CAPM Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts Practice Test 5 — 15 Questions

Question 1

Refer to the exhibit. Which task has a dependency that requires the successor to start 2 days after the predecessor starts?

Accepted Answer

Task A. A Start-to-Start (SS) dependency with a 2-day lag means the successor task starts 2 days after the predecessor starts. Task A has this dependency, matching the requirement. Task D (Option A) has a different dependency, Task B (Option C) has Finish-to-Start, and Task C (Option D) has Start-to-Start but without a lag.

Answer

Task D

Answer

Task B

Answer

Task C

Question 2

A project manager is leading a team in a matrix organization where team members report to both a functional manager and the project manager. The project is in the planning phase. What is the primary responsibility of the project manager during this phase?

Accepted Answer

Developing the project management plan. Developing the project management plan is the primary responsibility of the project manager during the planning phase. Option A (managing team conflicts) is more relevant to the executing or monitoring and controlling phases. Option B (assigning daily tasks) is typically done by the functional manager or team leads, not the project manager, especially during planning. Option C (closing out the project) belongs to the closing phase. Thus, D is the correct answer.

Answer

Managing team conflicts

Answer

Assigning daily tasks to team members

Answer

Closing out the project

Question 3

A construction project is underway. The project manager receives a report that the concrete supplier will deliver late, causing a two-week delay. The project has no schedule reserve. What is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Analyze the impact on the critical path and evaluate options. The project manager should first analyze the impact on the critical path before deciding on a response. The other options are premature without analysis.

Answer

Inform the sponsor and request a schedule extension

Answer

Immediately crash the schedule by adding resources to critical path activities

Answer

Fast-track the remaining activities to recover the delay

Question 4

A project manager in a weak matrix organization is having difficulty getting team members to complete project tasks because they prioritize their functional work. Which type of power should the project manager primarily rely on to influence the team?

Accepted Answer

Expert power based on knowledge. In a weak matrix organization, the project manager has limited formal authority and little or no control over rewards or punishments. Therefore, the most effective power base is expert power, which relies on the project manager's knowledge, skills, and expertise to influence team members. Expert power is particularly effective when team members respect the PM's expertise and see value in their guidance, making them more willing to prioritize project tasks despite their functional responsibilities.

Answer

Punitive power by threatening negative consequences

Answer

Reward power by offering bonuses

Answer

Formal power derived from position

Question 5

Which of the following is a characteristic of the project life cycle?

Accepted Answer

Projects are temporary and unique. Projects are defined as temporary endeavors with a unique product, service, or result. Option A is incorrect because project phases can overlap in iterative or adaptive life cycles. Option C is incorrect because projects are unique and not repetitive; operations produce the same product repeatedly. Option D is incorrect because while projects have a defined end, the exact end date may be adjusted, but the key characteristic is temporary, not a fixed date.

Answer

Project phases are always sequential

Answer

Projects produce the same product repeatedly

Answer

Projects have a fixed end date

Question 6

A project manager is estimating activity durations. The team provides three estimates: optimistic 10 days, pessimistic 20 days, most likely 14 days. Using the PERT beta distribution, what is the expected duration?

Accepted Answer

14.33 days. PERT expected = (O + 4M + P)/6 = (10 + 4*14 + 20)/6 = (10 + 56 + 20)/6 = 86/6 = 14.33 days.

Answer

14 days

Answer

14.67 days

Answer

15 days

Question 7

During a project, the team identifies a risk that could cause a 20% increase in cost. The project manager decides to accept the risk because the probability is low. What risk response strategy is being used?

Accepted Answer

Accept. Accept means acknowledging the risk and taking no proactive action, though contingency reserves may be set aside. Avoid changes the plan to eliminate the risk, transfer shifts the impact to a third party, and mitigate reduces probability or impact.

Answer

Transfer

Answer

Avoid

Answer

Mitigate

Question 8

A project has a cost baseline of $100,000. At the end of month 2, the planned value is $30,000, and the actual cost is $40,000. If the earned value is $25,000, what is the cost variance?

Accepted Answer

-$15,000. Cost variance (CV) = Earned Value (EV) - Actual Cost (AC) = $25,000 - $40,000 = -$15,000. A negative CV indicates the project is over budget. Therefore, option C is correct.

Answer

$15,000

Answer

-$10,000

Answer

$10,000

Question 9

A project manager wants to ensure that all project documents are properly managed and approved. Which process group focuses on controlling changes to project documents?

Accepted Answer

Monitoring and Controlling. The Monitoring and Controlling process group includes the perform integrated change control process, which manages change requests and updates to project documents.

Answer

Initiating

Answer

Planning

Answer

Executing

Question 10

A project is being executed in a highly regulated industry. The quality management plan requires extensive documentation. During a quality audit, the auditor finds that some test results are missing. What is the MOST appropriate action for the project manager?

Accepted Answer

Log the issue in the issue log and develop a corrective action. The missing test results represent an issue that should be logged in the issue log, and corrective action should be planned to resolve it. Option A might be part of the corrective action but not the immediate first step. Options B and C are premature.

Answer

Issue a change request to update the quality management plan

Answer

Request that the team repeat the tests immediately

Answer

Update the lessons learned register

Question 11

Which TWO of the following are generally true about projects versus operations? (Choose two)

Accepted Answer

Operations produce the same product or service repeatedly. Options B and E are correct. Projects are temporary endeavors with a defined start and end date (E), while operations are ongoing activities that produce the same product or service repeatedly (B). Options A, C, and D are false: projects are not ongoing and repetitive (A), operations are not temporary and unique (D), and projects are not focused on sustaining the business (C).

Answer

Projects are ongoing and repetitive

Answer

Projects are focused on sustaining the business

Answer

Operations are temporary and unique

Question 12

Which THREE of the following are recognized process groups in the PMBOK Guide? (Choose three)

Accepted Answer

Executing. Options C, D, and E are correct. The PMBOK Guide defines five process groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Analyzing and Reviewing are not recognized process groups.

Answer

Reviewing

Answer

Analyzing

Question 13

Refer to the exhibit. What is the cost performance index (CPI)?

Accepted Answer

0.83. CPI = EV/AC = 5000/6000 = 0.83. Options B, C, and D are incorrect calculations.

Answer

0.91

Answer

1.20

Answer

1.10

Question 14

Refer to the exhibit. What is the duration of the critical path?

Accepted Answer

15 days. The critical path is A -> C -> D with a total duration of 5 + 4 + 6 = 15 days. The other path A -> B -> D is 5+3+6=14 days.

Answer

9 days

Answer

14 days

Answer

12 days

Question 15

Refer to the exhibit. Which risk has the highest expected monetary value?

Accepted Answer

R2. EMV for R1 = 0.3 * $40,000 = $12,000; R2 = 0.6 * $50,000 = $30,000; R3 = 0.2 * $100,000 = $20,000. R2 has the highest EMV.

Answer

R1

Answer

R3

Answer

All have equal EMV