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.
When troubleshooting a problem with a Debian package installation, an administrator wants to see which version of a package would be installed from the configured repositories. Which command displays the candidate version?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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.
dpkg -l package
Why wrong: Shows installed version only.
apt-show-versions package
Why wrong: Shows all available versions but not the candidate.
apt-get -s install package
Why wrong: Simulates install, but does not list candidate explicitly.
apt-cache policy package
Shows candidate version and priority.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
apt-cache policy package
The `apt-cache policy package` command displays the package's priority, the installed version (if any), and the candidate version (the version that would be installed by default from the configured repositories). This makes it the correct tool for determining which version will be installed from the repositories.
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.
dpkg -l package
Why it's wrong here
Shows installed version only.
apt-show-versions package
Why it's wrong here
Shows all available versions but not the candidate.
apt-get -s install package
Why it's wrong here
Simulates install, but does not list candidate explicitly.
apt-cache policy package
Why this is correct
Shows candidate version and priority.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "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 `apt-get -s install` (a simulation) with the dedicated `apt-cache policy` command for querying the candidate version, or they mistakenly think `dpkg -l` or `apt-show-versions` provide repository-level candidate information.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Shows installed version only.
Detailed technical explanation
The `apt-cache policy` command reads the APT cache (populated from `sources.list` and `sources.list.d/`) and evaluates version pinning rules (via `/etc/apt/preferences`). The candidate version is determined by the highest priority among available versions, considering pin priorities (e.g., 990 for stable, 500 for default). This command is essential for debugging why a specific version is or isn't selected, especially in multi-repository or pinning scenarios.
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: apt-cache policy package — The `apt-cache policy package` command displays the package's priority, the installed version (if any), and the candidate version (the version that would be installed by default from the configured repositories). This makes it the correct tool for determining which version will be installed from the repositories.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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