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Question 281
Which motherboard slot is specifically designed to hold a desktop computer’s system memory module?
- PCIe x16
- M.2
- DIMM
- CPU socket
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation
DIMM slots are designed to hold desktop computer memory modules. DIMM stands for Dual Inline Memory Module and is commonly used for DDR-series system RAM in desktop computers. The exact memory type supported depends on the motherboard and processor platform, so technicians should verify compatibility before installation. PCIe slots are used for expansion cards, M.2 slots commonly support compact storage devices, and the CPU socket holds the processor. Therefore, the DIMM slot is the correct motherboard location for desktop system memory.
Question 282
Which interface is commonly used by an NVMe SSD to communicate with the motherboard?
- PCIe
- SATA
- IDE
- VGA
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
NVMe storage devices commonly communicate through the PCIe interface, allowing them to take advantage of high bandwidth and low latency. NVMe was designed specifically for nonvolatile memory technologies and is commonly found in M.2 form-factor SSDs that use PCIe lanes. SATA is associated with SATA-based storage devices, while IDE is an older storage interface and VGA is an analog video interface. Therefore, PCIe is the interface commonly used by an NVMe SSD for high-speed communication with the motherboard.
Question 283
A technician needs to connect a second monitor using a digital video interface that supports both video and audio. Which connector is appropriate?
- PS/2
- RJ11
- VGA
- DisplayPort
Correct Answer: 4
Explanation
DisplayPort is a digital display interface that can carry both video and audio signals through a single connection. It is commonly found on desktop computers, graphics cards, monitors, and docking stations. DisplayPort supports high resolutions and refresh rates depending on the version and connected hardware. VGA is an older analog video interface, while PS/2 is used for legacy keyboards and mice and RJ11 is commonly associated with telephone connections. Therefore, DisplayPort is appropriate when a digital audio and video connection is required.
Question 284
Which component is responsible for storing temporary data that applications actively use while the computer is running?
- RAM
- SSD
- HDD
- Optical disc
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
RAM provides temporary working storage for operating-system processes, applications, and data currently being used by the computer. It is significantly faster than conventional storage devices and allows the CPU to access active information quickly. RAM is volatile, meaning its contents are normally lost when system power is removed. SSDs, HDDs, and optical discs are nonvolatile storage technologies designed to retain information after shutdown. Therefore, RAM is the component responsible for temporarily holding active application and system data.
Question 285
Which connector is commonly used for connecting a legacy keyboard or mouse directly to a compatible motherboard?
- USB-C
- PS/2
- HDMI
- RJ45
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation
PS/2 is a legacy peripheral interface commonly found on older desktop motherboards. It uses small round connectors and was traditionally provided as separate keyboard and mouse ports. Although USB has largely replaced PS/2 for modern peripherals, PS/2 can still be encountered on older systems or specialized motherboards. USB-C is a modern reversible connector, HDMI is used primarily for digital audio and video, and RJ45 is commonly used for Ethernet networking. Therefore, PS/2 is the appropriate legacy keyboard or mouse interface.
Question 286
Which component provides hardware acceleration for demanding video editing and 3D rendering tasks?
- GPU
- PSU
- NIC
- CMOS battery
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
A graphics processing unit, or GPU, is designed to perform highly parallel calculations used in graphics rendering, video processing, and other workloads that benefit from specialized acceleration. Modern video-editing and 3D-rendering applications can use GPU resources to speed up supported effects, encoding, rendering, and visualization tasks. The PSU supplies electrical power, the NIC provides network connectivity, and the CMOS battery supports firmware configuration retention and the real-time clock. Therefore, the GPU is the component responsible for graphics-related hardware acceleration.
Question 287
Which network cable type is commonly used for Gigabit Ethernet connections over copper twisted-pair wiring?
- Cat 3
- Cat 5
- Cat 5e
- RG-6
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation
Cat 5e twisted-pair cable is commonly used for Gigabit Ethernet over copper. It is designed to support higher data rates than older Cat 3 and Cat 5 cabling and is widely deployed in office and residential Ethernet installations. RG-6 is coaxial cable commonly used for cable television and related services rather than standard Ethernet connections. When troubleshooting a Gigabit Ethernet connection, technicians should also verify cable condition, connector quality, and the capabilities of the network devices. Therefore, Cat 5e is the appropriate cable type.
Question 288
Which device extends a wireless network by receiving an existing wireless signal and retransmitting it?
- Router
- Repeater
- Switch
- Modem
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation
A wireless repeater receives an existing wireless signal and retransmits it to extend coverage into areas where the original signal is weak. This can help improve wireless availability in larger buildings or locations where physical network cabling is difficult to install. A router forwards traffic between networks, a switch connects wired Ethernet devices, and a modem provides communication with a service-provider connection. Wireless repeaters can reduce available throughput depending on their design and placement. Therefore, a repeater performs the described signal-extension function.
