This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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.
A system is experiencing high CPU usage. The administrator suspects a process is stuck in an infinite loop. Which command can be used to identify the most CPU-intensive process in real-time?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
top
top displays real-time process activity and can sort by CPU usage.
lsof
Why wrong: lsof lists open files, not CPU usage.
ps aux
Why wrong: ps aux shows a snapshot of processes but does not update in real-time.
strace
Why wrong: strace traces system calls and signals, not a simple CPU usage monitor.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
top
The `top` command provides a real-time, dynamic view of system processes, sorted by CPU usage by default. It continuously refreshes, making it ideal for identifying the most CPU-intensive process as it runs, which directly addresses the scenario of a suspected infinite loop causing high CPU usage.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
top
Why this is correct
top displays real-time process activity and can sort by CPU usage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
lsof
Why it's wrong here
lsof lists open files, not CPU usage.
ps aux
Why it's wrong here
ps aux shows a snapshot of processes but does not update in real-time.
strace
Why it's wrong here
strace traces system calls and signals, not a simple CPU usage monitor.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the distinction between real-time monitoring (`top`) and static snapshots (`ps`), where candidates mistakenly choose `ps aux` because they see CPU columns, but fail to recognize that `ps` does not refresh dynamically to catch a looping process.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
ps aux shows a snapshot of processes but does not update in real-time.
Detailed technical explanation
The `top` command reads `/proc/stat` and `/proc/[pid]/stat` files to calculate CPU usage percentages, updating every 3 seconds by default. In a real-world scenario, an infinite loop (e.g., a tight `while(1)` in C) will cause a process to consume near 100% of a CPU core, and `top` will immediately show it at the top of the list with a high `%CPU` value, allowing the administrator to identify the PID and take action.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: top — The `top` command provides a real-time, dynamic view of system processes, sorted by CPU usage by default. It continuously refreshes, making it ideal for identifying the most CPU-intensive process as it runs, which directly addresses the scenario of a suspected infinite loop causing high CPU usage.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the EX200 exam.
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