- A
The modem's power supply is failing.
Why wrong: A failing power supply would cause drops at any time, not specifically during rain.
- B
Moisture in the copper line causes signal degradation.
Rain can introduce moisture into DSL copper lines, increasing resistance and causing intermittent loss of sync.
- C
The customer's router is overheating.
Why wrong: Overheating is not weather-dependent and would not correlate with rainstorms.
- D
The ISP is throttling the connection during storms.
Why wrong: ISPs do not throttle based on weather; throttling is a policy-based action, not a physical phenomenon.
Question 852 of 1,020
DSL Internet Drops During Rain
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of internet connection types. 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 customer reports that their internet connection drops frequently during rainstorms. They have a DSL line and a standard modem. Which factor most likely causes this issue?
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.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is moisture in the copper line causing signal degradation. DSL internet relies on traditional copper telephone wires, and when rain introduces moisture into the wiring or splices, it creates signal loss and intermittent drops. This happens because water alters the electrical properties of the copper, leading to impedance mismatches and attenuation that disrupt the digital signal. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of how environmental factors affect different connection types—a common trap is confusing DSL with cable or fiber, which are less susceptible to rain. Remember that DSL is the only major broadband technology that uses unshielded copper pairs from the central office, making it vulnerable to weather. A helpful memory tip: think of “DSL” as “Damp Signal Loss”—when rain hits the copper, the signal gets soaked.
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
✓
Moisture in the copper line causes signal degradation.
DSL operates over copper telephone lines, which are susceptible to moisture ingress during rainstorms. Water in the line increases signal attenuation and introduces impedance mismatches, causing the modem to lose synchronization with the DSLAM. This results in frequent disconnections, as the DSL signal degrades below the threshold required for a stable link.
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.
- ✗
The modem's power supply is failing.
Why it's wrong here
A failing power supply would cause drops at any time, not specifically during rain.
- ✓
Moisture in the copper line causes signal degradation.
Why this is correct
Rain can introduce moisture into DSL copper lines, increasing resistance and causing intermittent loss of sync.
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.
- ✗
The customer's router is overheating.
Why it's wrong here
Overheating is not weather-dependent and would not correlate with rainstorms.
- ✗
The ISP is throttling the connection during storms.
Why it's wrong here
ISPs do not throttle based on weather; throttling is a policy-based action, not a physical phenomenon.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between environmental factors affecting physical-layer media (like copper DSL) versus logical or device-level issues, tempting candidates to blame the modem or ISP when the root cause is line degradation from moisture.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DSL uses frequency-division multiplexing over twisted-pair copper, with higher frequencies (e.g., ADSL2+ up to 2.2 MHz) being more vulnerable to moisture-induced attenuation. The modem and DSLAM negotiate a connection profile based on line quality; when rain increases noise, the modem may retrain at a lower speed or drop the link entirely. Real-world troubleshooting often involves checking the DSL sync status and line attenuation values from the modem's diagnostic page.
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 220-1201 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.
- →
Internet Connection Types — study guide chapter
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Internet Connection Types practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Internet Connection Types — This question tests Internet Connection Types — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Moisture in the copper line causes signal degradation. — DSL operates over copper telephone lines, which are susceptible to moisture ingress during rainstorms. Water in the line increases signal attenuation and introduces impedance mismatches, causing the modem to lose synchronization with the DSLAM. This results in frequent disconnections, as the DSL signal degrades below the threshold required for a stable link.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.
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