220-1201 Practice Test 3 — 30 Questions

Question 1

A user reports that their internet connection is extremely slow, and they notice the modem's 'DSL' light is blinking. They have a DSL connection. What does the blinking DSL light indicate?

Accepted Answer

The modem is trying to establish a DSL sync.. A blinking DSL light on a modem indicates that the modem is actively attempting to establish synchronization (sync) with the DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) at the provider's central office. This process involves training the line to negotiate a stable connection speed and protocol, such as ADSL or VDSL, and typically takes 30–60 seconds. A solid DSL light confirms successful sync, while a blinking light means the handshake is still in progress or has failed.

Answer

The modem is receiving data.

Answer

The modem is not connected to the phone line.

Answer

The modem has a firmware error.

Question 2

A user reports that they cannot access any websites, but they can ping the IP address of a public DNS server (8.8.8.8). What is the most likely misconfigured network service?

Accepted Answer

DNS. The user can ping 8.8.8.8, confirming that IP connectivity and routing are working, but cannot access websites by name. This indicates that the system cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses, which is the function of DNS. A misconfigured DNS server address (e.g., pointing to a non-existent or unreachable DNS server) would cause this exact symptom.

Answer

DHCP

Answer

NAT

Answer

Proxy

Question 3

A small office uses a legacy 2.4 GHz wireless b/g router. Employees report frequent disconnects and slow speeds, especially when the microwave is used in the break room. Which change would most directly reduce interference in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Upgrade to a dual-band router and connect clients to the 5 GHz SSID.. The legacy 2.4 GHz router operates in the same frequency band as microwave ovens, which emit broadband interference around 2.45 GHz. Upgrading to a dual-band router and moving clients to the 5 GHz SSID directly avoids this interference because 5 GHz is not affected by microwave emissions, providing a cleaner RF environment and more available channels.

Answer

Enable WPA3 encryption on the router.

Answer

Increase the router's transmit power to maximum.

Answer

Change the 2.4 GHz channel from 6 to 11.

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a network where users can access internal resources but cannot reach any external websites. The internal network uses a proxy server. The technician finds that the proxy server is configured to use a specific protocol to forward requests to the internet. Which protocol is the proxy server most likely using to communicate with external web servers?

Accepted Answer

HTTP. The proxy server is most likely using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to forward requests to external web servers. Since users are accessing internal resources but cannot reach external websites, the proxy server acts as an intermediary for web traffic. HTTP is the standard protocol for web communication, and proxy servers typically use HTTP (or HTTPS) to forward client requests to internet web servers, as it allows the proxy to cache, filter, and modify web traffic.

Answer

FTP

Answer

DNS

Answer

SNMP

Question 5

A technician is configuring a new workstation for a secure environment. The policy requires that only signed operating systems can boot. Which UEFI feature should be enabled?

Accepted Answer

Enable Secure Boot. Secure Boot ensures that only software signed with trusted certificates can boot. This prevents unauthorized bootloaders and rootkits. This tests knowledge of UEFI security features.

Answer

Enable Legacy Boot (CSM)

Answer

Enable TPM

Answer

Set boot order to network first

Question 6

A small office uses an inkjet printer that has not been used for two weeks. Now, the prints show missing colors and horizontal white lines. What should be done first to resolve this?

Accepted Answer

Run the printhead cleaning cycle. Inkjet printers that sit idle often have dried ink in the printhead nozzles, causing missing colors or lines. Running the printer's built-in printhead cleaning cycle uses ink to flush the nozzles. If that fails, a manual cleaning or replacement may be needed.

Answer

Replace the ink cartridges

Answer

Update the printer driver

Answer

Replace the printer

Question 7

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 8

A law office wants to enable secure printing on their multifunction device so that users must enter a PIN at the printer before their documents print. The printer supports this feature. What must be configured to make this work?

Accepted Answer

Configure user authentication and PIN codes in the printer's settings.. Secure printing requires user authentication at the device. The printer must have user accounts or a PIN code system configured, and users must select 'Secure Print' or 'Hold Print' from the driver. The printer then releases the job only after the correct PIN is entered.

Answer

Enable SNMP on the printer.

Answer

Install a print server on the network.

Answer

Update the printer driver to the latest version.

Question 9

A user reports that when they scan a document to email from the office multifunction printer, the email never arrives. The printer shows a 'Connection to SMTP server failed' error. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The SMTP server address or port is configured incorrectly.. This question tests knowledge of scan-to-email configuration. The SMTP server address or authentication credentials are the most common issues when a multifunction device cannot send email. Checking the SMTP settings in the printer's network configuration should resolve the problem.

Answer

The printer's IP address is set to static.

Answer

The toner cartridge is low.

Answer

The printer is out of paper.

Question 10

A company uses a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) application. The vendor handles all updates, security patches, and infrastructure maintenance. Which cloud service model does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Software as a Service (SaaS). This scenario describes Software as a Service (SaaS), where the provider delivers a complete application over the internet. The user only needs a web browser and does not manage the underlying OS, servers, or updates. IaaS would give virtual machines, PaaS would provide a development platform, and DaaS would deliver virtual desktops.

