easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their LCD monitor has a…
A user complains that their LCD monitor has a persistent dark spot in the center of the screen that does not change with different images. What is the most likely issue?
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
✓
There is a stuck pixel.
This scenario describes a stuck or dead pixel, a common LCD defect. A dark spot that remains constant indicates a pixel that is not receiving power or is stuck in the off state. This is a hardware defect, not a software or connection issue.
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 monitor's backlight is failing.
Why it's wrong here
LCD monitors rely on a uniform backlight, typically LED or CCFL, to illuminate the liquid crystal display. If the backlight component itself is failing, such as a dying LED strip or CCFL tube, the entire screen would experience a noticeable, generalized dimming or complete loss of illumination. A single, distinct dark spot is not characteristic of a failing backlight, as the light source is designed for broad, even distribution.
- ✓
There is a stuck pixel.
Why this is correct
A stuck pixel is a specific hardware defect within the LCD panel where a sub-pixel's transistor fails to switch states correctly, remaining permanently on or off. This results in a constant, unchanging dark, white, or colored spot on the screen, regardless of the image being displayed. Unlike a dead pixel, which is always black, a stuck pixel is often visible as a bright or dark spot against certain backgrounds because its liquid crystal is fixed in a particular orientation.
- ✗
The graphics card is overheating.
Why it's wrong here
An overheating graphics card, or GPU, typically manifests through system instability, visual artifacts, or complete display failure. Common symptoms include screen flickering, distorted images, random lines, geometric patterns, or system crashes, as the GPU struggles to process graphical data reliably. A single, static dark spot on the monitor is a localized display panel issue, not a symptom directly caused by an overheating graphics processing unit.
- ✗
The video cable is loose.
Why it's wrong here
A loose or damaged video cable, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI, primarily affects the integrity of the signal transmission between the graphics card and the monitor. This typically leads to intermittent signal loss, screen flickering, color distortion across the entire display, or a complete loss of image. A single, persistent dark spot indicates a localized defect within the monitor's panel itself, rather than an issue with the video signal's physical connection.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 972 original 220-1201 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.