LFCS File permissions Practice Question
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
usermod -aG developers alice
The question contains a logical twist: Alice is already a member of the developers group, and the file's group permission is r-x, so she already has execute permission. Therefore, no command is needed to allow execution. However, among the given choices, `usermod -aG developers alice` is the only command that does not alter the file itself (it merely reaffirms her group membership without changing the file's permissions or ownership). The other options modify the file, which is unnecessary and violates the requirement to not change the file's group ownership (or the file in any way). Thus, while redundant, option A is the best answer according to the question's constraints.
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.
- ✗
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).
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.