accessing internal servers remotely.
Q8. A network administrator needs to configure a system to monitor and manage network devices like routers and switches. Which ports should be open to use Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)?
Answer: A. 161/162
Simple Network Management Protocol relies on port 161 for polling devices and port 162 for receiving trap notifications. Memorize these management ports, as they are distinct from common web or email protocols.
Q9. A user needs to send several large files over email but is restricted by a size limit. What is the best solution to reduce the total size of the files?
Answer: B. se file compression software
File compression software reduces the overall size of files to meet email restrictions. Cloud storage is an alternative sharing method but does not shrink files, while defragmentation only optimizes drive performance.
Q10. A company needs to send confidential data to a remote employee. What software-based method should they use to protect the data during transmission?
Answer: C. Encryption software
Encryption software scrambles data into ciphertext, making it unreadable to unauthorized users during transmission. Firewalls block malicious traffic, and antivirus removes infections, but neither secures the payload itself.
Q11. A small business wants to secure its internal network from external threats. What is the most effective device to use at the network's boundary?
Answer: C. Router with a built-in firewall
A router with a built-in firewall inspects and filters traffic at the network boundary to block external threats. Switches distribute internal traffic, and access points provide wireless access without robust perimeter protection.
Q12. A user complains that the image on their LCD monitor is fuzzy and not sharp. What should the technician adjust to resolve this issue?
Answer: C. The resolution settings on the computer
A fuzzy image on an LCD monitor typically occurs when the display resolution does not match the monitor's native resolution. Setting the operating system to the native resolution fixes the pixel scaling issue. Brightness and contrast adjustments only affect image clarity, not sharpness.
Q13. A user's display reads "No Signal" despite the computer being powered on. All cables are securely connected. What is a probable cause?
Answer: A. The display is in the wrong input mode
A no signal message usually means the monitor is looking for input on the wrong port. Switching the display input to match the active cable resolves this. A failing power supply would prevent the computer from booting, while brightness or contrast settings would not trigger this message.
Q14. A tablet user reports that touch inputs are not registering accurately on the screen. What is the likely cause of this issue?
Answer: B. There are issues with the digitizer
The digitizer is the physical layer that translates screen touches into digital input signals. When touches fail to register accurately, the digitizer is typically damaged or miscalibrated. Storage capacity and processor speed affect overall performance but do not impact touch accuracy.
Q15. A printer frequently experiences paper jams. What is the most common cause of repeated paper jams?
Answer: B. Worn out or dirty paper feed rollers
Paper feed rollers grip the paper to move it through the printer mechanism. When these rollers become dirty or worn smooth, they slip and cause frequent paper jams. Cleaning or replacing the rollers usually resolves the issue, while low toner causes faded prints.
Q16. Network administrators notice that a switch port repeatedly and rapidly changes its state from up to down and back. What issue does this behavior, known as "port flapping," typically indicate?
Answer: C. A loose or faulty cable connected to the port
Port flapping is typically caused by a physical layer issue, such as a loose, damaged, or faulty cable. While a failing network interface card can also cause this, hardware connections are the primary suspect on the exam.
Q17. In a network security setup, what is the primary purpose of AAA?
Answer: D. Handling authentication, authorization, and accounting processes
AAA stands for Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting, verifying identity, controlling access, and tracking user activity. Access control lists are a component of authorization, but AAA represents the broader security framework.
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