- A
Disable the screensaver and set the display to turn off after 30 minutes.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because while turning off the display saves some power, it does not put the entire system into a low-power state like sleep mode does.
- B
Enable hibernation mode after 1 hour of inactivity.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because hibernation saves more power but has a longer wake time; sleep mode is more practical for short idle periods.
- C
Enable sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.
This is correct because sleep mode reduces power consumption significantly while allowing quick wake-up, making it ideal for typical idle periods.
- D
Set the power plan to 'High performance' to reduce power draw.
Why wrong: This is incorrect because 'High performance' increases power consumption, the opposite of the customer's goal.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity. This setting places the computer into the S3 sleep state, also known as Suspend-to-RAM, where the CPU and most peripherals are powered down while RAM retains data for an instant wake-up. Unlike simply turning off the display, sleep mode cuts power to the processor, drives, and fans, making it the most effective way to reduce power usage when a computer is idle. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of Windows power management and the distinction between sleep, hibernate, and display-off settings. A common trap is confusing “turn off the display” with full system sleep—remember that display-off only saves monitor power, not the system’s core components. For a quick memory tip: think “S3 saves the system, not just the screen.”
220-1102 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 technician is configuring a new workstation for a customer who is concerned about energy consumption. Which setting should the technician enable to reduce power usage when the computer is idle?
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
Enable sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Option C is correct because enabling sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity places the computer into a low-power state (S3 sleep, Suspend-to-RAM) where the CPU is powered down but RAM retains data, allowing a quick wake-up. This directly reduces energy consumption during idle periods more effectively than simply turning off the display, as it cuts power to the processor, drives, and most peripherals.
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.
- ✗
Disable the screensaver and set the display to turn off after 30 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because while turning off the display saves some power, it does not put the entire system into a low-power state like sleep mode does.
- ✗
Enable hibernation mode after 1 hour of inactivity.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because hibernation saves more power but has a longer wake time; sleep mode is more practical for short idle periods.
- ✓
Enable sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Why this is correct
This is correct because sleep mode reduces power consumption significantly while allowing quick wake-up, making it ideal for typical idle periods.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the power plan to 'High performance' to reduce power draw.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because 'High performance' increases power consumption, the opposite of the customer's goal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'turning off the display' with full system power saving, or they assume that a longer idle timer (like 1 hour for hibernation) is better than a shorter one (15 minutes for sleep), not realizing that sleep mode engages much sooner and thus saves more energy over typical idle periods.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Sleep mode (S3) is defined by the ACPI specification as a low-wake-latency state where the CPU clock is stopped and most devices are powered off, but RAM remains refreshed. In contrast, hibernation (S4) writes memory contents to the hiberfil.sys file and fully powers off, which saves more energy but takes longer to resume. A real-world scenario where this matters is in an office environment where users take short breaks; sleep after 15 minutes balances energy savings with quick resume, while hibernation would cause frustration due to longer boot times.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Environmental Awareness and Impact — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Environmental Awareness and Impact practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
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: Enable sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity. — Option C is correct because enabling sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity places the computer into a low-power state (S3 sleep, Suspend-to-RAM) where the CPU is powered down but RAM retains data, allowing a quick wake-up. This directly reduces energy consumption during idle periods more effectively than simply turning off the display, as it cuts power to the processor, drives, and most peripherals.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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