Match each Linux directory to its standard purpose.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
System configuration files
Variable data (logs, databases)
User-installed software and libraries
Temporary files (often cleared on reboot)
Virtual file system for process and kernel info
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/bin: Essential user command binaries
Correct matches: /bin holds essential binaries, /etc stores system configuration, /var contains variable data. Common confusions arise from swapping purposes: /bin is not for variable data, /etc is not for temporary files, and /var does not hold binaries.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
/bin: Essential user command binaries
Why this is correct
/bin contains essential command binaries needed for booting and repairing the system, available to all users.
/etc: Host-specific system configuration
Why this is correct
/etc stores configuration files for the system and applications, specific to the host.
/var: Variable data such as logs and spool files
Why this is correct
/var contains data that changes frequently, like log files, spool directories, and temporary caches.
/bin: Variable data such as logs and spool files
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — /bin does not store variable data; that is the purpose of /var.
/etc: Temporary files cleared on reboot
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — /etc holds configuration files, not temporary files; that is /tmp.
/var: Essential user command binaries
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — /var does not contain binaries; essential binaries reside in /bin.
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About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every LPIC-1 question from scratch — 527 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.