220-1201 Practice Test 3 — 25 Questions

Question 1

A small office experiences intermittent Wi-Fi drops on laptops but not on desktops connected via Ethernet. The wireless network uses 2.4 GHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

A microwave oven is operating near the access point.. Microwave ovens operate at approximately 2.45 GHz, which falls within the 2.4 GHz ISM band used by Wi-Fi. When a microwave is running near an access point, it generates strong electromagnetic interference that can cause intermittent signal degradation or drops, affecting wireless clients like laptops but not wired desktops.

Answer

The access point is overheating.

Answer

The laptops have outdated Bluetooth drivers.

Answer

The Ethernet switch is failing.

Question 2

A client in a dense urban apartment building wants internet service but cannot install a satellite dish due to HOA rules. They have a phone line but no cable TV outlet. Which connection type is most practical and cost-effective?

Accepted Answer

DSL. DSL uses existing phone lines and is widely available in urban areas, making it a practical choice. Cable requires a coaxial outlet, satellite is prohibited, and fiber may not be available in all apartment buildings. DSL offers a balance of availability and cost.

Answer

Cable broadband

Answer

Satellite

Answer

Fiber-optic

Question 3

A user wants to wirelessly stream music from their smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker in the same room. Which network type is being used for this connection?

Accepted Answer

Personal Area Network (PAN). C is correct because a Bluetooth connection between a smartphone and a speaker operates within a Personal Area Network (PAN). PANs are defined by IEEE 802.15 and cover a short-range, ad-hoc wireless link (typically up to 10 meters) designed for personal device interconnectivity, which matches the Bluetooth streaming scenario exactly.

Answer

Local Area Network (LAN)

Answer

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Answer

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Question 4

A customer reports that their home office devices—a laptop, printer, and smartphone—can communicate with each other but cannot access the internet. They have a single router provided by their ISP. Which network type is most likely being used for local communication?

Accepted Answer

Local Area Network (LAN). A Local Area Network (LAN) connects devices within a limited area, such as a home or office, allowing them to share resources like files and printers. The router creates a LAN for local communication, but internet access requires a properly configured WAN connection. The scenario describes a LAN issue, not a PAN (which is too short-range for a whole home) or a WAN/MAN.

Answer

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Answer

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Answer

Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)

Question 5

A customer brings in a smartphone with a cracked glass digitizer that still responds to touch, but the LCD underneath is intact. They want the cheapest repair that restores full functionality. Which component should you replace?

Accepted Answer

Replace only the digitizer.. The digitizer (touch layer) is the only damaged component; the LCD is intact and the touch function still works. Replacing only the digitizer restores full functionality at the lowest cost, as it avoids the expense of replacing the undamaged LCD panel.

Answer

Replace the entire screen assembly (LCD + digitizer).

Answer

Replace only the LCD panel.

Answer

Apply a glass screen protector and ignore the crack.

Question 6

A user reports that their wired desktop cannot connect to the network. The technician verifies the link light on the computer's NIC is off. Using a known-good patch cable does not resolve the issue. Which tool should be used to test the wall jack's wiring?

Accepted Answer

Tone generator and probe. A tone generator and probe allow a technician to trace the wall jack back to the patch panel and verify continuity. Since the link light is off and a known-good cable didn't help, the issue may be in the wall jack or its termination, and tracing the cable is the next step.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Multimeter

Question 7

A customer reports that their new laptop cannot connect to the company's Wi-Fi network, but other devices connect fine. You need to check if the laptop's wireless adapter is functioning properly and can see available networks. Which tool should you use?

Accepted Answer

Wi-Fi analyzer. A Wi-Fi analyzer (option C) is the correct tool because it can scan for available wireless networks, display their SSIDs, signal strengths, and channels, and verify whether the laptop's wireless adapter is detecting any networks at all. This directly addresses the need to check if the adapter is functioning and can see the company's Wi-Fi, isolating the issue to the laptop's wireless hardware or configuration rather than the network itself.

Answer

Cable tester

Answer

Loopback plug

Answer

Multimeter

Question 8

A technician is installing a new LCD monitor for a user who does photo editing. The user complains that colors appear washed out compared to their old CRT monitor. What should the technician adjust first?

Accepted Answer

Adjust the color settings in the monitor's on-screen display.. LCD monitors often have different color gamuts and settings than CRTs. The most straightforward fix is to adjust the color calibration settings in the monitor's OSD or OS to improve color accuracy.

Answer

Replace the video cable with a DVI cable.

Answer

Update the graphics driver.

Answer

Set the resolution to the monitor's native resolution.

