LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are valid methods to temporarily switch to a different user account without logging out entirely? (Choose three.)
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
✓
sudo -u username -s
Options A, B, and E are correct. `sudo -u username -s` launches a shell as the specified user. `su - username` starts a login shell as that user. `runuser -l username -c 'bash'` runs a command as another user (common in scripts). Option C (`newgrp groupname`) changes the group, not the user. Option D (`login username`) requires a full login, which logs out the current session.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
sudo -u username -s
Why this is correct
Launches a shell as the specified user with sudo.
- ✓
su - username
Why this is correct
Starts a login shell as the specified user.
- ✗
newgrp groupname
Why it's wrong here
Changes the current group ID, not user.
- ✗
login username
Why it's wrong here
login requires logging out first and starts a new session.
- ✓
runuser -l username -c 'bash'
Why this is correct
runuser runs a command as another user.
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JA
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.