This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of essential commands. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 user is unable to execute a script in their home directory. The script has permissions -rw-r--r--. Which command will allow the user to execute the script?
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.
chmod a-x script.sh
Why wrong: Removes execute for all, making the problem worse.
chmod u+x script.sh
Adds execute permission only for the owner, which is the user.
chmod o+x script.sh
Why wrong: Adds execute for others, not the owner.
chmod 755 script.sh
Why wrong: Correctly adds execute for all, but the user is the owner, so this is valid but may be too permissive; however, the question expects the minimal command.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
chmod u+x script.sh
The script currently has permissions -rw-r--r--, meaning the owner (user) has read and write but not execute permission. The command `chmod u+x script.sh` adds execute permission for the user (owner), which is the minimal change needed to allow the user to run the script. This directly addresses the problem without granting unnecessary permissions to others.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
chmod a-x script.sh
Why it's wrong here
Removes execute for all, making the problem worse.
chmod u+x script.sh
Why this is correct
Adds execute permission only for the owner, which is the user.
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.
chmod o+x script.sh
Why it's wrong here
Adds execute for others, not the owner.
chmod 755 script.sh
Why it's wrong here
Correctly adds execute for all, but the user is the owner, so this is valid but may be too permissive; however, the question expects the minimal command.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 'user' (u) with 'others' (o) or think that removing execute (a-x) or setting 755 is the fix, but the question specifically requires the user to execute the script, so only adding execute for the owner (u+x) is correct.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Correctly adds execute for all, but the user is the owner, so this is valid but may be too permissive; however, the question expects the minimal command.
Detailed technical explanation
The execute permission on a regular file allows the kernel to load and run the file as a program or script (via the shebang mechanism). The `chmod` command uses symbolic mode (u+x) to modify the file's permission bits stored in the inode, specifically the owner execute bit (bit 0 of the file mode). In real-world scenarios, a user might have a private script with sensitive logic; granting execute only to the owner (u+x) ensures no other user on the system can run it, which is critical for security in multi-user environments.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LFCS 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
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
Essential Commands — This question tests Essential Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: chmod u+x script.sh — The script currently has permissions -rw-r--r--, meaning the owner (user) has read and write but not execute permission. The command `chmod u+x script.sh` adds execute permission for the user (owner), which is the minimal change needed to allow the user to run the script. This directly addresses the problem without granting unnecessary permissions to others.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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