220-1101 Practice Exam 52 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A small company hosts its customer-facing web application on a public cloud provider's infrastructure. However, due to regulatory requirements, the company must keep its customer database on a private server located at its own data center. The web application needs to access the database for real-time transactions. Which cloud deployment model best describes this setup?

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

Accepted Answer

A. Hybrid cloud. This setup combines a public cloud for the customer-facing web application with a private on-premises server for the customer database, which is the defining characteristic of a hybrid cloud deployment model. Hybrid cloud allows workloads to run in separate environments while maintaining connectivity, often via VPN or dedicated circuits, enabling real-time transactions between the public and private components.

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B. Public cloud

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C. Private cloud

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D. Community cloud

Question 2

A technician is troubleshooting a computer that cannot access any websites by their domain name (e.g., www.example.com) but can access websites by their IP address. The computer's IP configuration shows it received a valid IP address from the DHCP server. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The DNS server address is incorrect or unreachable. The ability to access websites by IP address but not by domain name indicates that name resolution is failing. Since the computer has a valid IP address from DHCP, the most likely cause is that the DNS server address provided by DHCP is incorrect or unreachable, preventing the translation of domain names to IP addresses.

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The default gateway is incorrect

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The subnet mask is incorrect

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The DHCP lease has expired

Question 3

A technician is upgrading a gaming desktop with a new high-end graphics card that requires additional power. After installing the card and connecting the PCIe power cables from the 500W power supply, the system powers on but there is no display output when the monitor is connected to the graphics card. However, when the monitor is connected to the motherboard's integrated graphics port, the system boots normally. The technician has verified that the graphics card is properly seated and the PCIe power connectors are fully inserted. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The power supply does not provide enough wattage for the graphics card. The most likely cause is that the 500W power supply does not provide enough wattage for the new high-end graphics card. High-end GPUs often have a high peak power draw that can exceed the total capacity of a 500W PSU, especially when the rest of the system (CPU, drives, fans) is also drawing power. When the GPU does not receive sufficient power, it may fail to initialize and output a display signal, even though the system powers on and the integrated graphics work fine.

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The graphics card is not fully seated in the PCIe slot

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The monitor cable is faulty

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The motherboard PCIe slot is damaged

Question 4

A user reports that their Android smartphone can send and receive text messages (SMS) and browse the internet using the cellular data connection, but cannot send picture messages (MMS) to contacts. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

APN settings. MMS messages require a specific APN configuration that includes both an MMS proxy and MMS port, which are separate from the standard internet APN settings. Since the user can send SMS and browse the web, the core cellular data connection works, but the missing or incorrect MMS proxy/port values in the APN prevent the phone from establishing the necessary WAP gateway connection for MMS delivery. Checking the APN settings first is the logical step because MMS relies on a dedicated data channel through the carrier's MMS server, not the standard internet APN.

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Data roaming setting

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Message center number

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Wi-Fi calling setting

Question 5

A network administrator configures a small office with a router providing DHCP. A user's computer gets an IP address of 169.254.1.5. The user cannot access the internet. The technician checks the network cable and sees link lights. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The DHCP server is unreachable.. The IP address 169.254.1.5 is an Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) address, which Windows assigns when a DHCP discovery broadcast fails to receive a response. Since the router is configured to provide DHCP but the client ended up with an APIPA address, the DHCP server is unreachable — likely due to a misconfigured DHCP relay, a disabled DHCP service on the router, or a VLAN mismatch blocking the broadcast. The link lights confirm Layer 1 connectivity, so the issue is at Layer 3 or above.

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Incorrect subnet mask.

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Duplicate IP address on the network.

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DNS server misconfiguration.

Question 6

A user reports that their smartphone will not charge. The phone was working normally until the user plugged it into a generic car charger. Now, when connected to any charger, the phone displays the charging icon but the battery percentage does not increase over time. The technician has tested the phone with a known-good wall charger and cable, and the symptom persists. The phone is detected by a computer and can transfer files over USB. Which of the following components is MOST likely faulty?

