LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
An administrator needs to downgrade a package from version 2.0 to version 1.9. Which apt-get command can be used to perform this action?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume a dedicated `downgrade` command exists (Option A) or confuse `upgrade`/`dist-upgrade` with the ability to specify a version, when in fact `apt-get install` is the universal command for installing, upgrading, or downgrading a package to a specific version.
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
✓
`apt-get install package=1.9`
The correct command is `apt-get install package=1.9` because in APT, the `install` command is used not only to install new packages but also to downgrade an existing package to a specific version by appending `=version` to the package name. This instructs APT to resolve dependencies and perform the downgrade, overriding the currently installed version.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
`apt-get downgrade package=1.9`
Why it's wrong here
No such command exists.
- ✗
`apt-get upgrade package=1.9`
Why it's wrong here
Upgrade command only upgrades packages.
- ✗
`apt-get dist-upgrade package=1.9`
Why it's wrong here
Dist-upgrade handles dependencies but not version pinning.
- ✓
`apt-get install package=1.9`
Why this is correct
Specifies the version to install, enabling downgrade.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This LPIC-1 question is part of Courseiva's 527-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.