This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of linux installation and package management. 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 system administrator installs a new RPM package, but it fails due to a missing library dependency. Which command can best identify the specific dependency that is missing?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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.
yum deplist
Why wrong: This shows dependencies but requires the package to be in a repository, not a local file.
rpm -qlp
Why wrong: This lists files in a package.
rpm -qa
Why wrong: This lists all installed packages.
rpm -qpR
This queries a package file for its requires (dependencies).
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
rpm -qpR
The correct command is `rpm -qpR`. The `-q` flag queries the RPM database, `-p` specifies a package file (not an installed package), and `-R` lists all capabilities (including shared libraries) that the package requires. This directly shows the missing dependency by name, such as `libfoo.so.1`. The other options either list installed packages, query files within a package, or use a higher-level tool that may not pinpoint the exact missing library.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
yum deplist
Why it's wrong here
This shows dependencies but requires the package to be in a repository, not a local file.
rpm -qlp
Why it's wrong here
This lists files in a package.
rpm -qa
Why it's wrong here
This lists all installed packages.
rpm -qpR
Why this is correct
This queries a package file for its requires (dependencies).
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse `rpm -qlp` (list files) with `rpm -qpR` (list requirements), or they assume `yum deplist` is the best tool for a local RPM file, but `yum` requires network access and repository metadata, while `rpm` works directly on the file.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows dependencies but requires the package to be in a repository, not a local file.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, RPM packages contain a list of 'Provides' and 'Requires' capabilities, which are symbolic names like `libc.so.6` or `libssl.so.10`. The `-qpR` command reads the package header and outputs these required capabilities. In a real-world scenario, a missing library like `libcrypto.so.10` might be provided by an older version of OpenSSL, and `rpm -qpR` helps identify the exact versioned requirement, allowing the admin to install the correct compatibility library.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Linux Installation and Package Management — This question tests Linux Installation and Package Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: rpm -qpR — The correct command is `rpm -qpR`. The `-q` flag queries the RPM database, `-p` specifies a package file (not an installed package), and `-R` lists all capabilities (including shared libraries) that the package requires. This directly shows the missing dependency by name, such as `libfoo.so.1`. The other options either list installed packages, query files within a package, or use a higher-level tool that may not pinpoint the exact missing library.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best", "which command". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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