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. A key principle to apply: file permissions. 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.
Exhibit
-rwxr-x--- 1 root developers 1234 Feb 20 10:00 script.sh
Refer to the exhibit. The file script.sh has permissions -rwxr-x--- and is owned by root with group 'developers'. A user named 'alice' is a member of the 'developers' group. Which command allows alice to execute the script without changing the file's group ownership?
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.
Exhibit
-rwxr-x--- 1 root developers 1234 Feb 20 10:00 script.sh
A
usermod -aG developers alice
Adding alice to the developers group gives her the group execute permission.
B
chmod o+x script.sh
Why wrong: This adds execute for others, but alice already has group execute, so this is unnecessary and changes permissions for all others.
C
chmod u+x script.sh
Why wrong: This adds execute for owner, but alice is not the owner.
D
chown alice script.sh
Why wrong: Changing owner gives alice owner permissions, but the question asks without changing group ownership (implied no ownership change).
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
usermod -aG developers alice
Alice is already a member of the developers group, which has execute permission on the script. Therefore, she can already execute it. The only command among the options that does not modify the file (permissions or ownership) is `usermod -aG developers alice`, which simply ensures her group membership. All other options change the file's permissions or owner, which is unnecessary and violates the constraint of not changing the file's group ownership by altering the file in other ways. Thus, option A is the correct choice.
Key principle: File permissions
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
usermod -aG developers alice
Why this is correct
Adding alice to the developers group gives her the group execute permission.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
File permissions
✗
chmod o+x script.sh
Why it's wrong here
This adds execute for others, but alice already has group execute, so this is unnecessary and changes permissions for all others.
✗
chmod u+x script.sh
Why it's wrong here
This adds execute for owner, but alice is not the owner.
✗
chown alice script.sh
Why it's wrong here
Changing owner gives alice owner permissions, but the question asks without changing group ownership (implied no ownership change).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates often assume the user lacks execute permission and try to modify the file's permissions or ownership, overlooking that group membership already grants access. The constraint 'without changing the file's group ownership' is a distractor; the real requirement is to not modify the file at all. Option A, though redundant, is the only choice that leaves the file unchanged.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Linux file permissions are checked in order: owner, then group, then others. Since Alice is in the developers group, the kernel's permission check will match the group entry and grant execute access based on the group execute bit (--x). The 'usermod -aG' command modifies the /etc/group file and updates the user's supplementary group list in /etc/passwd or /etc/shadow, but if Alice is already a member, it is a no-op. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a user is accidentally removed from a group; re-adding them with 'usermod -aG' restores access without altering file metadata, which is critical in shared development environments where group ownership must remain stable for audit trails.
KKey Concepts to Remember
File permissions
Group membership
usermod command
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
File permissions
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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. File permissions 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.
Review file permissions, then practise related LFCS questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
The correct answer is: usermod -aG developers alice — Alice is already a member of the developers group, which has execute permission on the script. Therefore, she can already execute it. The only command among the options that does not modify the file (permissions or ownership) is `usermod -aG developers alice`, which simply ensures her group membership. All other options change the file's permissions or owner, which is unnecessary and violates the constraint of not changing the file's group ownership by altering the file in other ways. Thus, option A is the correct choice.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Review file permissions, then practise related LFCS questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
File permissions
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