This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of software development and design. 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 TWO of the following Git commands modify the commit history? (Select TWO)
git diff
Why wrong: git diff shows changes, does not modify history.
git log
Why wrong: git log only displays commit history, does not modify it.
git commit --amend
This command modifies the last commit.
git rebase -i
Interactive rebase rewrites commit history.
git status
Why wrong: git status shows working tree state, does not modify history.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
git commit --amend
`git commit --amend` modifies the most recent commit by replacing it with a new commit that incorporates staged changes or an updated commit message, effectively rewriting the commit history. `git rebase -i` (interactive rebase) allows you to reorder, squash, edit, or drop commits, which also rewrites the commit history by creating new commit objects.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
git diff
Why it's wrong here
git diff shows changes, does not modify history.
git log
Why it's wrong here
git log only displays commit history, does not modify it.
git commit --amend
Why this is correct
This command modifies the last commit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
git rebase -i
Why this is correct
Interactive rebase rewrites commit history.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
git status
Why it's wrong here
git status shows working tree state, does not modify history.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between read-only inspection commands (like `git diff`, `git log`, `git status`) and commands that actually rewrite commit history, leading candidates to mistakenly select non-modifying commands.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
git diff shows changes, does not modify history.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `git commit --amend` creates a new commit object with the same parent(s) as the original commit, and the old commit becomes unreachable (orphaned) until garbage collection. Interactive rebase (`git rebase -i`) works by replaying commits onto a new base, generating entirely new SHA-1 hashes for each rewritten commit, which is why it should be avoided on shared branches to prevent divergence. A real-world scenario is using `git commit --amend` to fix a typo in the last commit message before pushing, or using `git rebase -i` to squash multiple WIP commits into a clean history for a pull request.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 200-901 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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Software Development and Design — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Software Development and Design practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 200-901 questions
505 questions across all exam domains
Cisco DevNet Associate 200-901 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
200-901 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Software Development and Design.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Understanding and Using APIs.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Cisco Platforms and Development.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Application Deployment and Security.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Infrastructure and Automation.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to Network Fundamentals.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 fundamentals.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 scenario.
Practise 200-901 questions linked to 200-901 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Software Development and Design — This question tests Software Development and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: git commit --amend — `git commit --amend` modifies the most recent commit by replacing it with a new commit that incorporates staged changes or an updated commit message, effectively rewriting the commit history. `git rebase -i` (interactive rebase) allows you to reorder, squash, edit, or drop commits, which also rewrites the commit history by creating new commit objects.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 24, 2026
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.
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.