Quick Answer
The answer is to run man ls and then type /color. This is correct because the man command opens the manual page using a pager, typically less, and typing a forward slash followed by a search term initiates an interactive forward search within the current document, allowing you to search for a word inside a Linux man page without leaving the reading session. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this tests your ability to navigate documentation efficiently under pressure, a skill often assessed in performance-based tasks where you must locate specific options like --color for the ls command. A common trap is confusing this with grep or man -k, which search across man page titles or descriptions, not within a single page. Remember the mnemonic: forward slash finds forward, so /color jumps ahead to the first occurrence of the word.
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 new Linux administrator needs to read the manual page for the 'ls' command but also wants to search for the word 'color' within the manual. Which command accomplishes this?
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.
man -k color
Why wrong: Searches man page titles and descriptions for 'color'.
man ls and then type /color
Within man, / searches for the string.
man ls | grep color
Why wrong: Pipes formatted output; less reliable.
man color
Why wrong: Tries to open a man page named 'color'.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
man ls and then type /color
Option B is correct because the man command opens the manual page for 'ls', and typing '/color' within the pager (usually less) performs an interactive forward search for the string 'color'. This allows the administrator to read the manual and search for the term in one session.
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.
man -k color
Why it's wrong here
Searches man page titles and descriptions for 'color'.
man ls and then type /color
Why this is correct
Within man, / searches for the string.
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.
man ls | grep color
Why it's wrong here
Pipes formatted output; less reliable.
man color
Why it's wrong here
Tries to open a man page named 'color'.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'man -k' (keyword search in manual page descriptions) with searching within a specific manual page, or they may think piping to grep is equivalent to the interactive search inside the man pager.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Pipes formatted output; less reliable.
Detailed technical explanation
The man command uses a pager (typically less by default) to display manual pages. Inside less, the '/' key initiates a forward search, and 'n' repeats the search forward, while 'N' goes backward. This is the standard method for searching within a manual page during reading, and it respects the formatting and section breaks of the man page. In contrast, piping to grep can strip formatting and may miss matches if the man page uses bold or underline escape sequences that grep does not interpret.
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.
Essential Tools — study guide chapter
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Essential Tools practice questions
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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: man ls and then type /color — Option B is correct because the man command opens the manual page for 'ls', and typing '/color' within the pager (usually less) performs an interactive forward search for the string 'color'. This allows the administrator to read the manual and search for the term in one session.
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 11, 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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