PK0-005 Project Life Cycle Phases Practice Question
This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of project life cycle phases. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Project Phase Schedule:
Phase A (Initiation): Duration 2 weeks, no predecessor.
Phase B (Planning): Duration 4 weeks, depends on Phase A.
Phase C (Execution): Duration 3 weeks, depends on Phase A.
Phase D (Closure): Duration 1 week, depends on Phase B and Phase C.
Refer to the exhibit.
Project Phase Schedule:
Phase A (Initiation): Duration 2 weeks, no predecessor.
Phase B (Planning): Duration 4 weeks, depends on Phase A.
Phase C (Execution): Duration 3 weeks, depends on Phase A.
Phase D (Closure): Duration 1 week, depends on Phase B and Phase C.
A
Phase B
Why wrong: Phase B is on the critical path and has zero float.
B
Phase A
Why wrong: Phase A is on the critical path and has zero float.
C
Phase D
Why wrong: Phase D is on the critical path and has zero float.
D
Phase C
Phase C has 1 week of float because its path is shorter than the critical path.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Phase C
Phase D is correct because in a typical project schedule, the phase with the most total float is the one that can be delayed the longest without affecting the project's overall completion date. Total float is calculated as the difference between the late start and early start (or late finish and early finish) of an activity. Phase C has the highest total float value, indicating it has the greatest scheduling flexibility.
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.
✗
Phase B
Why it's wrong here
Phase B is on the critical path and has zero float.
✗
Phase A
Why it's wrong here
Phase A is on the critical path and has zero float.
✗
Phase D
Why it's wrong here
Phase D is on the critical path and has zero float.
✓
Phase C
Why this is correct
Phase C has 1 week of float because its path is shorter than the critical path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse total float with free float, assuming the phase with the most free float (delay without affecting successor activities) has the most total float, but total float considers the entire project end date, not just immediate successors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Total float is a key concept in critical path method (CPM) scheduling, calculated as Late Start - Early Start or Late Finish - Early Finish. In practice, phases with high total float allow project managers to reallocate resources to critical path activities without delaying the project. For example, if Phase C has 10 days of total float, it can be delayed up to 10 days without impacting the project end date, providing buffer for risk mitigation.
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 PK0-005 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.
Project Life Cycle Phases — This question tests Project Life Cycle Phases — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Phase C — Phase D is correct because in a typical project schedule, the phase with the most total float is the one that can be delayed the longest without affecting the project's overall completion date. Total float is calculated as the difference between the late start and early start (or late finish and early finish) of an activity. Phase C has the highest total float value, indicating it has the greatest scheduling flexibility.
What should I do if I get this PK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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