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 subscribes to a cable internet service and needs a device to convert the analog signal from the cable provider to. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- A user subscribes to a cable internet service and needs a device to convert the analog signal from the cable…
- A technician encounters a laptop with a cracked screen, where the display shows distorted colors but no dead…
- During a sales consultation, a customer asks about the benefits of a smartphone with a higher refresh rate. W…
- A customer reports that their smartphone consistently loses WiFi connectivity in certain areas of their home…
- When attempting to use a wired headset with a smartphone, a user finds that the audio quality is poor and the…
- You need to replace a hard drive in a laptop. Which type of screwdriver is most commonly used for this task?
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 subscribes to a cable internet service and needs a device to convert the analog signal from the cable provider to a digital format for their home network. Which device should they use?
Answer: D. Cable modem
A cable modem converts the radio frequency signals from a cable provider into a digital Ethernet format for network use. A DSL modem uses phone lines, while an optical network terminal is used specifically for fiber connections.
Q2. A technician encounters a laptop with a cracked screen, where the display shows distorted colors but no dead pixels or black spots. The laptop has an HDMI port. The customer inquires if the internal components are still functional. How sho…
Answer: B. Connect the laptop to an external monitor via HDMI
Connecting the laptop to an external monitor tests the graphics card and motherboard without replacing parts. If the external display works perfectly, the internal components are functional, and the issue is safely isolated to the cracked screen.
Q3. During a sales consultation, a customer asks about the benefits of a smartphone with a higher refresh rate. Which advantage should you mention?
Answer: C. Smoother scrolling and animations
A higher refresh rate means the screen updates more frequently, resulting in visually smoother scrolling and animations. Remember that higher refresh rates consume more battery, so they actually decrease overall battery life.
Q4. A customer reports that their smartphone consistently loses WiFi connectivity in certain areas of their home, whereas other devices maintain a strong signal. After confirming no issues with the home network, what should a technician inspec…
Answer: B. The WiFi antenna
The WiFi antenna directly impacts signal reception. Since the home network functions normally for other devices, the phone's hardware antenna is the most likely culprit for dropping connectivity in specific areas.
Q5. When attempting to use a wired headset with a smartphone, a user finds that the audio quality is poor and the microphone is not working. What should they check first?
Answer: C. The condition of the headset's jack
Checking the physical condition of the headset jack follows standard troubleshooting steps by examining physical connections first. Dirt or bent connectors easily cause poor audio and microphone failures before software settings are evaluated.
Q6. You need to replace a hard drive in a laptop. Which type of screwdriver is most commonly used for this task?
Answer: A. Phillips head
A Phillips head screwdriver is the most common tool for laptop repairs, including replacing internal hard drives. While Torx screws appear in modern laptops, standard Phillips screws remain the industry default for standard hard drive brackets.
Q7. A user is unable to connect to the internet. All cables are correctly connected, and other devices on the network have internet access. What should the user check first on their computer?
Answer: C. The network adapter driver
Checking the network adapter driver is a valid troubleshooting step for isolated connectivity issues, as a corrupted driver disables internet access. However, verifying the dynamic IP configuration or firewall settings first is equally defensible.
Q8. A user is looking for a solution to protect their computer from viruses, malware, and other online threats. Which type of software is specifically designed for this purpose?
Answer: C. ivirus Software
Antivirus software is specifically designed to detect, block, and remove malicious software. Web browsers and office suites have different primary functions and do not offer the comprehensive threat protection required for system security.
Q9. A technician is configuring a computer that will be used as a server in a small business. The computer needs to handle network tasks and run multiple applications simultaneously. Which TWO operating systems would be most appropriate for th…
Answer: B,D. Windows Server || Linux
Windows Server and Linux are designed to handle network services and run multiple applications reliably for users. Desktop operating systems like Windows Home or Chrome OS lack the necessary backend features and management tools.
Q10. A user's application is frequently crashing on their computer. Which TWO actions should the technician take to troubleshoot this issue?
Answer: A,C. Reinstalling the application || Checking for software updates
Reinstalling the application fixes corrupted files, while applying available software updates resolves known bugs that cause crashes. Upgrading the BIOS is generally for hardware compatibility and will not directly resolve a specific application fault.
Q11. During a presentation, a projector's image appears unusually dim. The room lighting conditions have not changed. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: B. The projector's bulb is nearing the end of its life
A projector bulb nearing the end of its lifespan naturally loses brightness, causing a dim image even when room lighting remains constant. While a dirty lens could also dim the picture, an aging lamp is the most classic exam cue here.
Q12. An entire office complains of slow network speeds. The network was performing adequately until recently. What should be investigated first?
Answer: C. Investigate possible network congestion or bandwidth issues
Sudden office-wide network slowdowns require investigating network congestion or bandwidth bottlenecks first, such as a rogue download or a loop. Upgrading the internet plan or replacing cables are drastic steps to take only after standard troubleshooting.
Q13. During the boot-up process of a computer, which firmware is responsible for initializing hardware components and checking for hardware integrity?
Answer: A. BIOS
BIOS is the firmware responsible for initializing hardware and verifying system integrity during the boot process. The CPU, GPU, and RAM are hardware components initialized by this firmware, not the firmware itself.
Q14. You live in an area prone to electrical storms, and you want to protect your electronic devices from power surges and voltage spikes. What device should you use to provide surge protection for your equipment?
Answer: B. Surge Suppressor
A surge suppressor protects electronic equipment from sudden voltage spikes caused by electrical storms. A UPS also provides surge protection, but the question specifically asks for surge protection, making the suppressor the most direct answer.
Q15. A mobile device user needs to extend the battery life of their device throughout a long day. Which of the following actions can help achieve this?
Answer: C. ing background data usage
Restricting background data prevents apps from constantly syncing and draining the battery throughout the day. Increasing screen brightness and leaving radios active will always consume more power and reduce overall battery life.
Q16. A user reports that their system clock is frequently incorrect and they are experiencing random file corruption. What hardware component is most likely at fault?
Answer: A. The CMOS battery
The CMOS battery maintains power to the firmware chip so the system clock keeps time when powered off. A failing battery causes the clock to reset, and severe power instability to the firmware can lead to data corruption.
Q17. A user is complaining that their computer is running slow, and they suspect it's due to a failing storage device. Which of the following components is most likely causing the issue?
Answer: B. HDD
A failing hard disk drive directly causes slow computer performance because of its moving parts and slower read/write speeds compared to solid-state drives. On the exam, ignore distractors like HTTP or HDMI, as they relate to protocols and video interfaces rather than storage.
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