CCAR-F Claude Code Configuration and Workflows Practice Question
During a long refactoring session, a developer realizes Claude Code has been operating with an outdated understanding of a utility module because the file was changed on disk by a teammate's branch merge. The developer wants Claude to re-read the current contents of that file before continuing. Which action accomplishes this most directly?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is reaching for session-reset commands to fix a stale file view, when a targeted @ file reference refreshes just that file while preserving context.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reference the file with the @ symbol in a new prompt
Using the @ reference in a prompt causes Claude Code to read the named file's current contents from disk and inject them into the conversation, updating the model's view without losing session context. Clearing or restarting discards valuable history, and compacting only summarizes dialogue rather than re-reading files.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use the /clear command to reset the session
Why it's wrong here
The /clear command wipes the entire conversation history, discarding all prior context and decisions built during the refactoring. While it would force fresh reads, it loses valuable session state, making it a heavy-handed and inappropriate solution for refreshing a single file.
- ✗
Run the /compact command
Why it's wrong here
/compact summarizes the conversation to free context window space, but it operates on the dialogue history rather than re-reading files from disk. It would not update Claude's understanding of the changed utility module, so the stale view would persist.
- ✗
Restart the Claude Code CLI process
Why it's wrong here
Restarting the CLI terminates the session and loses all accumulated context, including decisions and reasoning from the refactoring. It is a disruptive remedy when the goal is simply to refresh one file's contents, which can be done without ending the session.
- ✓
Reference the file with the @ symbol in a new prompt
Why this is correct
Prefixing a path with @ in a prompt instructs Claude Code to read the current file contents from disk and include them in the context. This refreshes the model's view of that specific module without discarding the rest of the session, which is exactly what the developer needs.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Anthropic exam blueprint
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