Question 1mediummulti select
Open the full STP breakdown →Question 7 of 1,819
Quick Answer
The answer is that Spanning Tree Protocol fundamentals center on three key behaviors: electing a root bridge using bridge IDs, sharing topology via BPDUs, and blocking redundant ports to prevent loops. This is correct because STP’s core mechanism relies on Bridge Protocol Data Units to exchange information between switches, allowing them to agree on a single root bridge based on the lowest bridge ID—a combination of priority and MAC address. Once elected, STP logically blocks redundant ports, placing them in a blocking state (or discarding state in Rapid PVST+) to eliminate Layer 2 loops while maintaining path redundancy. On the CCNA 200-301 v2 exam, this topic tests your understanding of loop prevention in switched networks, often appearing in multiple-choice questions that ask you to identify true statements about STP behavior. A common trap is confusing the root bridge election with the port roles—remember that the root bridge is always the switch with the lowest bridge ID, not the highest. Memory tip: “Lowest ID wins the root, BPDUs share the news, and blocking stops the loops.”
CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network infrastructure and connectivity. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which three statements about the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) are true? (Choose three.)
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
✓
STP uses Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) to exchange topology information.
All three statements are correct because STP relies on Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) to share topology information between switches, elects a root bridge by comparing bridge IDs (a combination of priority and MAC address, with the lowest value winning), and prevents loops by placing redundant ports into a blocking state (discarding state in Rapid PVST+). These are fundamental behaviors of the 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the fact that STP does not use timers to elect the root bridge (it uses bridge ID comparison) and that blocking state is the mechanism for loop prevention, not disabling the port entirely or relying on TCN BPDUs alone.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
STP uses BPDUs that contain fields such as root bridge ID, path cost, and port ID to build a loop-free logical topology. The root bridge election process uses the bridge ID, which is an 8-byte value: 2 bytes for priority (default 32768) and 6 bytes for the MAC address; if priorities are equal, the lowest MAC address breaks the tie. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured switch with a lower priority can become the root bridge unexpectedly, altering traffic flows and causing suboptimal paths.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 200-301 questions
1,819 questions across all exam domains
- →
CCNA 200-301 v2 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
200-301 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Infrastructure and Connectivity.
Switching and Network Access practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Switching and Network Access.
IP Routing practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to IP Routing.
Network Services and Security practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to Network Services and Security.
AI and Network Operations practice questions
Practise 200-301 questions linked to AI and Network Operations.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
Practice this exam
Start a free 200-301 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — This question tests Network Infrastructure and Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: STP uses Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) to exchange topology information. — All three statements are correct because STP relies on Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) to share topology information between switches, elects a root bridge by comparing bridge IDs (a combination of priority and MAC address, with the lowest value winning), and prevents loops by placing redundant ports into a blocking state (discarding state in Rapid PVST+). These are fundamental behaviors of the 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.