EX294 Manage task execution and roles Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of manage task execution and roles. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
```yaml
- name: Deploy web server
hosts: webservers
roles:
- common
- nginx
```
And the output of `ansible-playbook site.yml --check` shows:
```
PLAY [Deploy web server] *************************
TASK [common : include_vars] *********************
ok: [web1]
TASK [nginx : install nginx] *********************
fatal: [web1]: FAILED! => {"msg": "The task includes an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'nginx_version' is undefined"}
```
What is the most likely cause of the failure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
```yaml
- name: Deploy web server
hosts: webservers
roles:
- common
- nginx
```
And the output of `ansible-playbook site.yml --check` shows:
```
PLAY [Deploy web server] *************************
TASK [common : include_vars] *********************
ok: [web1]
TASK [nginx : install nginx] *********************
fatal: [web1]: FAILED! => {"msg": "The task includes an option with an undefined variable. The error was: 'nginx_version' is undefined"}
```
A
The --check flag prevents role variable resolution.
Why wrong: Check mode still resolves variables.
B
The nginx role's defaults or vars do not define 'nginx_version'.
The variable is undefined in the role's defaults or vars files.
C
The host web1 is not configured to use the nginx role.
Why wrong: The role applies to the group, and the task runs on web1.
D
The nginx role was not included in the playbook correctly.
Why wrong: The role is listed and the task runs, so it is included.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The nginx role's defaults or vars do not define 'nginx_version'.
The error indicates that Ansible cannot resolve the variable 'nginx_version' during the playbook run. Since the `--check` flag only simulates changes and does not affect variable resolution, the most likely cause is that the nginx role's `defaults/main.yml` or `vars/main.yml` does not define this variable, leaving it undefined and causing the failure.
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 --check flag prevents role variable resolution.
Why it's wrong here
Check mode still resolves variables.
✓
The nginx role's defaults or vars do not define 'nginx_version'.
Why this is correct
The variable is undefined in the role's defaults or vars files.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The host web1 is not configured to use the nginx role.
Why it's wrong here
The role applies to the group, and the task runs on web1.
✗
The nginx role was not included in the playbook correctly.
Why it's wrong here
The role is listed and the task runs, so it is included.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the `--check` flag is the culprit for any failure during a dry run, but Ansible's check mode still resolves all variables and validates templates, so a missing variable error is not caused by the check flag itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ansible resolves variables in a specific precedence order: role defaults (lowest), then vars, then host facts, then play vars, etc. If a variable like `nginx_version` is used in a task (e.g., in a template or package name) but not defined in any of these sources, Ansible will raise an 'undefined variable' error. The `--check` mode runs the playbook in dry-run, but variable resolution and Jinja2 template evaluation still occur, so missing variables will cause failures even in check mode. In real-world scenarios, this often happens when a role is reused across different environments and the variable is expected to be set via group_vars or extra_vars, but is accidentally omitted.
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 EX294 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.
Manage task execution and roles — This question tests Manage task execution and roles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The nginx role's defaults or vars do not define 'nginx_version'. — The error indicates that Ansible cannot resolve the variable 'nginx_version' during the playbook run. Since the `--check` flag only simulates changes and does not affect variable resolution, the most likely cause is that the nginx role's `defaults/main.yml` or `vars/main.yml` does not define this variable, leaving it undefined and causing the failure.
What should I do if I get this EX294 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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