Question 9

A user reports that their laser printer prints a 'PC LOAD LETTER' error message. The paper tray is full of A4 paper. What should the technician do to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Change the paper size setting in the printer driver to A4.. The 'PC LOAD LETTER' error indicates the printer expects letter-size paper but the tray is loaded with A4. The solution is to either change the paper size setting in the printer driver or load letter-size paper, depending on the user's needs.

Answer

Replace the toner cartridge.

Answer

Clean the paper pickup rollers.

Answer

Update the printer firmware.

Question 10

A user says their monitor suddenly turned off and will not power on. The power LED on the monitor is off. They have checked the power cable and it is securely connected. What should the technician do next?

Accepted Answer

Test the power outlet with a known-working device. If the power LED is off and the cable is secure, the next step is to test the power outlet with another device to rule out a dead outlet. This follows a logical troubleshooting process.

Answer

Replace the monitor's internal power supply

Answer

Reseat the video cable connecting the monitor to the PC

Answer

Replace the monitor with a new one

Question 11

A technician is installing a new VoIP phone for a user. The user's desk already has a Cat6 wall jack, but the phone requires both network connectivity and a separate power source. The technician has a limited number of power outlets nearby. What is the simplest solution?

Accepted Answer

Use a Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector between the wall jack and the phone.. This question tests knowledge of Power over Ethernet (PoE) as a cabling-related concept. The correct answer is to use a PoE switch or injector, which sends power over the Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter.

Answer

Run a new power extension cord from the nearest outlet.

Answer

Replace the Cat6 cable with a USB-C cable for power.

Answer

Install a wireless bridge to eliminate the cable.

Question 12

A technician is setting up a new office with 20 workstations. The cabling is Cat6, and all runs are under 90 meters. After terminating the cables at the patch panel and wall jacks, the technician tests each run with a cable certifier. One run fails the test for near-end crosstalk (NEXT). What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The cable pairs are untwisted too much at the termination point.. This question tests understanding of cable termination quality and crosstalk. The correct answer is that the untwisting of pairs at the termination point is too long, which can cause NEXT failures.

Answer

The cable is too long for Cat6 specifications.

Answer

The cable is not properly shielded.

Answer

The cable is damaged from being pulled too hard during installation.

Question 13

A user is setting up a new monitor that uses a DisplayPort connection, but their desktop PC only has an HDMI port. They have an adapter. Which adapter type will allow the monitor to display correctly?

Accepted Answer

HDMI to DisplayPort adapter. DisplayPort and HDMI are both digital video standards, and a passive adapter can convert between them without signal loss. This tests knowledge that DisplayPort and HDMI are electrically compatible for video, unlike VGA (analog) or USB-C (which may require active conversion).

Answer

HDMI to VGA adapter

Answer

DisplayPort to USB-C adapter

Answer

DVI to HDMI adapter

Question 14

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 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

A technician is troubleshooting a PC that powers on for a few seconds then shuts off. The technician removes the 24-pin connector and jumps the green wire to a black wire; the PSU fan spins and stays on. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

The motherboard has a short circuit causing the PSU to shut down.. The paperclip test confirms the PSU can power on independently. If the fan runs continuously, the PSU is likely functional. The issue is probably elsewhere, such as a short on the motherboard or a faulty component drawing too much power.

Answer

The power supply is definitely faulty and should be replaced.

Answer

The CPU is overheating and triggering thermal shutdown.

Answer

The power supply fan is defective, causing it to overheat and shut off.

Question 19

A technician is setting up a new network printer in a conference room. The printer has an RJ45 port for wired networking, but the only available wall jack is labeled with a different room number. The technician needs to connect the printer to the network. What is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Use a tone generator and probe to trace the wall jack to the patch panel. The wall jack may be connected to a different network drop. The technician should use a tone generator and probe to identify which port on the patch panel corresponds to that wall jack, ensuring correct connectivity.

Answer

Connect the printer directly to the router using a long Ethernet cable

Answer

Assume the jack is functional and connect the printer

Answer

Use a WiFi adapter for the printer instead

Question 20

A technician is tasked with connecting a legacy projector that only has a VGA input to a modern laptop that has only HDMI and USB-C outputs. Which adapter should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

HDMI to VGA active adapter. Since VGA is analog and HDMI is digital, an active converter is needed. A USB-C to VGA adapter can work if the laptop supports video over USB-C, but an HDMI to VGA adapter is also an option if the laptop has HDMI. The best answer is an HDMI to VGA active adapter, as it directly converts the digital signal to analog.

Answer

USB-C to VGA passive adapter

Answer

VGA to HDMI cable

Answer

USB-C to HDMI adapter