LPIC-1 Shells, Scripting and Data Management Practice Question
A sysadmin is tasked with configuring the shell environment for all users. Which three files are typically sourced by Bash during login? (Choose THREE)
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the sourcing order for login shells versus non-login interactive shells, mistakenly selecting ~/.bashrc or /etc/bash.bashrc which are only for non-login shells.
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
✓
~/.bash_profile
During a login shell, Bash reads ~/.bash_profile (if it exists) to set user-specific environment variables and startup scripts. This file is sourced before ~/.profile and is the preferred file for login shell configurations, ensuring environment settings like PATH are applied.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
~/.bashrc
Why it's wrong here
Sourced for interactive non-login shells, not login shells.
- ✗
/etc/bash.bashrc
Why it's wrong here
Typically sourced for interactive non-login shells, not login.
- ✓
~/.bash_profile
Why this is correct
One of the user-specific login files.
- ✓
/etc/profile
Why this is correct
Sourced for all users during login.
- ✓
~/.profile
Why this is correct
Another user-specific login file, used if no .bash_profile exists.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-1 exam.