Answer

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Answer

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Answer

Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

Question 11

A technician is building a new workstation for video editing. The motherboard supports LGA 1700 socket CPUs. Which of the following CPUs is compatible with this socket?

Accepted Answer

Intel Core i5-13600K. This question tests knowledge of CPU socket compatibility. LGA 1700 is used by Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th generation processors. Choosing the correct socket ensures the CPU physically fits and operates.

Answer

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

Answer

Intel Core i7-9700K

Answer

AMD Threadripper 3970X

Question 12

A technician is configuring a new server and needs to ensure that only signed operating system bootloaders can be loaded. Which UEFI feature should be enabled?

Accepted Answer

Enable Secure Boot. Secure Boot enforces cryptographic verification of bootloaders, preventing unauthorized code from running during boot. This is a key security feature in UEFI. The question tests understanding of Secure Boot's purpose and implementation.

Answer

Enable Fast Boot

Answer

Enable Legacy Boot

Answer

Enable Boot from USB

Question 13

A technician needs to boot a laptop from a USB drive to run a diagnostic tool. The USB is plugged in but the system skips it and boots from the internal SSD. Which UEFI setting is most likely preventing the USB boot?

Accepted Answer

Disable Secure Boot. If Secure Boot is enabled and the USB is not signed or UEFI-bootable, the system may ignore it. Alternatively, the boot order may not include USB. This tests understanding of boot security and order settings.

Answer

Enable Fast Boot

Answer

Set SATA mode to RAID

Answer

Disable the TPM

Question 14

A user complains that their LCD monitor has a persistent dark spot in the center of the screen that does not change with different images. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

There is a stuck pixel.. This scenario describes a stuck or dead pixel, a common LCD defect. A dark spot that remains constant indicates a pixel that is not receiving power or is stuck in the off state. This is a hardware defect, not a software or connection issue.

Answer

The monitor's backlight is failing.

Answer

The graphics card is overheating.

Answer

The video cable is loose.

Question 15

A user reports that they can access internal resources using IP addresses but cannot access them using hostnames. Other users on the same network have no issues. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The user's DNS settings are incorrect. The ability to use IP addresses but not hostnames points to a DNS resolution problem on the user's device. This could be due to a misconfigured DNS server address in the network settings or a local hosts file issue. Other users working normally suggests the problem is client-specific.

Answer

The DHCP server is out of addresses

Answer

The DNS server is down

Answer

The router's NAT is misconfigured

Question 16

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that shuts down randomly after a few minutes of use. The fan is spinning, and the vents are clear. The CPU temperature reaches 95°C quickly. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink has dried out.. High CPU temperature despite a spinning fan indicates poor thermal transfer, often due to dried-out thermal paste or a heatsink that is not making proper contact. Reapplying thermal paste and reseating the heatsink is the solution. The fan working rules out a fan failure.

Answer

The fan is running at low speed due to a faulty fan controller.

Answer

The CPU is faulty and needs replacement.

Answer

The BIOS is set to an aggressive power-saving mode.

Question 17

A user reports that their laptop screen suddenly went black, but the laptop is still powered on (fans running, power light on). Connecting an external monitor shows the desktop correctly. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The laptop's LCD inverter or backlight has failed.. The external display working normally indicates the GPU and OS are functional. The black built-in display points to a failure in the LCD panel, backlight, or the display cable (e.g., LVDS/eDP ribbon cable) connecting the motherboard to the screen. A loose or damaged internal cable is a common cause, especially in laptops that have been moved frequently.

Answer

The graphics driver has crashed and needs to be reinstalled.

Answer

The Windows display settings are set to 'Show only on external display'.

Answer

The laptop's RAM is faulty and causing video output issues.

Question 18

A user reports that they cannot send emails from their Outlook client, but they can receive emails. The email server is using standard ports. Which port is most likely blocked on the firewall?

Accepted Answer

25. Port 25 is the default SMTP port used for outgoing email transmission. If a firewall blocks port 25, the Outlook client cannot connect to the SMTP server to send emails, but receiving via POP3 (port 110) or IMAP (port 143) remains unaffected. This matches the user's symptom of being able to receive but not send emails.

Answer

110

Answer

143

Answer

443

Question 19

A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that has a blinking battery light and will not power on, even when plugged into AC power. The technician has already verified the AC adapter is working on another laptop. Which component is most likely faulty?

Accepted Answer

The battery. A blinking battery light often indicates a battery or charging circuit error. Since the AC adapter is known to be good, the issue is likely with the laptop's internal battery, the DC jack, or the charging circuit on the motherboard. The battery is the most common failure point.

Answer

The CPU

Answer

The RAM

Answer

The hard drive

Question 20

A technician is troubleshooting a network where users report intermittent connectivity. The technician finds that the switch logs show excessive CRC errors on multiple ports connected to different workstations. What is the most likely cause of these errors?

Accepted Answer

The Ethernet cables are run too close to power cables. CRC errors indicate data corruption at the physical layer, typically caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI) from nearby power cables. Running Ethernet cables too close to power cables induces noise, corrupting frames and causing CRC mismatches at the switch port.

Answer

The switch is configured with the wrong VLAN assignments

Answer

The workstations have duplicate IP addresses

Answer

The switch firmware is outdated