This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting. 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 wants to execute the script 'script.sh' but receives a 'Permission denied' error. Which action should be taken to allow execution?
Add execute permission with chmod +x script.sh
Adds execute permission to the file.
Change the owner to the user with chown
Why wrong: Does not add execute permission.
Change the group to the user's primary group
Why wrong: Does not add execute permission.
Set the permissions to 644 with chmod
Why wrong: 644 is read/write for owner, read for group/others, no execute.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Add execute permission with chmod +x script.sh
The 'Permission denied' error indicates the script lacks the execute permission for the user. The `chmod +x script.sh` command adds the execute permission bit to the file's mode, allowing the user to run it as a program. This is the direct and correct fix for the issue.
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.
Add execute permission with chmod +x script.sh
Why this is correct
Adds execute permission to the file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Change the owner to the user with chown
Why it's wrong here
Does not add execute permission.
Change the group to the user's primary group
Why it's wrong here
Does not add execute permission.
Set the permissions to 644 with chmod
Why it's wrong here
644 is read/write for owner, read for group/others, no execute.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that changing ownership or group alone resolves permission errors, when in fact the execute permission bit must be explicitly set for the file to be run as a script.
Detailed technical explanation
Linux file permissions are stored as a 12-bit mode word, where the execute bit (1) for the owner, group, and others is part of the lower 9 bits. The `chmod +x` command sets the execute bit for all classes (owner, group, others) by adding 1 to each triad, resulting in a mode like 755 for a typical script. In real-world scenarios, scripts often require the shebang (`#!/bin/bash`) to be the first line, and the execute bit must be set for the kernel to treat the file as an executable.
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 XK0-005 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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Troubleshooting — This question tests Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Add execute permission with chmod +x script.sh — The 'Permission denied' error indicates the script lacks the execute permission for the user. The `chmod +x script.sh` command adds the execute permission bit to the file's mode, allowing the user to run it as a program. This is the direct and correct fix for the issue.
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 30, 2026
This XK0-005 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 XK0-005 exam.
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