The correct answer is to replace the battery with a compatible model and recycle the old battery at a certified e-waste facility. This is the most environmentally responsible recommendation because lithium-ion batteries degrade over roughly two to three years, causing reduced runtime and excessive heat due to increased internal resistance; simply discarding the old battery in household trash risks toxic chemical leakage and fire hazards. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of proper hazardous material disposal under environmental best practices, often appearing as a trap where incorrect options suggest throwing the battery away or using a generic replacement without recycling. A common memory tip is to remember the “3 R’s” for batteries: Replace, Recycle, and Recover—always choose certified e-waste recycling to keep toxic metals out of landfills and support material recovery.
220-1202 Environmental Awareness and Impact Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of environmental awareness and impact. 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.
A user complains that their laptop battery drains quickly and the device gets very hot. The battery is a lithium-ion type and is three years old. What is the most environmentally responsible recommendation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Replace the battery with a compatible model and recycle the old battery at a certified e-waste facility.
Option C is correct because it directly addresses the user's complaint (battery degradation causing heat and poor runtime) while ensuring responsible disposal of the hazardous lithium-ion battery. Recycling at a certified e-waste facility prevents toxic materials from entering landfills and allows recovery of valuable metals, aligning with environmental best practices.
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.
✗
Replace the entire laptop with a new Energy Star model.
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the whole laptop generates unnecessary e-waste when only the battery is faulty.
✗
Remove the battery and run the laptop only on AC power.
Why it's wrong here
This wastes the remaining useful life of the battery and does not address disposal of the old battery.
✓
Replace the battery with a compatible model and recycle the old battery at a certified e-waste facility.
Why this is correct
This prolongs the laptop's life and ensures the old battery is disposed of safely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Continue using the laptop until the battery fails completely.
Why it's wrong here
A hot, swollen battery is a fire risk; ignoring it is unsafe and not environmentally responsible.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose Option B (remove battery and run on AC) thinking it solves the heat issue, but they overlook that the old battery still needs proper disposal and that the laptop's heat could stem from other factors like dust or failing thermal paste.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lithium-ion batteries degrade due to internal resistance increase and electrolyte breakdown over time, especially after 2-3 years of use, causing heat generation and reduced capacity. Certified e-waste recyclers use processes like pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy to recover cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which reduces the need for new mining. In real-world scenarios, a swollen battery can physically damage the laptop chassis or even rupture, making prompt replacement and recycling critical for both safety and sustainability.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Environmental Awareness and Impact — This question tests Environmental Awareness and Impact — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace the battery with a compatible model and recycle the old battery at a certified e-waste facility. — Option C is correct because it directly addresses the user's complaint (battery degradation causing heat and poor runtime) while ensuring responsible disposal of the hazardous lithium-ion battery. Recycling at a certified e-waste facility prevents toxic materials from entering landfills and allows recovery of valuable metals, aligning with environmental best practices.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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 →
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.
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1202 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.