This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
An administrator used the command useradd -D -f 10 to change the default inactivity period. What effect does this have on future user accounts?
The default group for new users will be changed to GID 10.
Why wrong: Option D is incorrect; -g option changes default group, not -f.
B
New user accounts will have a maximum password age of 10 days.
Why wrong: Option C is incorrect; maximum password age is controlled by PASS_MAX_DAYS, not the -f option.
C
New user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity if the password has expired.
Option B is correct; -f sets the number of days after password expiration until the account is disabled. A value of 10 means 10 days of inactivity after password expiry.
D
New user accounts will have a password expiration of 10 days.
Why wrong: Option A is incorrect; -f sets the inactivity period, not password maximum age (which is set by PASS_MAX_DAYS).
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
New user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity if the password has expired.
The `useradd -D -f 10` command modifies the default value for the `INACTIVE` field in `/etc/default/useradd`. This field sets the number of days after a password expires that the account will be disabled if the password is not changed. Option C correctly describes this behavior: new user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity following password expiration.
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 default group for new users will be changed to GID 10.
Why it's wrong here
Option D is incorrect; -g option changes default group, not -f.
✗
New user accounts will have a maximum password age of 10 days.
Why it's wrong here
Option C is incorrect; maximum password age is controlled by PASS_MAX_DAYS, not the -f option.
✓
New user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity if the password has expired.
Why this is correct
Option B is correct; -f sets the number of days after password expiration until the account is disabled. A value of 10 means 10 days of inactivity after password expiry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
New user accounts will have a password expiration of 10 days.
Why it's wrong here
Option A is incorrect; -f sets the inactivity period, not password maximum age (which is set by PASS_MAX_DAYS).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the `-f` (inactivity period after password expiration) with password aging (`-M` or `PASS_MAX_DAYS`), leading candidates to incorrectly select options B or D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `INACTIVE` field in `/etc/default/useradd` corresponds to the `-f` option of `useradd` and the `-f` option of `chage`. When a user's password expires, the account enters a 'password expired' state; after the inactivity period (set by `-f`), the account is locked and cannot be used until an administrator re-enables it. This is distinct from password aging, which is managed by `PASS_MAX_DAYS` in `/etc/login.defs` or `chage -M`.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: New user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity if the password has expired. — The `useradd -D -f 10` command modifies the default value for the `INACTIVE` field in `/etc/default/useradd`. This field sets the number of days after a password expires that the account will be disabled if the password is not changed. Option C correctly describes this behavior: new user accounts will be disabled after 10 days of inactivity following password expiration.
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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