The answer is that Alice can write to report.txt because the file’s permissions are -rw-rw-r--, with Alice as the owner and the group set to project. As the owner, Alice inherits the first triplet of permissions, rw-, which explicitly grants her both read and write access, regardless of the group or others’ restrictions. This scenario tests your ability to interpret file permissions and ownership in Linux, a core skill for the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, where you must quickly decode the symbolic permission string and map it to the correct user class. A common trap is confusing group ownership with owner permissions—just because the group has write access does not mean a non-owner member can write if the owner’s permissions differ. Remember the mnemonic: “Owner first, group second, others last; the first triplet always rules the owner’s access.”
EX200 Manage users and groups Practice Question
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
[root@server ~]# id alice
uid=1002(alice) gid=1002(alice) groups=1002(alice),10(wheel),50(staff)
[root@server ~]# ls -ld /project
drwxrws---. 2 root staff 4096 Mar 15 14:22 /project
[root@server ~]# ls -l /project
total 0
-rw-rw----. 1 alice staff 0 Mar 15 14:23 report.txt
Given the exhibit, which statement is true about the file /project/report.txt?
Refer to the exhibit.
[root@server ~]# id alice
uid=1002(alice) gid=1002(alice) groups=1002(alice),10(wheel),50(staff)
[root@server ~]# ls -ld /project
drwxrws---. 2 root staff 4096 Mar 15 14:22 /project
[root@server ~]# ls -l /project
total 0
-rw-rw----. 1 alice staff 0 Mar 15 14:23 report.txt
A
Any user can read report.txt
Why wrong: The file permissions are 660, so only owner and group can read; others have no access.
B
Alice can write to report.txt
Alice is a member of the staff group, which has read and write permissions on the file.
C
The file's group is wheel
Why wrong: The file's group is staff, as shown in the ls output.
D
Alice cannot write to report.txt because she is not the owner
Why wrong: Group write permission allows her to write since she is in the staff group.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Alice can write to report.txt
The exhibit shows that the file /project/report.txt has permissions -rw-rw-r--, owner alice, and group project. Alice is the owner, so she has the owner permissions (rw-), which include write access. Therefore, option B is correct because Alice can write to the file.
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.
✗
Any user can read report.txt
Why it's wrong here
The file permissions are 660, so only owner and group can read; others have no access.
✓
Alice can write to report.txt
Why this is correct
Alice is a member of the staff group, which has read and write permissions on the file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The file's group is wheel
Why it's wrong here
The file's group is staff, as shown in the ls output.
✗
Alice cannot write to report.txt because she is not the owner
Why it's wrong here
Group write permission allows her to write since she is in the staff group.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that only the owner can write to a file, but the correct interpretation depends on the permission bits; here, the owner has write permission, so Alice can write.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The file's group is staff, as shown in the ls output.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Linux, file permissions are divided into three sets: owner, group, and others. The owner can always change permissions (chmod) regardless of the file's mode bits, but write access to the file content is governed by the owner permission bits. The 'chown' command changes ownership, and 'chgrp' changes group. Understanding the distinction between ownership and group membership is critical for access control.
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: Alice can write to report.txt — The exhibit shows that the file /project/report.txt has permissions -rw-rw-r--, owner alice, and group project. Alice is the owner, so she has the owner permissions (rw-), which include write access. Therefore, option B is correct because Alice can write to the file.
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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