220-1201 Practice Test 39 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A customer says their external hard drive is not recognized by their laptop. The drive uses a USB-C connector and the laptop has both USB-A and USB-C ports. Which connector type should be used to ensure the fastest possible data transfer?

Accepted Answer

USB-C to USB-C cable. USB-C supports faster data transfer rates (up to 10 Gbps or more) compared to USB-A's typical 5 Gbps, and it is the correct connector for the drive. Using a USB-A port would require an adapter and may limit speed. This question tests knowledge of USB connector generations and their performance capabilities.

Answer

USB-A to USB-B cable

Answer

USB-A to USB-C adapter

Answer

Micro-USB to USB-C cable

Question 2

A user reports that their new monitor, which uses a DisplayPort connection, shows no signal. The technician finds the monitor is connected to the PC's HDMI port via a passive adapter. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The passive adapter cannot convert HDMI to DisplayPort. Passive DisplayPort to HDMI adapters often require an active adapter to convert the signal properly, especially if the source only outputs HDMI. This tests understanding of signal conversion and adapter types. The monitor's DisplayPort input needs a compatible signal from the PC's HDMI output.

Answer

The HDMI cable is faulty

Answer

The monitor is set to the wrong input source

Answer

The graphics driver is outdated

Question 3

A technician is setting up a conference room and needs to connect a laptop to a projector that only has a VGA input. The laptop has an HDMI output. Which adapter should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

HDMI to VGA adapter. HDMI to VGA adapters are common for connecting modern laptops to older projectors. VGA is an analog signal, so the adapter must be active to convert digital HDMI to analog VGA. This question tests knowledge of legacy connector compatibility.

Answer

HDMI to DVI adapter

Answer

USB-C to VGA adapter

Answer

DisplayPort to VGA adapter

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that will not power on. The power supply unit (PSU) has a 24-pin main connector and a 4+4 pin CPU connector. The motherboard has a 24-pin ATX connector and an 8-pin EPS connector. How should the technician connect the CPU power?

Accepted Answer

Combine the 4+4 pin into an 8-pin EPS connector. The 4+4 pin CPU connector can be used as an 8-pin EPS connector by combining the two halves, which is standard for modern motherboards. This tests knowledge of PSU connector configurations and motherboard compatibility. Incorrectly using a 6+2 pin PCIe connector could damage components.

Answer

Connect the 4+4 pin as a 4-pin connector only

Answer

Use a 6+2 pin PCIe power connector

Answer

Leave the CPU power unconnected

Question 5

A user complains that their external monitor flickers intermittently. The monitor is connected via a DVI cable to a graphics card that has both DVI-I and DVI-D ports. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the flickering?

Accepted Answer

The DVI cable is loose or damaged. A loose or damaged DVI cable is a common cause of intermittent flickering, as poor contact can disrupt the signal. DVI-I and DVI-D are compatible, so port type is less likely the issue. This tests troubleshooting skills for display connection problems.

Answer

The graphics card driver is outdated

Answer

The monitor's refresh rate is set too high

Answer

The DVI port is incompatible with the cable

Question 6

A technician needs to connect a new router to a cable modem using an Ethernet cable. The modem has an RJ45 port, and the router has an RJ45 WAN port. Which cable type should be used for this connection?

Accepted Answer

Straight-through cable. A straight-through Ethernet cable is used to connect different device types, such as a modem to a router. Crossover cables are for connecting similar devices like two computers. This tests knowledge of Ethernet cable standards and their applications.

Answer

Rollover cable

Answer

Crossover cable

Answer

Fiber optic cable

Question 7

A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires additional power. The PSU has a 6+2 pin PCIe power connector. The graphics card has an 8-pin power input. How should the technician connect the power?

Accepted Answer

Attach the 2-pin portion to the 6-pin to make an 8-pin connector. The 6+2 pin PCIe connector is designed to be used as either a 6-pin or 8-pin by attaching the extra 2-pin section. This tests understanding of modular PSU connectors. Incorrect use of other connectors could damage the card.

Answer

Connect only the 6-pin portion

Answer

Use a Molex to 8-pin adapter

Answer

Connect a SATA power cable to the card

Question 8

A user reports that their USB 3.0 external SSD is only achieving USB 2.0 speeds when connected to a front panel port. The technician checks the motherboard and finds the front panel header is connected to a USB 3.0 header. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the slow speed?