Accepted Answer

Power management IC (PMIC). The Power Management IC (PMIC) is the component responsible for regulating the charging voltage and current, and for communicating the battery's charge state to the operating system. Since the phone shows a charging icon (indicating the PMIC is receiving power from the port) but the battery percentage does not increase (indicating the PMIC is not properly charging the battery), and the phone still works normally on USB data (ruling out a full logic board failure), the PMIC is the most likely faulty component. The generic car charger likely sent a voltage spike or improper power signal that damaged the PMIC's charging circuitry.

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Battery

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Charging port

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System board (logic board)

Question 7

A company wants to migrate its on-premises infrastructure to the cloud while retaining full control over network configuration, firewall rules, and security policies. The company does not want to manage physical servers, storage, or the underlying hypervisor. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?

Accepted Answer

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, allowing the company to manage network configurations, firewall rules, and security policies while the cloud provider handles physical servers, storage, and the hypervisor. This model gives the customer control over the operating system, middleware, and applications, but not the underlying physical infrastructure, directly matching the requirement to avoid managing physical hardware.

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SaaS (Software as a Service)

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PaaS (Platform as a Service)

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DaaS (Desktop as a Service)

Question 8

A technician installed a new high-end graphics card in a desktop PC. The system powers on, fans spin, but the monitor remains black. The monitor works fine when connected to the motherboard's integrated video port. The technician has reseated the graphics card, connected the necessary PCIe power cables, and verified the card is fully inserted in the primary PCIe x16 slot. Which of the following is the MOST likely next step to resolve the issue?

Accepted Answer

Check the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure the primary display is set to PCIe. When a discrete graphics card is installed, the BIOS/UEFI must be configured to use the PCIe slot as the primary display adapter. If the system defaults to the integrated GPU, the monitor will remain black when connected to the new card, even though the card is powered and seated correctly. Checking and setting the primary display to PCIe in BIOS/UEFI directly addresses this common misconfiguration.

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Replace the monitor with a 4K display

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Update the graphics card driver in Safe Mode

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Test the graphics card in another computer

Question 9

A company uses a cloud service where administrators can provision virtual machines with pre-configured operating systems and applications from a catalog. They can scale the number of VMs up or down as needed, but they are responsible for managing the guest OS and applications. Which cloud service model does this describe?

Accepted Answer

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). This scenario describes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) because the cloud provider supplies virtualized hardware resources (VMs, storage, networking), while the customer retains full control over the guest operating system and applications. The administrator provisions pre-configured VMs from a catalog and scales them up or down, but is responsible for OS patching, application management, and security within the VM. This aligns with the IaaS shared responsibility model where the provider manages the hypervisor and physical infrastructure, and the customer manages everything above the OS layer.

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Platform as a Service (PaaS)

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Software as a Service (SaaS)

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Desktop as a Service (DaaS)

Question 10

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, heatsink, RAM, and power supply, the technician presses the power button but nothing happens. No lights turn on, no fans spin. The power supply is brand new and known to be compatible. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the power switch cable from the front panel is connected to the correct motherboard header pins. When a brand-new desktop shows no signs of power (no lights, no fans), the most logical first step is to verify the front panel power switch connection. The power button on the case is connected to the motherboard via a small two-wire cable that must be attached to the correct header pins (typically labeled PWR_SW or PWR_BTN). If this cable is not connected or is on the wrong pins, pressing the button will not complete the circuit to signal the power supply to turn on, even though all other components are properly installed.

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Remove and reseat the CPU to ensure it is properly installed

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Remove and reseat the RAM modules in the correct slots

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Test the power supply by using a paperclip to short the green and black wires on the 24-pin connector

Question 11

A technician needs to remove a swollen lithium-ion battery from a laptop before performing further repairs. Which of the following is the most critical safety step to take before beginning the removal?

