- A
wc file.txt
wc displays line, word, and byte counts.
- B
wc -w file.txt
Why wrong: This shows only word count.
- C
cat file.txt | wc -l
Why wrong: This shows only line count.
- D
stat file.txt
Why wrong: stat shows metadata, not word/line counts.
Question 336 of 1,000
XK0-005 System Management Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. 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.
Which command displays the number of lines, words, and characters in a file?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
wc file.txt
The `wc` command without any options displays the number of lines, words, and characters in a file, in that order. By default, `wc` counts newline characters (lines), whitespace-delimited tokens (words), and bytes (characters) in the specified file. This makes option A the correct choice for displaying all three counts.
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.
- ✓
wc file.txt
Why this is correct
wc displays line, word, and byte counts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
wc -w file.txt
Why it's wrong here
This shows only word count.
- ✗
cat file.txt | wc -l
Why it's wrong here
This shows only line count.
- ✗
stat file.txt
Why it's wrong here
stat shows metadata, not word/line counts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the default behavior of `wc` (which shows all three counts) with options like `-w` or `-l` that only show one metric, or they mistakenly think `stat` provides line/word counts.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows only word count.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `wc` reads the file byte by byte and increments counters for newline characters (0x0A), whitespace transitions for word count, and total bytes for character count. The default character count is actually a byte count, which can differ from character count in multi-byte encodings like UTF-8; using the `-m` option switches to true character count. In real-world scripting, `wc` is often used to validate log file sizes or count lines in configuration files before processing.
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 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
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.
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System Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this XK0-005 question test?
System Management — This question tests System Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: wc file.txt — The `wc` command without any options displays the number of lines, words, and characters in a file, in that order. By default, `wc` counts newline characters (lines), whitespace-delimited tokens (words), and bytes (characters) in the specified file. This makes option A the correct choice for displaying all three counts.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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