Accepted Answer

The front panel USB cable is damaged or not fully seated. A damaged or poorly connected front panel USB cable can cause the port to fall back to USB 2.0 speeds. The motherboard header is correct, so the issue is likely with the cable or connection. This tests advanced troubleshooting of USB 3.0 connectivity.

Answer

The SSD is formatted with FAT32

Answer

The motherboard BIOS needs updating

Answer

The SSD is connected via a USB 2.0 hub

Question 9

A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a server. The new drive has a SATA III connector, but the server's backplane only supports SATA II. What will be the result of using this drive?

Accepted Answer

The drive will operate at SATA II speeds. SATA III is backward compatible with SATA II, so the drive will work but at SATA II speeds (3 Gbps). This tests knowledge of SATA generation compatibility and performance limitations. The drive will not be damaged but will not achieve its maximum speed.

Answer

The drive will not be recognized

Answer

The drive will operate at SATA III speeds

Answer

The drive will be damaged

Question 10

A technician is tasked with connecting a legacy printer that uses a parallel port to a modern laptop that only has USB ports. Which adapter is required to make this connection work?

Accepted Answer

USB to parallel adapter. A USB to parallel adapter allows a modern laptop to communicate with a legacy parallel printer. This requires an active adapter that converts USB signals to parallel. This tests knowledge of legacy connector adaptation and the need for active conversion.

Answer

USB to serial adapter

Answer

USB to PS/2 adapter

Answer

USB to VGA adapter

Question 11

A customer reports that their external hard drive, which uses a USB-C connection, is not being recognized by their laptop. The drive works fine on another computer. The laptop has only USB-A ports. Which adapter should be used to connect the drive?

Accepted Answer

USB-C male to USB-A female adapter. USB-C to USB-A adapters are common for connecting newer devices to older ports. The correct answer is a USB-C male to USB-A female adapter, which allows the drive's USB-C cable to plug into a USB-A port.

Answer

USB-A male to USB-C male cable

Answer

USB-C female to USB-A female adapter

Answer

USB-A female to USB-C female adapter

Question 12

A user wants to connect a new monitor to their desktop PC. The monitor has a DisplayPort input, and the PC has an HDMI output. Which cable type will work without additional adapters?

Accepted Answer

HDMI to DisplayPort cable. HDMI and DisplayPort are different standards, but many cables are available with HDMI on one end and DisplayPort on the other. A bidirectional cable can connect an HDMI source to a DisplayPort monitor.

Answer

HDMI to HDMI cable

Answer

DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable

Answer

VGA to HDMI cable

Question 13

A small office uses a network switch with 24 RJ45 ports to connect all workstations. The switch is connected to the router via a single uplink port. Users report intermittent network drops. The technician suspects a faulty cable between the switch and router. Which tool should be used to test the cable?

Accepted Answer

Cable tester. A cable tester verifies continuity, wiring, and signal integrity in Ethernet cables. This is the correct tool to diagnose a faulty physical connection between the switch and router.

Answer

Tone generator and probe

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Multimeter

Question 14

A technician is installing a new graphics card in a workstation. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, but the power supply only has one 8-pin and one 6-pin PCIe cable. What is the best solution?

Accepted Answer

Use the 8-pin cable and the 6+2 pin cable with the 2-pin section attached. A 6+2 pin PCIe power cable can be used as either a 6-pin or 8-pin connector. The technician can use the 8-pin cable and the 6+2 pin cable (with the 2-pin attached) to provide two 8-pin connections.

Answer

Use the 6-pin cable alone, leaving one power slot empty

Answer

Use a Molex to 8-pin adapter

Answer

Replace the power supply with one that has two 8-pin connectors

Question 15

A user reports that their monitor displays a distorted image with wavy lines. The monitor uses a VGA connection. The technician checks the cable and finds it is not fully tightened. After securing the thumbscrews, the image is still distorted. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The VGA cable has a broken pin. VGA is an analog signal and can suffer from interference. Damaged or loose pins in the VGA connector can cause distortion even if the cable appears secure. The pins may be bent or broken.

Answer

The monitor's refresh rate is set too high

Answer

The graphics driver needs to be updated

Answer

The monitor's power cable is loose