This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
You are a junior administrator at a company that uses Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8. The HR department has a shared directory /hr/data that should be accessible to all members of the 'hr' group. The directory is currently owned by root:root with permissions 755. You need to configure the system so that new files created in /hr/data are automatically owned by the group 'hr' and the group has read-write permissions. Additionally, you need to ensure that user 'jane' (who is a member of 'hr') can create files in the directory. However, after adding 'jane' to the 'hr' group, she still cannot create files, receiving 'Permission denied'. Which of the following is the best course of action to resolve this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Change the directory permissions to 2775 and set the SGID bit using chmod 2775 /hr/data
Correct: 2775 sets SGID and group write, ensuring new files inherit group ownership and group can write.
B
Change the directory ownership to jane:hr
Why wrong: Incorrect: This would make the directory owned by jane, but other group members would still lack write access, and new files would not inherit group ownership.
C
Use sudo to grant 'jane' full access to the directory
Why wrong: Incorrect: sudo is not necessary; the issue is filesystem permissions, not privilege escalation.
D
Set the sticky bit on the directory using chmod +t /hr/data
Why wrong: Incorrect: The sticky bit only restricts deletion, it does not affect group write or SGID inheritance.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change the directory permissions to 2775 and set the SGID bit using chmod 2775 /hr/data
Option A is correct. The directory needs to have the SGID bit set (chmod g+s) so that new files inherit the group ownership, and group write permission must be granted (chmod g+w). Setting permissions to 2775 sets both the SGID bit and group write permissions. Option B is incorrect because granting sudo access is unnecessary and a security risk. Option C is incorrect because changing ownership to jane:hr would not enforce group ownership for new files and would break other users' access. Option D is incorrect; the sticky bit (chmod +t) is used to prevent users from deleting others' files, not to manage group permissions or inheritance.
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.
✓
Change the directory permissions to 2775 and set the SGID bit using chmod 2775 /hr/data
Why this is correct
Correct: 2775 sets SGID and group write, ensuring new files inherit group ownership and group can write.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the directory ownership to jane:hr
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: This would make the directory owned by jane, but other group members would still lack write access, and new files would not inherit group ownership.
✗
Use sudo to grant 'jane' full access to the directory
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: sudo is not necessary; the issue is filesystem permissions, not privilege escalation.
✗
Set the sticky bit on the directory using chmod +t /hr/data
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: The sticky bit only restricts deletion, it does not affect group write or SGID inheritance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 EX200 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Change the directory permissions to 2775 and set the SGID bit using chmod 2775 /hr/data — Option A is correct. The directory needs to have the SGID bit set (chmod g+s) so that new files inherit the group ownership, and group write permission must be granted (chmod g+w). Setting permissions to 2775 sets both the SGID bit and group write permissions. Option B is incorrect because granting sudo access is unnecessary and a security risk. Option C is incorrect because changing ownership to jane:hr would not enforce group ownership for new files and would break other users' access. Option D is incorrect; the sticky bit (chmod +t) is used to prevent users from deleting others' files, not to manage group permissions or inheritance.
What should I do if I get this EX200 question wrong?
Identify which EX200 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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