- A
The cable is too long for the network standard.
Why wrong: 85 meters is within the 100-meter limit for most Ethernet standards.
- B
The cable is being pinched or crushed in the conduit.
Sharp bends or crushing can damage the cable's internal conductors, causing intermittent shorts.
- C
The cable is unshielded and picking up EMI.
Why wrong: EMI typically causes signal degradation, not physical shorts detected by a cable tester.
- D
The cable is a flat patch cable used for a permanent run.
Why wrong: Flat cables are less durable but would not specifically cause intermittent shorts from bending.
Question 346 of 1,020
Troubleshooting Intermittent Shorts Due to Bend Radius Violation
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 where one workstation intermittently loses connectivity. The cable run is 85 meters and passes through a conduit with several sharp bends. The cable tester shows intermittent shorts. Which cabling issue is most likely?
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 a cable being pinched or crushed in the conduit. This occurs because sharp bends in the conduit exceed the cable’s minimum bend radius, which physically deforms the internal conductors and insulation, leading to intermittent shorts as the damaged wires make contact under vibration or movement. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish physical layer faults from signal degradation issues like attenuation or crosstalk—a common trap is to blame the 85-meter length, but the real culprit is the bend radius violation causing intermittent shorts rather than a fixed distance limit. Remember that a cable tester showing intermittent shorts points to physical damage, not a length problem. Memory tip: “Sharp bends pinch, shorts begin.”
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 being pinched or crushed in the conduit.
The cable tester indicates intermittent shorts, which are classic symptoms of physical damage to the cable. The 85-meter run with sharp bends in the conduit creates a high risk of the cable being pinched or crushed, leading to conductor contact or insulation breakdown. This physical stress causes intermittent connectivity issues, not a length or interference problem.
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 too long for the network standard.
Why it's wrong here
85 meters is within the 100-meter limit for most Ethernet standards.
- ✓
The cable is being pinched or crushed in the conduit.
Why this is correct
Sharp bends or crushing can damage the cable's internal conductors, causing intermittent shorts.
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 cable is unshielded and picking up EMI.
Why it's wrong here
EMI typically causes signal degradation, not physical shorts detected by a cable tester.
- ✗
The cable is a flat patch cable used for a permanent run.
Why it's wrong here
Flat cables are less durable but would not specifically cause intermittent shorts from bending.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ exams often test the distinction between length-related attenuation and physical damage symptoms, so the trap here is that candidates see '85 meters' and immediately assume a length violation, ignoring the intermittent shorts and sharp bends that indicate a physical crush.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In twisted-pair cabling, intermittent shorts often occur when the cable jacket is compressed, causing the conductors to touch or the insulation to wear through at sharp bends. A time-domain reflectometer (TDR) can pinpoint the location of the impedance change or short, but a basic cable tester will simply flag the fault. In real-world scenarios, pulling cables through conduits with less than a 4:1 bend radius ratio (relative to cable diameter) is a common cause of such damage.
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?
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 being pinched or crushed in the conduit. — The cable tester indicates intermittent shorts, which are classic symptoms of physical damage to the cable. The 85-meter run with sharp bends in the conduit creates a high risk of the cable being pinched or crushed, leading to conductor contact or insulation breakdown. This physical stress causes intermittent connectivity issues, not a length or interference problem.
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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