- A
Move the trap inside a subshell: (trap ... EXIT; long task).
Why wrong: The trap would only apply to the subshell, not the main shell.
- B
Change `trap ... EXIT` to `trap ... 0`.
Why wrong: 0 is equivalent to EXIT; same behavior.
- C
Add `set -e` at the beginning of the script.
Why wrong: set -e makes the script exit on error, but EXIT trap still not executed on SIGINT.
- D
Add a trap for INT: `trap "rm -f $tempfile; exit" INT`.
This catches SIGINT and performs cleanup then exits.
Question 206 of 537
Signal Handling in Scripts — Trap for SIGINT vs EXIT | Red Hat Certified System Administrator Explained
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of create simple shell scripts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You maintain a script that performs a long-running task and must clean up temporary files if the script is interrupted. The script uses:
#!/bin/bash tempfile=$(mktemp) trap "rm -f $tempfile" EXIT
# long task
sleep 100
You notice that if the script receives SIGINT (Ctrl+C), the temporary file is not removed. Investigation shows that the trap on EXIT is not executed on SIGINT. Which modification should be made?
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
✓
Add a trap for INT: `trap "rm -f $tempfile; exit" INT`.
Option D is correct because the EXIT trap is only triggered on normal script termination (e.g., reaching the end or an explicit `exit`), not on signals like SIGINT. By adding a separate trap for INT that explicitly removes the temp file and calls `exit`, the cleanup runs even when the user presses Ctrl+C, ensuring the temporary file is deleted.
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.
- ✗
Move the trap inside a subshell: (trap ... EXIT; long task).
Why it's wrong here
The trap would only apply to the subshell, not the main shell.
- ✗
Change `trap ... EXIT` to `trap ... 0`.
Why it's wrong here
0 is equivalent to EXIT; same behavior.
- ✗
Add `set -e` at the beginning of the script.
Why it's wrong here
set -e makes the script exit on error, but EXIT trap still not executed on SIGINT.
- ✓
Add a trap for INT: `trap "rm -f $tempfile; exit" INT`.
Why this is correct
This catches SIGINT and performs cleanup then exits.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that the EXIT trap handles all termination scenarios, including signals, when in fact it only runs on normal exit paths, not on unhandled signals like SIGINT.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In bash, the EXIT pseudo-signal is a special trap that runs when the shell terminates normally (via `exit`, end of script, or `set -e` failure), but it is not triggered by signals like SIGINT or SIGTERM unless the signal handler itself calls `exit`. The `trap` command can specify multiple signals; for robust cleanup, you must trap each signal that could interrupt the script and explicitly call `exit` to trigger the EXIT trap, or duplicate the cleanup code. A common real-world pattern is to set a single trap for both EXIT and INT: `trap 'rm -f "$tempfile"; exit' INT EXIT`.
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 EX200 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Create simple shell scripts — This question tests Create simple shell scripts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a trap for INT: `trap "rm -f $tempfile; exit" INT`. — Option D is correct because the EXIT trap is only triggered on normal script termination (e.g., reaching the end or an explicit `exit`), not on signals like SIGINT. By adding a separate trap for INT that explicitly removes the temp file and calls `exit`, the cleanup runs even when the user presses Ctrl+C, ensuring the temporary file is deleted.
What should I do if I get this EX200 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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