LPIC-1 System Architecture Practice Question
To add a kernel parameter temporarily to the kernel command line at boot, what key should be pressed in the GRUB menu?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the 'e' (edit) key with 'c' (command line) or 'b' (boot), assuming they can add parameters via the GRUB shell or by simply booting, but only 'e' provides direct access to modify the kernel command line for a single boot.
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
✓
e
Pressing 'e' in the GRUB menu enters the edit mode for the selected boot entry, allowing you to temporarily modify kernel parameters on the command line (e.g., adding 'single' for single-user mode or 'nomodeset' for graphics issues). These changes apply only to the current boot and are not saved to the GRUB configuration file.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
e
Why this is correct
Pressing e in the GRUB menu opens the selected entry for editing, exposing the kernel command line where a parameter can be appended for that boot only. This temporary edit is discarded on reboot, unlike changes written to configuration files.
- ✗
b
Why it's wrong here
b boots the highlighted GRUB entry immediately with its existing kernel parameters, making no edit possible. It tempts because it is a real GRUB key and gets you booted quickly, but the requirement is to append a parameter first.
- ✗
r
Why it's wrong here
Pressing r in the GRUB menu is not a documented editing key; GRUB offers e for editing the highlighted entry's commands. It tempts because r appears in other boot contexts, such as recovery, but it does not open the kernel line for temporary edits.
- ✗
c
Why it's wrong here
c opens GRUB's command-line prompt, where you type commands manually rather than editing the selected menu entry's kernel line. It tempts because that prompt can boot a kernel, but it bypasses the entry you need to amend temporarily.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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