LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
Which TWO commands can be used to display the current runlevel of a system?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse commands that change the runlevel (like `init 3`) with commands that display it, or assume `systemctl get-default` shows the current runlevel when it actually shows the default target for the next 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
✓
runlevel
The `runlevel` command (option D) reads `/var/run/utmp` and prints the previous and current runlevel (e.g., "N 5"), directly reporting the system's current runlevel. The `who -r` command (option E) uses the `-r` flag to display the current runlevel along with the time it was last changed, also deriving this from the utmp record. Option A, `telinit q`, only tells init to re-read its configuration and does not display the runlevel. Option B, `systemctl get-default`, shows the default target (e.g., graphical.target) that the system boots into, not the currently active runlevel. Option C, `init 3`, is used to change the runlevel to 3, not to display the current one.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
telinit q
Why it's wrong here
telinit q tells init to re-read its configuration file; it reports nothing about the current runlevel. It is tempting because telinit manipulates runlevels, and it would be correct for forcing init to reload inittab after edits rather than for querying the active runlevel.
- ✗
systemctl get-default
Why it's wrong here
systemctl get-default prints the default target configured to start at boot, not the runlevel the system is currently in. It is tempting because it reports a target name, and it would be correct for checking which target boots by default, such as graphical.target versus multi-user.target.
- ✗
init 3
Why it's wrong here
init 3 changes the runlevel to multi-user text mode; it does not display the current runlevel. It is tempting because init is the runlevel mechanism, and it would be correct when switching the running system into runlevel 3 rather than querying which runlevel is active.
- ✓
runlevel
Why this is correct
The `runlevel` command reads `/var/run/utmp` and prints the previous and current runlevel, satisfying the requirement to display the system's current runlevel. It reports both values directly, for example "N 5", making it a valid answer alongside `who -r`.
- ✓
who -r
Why this is correct
who -r queries the utmp record for the current runlevel and prints it, satisfying the requirement to display the system's runlevel. Its output includes the runlevel character and the time it was entered, unlike who's default user listing.
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JA
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.