The correct answer is that the 'feature/login' branch was merged into main via a merge commit. This is accurate because the Git history exhibit displays a merge commit with two parent commits—one from the tip of main and one from the tip of the feature branch—indicating an explicit integration rather than a fast-forward merge. On the PMP exam, this tests your ability to read a Git commit graph and distinguish between merge commits and linear history, a common trap being that a merge commit always preserves the branch topology, whereas a fast-forward would show a straight line. For exam day, remember the memory tip: "Two parents, one merge; one parent, just a surge"—if a commit has two parents, it is a merge commit; if only one, it is a regular commit on a linear path.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. 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.
Network Topology
Refer to the exhibit. A project manager is reviewing the Git history of a project. Which statement accurately describes the state of the repository?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The 'feature/login' branch was merged into main via a merge commit.
The exhibit shows a merge commit (e.g., 'Merge branch feature/login into main') with two parent commits, one from main and one from the tip of 'feature/login'. This indicates that the 'feature/login' branch was integrated into main via a merge commit, not a fast-forward merge. Therefore, option B is correct.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The 'feature/login' branch is still active and contains unmerged commits.
Why it's wrong here
The branch has been merged; its commits are now in main.
✓
The 'feature/login' branch was merged into main via a merge commit.
Why this is correct
The graph shows a merge commit on main from feature/login.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The 'feature/login' branch has not been merged into main.
Why it's wrong here
The merge commit shows it has been merged.
✗
The 'feature/login' branch is behind main by one commit.
Why it's wrong here
The branch is merged, so it is not behind; it is up-to-date.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a merge commit with a fast-forward merge, assuming that any merge commit means the branch is still active or unmerged, when in fact the merge commit itself is the evidence of integration.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The merge commit shows it has been merged.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Git, a merge commit is created when two divergent branches are combined using `git merge --no-ff` or when a fast-forward is not possible. The merge commit has two parent pointers: one to the previous tip of main and one to the tip of the merged branch. This preserves the branch history and is common in team workflows to track feature integration. Real-world scenarios often use merge commits to maintain a clear audit trail of when features were integrated.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 'feature/login' branch was merged into main via a merge commit. — The exhibit shows a merge commit (e.g., 'Merge branch feature/login into main') with two parent commits, one from main and one from the tip of 'feature/login'. This indicates that the 'feature/login' branch was integrated into main via a merge commit, not a fast-forward merge. Therefore, option B is correct.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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