The answer is a pinched or kinked cable caused by the new ceiling installation. This is correct because intermittent connectivity in a recently disturbed ceiling environment almost always points to a physical layer issue, where the cable’s internal conductors are partially crushed or bent beyond their bend radius, creating a high-resistance point that fails only when vibration or temperature shifts occur. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to differentiate physical damage from logical faults—a common trap is assuming a software or configuration problem when the real culprit is a hidden pinch in a plenum space. Remember that cables run through ceilings without conduit are especially vulnerable to being pinched by ceiling tiles or support wires, so always inspect the cable path first. A useful memory tip: “Pinch equals intermittent, cut equals dead”—if the connection comes and goes, think physical stress, not a full break.
220-1101 Cabling Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cabling. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 reports intermittent network connectivity in an office that recently had a new ceiling installed. The network drop runs through the ceiling and is not in a conduit. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent connection?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The cable is pinched or kinked by the new ceiling installation.
Cables run through ceilings without proper support can be damaged by ceiling tiles or other equipment. The intermittent nature suggests a physical issue like a kink or pinch. Always ensure cables are secured and protected in plenum spaces.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 too long for the network speed.
Why it's wrong here
Cable length affects signal strength, but intermittent issues are more likely due to physical damage.
✗
The cable is not properly terminated at the patch panel.
Why it's wrong here
Poor termination can cause issues, but the recent ceiling work suggests physical damage is more likely.
✓
The cable is pinched or kinked by the new ceiling installation.
Why this is correct
New construction can pinch cables, causing intermittent breaks or shorts. This is a common issue after ceiling work.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The network switch port is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty port would affect all connections on that port, but the timing with the ceiling work points to cable damage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Cabling — This question tests Cabling — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The cable is pinched or kinked by the new ceiling installation. — Cables run through ceilings without proper support can be damaged by ceiling tiles or other equipment. The intermittent nature suggests a physical issue like a kink or pinch. Always ensure cables are secured and protected in plenum spaces.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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