Accepted Answer

Disconnect the AC adapter and remove the battery from the laptop while powered off. Disconnecting the AC adapter and powering off the laptop ensures that no electrical current is flowing to the system, eliminating the risk of a short circuit or electrical shock when handling a damaged lithium-ion battery. A swollen battery is chemically unstable and can rupture or ignite if disturbed while the system is still powered or connected to a charger. This step is the most critical because it directly addresses the immediate electrical hazard before any physical manipulation of the battery.

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Fully discharge the battery by running the laptop until it shuts down

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Use a metal spudger to gently pry the battery out of its compartment

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Place the removed battery in a sealed plastic bag for disposal

Question 12

A network technician is configuring a managed switch for a small office. The security requirement is that only specific authorized devices should be allowed to connect to the network via the switch ports. The technician wants to automatically learn the MAC addresses of devices as they connect and lock them to the port to prevent unauthorized devices from using the same port. Which switch feature should be configured to accomplish this?

Accepted Answer

Port security with sticky MAC. Port security with sticky MAC addresses allows the switch to dynamically learn MAC addresses from connected devices and then 'stick' them to the port, preventing any other device from using that port. This meets the requirement of automatically learning and locking authorized devices without manual MAC entry.

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MAC filtering

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VLAN tagging (IEEE 802.1Q)

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Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Question 13

A user reports that they cannot access the internet. The technician checks the network status on the computer and sees that the Ethernet cable is plugged in, but the link light on the network interface card is not illuminated. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

The cable connection at the patch panel or wall jack. The link light on the NIC indicates Layer 1 (physical) connectivity. Since it is not illuminated, the issue is almost certainly a physical connection problem, such as a loose or damaged cable at the wall jack or patch panel. Checking the cable connection at the patch panel or wall jack is the first logical step before moving to higher-layer troubleshooting.

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The IP address configuration in the operating system

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The DNS server settings

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The firewall rules

Question 14

A small office uses a single router as the DHCP server for the 192.168.1.0/24 network. The DHCP scope is configured to issue addresses from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200. A new employee connects a laptop to an available wall jack and receives an IP address of 169.254.13.57. Other devices in the office are receiving valid IP addresses in the 192.168.1.x range. The technician checks the wall jack and the switch port, and the link light is solid green. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The switch port is configured for a VLAN that does not have access to the DHCP server. The APIPA address 169.254.13.57 indicates the laptop failed to receive a DHCP lease. Since other devices on the same network are getting valid 192.168.1.x addresses, the DHCP server is functional and the scope is not exhausted. A solid link light confirms Layer 1 connectivity, so the most likely cause is that the switch port is assigned to a VLAN that does not have Layer 3 access to the DHCP server, preventing the DHCP discover/offer handshake from completing.

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The laptop's network adapter is faulty

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The DHCP scope is exhausted

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The router's DHCP service is disabled

Question 15

A small office has a file server that is a virtual machine running on a Type 1 hypervisor. Users report intermittent connectivity to the file server. The technician has already verified the following: the physical network cables are intact, the switch ports are configured correctly, the host server's physical NICs are operating, and the VM's operating system shows no errors. The technician notices that the file server experiences brief packet loss when communicating with other VMs on the same host, but not when communicating with physical workstations. Which of the following should the technician investigate next?

Accepted Answer

The virtual switch configuration or the VM's network adapter driver. The issue is isolated to VM-to-VM communication on the same host, which bypasses the physical network and relies entirely on the virtual switch and VM network adapter. Packet loss only between VMs points to a misconfigured virtual switch (e.g., promiscuous mode, VLAN tagging, or teaming settings) or a faulty/driver-level issue with the VM's virtual NIC. Physical connectivity and host NICs are already verified, so the virtual networking layer is the logical next step.

