Practice for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam with 16 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: What type of DNS record is used to map a domain name to an IPv4 address?. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- What type of DNS record is used to map a domain name to an IPv4 address?
- A computer on a network is unable to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. Which protocol might it use to…
- After using the same static image on a screen for an extended period, a user notices that the image seems to…
- Which user interface type provides visual elements such as windows, icons, buttons, and menus to interact wit…
- During the boot-up process of a computer, which component is responsible for initializing hardware and perfor…
- A company wants to enhance its network security by implementing a system that tracks user activities and netw…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. What type of DNS record is used to map a domain name to an IPv4 address?
Answer: D. A
An address record maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 address. A quick exam tip is that an IPv6 address uses four A records, while the standard IPv4 address simply uses one.
Q2. A computer on a network is unable to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server. Which protocol might it use to assign itself an IP address automatically?
Answer: A. APIPA
APIPA allows a Windows computer to automatically self-assign an IP address in the 169.254 range when a DHCP server is unavailable. For the exam, always associate an IP starting with 169.254 with a failed DHCP request.
Q3. After using the same static image on a screen for an extended period, a user notices that the image seems to be permanently visible even when other content is displayed. What is this issue known as?
Answer: B. Display burn-in
Display burn-in happens when a static image remains on screen so long that it permanently retains a ghostly outline. Dead pixels present as unlit dots on the panel, while fuzzy images indicate a resolution or cabling issue.
Q4. Which user interface type provides visual elements such as windows, icons, buttons, and menus to interact with a computer system?
Answer: C. GUI
A graphical user interface provides visual elements like windows, icons, and menus to help users interact with a system easily. A command line interface relies entirely on typed text commands instead of clickable graphics.
Q5. During the boot-up process of a computer, which component is responsible for initializing hardware and performing a power-on self-test (POST)?
Answer: A. BIOS
The firmware is responsible for initializing hardware and performing the power-on self-test during boot. Modern systems use unified extensible firmware interface, but it still performs this same diagnostic initialization role.
Q6. A company wants to enhance its network security by implementing a system that tracks user activities and network resource usage. Which system should they implement?
Answer: B. AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting)
AAA provides tracking of user activities and network resource usage through its accounting component. An ACL only filters traffic and does not track or report on what users do after gaining access.
Q7. Users in an office complain of poor quality during VoIP calls, with frequent voice delays and choppiness. What is likely causing this problem?
Answer: B. Jitter in the network
Jitter is the variation in packet arrival delay, which directly causes the choppiness and robotic sounds common in poor VoIP calls. A firewall blocking traffic would drop the call entirely, whereas low bandwidth typically causes consistent lag.
Q8. A user complains that their prints are coming out faded. What should be the first item to check in troubleshooting this issue?
Answer: C. The toner or ink cartridge for low levels
Low toner or ink is the most common cause of faded printouts and should be verified first during troubleshooting. Print head misalignment usually causes streaking or blurred text rather than uniform fading across the entire page.
Q9. A user drops their phone, resulting in a cracked screen that no longer responds to touch. What is the primary component that needs repair or replacement?
Answer: C. The screen
A cracked screen that fails to register touch indicates the digitizer glass is broken and requires replacement. On most modern smartphones, the digitizer and display panel are fused together into a single replacement assembly.
Q10. A user complains that the text and images on their monitor appear fuzzy. They are using a VGA cable for connection. What should be the first step to resolve this?
Answer: B. Switch to a digital connection like HDMI or DisplayPort
Switching from an analog VGA cable to a digital connection like HDMI or DisplayPort eliminates signal degradation and provides a much sharper image. Adjusting color settings will not fix analog signal interference or the fuzzy text.
Q11. A computer displays a S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) failure warning during boot-up. What action should be taken in response to this warning?
Answer: C. Backup data immediately and prepare to replace the hard drive
A S.M.A.R.T. failure warning indicates that the hard drive is failing and at immediate risk of data loss. The correct response is to back up critical data right away and replace the drive. Updating the BIOS or adding RAM will not resolve a hardware failure warning.
Q12. A user wants to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on their computer for testing purposes. Which type of software would allow them to do this efficiently?
Answer: B. Virtualization software
Virtualization software allows users to simultaneously run multiple isolated operating systems as virtual machines on a single physical host. This is the most efficient testing method, whereas partitioning merely separates disk space without enabling concurrent operating system execution.
Q13. A user wants to upgrade their laptop with a faster storage device. They are considering replacing their existing HDD with an SSD. What is a key advantage of using an SSD over an HDD?
Answer: C. Faster data access and read/write speeds
Solid state drives provide significantly faster data access and read write speeds compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. If you need massive storage on a budget, hard drives still win on cost per gigabyte.
Q14. You are setting up a new computer system, and you need to configure the system firmware. What modern firmware interface has replaced the traditional BIOS in many modern computers?
Answer: B. UEFI
UEFI is the modern specification that replaced legacy BIOS firmware, offering graphical interfaces and secure boot capabilities. TPM is a security chip, and SCSI is a storage interface standard.
Q15. A network administrator is configuring a dual-band router. They want to minimize interference on the 2.4GHz band. How many non-overlapping channels are available in the 2.4GHz band?
Answer: A. 3
The 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band has exactly three non overlapping channels, which are one, six, and eleven. Selecting one of these channels minimizes interference from neighboring wireless networks.
Q16. In a large office building, the network administrator uses a device to manage and organize network cables and make it easier to connect and disconnect devices from the network. Which device serves this purpose?
Answer: D. Patch panel
A patch panel provides a centralized location to organize and manage network cables, simplifying moves, additions, and changes. While switches actually route the traffic, the patch panel offers the physical interface for cable management and connectivity.
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