This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of ip routing. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
a - application route
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override, p - overrides from PfR
Gateway of last resort is 203.0.113.1 to network 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 203.0.113.1
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0.10
L 192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0.10
Refer to the exhibit. An administrator is troubleshooting connectivity from a branch router R1 to the internet. A ping to 8.8.8.8 from R1 fails. The output of the show ip route command is shown. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
R1# show ip route
Codes: L - local, C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route, H - NHRP, l - LISP
a - application route
+ - replicated route, % - next hop override, p - overrides from PfR
Gateway of last resort is 203.0.113.1 to network 0.0.0.0
S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 203.0.113.1
10.0.0.0/8 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 10.1.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
L 10.1.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0
192.168.1.0/24 is variably subnetted, 2 subnets, 2 masks
C 192.168.1.0/24 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0.10
L 192.168.1.1/32 is directly connected, GigabitEthernet0/0.10
A
The default route is missing from the routing table.
Why wrong: The exhibit clearly shows an 'S* 0.0.0.0/0' entry, proving the default route is present.
B
The next-hop IP address for the default route is not reachable.
The default route via 203.0.113.1 is present, but the routing table contains no connected or static route to reach 203.0.113.1. Without a route to the next-hop, the default route cannot be used, causing the ping failure.
C
The static route has an incorrect administrative distance.
Why wrong: The administrative distance shown is 1 (the default for static routes), which is perfectly valid and would not prevent the route from being used if the next-hop were reachable.
D
The ip routing process has not been enabled.
Why wrong: If IP routing were disabled, no routes would appear in the table. The presence of connected and static routes proves routing is enabled.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The next-hop IP address for the default route is not reachable.
The routing table shows the static default route 'S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 203.0.113.1', but there is no connected or static route to network 203.0.113.0/24 (or any subnet containing 203.0.113.1). Without a route to the next-hop, the default route is unreachable, so the router cannot forward traffic to the internet, causing ping failures.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The default route is missing from the routing table.
Why it's wrong here
The exhibit clearly shows an 'S* 0.0.0.0/0' entry, proving the default route is present.
✓
The next-hop IP address for the default route is not reachable.
Why this is correct
The default route via 203.0.113.1 is present, but the routing table contains no connected or static route to reach 203.0.113.1. Without a route to the next-hop, the default route cannot be used, causing the ping failure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
The static route has an incorrect administrative distance.
Why it's wrong here
The administrative distance shown is 1 (the default for static routes), which is perfectly valid and would not prevent the route from being used if the next-hop were reachable.
✗
The ip routing process has not been enabled.
Why it's wrong here
If IP routing were disabled, no routes would appear in the table. The presence of connected and static routes proves routing is enabled.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The next-hop IP address for the default route is not reachable.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The default route via 203.0.113.1 is present, but the routing table contains no connected or static route to reach 203.0.113.1. Without a route to the next-hop, the default route cannot be used, causing the ping failure.
✗The default route is missing from the routing table.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates may misinterpret a failed ping as indicating no default route exists, overlooking that the route is present but unusable.
✗The static route has an incorrect administrative distance.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Candidates may think a higher AD is blocking the route, but the AD is standard and not the issue.
✗The ip routing process has not been enabled.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A common troubleshooting step is to verify ip routing, but the exhibit clearly shows an active routing table.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The exhibit clearly shows an 'S* 0.0.0.0/0' entry, proving the default route is present.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 200-301 question in full detail.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
IP Routing — This question tests IP Routing — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The next-hop IP address for the default route is not reachable. — The routing table shows the static default route 'S* 0.0.0.0/0 [1/0] via 203.0.113.1', but there is no connected or static route to network 203.0.113.0/24 (or any subnet containing 203.0.113.1). Without a route to the next-hop, the default route is unreachable, so the router cannot forward traffic to the internet, causing ping failures.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related 200-301 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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