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.
You are managing a web application deployment using Ansible. The application requires a specific version of a library (libapp) to be installed on all web servers. Your current playbook uses the role 'web' which includes a task to install libapp version 1.2. However, after a recent update, the role's defaults now specify libapp version 2.0, but you must keep version 1.2 for compatibility. You have defined a variable 'lib_version' in the playbook's vars section with value '1.2'. The role's task uses the variable 'libapp_version' (not 'lib_version'). The play fails because 'libapp_version' is undefined. What is the best way to resolve this issue without modifying the role?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the playbook to set libapp_version as a variable for the role: either in the play vars section or by passing it as a role parameter.
Option B is correct because it allows you to set the variable `libapp_version` that the role expects without modifying the role itself. By defining `libapp_version` in the playbook's vars section or passing it as a role parameter, you override the role's default value (2.0) with the required version 1.2, ensuring the task uses the correct library version while preserving role integrity.
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.
✗
Modify the role's defaults/main.yml to set libapp_version to 1.2.
Why it's wrong here
The problem states you cannot modify the role.
✓
Use the playbook to set libapp_version as a variable for the role: either in the play vars section or by passing it as a role parameter.
Why this is correct
You can set libapp_version in the play's vars or as a role parameter without modifying the role.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Rename your playbook variable from lib_version to libapp_version in the play vars.
Why it's wrong here
The role task uses libapp_version, so this would work, but the playbook variable is lib_version; you need to set libapp_version.
✗
Create a file roles/web/vars/main.yml with libapp_version: 1.2.
Why it's wrong here
This modifies the role, which is not allowed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse variable names (lib_version vs libapp_version) and attempt to rename variables or modify role defaults, rather than understanding that the correct solution is to set the exact variable expected by the role at the playbook level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Ansible, role variables follow a precedence hierarchy: playbook vars (including role parameters) override role defaults. The role's task references `libapp_version`, which is undefined in the role's defaults after the update. By setting `libapp_version` in the playbook's vars section or as a role parameter (e.g., `roles: - { role: web, libapp_version: 1.2 }`), you leverage variable precedence to supply the required value without altering the role's files. This approach is critical in real-world scenarios where roles are shared across teams or sourced from Ansible Galaxy.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Use the playbook to set libapp_version as a variable for the role: either in the play vars section or by passing it as a role parameter. — Option B is correct because it allows you to set the variable `libapp_version` that the role expects without modifying the role itself. By defining `libapp_version` in the playbook's vars section or passing it as a role parameter, you override the role's default value (2.0) with the required version 1.2, ensuring the task uses the correct library version while preserving role integrity.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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