220-1201 Practice Test 25 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A small office uses a single router with a built-in DHCP server. The office has 15 devices that need IP addresses. The router's default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. How many usable IP addresses are available for devices on this subnet?

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

Accepted Answer

254. The subnet mask 255.255.255.0 corresponds to a /24 prefix, which provides 256 total addresses (2^8). However, the first address (network address) and the last address (broadcast address) are reserved, leaving 254 usable IP addresses for devices. This is a fundamental IPv4 subnetting rule defined in RFC 791.

Answer

255

Answer

256

Answer

15

Question 2

A user complains that when they scan a document to a network folder from the MFP, the scanned file is saved as a blank image. The MFP is configured to scan to a shared folder on a Windows server. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The scanner needs to be recalibrated.. A blank scanned image typically indicates the scanner is not capturing data, often due to a calibration or sensor issue. The MFP's scanner calibration can drift over time, leading to all-white scans even though the scanning process appears to run.

Answer

The network folder is full.

Answer

The scan resolution is set too low.

Answer

The network cable is faulty.

Question 3

A small office uses a cable internet connection with a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. Users complain that speeds drop significantly during peak evening hours. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Neighborhood congestion from shared bandwidth.. DOCSIS 3.0 cable internet uses a shared coaxial line to the neighborhood node. During peak evening hours, many subscribers contend for the same upstream and downstream channels, causing throughput to drop due to congestion. This is a classic symptom of shared bandwidth in cable broadband, not a device-level issue.

Answer

The modem's firmware is out of date.

Answer

The office's router is overheating.

Answer

The ISP is performing maintenance every evening.

Question 4

A company deploys a network where each department has its own switch, and all switches connect to a central core switch. The network uses VLANs to separate traffic for finance, HR, and engineering. Which network type best describes the overall architecture, and what is a key characteristic?

Accepted Answer

Client-server LAN with VLAN segmentation; the core switch routes between VLANs.. The architecture is a client-server LAN because all department switches connect to a central core switch, which provides centralized routing and management. VLAN segmentation isolates traffic for finance, HR, and engineering, and the core switch performs inter-VLAN routing (typically using a router-on-a-stick or Layer 3 switch with SVIs) to allow controlled communication between VLANs. This design is a classic hierarchical LAN topology, not a peer-to-peer, WAN, or MAN.

Answer

Peer-to-peer network; each department shares resources directly.

Answer

Wide area network (WAN); the departments are in different locations.

Answer

Metropolitan area network (MAN); the switches are spread across a city.

Question 5

A technician is troubleshooting a wireless network where users experience intermittent drops during peak hours. The access point is an 802.11n model operating on 2.4 GHz. The technician suspects channel congestion. Which tool should the technician use to identify the least congested channel?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer. A Wi-Fi analyzer is the correct tool because it scans the 2.4 GHz band and displays channel utilization, signal strength, and overlapping channels. This allows the technician to identify which channel has the least interference and congestion, directly addressing the intermittent drops during peak hours.

Answer

Spectrum analyzer

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Ping command

Question 6

A user reports that their NFC-enabled smartphone cannot make contactless payments at a terminal that works with other phones. The user has a thick wallet case with metal credit cards. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The wallet case is interfering with the NFC signal.. The thick wallet case with metal credit cards is the most likely cause because metal can block or attenuate the NFC (Near Field Communication) signal, which operates at 13.56 MHz. The case creates a physical barrier that prevents the phone's NFC antenna from establishing the short-range inductive coupling needed for contactless payments, even though the terminal and phone hardware are functional.

Answer

The payment terminal's NFC reader is faulty.

Answer

The phone's NFC antenna is damaged.

Answer

The phone's payment app is not configured correctly.

Question 7

A technician is troubleshooting a PC that shuts down randomly after a few minutes of use. The technician measures the +12V rail with a multimeter and gets 11.2V. The +5V rail reads 4.9V, and the +3.3V rail reads 3.2V. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The power supply is failing and needs replacement.. The +12V rail is significantly below the ATX specification of ±5% (11.4V minimum), indicating a failing power supply. The other rails are within tolerance but the +12V is critical for CPU and GPU power. A failing PSU can cause random shutdowns as voltage drops under load. Replacement is necessary.

Answer

The motherboard voltage regulator is failing.

Answer

The system is drawing too much current, causing voltage drop.

Answer

The AC input voltage is too low.

Question 8

A technician is setting up a new VoIP phone system. To ensure voice quality, they need to prioritize voice traffic over data traffic on the network. Which QoS configuration method should be implemented?

Accepted Answer

Configure DSCP markings on the VoIP traffic. DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) markings allow VoIP traffic to be classified and prioritized at Layer 3, ensuring low latency and jitter for voice packets. By marking VoIP packets with a specific DSCP value (e.g., EF for expedited forwarding), routers and switches can apply QoS policies to give voice traffic priority over data traffic. This is the standard method for QoS in VoIP deployments.

