- A
The cable is only Cat5 and cannot support Gigabit.
Why wrong: While Cat5 may not support Gigabit, the issue is a physical break, not a category limitation.
- B
The cable has a short circuit between pins 4 and 5.
Why wrong: A short would show continuity, not an open circuit; the tester shows no continuity, indicating a break.
- C
The cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs.
An open on pins 4-5 and 7-8 indicates a physical break in the cable that affects only those pairs, likely from damage in the conduit.
- D
The wall jack is wired for T568A but the patch panel is T568B.
Why wrong: Mismatched standards would cause a crossover, not an open circuit on specific pins.
Question 465 of 1,020
Ethernet Cable Pinout Fault Troubleshooting
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cabling. 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 technician is troubleshooting a network drop that was working yesterday but now shows 'No Link' on the switch port. The cable run is through a conduit in the wall. The technician tests the cable with a continuity tester and finds that pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 are good, but pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 show no continuity. What is the most likely cause?
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 answer is that the cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs. This is correct because 1000Base-T Ethernet requires all four twisted pairs (pins 1-2, 3-6, 4-5, and 7-8) for gigabit communication, while 100Base-TX only uses the primary pairs on pins 1, 2, 3, and 6. When a continuity test shows pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are open but the primary pairs are intact, it indicates physical damage—likely a pinch or break in the conduit—that severed the secondary pairs, causing the switch to show 'No Link' because the link negotiation fails for gigabit speeds. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this tests your ability to map Ethernet pinout to cable faults; a common trap is assuming all pairs must fail for a link loss, but here the fault isolates to the unused pairs for 100Base-TX. A helpful memory tip: remember that gigabit needs all four pairs, so if only pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 pass, think “crushed in the conduit, not just a bad crimp.”
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
✓
The cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs.
This question tests understanding of Ethernet pinout and fault isolation. The correct answer is that the cable is likely damaged or broken on the pairs used for 1000Base-T (all four pairs), but 100Base-TX only uses pairs 1-2 and 3-6. The symptom indicates a break in the cable affecting the secondary pairs.
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 cable is only Cat5 and cannot support Gigabit.
Why it's wrong here
While Cat5 may not support Gigabit, the issue is a physical break, not a category limitation.
- ✗
The cable has a short circuit between pins 4 and 5.
Why it's wrong here
A short would show continuity, not an open circuit; the tester shows no continuity, indicating a break.
- ✓
The cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs.
Why this is correct
An open on pins 4-5 and 7-8 indicates a physical break in the cable that affects only those pairs, likely from damage in the conduit.
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 wall jack is wired for T568A but the patch panel is T568B.
Why it's wrong here
Mismatched standards would cause a crossover, not an open circuit on specific pins.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
A short would show continuity, not an open circuit; the tester shows no continuity, indicating a break.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Cabling — This question tests Cabling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The cable is cut or crushed in the conduit, breaking the secondary pairs. — This question tests understanding of Ethernet pinout and fault isolation. The correct answer is that the cable is likely damaged or broken on the pairs used for 1000Base-T (all four pairs), but 100Base-TX only uses pairs 1-2 and 3-6. The symptom indicates a break in the cable affecting the secondary pairs.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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