Practice for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam with 18 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: A network technician is setting up a small office network. The technician must ensure each device on the network can com. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- A network technician is setting up a small office network. The technician must ensure each device on the netw…
- A user suspects their computer might be infected with spyware. Which type of software should they use to scan…
- To prevent damage to sensitive computer components while performing repairs, which safety tool should be used?
- You are organizing cables in a server room and need to trim excess lengths. Which tool is most suitable for c…
- You want to simplify the configuration of network devices and enable automatic discovery of devices on your h…
- You want to proactively monitor the health and performance of your computer's hard drive. What technology pro…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. A network technician is setting up a small office network. The technician must ensure each device on the network can communicate internally and access the internet. Which device is essential for this setup?
Answer: C. Router
A router is the essential device because it routes traffic between the local internal network and the external internet. A switch alone only provides internal connectivity, while a modem strictly bridges the external connection.
Q2. A user suspects their computer might be infected with spyware. Which type of software should they use to scan and remove the spyware?
Answer: A. Anti-malware software
Anti-malware software is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to scan, detect, and remove malicious programs, including spyware. The other utility options listed handle unrelated disk management, text, or coding tasks.
Q3. To prevent damage to sensitive computer components while performing repairs, which safety tool should be used?
Answer: B. ESD strap
An ESD strap safely grounds the technician, preventing harmful static electricity from destroying delicate internal components. Thermal paste manages heat, while multimeters and power supply testers simply measure electrical voltage.
Q4. You are organizing cables in a server room and need to trim excess lengths. Which tool is most suitable for cutting wires and cables cleanly?
Answer: B. Wire cutters
Wire cutters are the best tool for cleanly trimming excess cable lengths in a server room. A crimper attaches connectors, a punchdown tool secures wires to a block, and a stripper only removes outer insulation.
Q5. You want to simplify the configuration of network devices and enable automatic discovery of devices on your home network. What technology allows for this ease of device setup and management?
Answer: C. UPnP
Universal Plug and Play enables automatic discovery and configuration of network devices, greatly simplifying setup. The other options handle network segmentation, physical cabling, or secure remote access instead.
Q6. You want to proactively monitor the health and performance of your computer's hard drive. What technology provides self-monitoring and reporting capabilities for hard drives?
Answer: C. S.M.A.R.T.
Self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology proactively monitors hard drive health to help predict impending failures. SSD is a drive type, SCSI is an interface, and SNMP manages network devices rather than drives.
Q7. You are responsible for transferring confidential financial documents between your company and a partner organization. Which protocol should you use to ensure the secure transfer of these files?
Answer: D. SFTP
Secure File Transfer Protocol provides the necessary encryption and authentication required for moving confidential documents safely. Standard FTP transmits data in plain text, leaving it completely vulnerable to interception.
Q8. An IT technician needs to access a remote computer to provide support. Which protocol should the technician use to establish a remote connection?
Answer: A. RDP
Remote Desktop Protocol allows a technician to connect to and control a remote computer visually. For the exam, quickly eliminate RAID, MBR, and NFC since they relate to storage, partitioning, and contactless payments.
Q9. What firmware component is responsible for initializing the computer's hardware during the boot-up process and loading the operating system?
Answer: A. BIOS
BIOS is the firmware responsible for initializing hardware and loading the operating system during boot. The CPU and RAM are hardware components, not firmware, so they rely on BIOS to start functioning.
Q10. A company wants to extend its Wi-Fi signal range to cover a larger area in their office. Which device should they install?
Answer: C. Repeater
A repeater regenerates and retransmits Wi-Fi signals to extend coverage to larger areas. A bridge connects two separate network segments, while a router routes traffic between different networks, failing to simply boost range.
Q11. A company requires a storage solution that offers both increased performance and data redundancy. Which RAID configuration combines striping and mirroring to provide both benefits?
Answer: D. RAID 10
RAID 10 combines striping from RAID 0 for speed and mirroring from RAID 1 for redundancy. RAID 0 lacks redundancy, while RAID 5 uses parity rather than a pure mirror.
Q12. A data center needs to connect servers over long distances with minimal signal loss and high data transfer rates. What type of cable should be used for this purpose?
Answer: D. Fiber optic
Fiber optic cables transmit data using light, allowing for extremely high speeds over long distances with minimal signal loss. Copper cables like Cat 6a suffer from strict distance limitations.
Q13. A technician is installing a new network patch panel. Which tool is necessary for securely connecting Ethernet cable wires into the panel's terminals?
Answer: C. Punchdown tool
A punchdown tool securely inserts and cuts copper wires into insulation-displacement connectors on patch panels. A crimper attaches connectors to the ends of cables rather than punching them down.
Q14. A community in a remote area without wired internet infrastructure is looking for an internet service. Which type of internet service provider could deliver internet access primarily through wireless means?
Answer: D. WISP
A Wireless Internet Service Provider delivers connectivity via radio waves rather than physical cables, making it ideal for remote areas. Cable, DSL, and fiber all require physical wired infrastructure.
Q15. A small business located in a city wants an affordable internet connection that uses existing telephone lines. Which type of connection would be most appropriate?
Answer: C. DSL
DSL provides internet access over existing telephone lines without interfering with voice service. Cable relies on coaxial television wiring, and fiber requires dedicated optical infrastructure.
Q16. A company wants to ensure that certain servers always receive the same IP address from the DHCP server. What feature should the network administrator use in the DHCP configuration?
Answer: C. DHCP reservation
A DHCP reservation permanently maps a specific IP address to a device's MAC address, ensuring it never changes. This is crucial for servers, while a standard lease dynamically changes over time.
Q17. A home user's network includes multiple devices that connect and disconnect frequently. Which IP address assignment method should their router use to efficiently manage IP addresses for these devices?
Answer: B. Dynamic
Dynamic IP addressing automatically assigns and reclaims addresses as devices connect and disconnect. Static addressing requires manual configuration, which becomes unmanageable for constantly changing networks.
Q18. A client reports that their computer is displaying a "hard drive not found" error. After diagnosing the issue, you determine the hard drive needs to be replaced. When selecting a new hard drive, what is the most important factor to conside…
Answer: B. The form factor and interface type of the hard drive
Matching the physical form factor and interface type ensures the drive physically fits and electronically communicates with the motherboard. Always prioritize physical connections and motherboard compatibility over capacity or brand when replacing hardware.
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