This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of devices, filesystems and fhs. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which THREE of the following directories are part of the FHS and must be present on a standard Linux system? (Choose three.)
/var
/var is required for variable data.
/etc
/etc is required for configuration files.
/lost+found
Why wrong: /lost+found is not a required FHS directory; it's created by mkfs.ext4.
/bin
/bin is a standard required directory for essential user binaries.
/home
Why wrong: /home is optional; it may not be present on embedded systems.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
/var
/var is required by the FHS to store variable data such as logs (/var/log), mail spools, and print queues. It must exist on a standard Linux system because many core services depend on it for runtime data that changes in size and content.
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.
/var
Why this is correct
/var is required for variable data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/etc
Why this is correct
/etc is required for configuration files.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/lost+found
Why it's wrong here
/lost+found is not a required FHS directory; it's created by mkfs.ext4.
/bin
Why this is correct
/bin is a standard required directory for essential user binaries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
/home
Why it's wrong here
/home is optional; it may not be present on embedded systems.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that /lost+found appears essential because it is commonly seen on ext filesystems, but it is not part of the FHS mandatory list, and /home is often assumed required due to its ubiquity, yet the FHS does not mandate it for a standard Linux system.
Detailed technical explanation
The FHS (Filesystem Hierarchy Standard) defines mandatory directories like /bin, /etc, and /var to ensure system-wide consistency across distributions. /bin contains essential user binaries needed for booting and repair, /etc holds host-specific configuration files, and /var accommodates data that persists across reboots but changes frequently. In practice, /lost+found is filesystem-specific and created by mkfs or fsck, while /home is a mount point often on a separate partition or network filesystem, not a strict requirement.
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
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FAQ
Devices, Filesystems and FHS — This question tests Devices, Filesystems and FHS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: /var — /var is required by the FHS to store variable data such as logs (/var/log), mail spools, and print queues. It must exist on a standard Linux system because many core services depend on it for runtime data that changes in size and content.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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.
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