LPIC-1 Linux Installation and Package Management Practice Question
You are a system administrator for a small company running a web server on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. The web server application was installed using apt from the official repositories. Recently, a critical security patch was released for the web server package. You run 'apt update' and 'apt upgrade' but the package is not upgraded. You check the package status with 'apt-cache policy <package>' and see that the installed version is 2.4.41-4ubuntu3.6, and the candidate version is the same. The latest patched version in the repository is 2.4.41-4ubuntu3.7. You verify that the system has internet connectivity and that the repository URLs in /etc/apt/sources.list are correct. What is the most likely reason the upgrade is not being offered?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume the issue is with repository configuration or command syntax, when in fact the package hold mechanism is a subtle but common administrative action that directly prevents upgrades.
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
✓
Run 'apt-mark unhold <package>' and then 'apt upgrade'.
The most likely reason is that the package has been placed on hold using 'apt-mark hold', which prevents it from being upgraded even when a newer version is available in the repository. Running 'apt-mark unhold <package>' removes this hold, allowing 'apt upgrade' to proceed normally.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Add the universe repository to sources.list and run 'apt update'.
Why it's wrong here
The package is from main, not universe, and the repository is already correct.
- ✓
Run 'apt-mark unhold <package>' and then 'apt upgrade'.
Why this is correct
If the package is held, it will not be upgraded. Unholding allows the upgrade.
- ✗
Use 'apt dist-upgrade' instead of 'apt upgrade'.
Why it's wrong here
dist-upgrade handles dependency changes but does not override package holds.
- ✗
Run 'apt install <package>' which will force the upgrade.
Why it's wrong here
If the package is held, apt install will also refuse to upgrade it.
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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.