XK0-005 Scripting, Containers and Automation Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of scripting, containers and automation. 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.
A junior administrator writes a bash script to check disk usage and send an email alert. The script runs manually but does not execute from cron. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
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
✓
Absolute path not specified in crontab
When a script runs manually from the command line but fails from cron, the most common cause is that cron does not inherit the user's PATH environment. Without an absolute path to the script in the crontab entry, cron cannot locate the script. Option D directly addresses this: specifying the full path (e.g., /home/user/script.sh) ensures cron can find and execute it.
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.
✗
Script not marked executable
Why it's wrong here
If not executable, the script would fail when run manually with ./script.sh unless invoked with bash script.sh.
✗
Incorrect file permissions on cron job
Why it's wrong here
Cron job file permissions do not affect execution of the script; the cron daemon reads the crontab as the user.
✗
Missing shebang line
Why it's wrong here
A missing shebang would cause failure in both manual and cron runs, not just cron.
✓
Absolute path not specified in crontab
Why this is correct
Cron runs with a minimal PATH; without a full path to the script, the job will not find it.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that cron failures are due to file permissions or missing shebangs, when the real issue is the restricted cron environment—specifically the lack of an absolute path or a missing PATH variable.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cron executes jobs in a minimal environment with a limited PATH (often just /usr/bin:/bin). This contrasts with an interactive shell, which sources profile files (e.g., .bash_profile) to set a full PATH. Even if the script has a shebang, cron must be given the absolute path to the script file; otherwise, it will not search the user's working directory. A common real-world scenario is a script that works when run as './script.sh' but fails from cron because cron does not look in the current directory.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
Scripting, Containers and Automation — This question tests Scripting, Containers and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Absolute path not specified in crontab — When a script runs manually from the command line but fails from cron, the most common cause is that cron does not inherit the user's PATH environment. Without an absolute path to the script in the crontab entry, cron cannot locate the script. Option D directly addresses this: specifying the full path (e.g., /home/user/script.sh) ensures cron can find and execute it.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 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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