- A
Set both monitors to the same resolution.
Why wrong: Setting to the same resolution would degrade the 4K monitor's quality and is not necessary for seamless mouse movement.
- B
Adjust the scaling settings on the 4K monitor.
Why wrong: Scaling affects text and icon size, not mouse movement between monitors.
- C
Arrange the displays in the OS to match their physical positions.
Properly arranging the displays in the OS ensures the mouse cursor moves seamlessly from one screen to the other.
- D
Set the 4K monitor as the primary display.
Why wrong: Setting a primary display only determines where the taskbar appears, not how the mouse moves between screens.
Question 247 of 1,020
Configuring Dual Monitors with Different Resolutions for Smooth Mouse Movement
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of display devices. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 technician is configuring a dual-monitor setup for a stock trader. One monitor is a 24-inch 1080p display, and the other is a 27-inch 4K display. The user wants the mouse to move seamlessly between them. What setting must the technician configure in the OS display settings?
Quick Answer
The answer is to arrange the displays in the OS to match their physical positions. This setting is critical because when monitors have different resolutions, like a 1080p and a 4K display, the operating system must align their virtual boundaries correctly to prevent the cursor from snagging or jumping; without proper arrangement, the mouse will hit an invisible wall at the bezel. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of display configuration under the “Display and Multi-Monitor” objectives, and the common trap is thinking you need to match resolutions or adjust scaling first—neither of which fixes the seamless mouse movement across mismatched pixel grids. A reliable memory tip is “align the icons, align the mouse”: in Windows Display Settings, drag the monitor icons to mirror their real-world layout, and the OS automatically handles the resolution differences for smooth cursor flow.
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
✓
Arrange the displays in the OS to match their physical positions.
Option C is correct because the OS display arrangement settings (e.g., in Windows Display Settings or macOS Displays) allow the technician to drag and position the virtual representations of the monitors to match their physical placement. This ensures that the cursor moves seamlessly across the bezel edge from one screen to the other, preventing it from getting 'stuck' at an invisible boundary. Without this alignment, the mouse may jump to an unexpected location or fail to cross between displays smoothly.
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.
- ✗
Set both monitors to the same resolution.
Why it's wrong here
Setting to the same resolution would degrade the 4K monitor's quality and is not necessary for seamless mouse movement.
- ✗
Adjust the scaling settings on the 4K monitor.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling affects text and icon size, not mouse movement between monitors.
- ✓
Arrange the displays in the OS to match their physical positions.
Why this is correct
Properly arranging the displays in the OS ensures the mouse cursor moves seamlessly from one screen to the other.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the 4K monitor as the primary display.
Why it's wrong here
Setting a primary display only determines where the taskbar appears, not how the mouse moves between screens.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse display arrangement (spatial alignment) with resolution, scaling, or primary display settings, mistakenly thinking that matching resolutions or adjusting scaling is required for seamless cursor movement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the OS uses a virtual coordinate system where each monitor is assigned a bounding rectangle (e.g., via the Windows Display Device API or XRandR on Linux). The arrangement setting defines the relative offsets (X, Y) of these rectangles; the cursor's position is constrained to the union of these rectangles, and movement across adjacent edges is allowed only when the rectangles are logically aligned. In a real-world scenario, if a 24-inch 1080p monitor is placed to the left of a 27-inch 4K monitor but the OS arrangement places the 4K monitor above the 1080p one, the cursor will hit a vertical wall instead of crossing horizontally.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Display Devices — This question tests Display Devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Arrange the displays in the OS to match their physical positions. — Option C is correct because the OS display arrangement settings (e.g., in Windows Display Settings or macOS Displays) allow the technician to drag and position the virtual representations of the monitors to match their physical placement. This ensures that the cursor moves seamlessly across the bezel edge from one screen to the other, preventing it from getting 'stuck' at an invisible boundary. Without this alignment, the mouse may jump to an unexpected location or fail to cross between displays smoothly.
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.
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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