This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of qos. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
A network engineer runs the following command on Router R4:
R4# show policy-map interface GigabitEthernet0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1
Service-policy input: SHAPE_POLICY
Class-map: class-default (match-any)
1000 packets, 100000 bytes
5 minute offered rate 100000 bps, drop rate 0 bps
Match: any
Queueing
shape (average) cir 500000, bc 5000, be 5000
target shape rate 500000
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Traffic is being shaped to an average rate of 500 kbps.
The policy-map is applied to the input direction. Shaping is typically used on output to smooth traffic, but it can be applied to input as well, though it is less common. The shape command is shaping all traffic to an average CIR of 500 kbps. The offered rate is 100 kbps, which is below the shaping rate, so no drops occur.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Traffic is being shaped to an average rate of 500 kbps.
Why this is correct
The shape command specifies cir 500000, which is 500 kbps.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Traffic is being policed to 500 kbps.
Why it's wrong here
The command is 'shape', not 'police'. Shaping buffers traffic, while policing drops.
✗
The policy is applied to output traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The output says 'Service-policy input'.
✗
The offered rate exceeds the shaping rate, causing drops.
Why it's wrong here
The offered rate is 100 kbps, which is below the 500 kbps shaping rate.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The command is 'shape', not 'police'. Shaping buffers traffic, while policing drops.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
QoS — This question tests QoS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Traffic is being shaped to an average rate of 500 kbps. — The policy-map is applied to the input direction. Shaping is typically used on output to smooth traffic, but it can be applied to input as well, though it is less common. The shape command is shaping all traffic to an average CIR of 500 kbps. The offered rate is 100 kbps, which is below the shaping rate, so no drops occur.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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