- A
Escalate to the project sponsor for a decision
Why wrong: The plan already defines the response; the PM should execute it first, then inform stakeholders.
- B
Direct the team to continue work and cover the site to avoid delays
Why wrong: Ignoring the issue could lead to legal and regulatory consequences.
- C
Update the risk register and mark the risk as closed
Why wrong: The risk has occurred; it should be updated as an issue, not closed.
- D
Stop work immediately and contact the local authorities as per the risk response plan
Implementing the planned response is the correct first action when a risk occurs.
Question 36 of 892
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.
You are managing a project to build a new office building. During excavation, the team discovers an unexpected archaeological site. This is a risk that was identified in the risk register with a low probability and high impact. The mitigation plan was to contact local authorities. What should you do FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Stop work immediately and contact the local authorities as per the risk response plan
Option D is correct because the risk was identified and a mitigation plan was defined in the risk register. The first action when a risk occurs is to execute the planned response, which in this case is to stop work and contact local authorities. This aligns with the PMBOK® Guide's guidance on implementing risk responses immediately when a risk trigger is observed.
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.
- ✗
Escalate to the project sponsor for a decision
Why it's wrong here
The plan already defines the response; the PM should execute it first, then inform stakeholders.
- ✗
Direct the team to continue work and cover the site to avoid delays
Why it's wrong here
Ignoring the issue could lead to legal and regulatory consequences.
- ✗
Update the risk register and mark the risk as closed
Why it's wrong here
The risk has occurred; it should be updated as an issue, not closed.
- ✓
Stop work immediately and contact the local authorities as per the risk response plan
Why this is correct
Implementing the planned response is the correct first action when a risk occurs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think they need to escalate to the sponsor for a decision (Option A) because the risk has high impact, but the PMP exam expects you to follow the existing risk response plan first before escalating.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In risk management, a risk that has been triggered becomes an issue, and the predefined response (the mitigation plan) must be enacted immediately. The risk register should be updated to reflect the status change from 'identified' to 'occurred,' and the response actions should be tracked. In real-world construction projects, failing to stop work upon discovering archaeological artifacts can result in fines, work stoppage orders, and reputational damage, making immediate compliance with the response plan critical.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Process — Managing Technical Aspects — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PMP question test?
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: Stop work immediately and contact the local authorities as per the risk response plan — Option D is correct because the risk was identified and a mitigation plan was defined in the risk register. The first action when a risk occurs is to execute the planned response, which in this case is to stop work and contact local authorities. This aligns with the PMBOK® Guide's guidance on implementing risk responses immediately when a risk trigger is observed.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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