View Full CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Exam Dumps and Practice Test Dumps

 

Question 161.

Which component controls data transfer between the CPU and peripherals?

1. Heat sink
2. Case fan
3. Chipset
4. Power button

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

The chipset manages communication between the processor, memory, storage, expansion devices, and other motherboard components. Modern processor platforms integrate many traditional chipset functions directly into the CPU, while remaining functions are handled by motherboard controller components. A heat sink removes heat, a case fan circulates air, and a power button initiates system startup or shutdown actions. Understanding chipset responsibilities helps technicians diagnose hardware compatibility and communication problems. Motherboard chipsets also determine support for certain processors, expansion technologies, storage interfaces, USB capabilities, and other system features.

Question 162.

Which cable type commonly supports Gigabit Ethernet connections?

1. Cat 5e
2. RG-6
3. Telephone cord
4. SATA cable

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Cat 5e twisted-pair cabling commonly supports Gigabit Ethernet over standard copper Ethernet connections. It uses four twisted pairs and is widely deployed in homes, offices, and network infrastructure. RG-6 is coaxial cable commonly used for television and broadband services, telephone cords support traditional telephone connections, and SATA cables connect internal storage devices. When installing Gigabit Ethernet, technicians should also consider cable termination, connector quality, distance, interference, and network hardware capabilities. Properly installed Cat 5e can provide reliable Gigabit connectivity within standard Ethernet distance limits.

Question 163.

Which firmware interface replaced traditional BIOS on many modern systems?

1. POST
2. CMOS
3. UEFI
4. ACPI

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

UEFI, or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, replaced traditional BIOS on many modern computers. It provides firmware services during startup and supports features such as Secure Boot, graphical configuration interfaces, and booting from modern storage configurations. POST is a startup diagnostic process rather than a firmware replacement, CMOS refers to configuration-related storage and technology, and ACPI manages power and device configuration functions. Technicians should understand UEFI when configuring boot devices, changing firmware settings, enabling Secure Boot, or troubleshooting operating-system startup problems.

Question 164.

Which connector is designed for high-speed external peripheral connections?

1. PS/2
2. Thunderbolt
3. RJ11
4. VGA

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Thunderbolt is a high-speed interface designed for connecting external peripherals such as storage devices, displays, docking stations, and other compatible equipment. Depending on the version and implementation, Thunderbolt can carry data, video, and power through a single connection. PS/2 is a legacy keyboard and mouse interface, RJ11 is associated with telephone connections, and VGA carries analog video. Technicians should check the specific Thunderbolt generation and connector implementation because capabilities can vary. Thunderbolt docking stations can also consolidate multiple peripheral connections through one compatible port.

Question 165.

What does POST perform during computer startup?

1. Encrypts storage
2. Checks hardware
3. Configures Wi-Fi
4. Formats memory

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

POST, or Power-On Self-Test, performs initial hardware checks when a computer starts. It helps verify that essential components such as memory, processor, and other critical hardware are functioning sufficiently for the system to continue booting. POST does not encrypt storage, configure wireless networks, or format memory. If a serious hardware problem is detected, the system may display an error message, indicator code, or diagnostic beep depending on the platform. Technicians use POST symptoms as an important starting point when diagnosing systems that fail to start normally.

Question 166.

Which storage feature improves SSD efficiency by notifying it about unused blocks?

1. ECC
2. TRIM
3. RAID
4. SMART

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

TRIM allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive which data blocks are no longer needed. The SSD can then manage those blocks more efficiently during internal garbage collection and future write operations. ECC provides error detection and correction, RAID combines storage devices into an array, and SMART provides drive health monitoring information. TRIM is particularly relevant to SSD maintenance because flash storage handles deleted data differently from traditional magnetic hard drives. Technicians should verify operating-system and storage-controller support when troubleshooting SSD performance or maintenance behavior.

Question 167.

Which component provides physical protection for internal computer hardware?