Answer

Set the VoIP phones to use a static IP address

Answer

Enable VLAN tagging on the switch ports

Answer

Use a crossover cable between the phone and switch

Question 9

A user reports that their smartphone's charging port is loose and the cable falls out easily, making it difficult to charge. The technician inspects the port and sees no visible debris. What is the most likely cause and the appropriate repair?

Accepted Answer

The charging port has worn-out pins; replace the charging port assembly.. The user reports a loose physical connection with no visible debris, which points to mechanical wear of the port's internal retention mechanism (e.g., the spring-loaded pins or the port's latch). Since the cable falls out easily, the most likely cause is worn-out pins inside the charging port assembly, and the appropriate repair is to replace the entire charging port assembly, as individual pins cannot be serviced separately.

Answer

The charging cable is defective; replace the cable.

Answer

Use compressed air to blow out the port.

Answer

Apply a small amount of super glue to the port to tighten it.

Question 10

A user's laptop intermittently loses connection to the wireless network. The technician suspects channel congestion from nearby access points. Which tool should be used to identify the least congested Wi-Fi channel?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer. A Wi-Fi analyzer (option C) is the correct tool because it scans the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, displaying channel utilization, signal strength, and overlapping access points. This allows the technician to identify the least congested channel by visualizing real-time interference and channel overlap, which is essential for resolving intermittent wireless disconnections caused by channel congestion.

Answer

Ping

Answer

Tracert

Answer

Cable tester

Question 11

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that beeps three times repeatedly and shows a blank screen upon power-on. The system has a discrete GPU installed and two sticks of RAM. What is the most likely cause indicated by the beep code?

Accepted Answer

The RAM is faulty or not properly installed.. Beep codes are used by the BIOS/UEFI to indicate hardware errors during POST. Three beeps typically indicate a memory (RAM) error. The technician should reseat or test the RAM sticks individually to isolate the faulty module.

Answer

The discrete GPU is not seated properly.

Answer

The CPU has failed or is overheating.

Answer

The BIOS battery is dead.

Question 12

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that fails to boot. The motherboard has a 24-pin ATX power connector and an 8-pin CPU power connector. The power supply has a 20+4 pin main connector and a 4+4 pin CPU connector. The technician connects the 20+4 pin to the motherboard correctly, but the system still does not power on. What should the technician check next?

Accepted Answer

The 4+4 pin CPU connector is only using one 4-pin half. The 4+4 pin CPU connector can be used as either a 4-pin or 8-pin connector. The technician must ensure that both 4-pin halves are connected together to form the 8-pin CPU power connector required by the motherboard. If only one 4-pin half is connected, the CPU may not receive power.

Answer

The 20+4 pin connector is not fully seated

Answer

The power supply switch is turned off

Answer

The RAM is not properly seated

Question 13

A technician is deploying a fleet of tablets for a retail store that uses a captive portal for guest Wi-Fi. After connecting to the Wi-Fi, the tablets do not automatically open the login page. What is the most likely missing configuration?

Accepted Answer

The tablets have a static IP address configured.. A captive portal intercepts HTTP traffic and redirects the client to a login page, typically by performing a DNS or HTTP redirect. If the tablet has a static IP address configured, it may not receive the DHCP options (e.g., option 114 for captive portal URL) or the proper DNS server settings, preventing the redirect from functioning. Without a valid DHCP lease, the tablet cannot be redirected to the captive portal login page.

Answer

The tablets are using a VPN.

Answer

The Wi-Fi network is hidden.

Answer

The tablets have Bluetooth disabled.

Question 14

A customer says their PC randomly freezes and sometimes displays a blue screen error. You run diagnostics and find that the CPU passes all tests, but the system still crashes. Which component should you check next as a likely cause of CPU-related instability?

Accepted Answer

The CPU fan. Even if the CPU itself is functional, instability can arise from other factors. Overheating due to a failing fan can cause intermittent crashes. The CPU fan is critical for maintaining safe temperatures under load.

Answer

The hard drive

Answer

The power supply unit

Answer

The motherboard BIOS

Question 15

A technician is upgrading a server that requires ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM. The technician has a box of non-ECC DDR4 modules from a desktop. Can these be used in the server?

Accepted Answer

No, because non-ECC RAM is not compatible with ECC-required systems.. ECC and non-ECC RAM are not interchangeable; servers that require ECC will not boot or may operate incorrectly with non-ECC modules. Additionally, mixing ECC and non-ECC is not supported. The technician must use ECC RAM specifically designed for the server.

Answer

Yes, as long as the speed and capacity match.

Answer

Yes, but only if the server's BIOS is set to ignore ECC errors.

Answer

No, because DDR4 desktop modules are physically larger than server modules.