Question 553 of 750

Linux Commands and File Permissions →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Create a New User with Home Directory and Set Password

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of linux commands and file permissions. 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.

A technician needs to create a new user 'jdoe' with a home directory and set the password in one command. Which command accomplishes this?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

A
useradd -m jdoe && passwd jdoe
This correctly creates the user with a home directory and then prompts to set the password.
B
adduser jdoe
Why wrong: adduser is a friendly frontend that may create home directory and prompt for password, but it is not a single command in the traditional sense; it is interactive.
C
useradd jdoe && passwd jdoe
Why wrong: useradd without -m does not create a home directory, which is required.
D
usermod -m jdoe
Why wrong: usermod modifies an existing user, it does not create a new user.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is `useradd -m jdoe && passwd jdoe`, which correctly creates the user 'jdoe' with a home directory using the `-m` flag and then prompts for the password via the `passwd` command. This works because `useradd` alone does not set a password, and no single Linux command accomplishes both tasks at once; the `&&` operator ensures the password step runs only after the user is successfully created. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of user account management in Linux, specifically that `useradd -m` creates the home directory automatically while `passwd` handles password assignment—a common trap is thinking `useradd` can set the password inline with an option like `-p`, but that requires a pre-hashed string and is not the standard exam approach. Remember the mnemonic: "Make the user, then pass the word"—first `useradd -m` to make the home, then `passwd` to set the secret.

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

✓

useradd -m jdoe && passwd jdoe

Option A is correct because `useradd -m jdoe` creates the user 'jdoe' with a home directory (the `-m` flag ensures the /home/jdoe directory is created), and `&&` chains the `passwd jdoe` command to run only if the user creation succeeds, allowing the password to be set interactively in a single command line. This meets the requirement of creating the user with a home directory and setting the password in one command.

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.

✓
useradd -m jdoe && passwd jdoe
Why this is correct
This correctly creates the user with a home directory and then prompts to set the password.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
adduser jdoe
Why it's wrong here
adduser is a friendly frontend that may create home directory and prompt for password, but it is not a single command in the traditional sense; it is interactive.
✗
useradd jdoe && passwd jdoe
Why it's wrong here
useradd without -m does not create a home directory, which is required.
✗
usermod -m jdoe
Why it's wrong here
usermod modifies an existing user, it does not create a new user.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume `useradd` always creates a home directory or that `adduser` is the standard command, leading them to pick Option B or C without considering the `-m` flag.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
adduser is a friendly frontend that may create home directory and prompt for password, but it is not a single command in the traditional sense; it is interactive.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `useradd` command reads defaults from `/etc/default/useradd` and `/etc/login.defs`; without `-m`, the home directory is not created unless the `CREATE_HOME` variable is set to `yes` in `/etc/login.defs`. The `&&` operator ensures that `passwd` only runs if `useradd` exits with a zero status, preventing password assignment for a failed user creation—a critical scripting best practice for idempotent user provisioning in automation.

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 220-1202 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 220-1202 question test?

Linux Commands and File Permissions — This question tests Linux Commands and File Permissions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: useradd -m jdoe && passwd jdoe — Option A is correct because `useradd -m jdoe` creates the user 'jdoe' with a home directory (the `-m` flag ensures the /home/jdoe directory is created), and `&&` chains the `passwd jdoe` command to run only if the user creation succeeds, allowing the password to be set interactively in a single command line. This meets the requirement of creating the user with a home directory and setting the password in one command.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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