FC0-U71 Applications and Software Practice Question
A technician is preparing a workstation for a user who needs to work with several document types. The technician wants to confirm which file extensions are commonly associated with word-processing documents and which are commonly associated with spreadsheets. Which TWO file extensions are typically used for spreadsheet files? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is treating any file that can display a table, such as a PDF or a Word document, as a spreadsheet file format.
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
✓
.csv
Spreadsheet applications work with row-and-column data, and the extensions most closely tied to that model are .xlsx for native workbooks and .csv for plain-text tabular data. Word-processing, presentation, and portable document formats serve different content types and open in different applications, so they are not spreadsheet extensions. Recognizing these associations helps a technician map file types to the right software.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
.csv
Why this is correct
.csv stands for comma-separated values and stores tabular data as plain text, with each line representing a row and commas separating fields. Spreadsheet applications open .csv files directly, and the format is widely used for importing and exporting data between spreadsheet and database tools. It is therefore a correct spreadsheet-related extension here.
- ✓
.xlsx
Why this is correct
.xlsx is the default extension for modern Microsoft Excel workbooks and is a widely recognized spreadsheet format. When a user double-clicks an .xlsx file, the operating system opens it in a spreadsheet application, and the file can contain formulas, charts, and multiple worksheets. This makes it a correct example of a spreadsheet file extension in this scenario.
- ✗
.pdf
Why it's wrong here
.pdf is a portable document format designed to preserve layout across platforms. It can display tables and text but is not a native spreadsheet format and does not retain formulas or editable cell structure. A .pdf opens in a reader, so it does not qualify as a spreadsheet file extension for this task.
- ✗
.pptx
Why it's wrong here
.pptx is the default extension for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. It stores slides, transitions, and speaker notes rather than rows and columns of data. Opening a .pptx file launches presentation software, not a spreadsheet application, so it is not a spreadsheet file extension in this scenario.
- ✗
.docx
Why it's wrong here
.docx is the default extension for Microsoft Word documents. It stores formatted text, images, and layout information for word processing, not tabular data or formulas. Although a Word document can contain a table, the extension itself is associated with word processing, so it does not represent a spreadsheet file in this scenario.
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Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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