1. Chassis
2. Heatsink compound
3. Expansion bracket
4. Thermal pad

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

The computer chassis, or case, houses and physically protects internal components such as the motherboard, power supply, storage devices, and expansion cards. It also provides mounting locations and contributes to airflow management. Thermal compound transfers heat between a processor and its cooling solution, an expansion bracket helps secure certain cards, and a thermal pad provides heat-transfer material for compatible components. Technicians should select a chassis that supports the motherboard form factor, required expansion hardware, storage devices, power supply, and cooling requirements. Proper internal organization can also improve airflow and serviceability.

Question 168.

Which protocol is commonly used to synchronize computer clocks?

1. LDAP
2. NTP
3. IMAP
4. SMB

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Network Time Protocol, or NTP, synchronizes computer clocks with time sources across a network. Accurate system time is important for authentication, logging, scheduled tasks, certificates, and many network services. LDAP is commonly associated with directory services, IMAP retrieves email from mail servers, and SMB provides file and printer sharing. Incorrect system time can create confusing problems, particularly with security certificates and authentication systems. Technicians should understand how NTP operates and recognize that systems can obtain time from configured network time servers or other approved time sources.

Question 169.

Which technology allows multiple operating systems to run on one physical computer?

1. Virtualization
2. Spooling
3. Fragmentation
4. Defragmentation

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Virtualization allows multiple virtual machines and operating systems to operate on a single physical computer. A hypervisor manages virtualized hardware resources and provides each virtual machine with an isolated computing environment. Spooling temporarily queues jobs, fragmentation describes how data becomes distributed across storage, and defragmentation reorganizes data on supported storage media. Virtualization is widely used for testing, development, server consolidation, and isolated workloads. Technicians should understand the difference between host and guest systems and recognize that virtualization requires appropriate processor, memory, storage, and hypervisor support.

Question 170.

Which connector commonly carries digital video to a monitor?

1. RJ45
2. SATA
3. DisplayPort
4. RJ11

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

DisplayPort is a digital audio and video interface commonly used to connect computers to monitors and other compatible displays. It supports high resolutions and refresh rates depending on the version and hardware involved. RJ45 is primarily associated with Ethernet networking, SATA connects internal storage devices, and RJ11 is commonly used for telephone connections. Technicians should distinguish DisplayPort from physically similar interfaces and verify cable and port capabilities when troubleshooting display limitations. DisplayPort connections may also support features such as daisy chaining compatible monitors through appropriate implementations.

Question 171.

Which component protects a circuit from excessive electrical current?

1. Fuse
2. Heat sink
3. Fan controller
4. CMOS battery

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

A fuse protects an electrical circuit by opening the circuit when excessive current flows through it. This helps prevent damage caused by overcurrent conditions. Once a conventional fuse operates, it generally must be replaced with an appropriately rated component. A heat sink dissipates thermal energy, a fan controller manages cooling fans, and a CMOS battery supplies backup power for certain motherboard functions. Technicians should never replace a fuse with an improperly rated substitute because doing so can defeat the intended protection and potentially create a hazardous condition.

Question 172.

Which network service translates domain names into IP addresses?

1. DHCP
2. DNS
3. RDP
4. Telnet

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Domain Name System, or DNS, translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses and performs other name-resolution functions. This allows users to access services using recognizable names instead of remembering numerical addresses. DHCP automatically provides network configuration, RDP enables remote desktop access, and Telnet provides remote terminal communication. DNS problems can cause websites and network services to become unreachable by name even when basic network connectivity remains functional. Technicians can troubleshoot DNS by checking configured servers, client settings, name-resolution responses, and connectivity to the appropriate DNS service.

Question 173.

Which component supplies cooling directly to a processor?

1. System speaker
2. CPU cooler
3. Drive controller
4. Network card

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

A CPU cooler removes heat generated by the processor and transfers it away from the CPU into the surrounding airflow or cooling medium. Common cooling solutions include air coolers with heat sinks and fans, as well as liquid-cooling systems. A system speaker provides audio diagnostic signals, a drive controller manages storage communication, and a network card provides network connectivity. Proper CPU cooling is essential because excessive processor temperatures can cause throttling, instability, or automatic shutdown. Technicians should ensure that the cooler is compatible, securely mounted, and receiving adequate airflow or pump operation.

Question 174.

Which service commonly provides centralized IP address assignment?