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The host server's RAID controller

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The DHCP server lease time

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The file server's hard disk performance

Question 16

A technician is building a high-end workstation for 3D rendering. The chosen CPU uses an LGA 1200 socket and supports dual-channel memory. The technician needs a motherboard that supports the CPU, at least two PCIe x16 slots for dual graphics cards, and should allow memory overclocking for optimal performance. Which of the following motherboard chipsets is the most suitable for this task?

Accepted Answer

ATX motherboard with Z490 chipset. The Z490 chipset is the only option that supports both dual-channel memory overclocking (via unlocked memory multipliers) and multiple PCIe x16 slots for dual graphics cards, while also being compatible with the LGA 1200 socket. This makes it ideal for a high-end 3D rendering workstation where CPU and memory performance are critical.

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Micro-ATX motherboard with H410 chipset

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Mini-ITX motherboard with B460 chipset

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ATX motherboard with Q470 chipset

Question 17

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that shuts down unexpectedly after about 15 minutes of running a graphics-intensive application. The computer operates normally during light use, such as web browsing and word processing. The technician has verified that all cooling fans are spinning and that the CPU and GPU temperatures are within normal ranges. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

Insufficient power supply capacity. The symptom of a computer shutting down under heavy GPU/CPU load after a consistent time interval, despite normal temperatures and fan operation, strongly points to the power supply unit (PSU) being unable to deliver sustained peak current. Graphics-intensive applications draw high transient power spikes; if the PSU's rated capacity is insufficient or its 12V rail is degraded, the overcurrent protection (OCP) or undervoltage protection (UVP) will trip, causing an abrupt shutdown. The fact that light workloads run fine confirms the issue is load-dependent, not a thermal or component failure.

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Failing memory module

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Corrupt operating system files

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Faulty motherboard

Question 18

A technician is building a desktop computer for a user. The power supply unit (PSU) is a 750W unit with a single 12V rail. The graphics card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The PSU has two separate cables, each with one 6+2 connector. The technician instead uses a single cable that has two 6+2 connectors daisy-chained (one at the end, one in the middle) to power the graphics card. The system boots and runs normally under light load, but under heavy gaming load, the system shuts down. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The daisy-chained cable cannot deliver sufficient current to both connectors, causing voltage drop and shutdown.. The daisy-chained cable is designed to deliver a maximum current per connector, typically around 150W per 8-pin PCIe connector. When both connectors are on the same cable, the total current draw can exceed the cable's rated capacity (often 288W for 18AWG wire), causing voltage drop and triggering the PSU's overcurrent protection (OCP) or causing instability under heavy load. This results in the system shutting down during gaming, even though the PSU's total wattage (750W) is sufficient.

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The PSU does not have enough wattage for the graphics card.

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The graphics card requires a power supply with dual 12V rails.

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The PCIe slot is not providing enough power.

Question 19

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that failed to boot after a lightning storm. The computer powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but there is no POST and no beep codes. The technician has already tried a different monitor, reseated all RAM and expansion cards, and tested the power supply with a multimeter (all voltages within spec). Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Check the motherboard for bulging or leaking capacitors. After a lightning storm, a power surge can damage the motherboard's voltage regulator modules (VRMs) or other components, often indicated by bulging or leaking capacitors. The symptoms—power on but no POST and no beep codes—suggest the motherboard is not initializing the CPU or memory, which is consistent with capacitor failure. The technician has already verified the PSU output and reseated components, making motherboard damage the most likely next step to check.

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Replace the CMOS battery

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Test the surge protector

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Reseat the CPU

Question 20

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC. The technician needs to connect the power button, reset button, HDD LED, and power LED from the case to the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician consult for the correct pin layout?

Accepted Answer

Motherboard manual. The motherboard manual contains the front panel header pinout diagram, which specifies the exact layout for connecting the power button, reset button, HDD LED, and power LED from the case. Each motherboard manufacturer uses a unique pin arrangement, so consulting this manual ensures correct polarity and prevents damage to the motherboard or LEDs.

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Power supply manual

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CPU manual

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Case manual