easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: That they cannot write files to their home…
A user reports that they cannot write files to their home directory. The administrator runs `ls -ld /home/user` and sees 'drwxr-xr-x'. Which command will allow the user to write to the directory?
⚠ Common exam trap
Linux+ often tests the misconception that changing permissions (chmod) is always the solution, but here the issue is ownership, not permission bits; candidates may overlook that the user is not the owner and incorrectly choose chmod 755 or 644.
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
✓
chown user:user /home/user
The directory /home/user has permissions drwxr-xr-x, meaning the owner has rwx, group has r-x, and others have r-x. Since the user is not the owner (the owner is likely root), they cannot write. Option B (chown user:user /home/user) changes ownership to the user, granting them write access via the owner's w permission.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
chmod 644 /home/user
Why it's wrong here
644 removes execute and does not affect ownership.
- ✓
chown user:user /home/user
Why this is correct
Changes ownership to the user, granting write permission.
- ✗
usermod -aG user /home/user
Why it's wrong here
usermod -aG adds a group membership, not directly related to directory permission.
- ✗
chmod 755 /home/user
Why it's wrong here
755 gives owner write, but if owner is root, user still can't write.
- ✗
setfacl -m u:user:rwx /home/user
Why it's wrong here
This adds an ACL entry but is not the standard method; also requires filesystem ACL support.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
File Permissions and Ownership
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
Key term
chown
chown is a Linux/Unix command used to change the owner and group associated with a file or directory.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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