LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Linux system fails to boot after an admin added an entry in /etc/fstab to mount an NFS share. The error message indicates 'mount: can't find /mnt/nfs in /etc/fstab'. Which is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The fstab entry has incorrect syntax causing mount to ignore it.
Option C is correct because the error message 'mount: can't find /mnt/nfs in /etc/fstab' indicates that the system's mount command cannot locate a valid entry for the mount point in /etc/fstab. This typically occurs when the fstab entry contains a syntax error (e.g., missing fields, incorrect whitespace, or invalid options) that causes the system to skip or ignore the line entirely. Even if the mount point directory exists, a malformed entry will prevent the system from recognizing it during boot.
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.
✗
The NFS server is unreachable.
Why it's wrong here
Would produce a different error, not related to fstab parsing.
✗
The option 'noauto' was used in fstab.
Why it's wrong here
With noauto, the entry would still be found in fstab; mount would succeed with explicit mount command.
✓
The fstab entry has incorrect syntax causing mount to ignore it.
Why this is correct
A syntax error can cause the entire line to be skipped, leading to 'can't find' error.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The mount point directory /mnt/nfs does not exist.
Why it's wrong here
Would produce an error about a nonexistent mount point, not about missing fstab entry.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the error message for a missing mount point (Option D) with a missing fstab entry, when in fact the system is telling you it cannot find the entry in the fstab file due to a syntax error.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
With noauto, the entry would still be found in fstab; mount would succeed with explicit mount command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the mount command parses /etc/fstab line by line, expecting exactly six whitespace-separated fields: device, mount point, filesystem type, options, dump, and pass. A common syntax error is using a tab instead of spaces inconsistently, or omitting a required field, which causes the line to be silently ignored. In real-world scenarios, administrators often accidentally add a trailing backslash or comment character that breaks the parser, leading to this exact error.
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 LPIC-1 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.
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The fstab entry has incorrect syntax causing mount to ignore it. — Option C is correct because the error message 'mount: can't find /mnt/nfs in /etc/fstab' indicates that the system's mount command cannot locate a valid entry for the mount point in /etc/fstab. This typically occurs when the fstab entry contains a syntax error (e.g., missing fields, incorrect whitespace, or invalid options) that causes the system to skip or ignore the line entirely. Even if the mount point directory exists, a malformed entry will prevent the system from recognizing it during boot.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-1 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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