1. DHCP server
2. File server
3. Print server
4. Proxy cache

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

A DHCP server centrally assigns IP configuration information to network clients. It can provide addresses along with subnet masks, default gateways, DNS server information, and lease durations. A file server provides shared file resources, a print server manages printing services, and a proxy cache handles intermediary network requests and stored content. Centralized DHCP reduces manual configuration and helps administrators manage address allocation across a network. Technicians troubleshooting client connectivity should verify that the client can communicate with the DHCP service and has received a valid lease.

Question 175.

Which storage technology uses spinning magnetic platters?

1. SSD
2. HDD
3. Flash drive
4. Memory card

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

A hard disk drive, or HDD, stores information on spinning magnetic platters that are accessed by moving read/write heads. This mechanical design differs from solid-state storage, which uses flash memory without moving parts. USB flash drives and many memory cards also use flash-based storage. HDDs can provide substantial storage capacity at relatively low cost, but their mechanical components make them more susceptible to physical shock than solid-state devices. Technicians should consider performance, capacity, physical durability, and intended workload when selecting between mechanical and solid-state storage.

Question 176.

Which technology combines several physical drives into one logical storage system?

1. RAID
2. NFC
3. HDMI
4. ACPI

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

RAID, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, combines multiple physical storage devices into a logical storage arrangement. Different RAID levels provide different combinations of performance, capacity, and redundancy. For example, some configurations duplicate data while others distribute information across multiple drives. NFC is a short-range communication technology, HDMI carries digital audio and video, and ACPI provides power-management and device-configuration functions. Technicians should understand that RAID is not automatically equivalent to backup because a RAID array can still be affected by deletion, corruption, malware, or other failures.

Question 177.

Which feature allows a processor to execute multiple threads efficiently?

1. Screen mirroring
2. Hyper-Threading
3. Disk cloning
4. Port forwarding

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:

Hyper-Threading is Intel’s implementation of simultaneous multithreading that allows a compatible processor core to handle multiple execution threads. The operating system can see additional logical processors and schedule work across them, potentially improving performance in suitable multitasking workloads. Screen mirroring duplicates display output, disk cloning copies storage contents, and port forwarding redirects network traffic between interfaces or services. Hyper-Threading does not create additional physical processor cores, but it can improve utilization of existing resources. Technicians should verify processor and operating-system support when evaluating multithreaded performance.

Question 178.

Which device converts digital data into printed output?

1. Scanner
2. Webcam
3. Printer
4. Microphone

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

A printer converts digital documents and images into physical output on paper or another printable medium. Different printer technologies use different mechanisms, including toner-based laser printing, liquid-ink inkjet printing, and specialized thermal methods. A scanner performs the reverse general process by converting physical documents into digital information, while a webcam captures video and a microphone captures audio. Technicians should identify printer technology when troubleshooting issues involving print quality, consumables, connectivity, or paper handling. Printer drivers and operating-system configuration can also affect whether print jobs are processed correctly.

Question 179.

Which protocol securely transfers files using an encrypted connection?

1. FTP
2. TFTP
3. SFTP
4. HTTP

Correct Answer: 3

Explanation:

SFTP, or SSH File Transfer Protocol, provides file transfer through an encrypted SSH connection. It protects authentication credentials and transferred data from being exposed in plaintext during transmission. Traditional FTP does not inherently provide encryption, TFTP is a lightweight file-transfer protocol with minimal security features, and HTTP is primarily used for transferring web resources. Technicians should distinguish SFTP from FTPS because they use different security mechanisms and underlying protocols. Secure file-transfer methods are especially important when sensitive information or authentication credentials must travel across untrusted networks.

Question 180.

Which component stores frequently accessed instructions close to the CPU?

1. Cache memory
2. Hard drive
3. Optical disc
4. USB flash drive

Correct Answer: 1

Explanation:

Cache memory provides very fast storage located close to or integrated with the processor. It keeps frequently accessed instructions and data available so the CPU can retrieve them more quickly than from main system memory. Processor caches are typically organized into levels such as L1, L2, and L3, with different capacities and performance characteristics. Hard drives, optical discs, and USB flash drives provide persistent storage but have significantly different access characteristics. Understanding cache helps technicians explain processor performance and distinguish CPU-level memory from system RAM and long-term storage.