200-901 Network Fundamentals Practice Question
A developer runs a Python script that uses the requests library to call a REST API endpoint. The script receives an HTTP 401 Unauthorized response. The developer confirms the URL is correct and the server is reachable. Which action should the developer take to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that a 401 error is caused by an incorrect URL or method rather than missing or invalid authentication credentials.
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
✓
Include a valid authentication token in the request's Authorization header.
An HTTP 401 Unauthorized status means the request lacks valid authentication credentials. The developer must provide a valid token or credentials, typically in the Authorization header. Changing the method, query parameters, or timeout does not address the authentication failure, so including a valid token is the correct resolution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Verify that the API endpoint URL includes the correct query parameters.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect query parameters typically result in a 400 Bad Request or a 404 Not Found, not a 401 Unauthorized. The 401 status is strictly about authentication. While correct parameters are important, they do not resolve an authentication failure. The developer should focus on providing valid credentials.
- ✗
Change the HTTP method from GET to POST.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the HTTP method does not address authentication. A 401 status is specifically about missing or invalid credentials, not about the request method. Even if the endpoint accepts POST, without valid credentials the server will still reject the request with 401. The developer must fix authentication, not the method.
- ✗
Increase the request timeout value in the Python script.
Why it's wrong here
A timeout setting affects how long the client waits for a response; it does not change the server's authentication decision. A 401 response means the server received the request but rejected it due to missing or invalid credentials. Adjusting the timeout will not make the request succeed; the authentication issue must be fixed.
- ✓
Include a valid authentication token in the request's Authorization header.
Why this is correct
A 401 Unauthorized response indicates that the request lacks valid authentication credentials for the target resource. The developer must supply a proper token, such as a Bearer token, in the Authorization header. Adding the header allows the server to authenticate the client and return a successful response, assuming the token has the required permissions.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-901 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 200-901 exam.