Quick Answer
The correct SQL statement is SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'. This is the right choice because the SELECT clause specifies which columns to retrieve, the FROM clause identifies the table, and the WHERE clause filters rows to only those where the city column equals 'Chicago', exactly matching the technician’s need to pull names and emails for customers in that city. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your understanding of basic data retrieval using SQL’s SELECT and WHERE clauses, a core skill for help desk roles. A common trap is confusing WHERE with UPDATE or DELETE, which modify or remove data instead of just reading it. Remember the mnemonic "SFW" — SELECT, FROM, WHERE — to recall the correct order and purpose: you always start by selecting what you want, from where, and then filter with WHERE.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of database fundamentals. 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 help desk technician needs to retrieve the names and email addresses of all customers who live in 'Chicago'. Which SQL statement should the technician use?
UPDATE customers SET city = 'Chicago'
Why wrong: UPDATE modifies existing records, not retrieves them.
SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'
This retrieves the desired columns filtered by city.
DELETE FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'
Why wrong: DELETE removes records; it does not retrieve data.
INSERT INTO customers (name, email) VALUES (...)
Why wrong: INSERT is used to add new records, not to retrieve data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'
The SELECT statement is used to query data from a database. Option B correctly uses SELECT to retrieve the 'name' and 'email' columns from the 'customers' table, filtered by the WHERE clause to only include rows where the 'city' column equals 'Chicago'. This matches the technician's requirement to retrieve specific data without modifying or deleting it.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
UPDATE customers SET city = 'Chicago'
Why it's wrong here
UPDATE modifies existing records, not retrieves them.
SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'
Why this is correct
This retrieves the desired columns filtered by city.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
DELETE FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago'
Why it's wrong here
DELETE removes records; it does not retrieve data.
INSERT INTO customers (name, email) VALUES (...)
Why it's wrong here
INSERT is used to add new records, not to retrieve data.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse data retrieval (SELECT) with data manipulation (UPDATE, DELETE, INSERT), especially when the question asks for 'retrieving' data but includes familiar keywords like 'city' and 'Chicago' in the wrong commands.
Detailed technical explanation
The SELECT statement is part of SQL's Data Manipulation Language (DML) and is the only command that returns a result set. The WHERE clause filters rows before projection, and in this case, it uses an equality comparison on the 'city' column. Under the hood, the database engine scans the table (or uses an index on 'city' if one exists) to find matching rows, then extracts only the specified columns, minimizing I/O and network transfer.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the FC0-U61 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Database Fundamentals — This question tests Database Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'Chicago' — The SELECT statement is used to query data from a database. Option B correctly uses SELECT to retrieve the 'name' and 'email' columns from the 'customers' table, filtered by the WHERE clause to only include rows where the 'city' column equals 'Chicago'. This matches the technician's requirement to retrieve specific data without modifying or deleting it.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This FC0-U61 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 FC0-U61 exam.
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