220-1201 Practice Test 24 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A small office is moving to a new location and needs a dedicated, symmetrical internet connection with a guaranteed service level agreement (SLA). Which type of internet connection should be installed?

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

Accepted Answer

Fiber optic. Fiber optic connections provide dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth with the highest reliability and are the only option among these that typically offers a guaranteed SLA for uptime and performance. Unlike shared media (cable) or distance-limited technologies (DSL), fiber uses light signals over glass strands, ensuring consistent speeds and low latency that meet business-grade requirements.

Answer

Cable broadband

Answer

DSL

Answer

Satellite

Question 2

A user complains that their laptop cannot connect to the company's wireless network, but other devices work fine. The network uses WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X authentication. Which service is most likely misconfigured on the laptop?

Accepted Answer

The 802.1X authentication method is set to PEAP instead of EAP-TLS.. WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X authentication requires the laptop to use a supplicant configured with the correct EAP method that matches the RADIUS server. If the laptop is set to PEAP (which uses a username/password or certificate) but the network requires EAP-TLS (which mandates client certificates), authentication will fail, preventing the laptop from connecting even though other devices with the correct configuration work fine.

Answer

The DHCP server is out of addresses.

Answer

The DNS server address is incorrect.

Answer

The RADIUS server is offline.

Question 3

You are setting up a new branch office and need to run Ethernet cables through ceiling plenums. You must ensure the cables meet fire safety codes. Which type of cable should you use, and which tool would you use to verify its integrity after installation?

Accepted Answer

Use plenum-rated cable; verify with a cable tester. Plenum-rated cable is required for installation in ceiling plenums because it is made with low-smoke, fire-retardant materials (e.g., FEP or PVDF) that do not emit toxic fumes or support flame spread, meeting fire safety codes such as NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 800. After installation, a cable tester (e.g., a wiremap tester or certification tool like a Fluke DSX) verifies integrity by checking for continuity, shorts, opens, and proper pin-to-pin wiring per T568A/B standards.

Answer

Use PVC cable; verify with a multimeter

Answer

Use shielded cable; verify with a toner probe

Answer

Use fiber optic cable; verify with a loopback plug

Question 4

A technician is configuring a small office network and needs to assign a static IP address to a printer. The technician pings the intended IP address and gets no reply, but the printer still fails to communicate after configuration. Which tool should be used to verify that no other device on the network is using that IP address?

Accepted Answer

arp -a. The `arp -a` command displays the current ARP cache, which maps IP addresses to MAC addresses on the local network. If another device is already using the intended IP address, its MAC address will appear in the ARP cache for that IP, confirming a conflict. This is the correct tool because it directly shows which MAC address is associated with the IP, even if the device does not respond to ping (e.g., due to firewall rules).

Answer

Ping -t

Answer

ipconfig /all

Answer

Netstat -r

Question 5

A customer reports that their multifunction printer (MFP) is not scanning to email. The MFP is connected to the network via Ethernet, and other network functions like printing work fine. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The SMTP server settings are incorrect.. Scan to email requires the MFP to communicate with an SMTP server to send the email. Incorrect SMTP server settings are a common misconfiguration that prevents this function while other network services remain operational.

Answer

The MFP is out of toner.

Answer

The network cable is loose.

Answer

The scanner glass is dirty.

Question 6

A user complains that their VoIP phone intermittently loses audio during calls. The phone is connected to a PoE switch. The technician checks the switch and sees that the port's PoE power budget is at 95% capacity. What is the most likely cause of the audio drops?

Accepted Answer

The switch is power-cycling the phone due to PoE power budget constraints.. When a PoE switch's power budget reaches 95% capacity, it may begin to prioritize power delivery, potentially power-cycling lower-priority devices like VoIP phones to free up power for critical devices. This intermittent power loss causes the audio drops, as the phone reboots or loses power momentarily. The issue is directly tied to PoE power management, not cable length, hardware faults, or VLAN configuration.

Answer

The Ethernet cable is too long, causing signal attenuation.

Answer

The VoIP phone is faulty and needs replacement.

Answer

The switch port is configured with a VLAN mismatch.

Question 7

A user has a laptop that supports USB-C Power Delivery and wants to charge it using a portable power bank while on a flight. The power bank has a USB-A output. Which additional accessory is required?

Accepted Answer

A power bank that supports USB-C Power Delivery output.. The laptop requires USB-C Power Delivery (PD) to negotiate a charging voltage higher than the standard 5V. A power bank with only a USB-A output cannot provide the PD protocol negotiation over USB-A, as PD is a feature of the USB-C connector and its configuration channel (CC) lines. Therefore, a power bank that explicitly supports USB-C PD output is necessary to deliver the higher wattage (e.g., 20V/3A) that the laptop expects for charging.

Answer

A USB-A to USB-C cable.

Answer

A USB-C to USB-C cable.

Answer

A USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Question 8

A user complains that their Android tablet's touchscreen is unresponsive in a vertical strip down the middle of the screen, but the rest of the screen works fine. They have restarted the device and removed the screen protector. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The digitizer is damaged.. A vertical strip of unresponsive touch input is a classic sign of a damaged digitizer. The digitizer is the layer that detects touch, and it can be physically damaged (cracked internally) even if the glass appears intact. Software issues typically cause full unresponsiveness or erratic behavior, not a precise dead zone.

