220-1201 Practice Test 21 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician is troubleshooting a user's computer that can reach internal servers by IP address but not by hostname. Other computers on the same subnet work correctly. Which tool should the technician use to check the computer's DNS resolution?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

nslookup. The user's computer can reach internal servers by IP address but not by hostname, and other computers on the same subnet work correctly. This isolates the problem to the local DNS resolution on the affected machine. The `nslookup` tool is specifically designed to query DNS servers and verify whether a hostname resolves to the correct IP address, making it the appropriate tool to diagnose the DNS resolution failure.

Answer

Ping

Answer

ipconfig /flushdns

Answer

Netstat

Question 2

A user reports that their iPad will not rotate the screen when the device is turned sideways, even though rotation lock is off. The issue started after a recent iOS update. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The rotation lock is enabled in the Control Center.. The most common cause of screen rotation failure after an iOS update is that the update resets or changes Control Center settings, re-enabling the rotation lock. The user may have rotation lock off in Settings but it can be toggled on in Control Center without their knowledge, as iOS updates can alter Control Center configurations. The accelerometer and display driver are unlikely to be affected by a standard iOS update, and the issue is system-wide, not app-specific.

Answer

The accelerometer sensor is damaged.

Answer

The app being used does not support landscape mode.

Answer

The iOS update corrupted the display driver.

Question 3

A customer wants to connect two switches in different buildings about 150 meters apart. The link must support at least 1 Gbps. Which cabling solution is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Single-mode fiber optic cable.. Single-mode fiber optic cable is the most appropriate solution because it supports 1 Gbps over distances far exceeding 150 meters, with typical reach up to 10 km or more. Unlike copper cabling, single-mode fiber is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and signal degradation over longer runs, making it ideal for inter-building connections where electrical isolation and distance are critical factors.

Answer

Cat6a copper cable.

Answer

Cat5e copper cable with a repeater.

Answer

Coaxial cable with a balun.

Question 4

A user reports that their computer's hard drive makes a clicking noise and the system occasionally freezes. Which action should you take first?

Accepted Answer

Back up the user's data as soon as possible.. Clicking noises from a hard drive often indicate mechanical failure (head crash). Immediate backup of critical data is the priority before further troubleshooting or replacement.

Answer

Run CHKDSK to repair file system errors.

Answer

Replace the hard drive immediately.

Answer

Update the hard drive firmware.

Question 5

A small office has a single public IP address and uses a router to provide internet access to 20 devices. Users report that some websites load slowly or time out, while others work fine. The router's NAT table shows many entries. Which protocol is most likely being exhausted, causing these intermittent issues?

Accepted Answer

NAT. The router's NAT table has many entries, indicating that the single public IP address is being heavily used to translate private IPs for 20 devices. When the NAT table exhausts its available port mappings (typically 65,535 per public IP, but often limited by router resources), new outbound connections cannot be established, causing some websites to time out while existing connections continue to work. This is a classic symptom of NAT overload (PAT) exhaustion.

Answer

DNS

Answer

DHCP

Answer

ICMP

Question 6

A laptop's built-in webcam is not recognized by any application. You have checked Device Manager and the camera is not listed. The webcam ribbon cable appears intact. Which component should you suspect next?

Accepted Answer

The webcam module or motherboard USB controller has failed.. Since the webcam is not listed in Device Manager at all, the issue is at the hardware detection level, not the driver or software level. An intact ribbon cable suggests the webcam module itself or the motherboard's USB controller (which typically handles the internal webcam as a USB device) has failed, preventing enumeration. Option C correctly identifies this hardware failure as the next logical suspect.

Answer

The webcam driver is outdated.

Answer

The laptop's BIOS has the webcam disabled.

Answer

The operating system needs to be reinstalled.

Question 7

A technician is setting up a new server that must always have the same IP address on a network using DHCP. The network administrator wants to avoid manually configuring the server's IP to prevent misconfiguration. Which method should be used to ensure the server receives the same IP from the DHCP server?

Accepted Answer

Configure a DHCP reservation on the router for the server's MAC address.. A DHCP reservation binds the server's MAC address to a specific IP address on the DHCP server. This ensures the server always receives the same IP from the DHCP pool without requiring manual static configuration, which aligns with the administrator's goal of avoiding misconfiguration.

Answer

Set the server to use a static IP address outside the DHCP scope.

Answer

Set the server's IP address to 169.254.x.x.

Answer

Disable the server's network adapter and re-enable it.

Question 8

A user reports that their laptop's battery drains quickly when connected to a USB-C docking station, even when the laptop is plugged into the dock's power delivery port. The dock supports 60W power delivery, but the laptop requires 65W. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The dock's power delivery is insufficient for the laptop. The dock supports 60W power delivery, but the laptop requires 65W. When the power provided is less than the laptop's demand, the laptop will draw power from both the dock and its internal battery to meet the shortfall, causing the battery to drain even while connected. This is a classic case of insufficient power delivery from the dock, not a battery failure or cable issue.

