This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A user cannot access the internet. What is the most likely issue based on the configuration shown?
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 default gateway is missing
The exhibit shows an IP address of 192.168.1.10 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, but no default gateway is configured. Without a default gateway, the device can communicate within its local subnet (192.168.1.0/24) but cannot route traffic to any external network, including the internet. The default gateway is the router's IP address that provides the next-hop path for all off-subnet traffic.
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.
✓
The default gateway is missing
Why this is correct
Without a default gateway, the device cannot communicate outside its subnet.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The DNS server is not configured
Why it's wrong here
DNS is not shown but even if missing, internet access would require a gateway first.
✗
The IP address is invalid
Why it's wrong here
192.168.1.10 is a valid private IP address.
✗
The subnet mask is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
255.255.255.0 is correct for a /24 subnet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that a missing DNS server prevents internet access entirely, but the real issue is the lack of a default gateway for routing traffic beyond the local subnet.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
DNS is not shown but even if missing, internet access would require a gateway first.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a host sends a packet to a destination outside its subnet, it checks the routing table for a default route (0.0.0.0/0). If no default gateway is set, the host will generate an ICMP 'Destination Net Unreachable' error and drop the packet. In Windows, the 'route print' command shows the active routes; a missing 0.0.0.0 entry with a gateway confirms this issue.
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.
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The default gateway is missing — The exhibit shows an IP address of 192.168.1.10 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, but no default gateway is configured. Without a default gateway, the device can communicate within its local subnet (192.168.1.0/24) but cannot route traffic to any external network, including the internet. The default gateway is the router's IP address that provides the next-hop path for all off-subnet traffic.
What should I do if I get this FC0-U61 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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