Answer

A software glitch in the touchscreen driver.

Answer

The screen protector is causing interference.

Answer

The LCD panel is failing.

Question 9

A city government wants to provide free public Wi-Fi in a downtown area spanning 2 square miles. The network must handle hundreds of simultaneous users and be accessible from streets and parks. Which network type is most appropriate for this deployment?

Accepted Answer

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). A Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is designed to cover a geographic area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, typically spanning a city or a large campus. For a 2-square-mile downtown area with hundreds of simultaneous users, a MAN provides the necessary range, high capacity, and centralized management to deliver public Wi-Fi access across streets and parks. Technologies such as WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) or carrier-grade Wi-Fi mesh networks are commonly used in MAN deployments to ensure seamless coverage and user density.

Answer

Local Area Network (LAN)

Answer

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Answer

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Question 10

During a laptop keyboard replacement, a technician accidentally dislodges a small ribbon cable from the touchpad connector. The touchpad is now unresponsive. The technician has never worked on this model before. What is the best course of action to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Consult the service manual to identify the correct connector and reseat the cable.. The most logical and safe first step when dealing with an unfamiliar laptop model is to consult the service manual. This ensures the technician identifies the exact connector for the touchpad ribbon cable, preventing damage from forcing the cable into the wrong port. Reseating the cable correctly is the standard fix for a dislodged connection.

Answer

Use tweezers to gently push the ribbon cable into any nearby empty connector.

Answer

Reboot the laptop to see if the touchpad driver reloads.

Answer

Replace the entire keyboard assembly since the touchpad cable is likely broken.

Question 11

A customer reports that their external USB 3.0 hard drive is not recognized when plugged into a specific port on their desktop, but works on other ports. The drive is powered by the USB bus. What should be checked first?

Accepted Answer

Inspect the USB port for debris or physical damage.. This scenario tests basic USB troubleshooting. Since the drive works on other ports, the issue is likely with the specific port, not the drive or drivers. Checking the USB port for debris or damage is the quickest and simplest first step.

Answer

Replace the external hard drive.

Answer

Update the USB controller drivers.

Answer

Enable the USB port in the BIOS.

Question 12

A small office has a network with a single switch and a wireless access point (WAP). Users on the wired network can access the internet, but wireless users cannot. The WAP shows a solid green power LED and a blinking amber activity LED. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The Ethernet cable from the WAP to the switch is faulty or not securely connected.. The solid green power LED indicates the WAP is receiving power, and the blinking amber activity LED typically signals a Layer 1 issue, such as a faulty or loose Ethernet cable. Since wired users have internet access, the switch and upstream connectivity are fine, isolating the problem to the link between the WAP and the switch. A faulty cable prevents the WAP from communicating with the network, so wireless clients cannot reach the internet even though the WAP is powered on.

Answer

The WAP is configured with the wrong SSID.

Answer

The switch port is configured as a trunk port.

Answer

The WAP's wireless radio is disabled in the firmware.

Question 13

A customer reports that their new external SSD, which uses a USB-C connector, is not being detected by their Windows laptop. The laptop has USB-C ports that support USB 3.2 Gen 2. The SSD works fine on another computer. Which connector-related issue is most likely the cause?

Accepted Answer

The laptop's USB-C port does not support the USB 3.2 Gen 2 protocol.. USB-C ports can support different protocols (USB 3.x, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort), and if the laptop's USB-C port does not support the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard required by the SSD, the device may not be detected. This tests understanding that USB-C is a physical connector shape, not a guarantee of a specific protocol or speed.

Answer

The SSD uses a USB-A to USB-C cable, which is incompatible.

Answer

The laptop's USB-C port is damaged and needs replacement.

Answer

The SSD requires a Thunderbolt 3 connection, which the laptop lacks.

Question 14

A customer reports that their computer will not power on. The power supply fan does not spin, and the motherboard's power LED is off. You have verified the power cord and outlet are working. Which motherboard component is most likely causing this issue?

Accepted Answer

Failed motherboard power-on circuit. The motherboard's power LED not lighting up and the PSU fan not spinning indicate a lack of standby power, which is typically supplied through the CMOS battery or the PSU itself. However, a failed CMOS battery can prevent the system from retaining BIOS settings, but it does not usually stop the PSU from providing standby power. The most common cause in this scenario is a failed power supply, but since the question focuses on the motherboard, a shorted motherboard or a failed power-on circuit is the likely culprit. The correct answer is a failed motherboard power-on circuit, as it can prevent the PSU from turning on even if the PSU is functional.

Answer

Faulty CMOS battery

Answer

Loose front panel power switch connector

Answer

Incorrect BIOS settings

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting a high-end workstation that randomly freezes during heavy 3D rendering. The motherboard has an X299 chipset with an LGA 2066 socket. The CPU temperature is normal, and the RAM passes MemTest86. Which motherboard component is most likely causing the instability?

Accepted Answer

The chipset heatsink is clogged with dust. Random freezes under heavy load, with normal CPU temps and good RAM, often point to the chipset overheating. The chipset (e.g., X299) manages high-speed data transfer between the CPU, GPU, and storage; if its heatsink is clogged or the fan fails, it can overheat and cause system instability. This is a common issue in workstations with heavy I/O demands.

Answer

The CPU power phase controller

Answer

The BIOS is outdated

Answer

The PCIe slot is failing