easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: That their desktop computer connected to the…
A user reports that their desktop computer connected to the network via a 10-meter Cat6 cable keeps losing connectivity when they move their chair. The cable runs under the desk and is occasionally stepped on. 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
✓
The cable has been crushed or kinked from being stepped on.
This question tests basic troubleshooting for physical cable damage. The correct answer is that the cable is likely damaged from being stepped on, causing intermittent connectivity.
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 reliable connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
A 10-meter Ethernet cable, even a Cat5e or Cat6, is well within the maximum specified length of 100 meters (328 feet) for reliable data transmission without active repeaters. Exceeding this limit typically results in significant signal attenuation, leading to consistent packet loss, reduced throughput, or complete link failure, rather than intermittent issues directly correlated with physical movement or pressure on the cable itself.
- ✗
The cable is not shielded and picking up interference.
Why it's wrong here
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables are indeed susceptible to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) from nearby electrical devices or power lines. While interference can degrade signal quality, it usually manifests as consistent, random packet errors, or a general reduction in performance, not as intermittent disconnections directly triggered by physical manipulation or pressure on the cable.
- ✓
The cable has been crushed or kinked from being stepped on.
Why this is correct
Physical damage, such as crushing or kinking from being stepped on, can severely compromise the internal twisted pairs and insulation of an Ethernet cable. This damage creates intermittent breaks or shorts within the conductors, causing a loss of signal integrity that becomes apparent when the damaged section is flexed, moved, or subjected to pressure, directly aligning with the reported symptoms of intermittent loss when pressure is applied.
- ✗
The network switch port is faulty.
Why it's wrong here
A faulty network switch port would typically exhibit consistent issues, such as a complete lack of link light, persistent packet drops, or an inability to establish a connection at all, regardless of the connected cable's state. Such a failure mode is independent of the cable's physical movement or pressure applied to it, making it an unlikely cause for intermittent connectivity specifically tied to the cable's manipulation.
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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.