- A
kill -9 3456
Forceful kill; cannot be caught.
- B
kill -15 3456
Why wrong: Already tried; process ignored it.
- C
kill -19 3456
Why wrong: Suspends the process, does not terminate.
- D
kill -1 3456
Why wrong: Hangup; often ignored by hung processes.
Question 316 of 537
EX200 Essential Tools Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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.
An administrator needs to terminate a hung process with PID 3456 that does not respond to 'kill -15 3456'. Which signal should be used next?
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
✓
kill -9 3456
Option A is correct because kill -9 (SIGKILL) is the signal of last resort for a process that does not respond to SIGTERM (kill -15). SIGKILL cannot be caught, blocked, or ignored by the process; it forces immediate termination by the kernel. Since the process is hung and unresponsive to SIGTERM, SIGKILL is the appropriate next step.
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.
- ✓
kill -9 3456
Why this is correct
Forceful kill; cannot be caught.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
kill -15 3456
Why it's wrong here
Already tried; process ignored it.
- ✗
kill -19 3456
Why it's wrong here
Suspends the process, does not terminate.
- ✗
kill -1 3456
Why it's wrong here
Hangup; often ignored by hung processes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between signals that can be caught/ignored (SIGTERM, SIGHUP) and those that cannot (SIGKILL, SIGSTOP), and candidates may mistakenly choose SIGSTOP (kill -19) thinking it will terminate the process, when it actually only suspends it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SIGKILL (signal 9) works by sending a direct termination request to the kernel's process scheduler, bypassing any user-space signal handlers. The kernel immediately removes the process from the task list and reclaims its resources. In real-world scenarios, a process might be stuck in an uninterruptible sleep state (D state) waiting on I/O, in which case even SIGKILL may not work until the I/O completes; however, for a typical hung process, SIGKILL is the standard escalation from SIGTERM.
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.
- →
Essential Tools — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Essential Tools practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this EX200 question test?
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: kill -9 3456 — Option A is correct because kill -9 (SIGKILL) is the signal of last resort for a process that does not respond to SIGTERM (kill -15). SIGKILL cannot be caught, blocked, or ignored by the process; it forces immediate termination by the kernel. Since the process is hung and unresponsive to SIGTERM, SIGKILL is the appropriate next step.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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