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.
Which THREE statements about /etc/shadow are true? (Choose exactly 3)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Contains account expiration dates.
Option A is correct because the /etc/shadow file stores account expiration dates in the ninth field (field 9), which is the number of days since the epoch until the account is disabled. This field is used by the system to enforce account aging policies, such as automatically locking accounts after a set period of inactivity.
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.
✓
Contains account expiration dates.
Why this is correct
Option C is correct; /etc/shadow includes the account expiration date field.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Contains the date of last password change.
Why this is correct
Option D is correct; /etc/shadow includes the date of the last password change (days since epoch).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Contains encrypted password hashes.
Why this is correct
Option A is correct; /etc/shadow stores the password hash (if shadow passwords are enabled).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Is readable by all users.
Why it's wrong here
Option E is incorrect; /etc/shadow is readable only by root and users with appropriate privileges.
✗
Contains user ID numbers.
Why it's wrong here
Option B is incorrect; user ID numbers are stored in /etc/passwd, not /etc/shadow.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the distinction between /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow, trapping candidates who think UIDs or group membership are in shadow, or that shadow is world-readable like passwd.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The /etc/shadow file uses colon-separated fields: username, encrypted password hash (or ! or * for locked accounts), date of last password change (in days since epoch), minimum password age, maximum password age, password warning period, password inactivity period, account expiration date, and a reserved field. The encrypted hash typically uses SHA-512 (crypt $6$) or yescrypt, and the file is protected by strict permissions to prevent offline brute-force attacks; even the root user should avoid exposing it unnecessarily.
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: Contains account expiration dates. — Option A is correct because the /etc/shadow file stores account expiration dates in the ninth field (field 9), which is the number of days since the epoch until the account is disabled. This field is used by the system to enforce account aging policies, such as automatically locking accounts after a set period of inactivity.
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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Question Discussion
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