220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a network drop…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  The cable is only Cat5 and cannot support Gigabit.

  Why it's wrong here

  This option is incorrect because a cable's category rating primarily dictates its maximum supported bandwidth and frequency range, not the physical integrity of its conductors. If a Cat5 cable were the issue, the network drop might experience slow speeds or intermittent connectivity at Gigabit speeds, but a cable tester would still show continuity on all pairs, assuming no physical damage. The problem described (an open circuit on specific pairs) points to a physical fault, not a category limitation.

• ✗

  The cable has a short circuit between pins 4 and 5.

  Why it's wrong here

  This option is incorrect because a short circuit between pins 4 and 5 would be detected by a cable tester as continuity between those specific wires, indicating an unintended electrical connection. The problem described (an open circuit on specific pairs like 4-5 and 7-8) indicates a lack of continuity, meaning the electrical path is broken. A short would not cause an open circuit; it would create a direct connection where there shouldn't be one.

• ✓

  The cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs.

  Why this is correct

  This option is correct because an open circuit detected on specific pairs, such as pins 4-5 and 7-8, strongly indicates physical damage to those conductors within the cable. When a cable is run through a conduit, it can be subjected to crushing forces, sharp bends, or even partial cuts during installation or subsequent work, which can sever individual wires or pairs. This type of damage would specifically break the electrical path for the affected pairs, leading to an open circuit reading on a cable tester for those pins.

• ✗

  The wall jack is wired for T568A but the patch panel is T568B.

  Why it's wrong here

  This option is incorrect because a mismatch between T568A and T568B wiring standards at opposite ends of a cable would create a crossover cable, not an open circuit. A cable tester would detect this as a miswire, showing that all conductors have continuity but are terminated in a different order than expected (e.g., the transmit pair on one end connects to the receive pair on the other). All eight wires would still be electrically connected from end to end; none would show an open circuit.

Go deeper

Related to this question