LPIC-1 Devices, Filesystems and FHS Practice Question
This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. The system logs show the above messages. What is the most likely cause and the correct first action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Filesystem corruption occurred; unmount and run fsck.
The kernel log messages indicate a filesystem I/O error (e.g., 'EXT4-fs error (device sda1)') which typically points to filesystem corruption. Running fsck on the unmounted filesystem is the correct first action to repair the metadata and recover the filesystem. Option B is correct because fsck is the standard tool for checking and repairing filesystem inconsistencies.
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 filesystem is read-only; remount with 'mount -o remount,rw /'.
Why it's wrong here
Remounting rw without fixing corruption may worsen the problem.
✓
Filesystem corruption occurred; unmount and run fsck.
Why this is correct
The error indicates corruption; fsck should be run offline.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The device is unresponsive; replace the disk.
Why it's wrong here
The device is responsive; the filesystem is consistent but corrupted.
✗
The filesystem is full; delete unnecessary files.
Why it's wrong here
The error is about a deleted inode, not full filesystem.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse filesystem corruption with a full filesystem or a hardware failure, but the specific I/O error messages in the logs point to corruption, not capacity or device unresponsiveness.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Filesystem corruption often results from unclean shutdowns, hardware faults, or driver bugs, causing inconsistencies in the journal or metadata. The kernel remounts the filesystem read-only to prevent further damage, and fsck (e.g., 'fsck.ext4 -f /dev/sda1') replays the journal or performs a full check. In real-world scenarios, running fsck on a mounted filesystem (except with -n) can cause additional corruption, so unmounting first is critical.
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: Filesystem corruption occurred; unmount and run fsck. — The kernel log messages indicate a filesystem I/O error (e.g., 'EXT4-fs error (device sda1)') which typically points to filesystem corruption. Running fsck on the unmounted filesystem is the correct first action to repair the metadata and recover the filesystem. Option B is correct because fsck is the standard tool for checking and repairing filesystem inconsistencies.
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: "first", "most likely". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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