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: What protocol is used for translating domain names into IP addresses in the Domain Name System (DNS)?. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
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What you will practice
- What protocol is used for translating domain names into IP addresses in the Domain Name System (DNS)?
- A network administrator is configuring a router and needs to assign unique addresses to devices on the networ…
- A community group wants to set up a free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public park using long-range wireless technology…
- A network technician is configuring a system that requires the use of NetBIOS services for file and printer s…
- A user has multiple devices and wants to ensure that any changes made to contacts on one device are reflected…
- A user is in a rural area with limited GPS signal. Which alternative location service can their smartphone us…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. What protocol is used for translating domain names into IP addresses in the Domain Name System (DNS)?
Answer: B. DNS
The DNS service handles the translation of domain names into corresponding IP addresses. DHCP assigns IP configurations automatically, and ARP maps local IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network.
Q2. A network administrator is configuring a router and needs to assign unique addresses to devices on the network. Which protocol should the administrator use for this purpose?
Answer: C. IP
The Internet Protocol assigns unique logical addresses to devices on a network. Be careful not to confuse it with ICMP, which is strictly used for diagnostics like ping, rather than logical addressing.
Q3. A community group wants to set up a free Wi-Fi hotspot in a public park using long-range wireless technology. Which type of spectrum should they primarily consider for this purpose?
Answer: B. Unlicensed spectrum
Unlicensed spectrum allows free deployment of wireless hotspots using standard Wi-Fi bands. The two point four and five gigahertz options are specific frequencies within that spectrum, but unlicensed represents the regulatory concept.
Q4. A network technician is configuring a system that requires the use of NetBIOS services for file and printer sharing in a small Windows network. Which ports should they ensure are open for NetBIOS/NetBT to function correctly?
Answer: C. 137/139
Ports 137 and 139 are used for NetBIOS name and session services for legacy file sharing. For the exam, associate port 161 with SNMP, and ports 80 and 443 with web traffic rather than local Windows sharing.
Q5. A user has multiple devices and wants to ensure that any changes made to contacts on one device are reflected on all devices. Which synchronization setting should they focus on?
Answer: B. Setting contacts to sync with a primary email account
Synchronizing contacts with a primary cloud email account ensures changes are immediately pushed and updated across all linked devices. Manual transfers and local backups do not provide continuous, automatic reflection of changes.
Q6. A user is in a rural area with limited GPS signal. Which alternative location service can their smartphone use for approximate positioning?
Answer: B. Cellular location services
Smartphones can use cellular tower triangulation to estimate a rough location when GPS signals are weak or unavailable. While Wi-Fi also helps with indoor positioning, cellular service is more reliable in rural areas.
Q7. A user's smartphone is not automatically connecting to known Wi-Fi networks. What setting should they investigate?
Answer: B. Wi-Fi network profiles
Saved network profiles control automatic connections to known networks. If a profile becomes corrupted or auto-connect is disabled, the phone will not connect. While power saving mode can disable radios, checking the specific profile is the direct fix.
Q8. A user notices poor print quality from their inkjet printer. Which maintenance actions can help resolve this issue?
Answer: A. Clean heads, replace cartridges, calibrate, clear jams
Inkjet maintenance involves cleaning print heads and replacing ink cartridges. Options referencing toner or heating elements apply to laser printers, while ribbons apply to impact printers, making them incorrect for inkjet issues.
Q9. A high-end workstation is used for 3D rendering and video editing, requiring a large amount of fast memory access. Which memory configuration is best suited to take advantage of multiple memory modules for the highest throughput?
Answer: D. Quad-channel
Quad-channel memory provides the highest throughput by allowing simultaneous access across four modules. For the CompTIA A+ exam, associate higher channel counts with increased bandwidth for demanding workstation tasks.
Q10. A homeowner wants to install devices that allow them to control lighting, heating, and security systems remotely using their smartphone. Which category of devices would best fit their needs?
Answer: B. Internet of Things (IoT) devices
IoT devices are the correct choice because they connect physical systems like thermostats and lights to a network for remote management. SCADA systems are industrial, so they fail as a distractor for a simple home setup.
Q11. A smartphone user notices that their battery life has significantly decreased over time. What is a common cause of reduced battery performance in smartphones?
Answer: C. Aging of the battery
Battery aging is the correct answer because lithium-ion cells naturally degrade over time and lose total capacity. GPS usage drains power quickly but does not permanently reduce hardware lifespan.
Q12. A user is trying to connect their smartphone to a public Wi-Fi network but gets a 'connection error' message. What should they do first to troubleshoot?
Answer: D. Check the Wi-Fi network's login page or captive portal
Public networks often use a captive portal requiring interaction before granting access. Always check for a redirected login page first, as resetting network settings or restarting the device is unnecessary if the captive portal is simply blocking authentication.
Q13. A customer purchases an AMD Ryzen processor and needs a compatible motherboard. Which CPU socket type should they ensure the motherboard has?
Answer: B. AMD AM4
AM4 is the standard consumer socket for modern AMD Ryzen processors. Intel processors use LGA sockets, while TR4 is reserved for high-end Ryzen Threadripper systems.
Q14. A technician is working with older serial communication devices that require a 9-pin connection. Which type of connector is most likely used for these devices?
Answer: D. DB9
The DB9 connector is the standard nine-pin D-subminiature connector used for legacy serial communications. RJ45 is used for Ethernet, while USB-C represents modern peripheral connections.
Q15. A technician is upgrading a computer's graphics capabilities for better gaming performance. Which TWO components should they consider upgrading?
Answer: A,C. The graphics card || The power supply
Upgrading the graphics card directly improves gaming performance. A new power supply is also required because high-end graphics cards demand significantly more wattage than standard components.
Q16. A business wants to create a single network from multiple wireless and wired networks within its office building. Which device is essential for this purpose?
Answer: C. Network Gateway
A network gateway connects disparate networks, bridging wired and wireless segments into one. Switches and access points only connect devices within the same network type, lacking the protocol translation capabilities of a gateway.
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