Answer

The laptop's battery is failing

Answer

The USB-C cable is not rated for power delivery

Answer

The laptop is running high-performance mode

Question 9

A technician is troubleshooting a network where users on one floor cannot access a server on another floor. Both floors are connected via a single fiber optic link. The technician checks the link and sees the switch port shows 'err-disabled' status. What is the most likely cause of this state?

Accepted Answer

Port security has been violated. The 'err-disabled' state on a switch port is commonly triggered by a port security violation. When a device attempts to connect with a MAC address that exceeds the configured maximum or is not on the allowed list, the switch disables the port to prevent unauthorized access. This matches the scenario where users on one floor cannot reach a server, as the link is physically intact but logically blocked.

Answer

The fiber cable is damaged

Answer

A duplex mismatch exists between the switches

Answer

The VLAN configuration is incorrect

Question 10

A user reports that they cannot access the internet, but they can ping other devices on the local network. The technician checks the IP configuration and sees: IP: 192.168.1.25, Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0, Default Gateway: 192.168.2.1. What is the issue?

Accepted Answer

The default gateway is on a different subnet.. The default gateway 192.168.2.1 is not on the same subnet as the host IP 192.168.1.25 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. For a /24 network, the host's subnet is 192.168.1.0/24, while the gateway belongs to 192.168.2.0/24. The host will ARP for the gateway but never receive a reply because the gateway is on a different Layer 2 broadcast domain, making internet access impossible despite local connectivity.

Answer

The subnet mask is incorrect.

Answer

The IP address is a broadcast address.

Answer

The DNS server is misconfigured.

Question 11

A technician is setting up a mobile workstation for a graphic designer who uses a laptop with a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 3. The designer needs to connect two 4K monitors, a wired Ethernet connection, and charge the laptop simultaneously. Which accessory should the technician choose?

Accepted Answer

A Thunderbolt 3 docking station. A Thunderbolt 3 docking station is the correct choice because it provides sufficient bandwidth (up to 40 Gbps) to drive two 4K monitors simultaneously, includes a dedicated Ethernet port for wired networking, and delivers power delivery (PD) to charge the laptop—all through a single USB-C connection that is backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 3.

Answer

A USB-C to dual HDMI adapter

Answer

A USB 3.0 hub with HDMI and Ethernet

Answer

A KVM switch

Question 12

A user reports that their wireless earbuds produce choppy audio when they walk to the other side of their office, but work fine when near the phone. The office has many metal filing cabinets and concrete walls. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the audio degradation?

Accepted Answer

Physical obstructions are blocking the Bluetooth signal.. Bluetooth signals (typically in the 2.4 GHz ISM band) are highly susceptible to physical obstructions, especially metal filing cabinets and concrete walls, which can absorb or reflect the signal. When the user moves to the other side of the office, the increased distance and these dense materials cause significant attenuation and multipath interference, resulting in choppy audio. The earbuds work fine near the phone because the signal path is clear and short, confirming that the degradation is due to obstruction rather than a device fault.

Answer

The earbuds' battery is low.

Answer

The phone's Bluetooth antenna is weak.

Answer

There is interference from a nearby microwave oven.

Question 13

A customer wants to use a portable projector with their smartphone for impromptu presentations. The smartphone has a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. Which accessory will enable this connection?

Accepted Answer

A USB-C to HDMI adapter. The smartphone's USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, which allows it to output a video signal over the USB-C connection. A USB-C to HDMI adapter converts this native DisplayPort signal into HDMI, enabling the portable projector to receive the video input. This is the standard accessory for connecting a USB-C device with DisplayPort Alt Mode to an HDMI display.

Answer

A USB-C to USB-A adapter

Answer

A Bluetooth audio receiver

Answer

A wireless HDMI dongle

Question 14

A technician is configuring a company-issued Android phone for a remote employee. The employee needs to access corporate email via the Gmail app and use a VPN for secure connections. After setup, the user cannot send emails from the Gmail app, but can receive them. What should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

Check the outgoing mail server (SMTP) settings in the Gmail app.. The Gmail app on Android uses SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) for sending emails. Since the user can receive emails (IMAP/POP works) but cannot send, the most likely cause is incorrect SMTP server settings—such as the server address, port (e.g., 587 with STARTTLS), or authentication credentials. The technician should verify these outgoing mail server configurations first, as they are independent of VPN connectivity or storage issues.

Answer

Verify that the VPN is connected and routing traffic correctly.

Answer

Ensure the device has enough free storage space.

Answer

Reinstall the Gmail app from the Play Store.

Question 15

A technician is deploying a new network in a warehouse and needs to measure the length of a spool of Cat6a cable before installation to ensure it does not exceed the 100-meter segment limit. Which tool should be used?

Accepted Answer

TDR (Time-Domain Reflectometer). A Time-Domain Reflectometer (TDR) sends a pulse down the cable and measures the time it takes for the reflection to return from the far end or from a fault. By calculating the propagation velocity of the signal, the TDR can accurately determine the cable length, making it the correct tool to verify that a spool of Cat6a cable does not exceed the 100-meter segment limit before installation.

Answer

Multimeter

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Tone generator