Question 289
Which wireless security standard provides stronger protection than WPA2 and uses Simultaneous Authentication of Equals for personal networks?
- WEP
- WPA
- WPA2
- WPA3
Correct Answer: 4
Explanation
WPA3 is a newer Wi-Fi security standard that provides security improvements over WPA2. For personal networks, WPA3-Personal uses Simultaneous Authentication of Equals, or SAE, instead of the traditional WPA2-PSK authentication approach. WPA and WEP are older security technologies and are generally considered less secure than modern alternatives. WPA2 remains widely deployed, but WPA3 adds additional protections when supported by compatible access points and clients. Therefore, WPA3 is the standard described in the question.
Question 290
Which protocol is commonly used to securely transfer files between systems through an encrypted SSH connection?
- FTP
- TFTP
- SFTP
- HTTP
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation
SFTP, or SSH File Transfer Protocol, provides secure file transfers through an encrypted SSH connection. It protects data and authentication information while files are being transferred between systems. Traditional FTP does not inherently provide encryption, while TFTP is a lightweight file-transfer protocol with very limited features and no built-in encryption. HTTP is primarily used for web communication. Therefore, SFTP is the appropriate protocol when secure file transfer through an SSH-based connection is required.
Question 291
Which Windows command displays active network connections and listening ports?
- netstat
- nslookup
- hostname
- chkdsk
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
The netstat command can display active network connections, listening ports, and related network statistics. Technicians can use it to investigate unexpected connections, identify services listening for network traffic, and troubleshoot certain connectivity problems. Nslookup focuses on DNS queries, hostname displays the local computer’s name, and chkdsk checks file-system and disk-related conditions. Depending on the options used, netstat can provide additional information such as protocol, local and remote addresses, and connection state. Therefore, netstat is the appropriate command for this task.
Question 292
Which Windows utility is most appropriate for checking whether a hardware device has a driver problem?
- Disk Management
- Device Manager
- Event Viewer
- Task Scheduler
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation
Device Manager provides a centralized view of hardware devices installed in Windows and can show driver-related problems through device status indicators and properties. Technicians can use it to update, roll back, disable, uninstall, or inspect drivers associated with supported hardware. Disk Management focuses on storage volumes, Event Viewer provides access to system and application logs, and Task Scheduler manages scheduled activities. Therefore, Device Manager is the most appropriate Windows utility for investigating whether a hardware device has a driver-related problem.
Question 293
Which type of malware encrypts or otherwise blocks access to files and then demands payment from the victim?
- Spyware
- Worm
- Ransomware
- Adware
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation
Ransomware is malware designed to deny access to data or systems, commonly by encrypting files, and then demand payment from the victim. Some ransomware attacks can also steal information before encrypting it, increasing the potential impact of an incident. Spyware focuses on secretly collecting information, worms can replicate across networks, and adware primarily displays unwanted advertisements. Organizations should maintain reliable backups, security controls, patching procedures, and user awareness to reduce ransomware risk. Therefore, ransomware matches the described behavior.
Question 294
Which attack attempts to obtain confidential information by sending a deceptive message that appears to come from a legitimate organization?
- Phishing
- Tailgating
- Shoulder surfing
- DDoS
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
Phishing is a social-engineering technique in which an attacker sends deceptive communications designed to trick a recipient into revealing information, clicking a malicious link, opening an attachment, or performing another unsafe action. Messages may imitate banks, businesses, coworkers, delivery services, or other trusted entities. Tailgating involves unauthorized physical access, shoulder surfing involves observing sensitive information directly, and DDoS attacks attempt to overwhelm services with traffic. Therefore, phishing is the attack described in the question.
Question 295
Which authentication method uses a physical object that the user possesses, such as a smart card or security token?
- Something you know
- Something you are
- Somewhere you are
- Something you have
Correct Answer: 4
Explanation
Something you have is an authentication factor based on possession of a physical object. Examples include smart cards, hardware security keys, authentication tokens, and certain mobile devices. Something you know includes passwords and PINs, while something you are refers to biometric characteristics such as fingerprints or facial features. Somewhere you are can represent a location-based factor. Combining multiple factor categories can provide multifactor authentication. Therefore, a smart card or security token represents the possession category, or something you have.
Question 296
Which network service automatically provides devices with IP configuration such as an address, subnet mask, and default gateway?
- DNS
- DHCP
- NTP
- FTP
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, or DHCP, automatically provides network clients with configuration information such as an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and often DNS server addresses. This reduces the need for administrators to configure each device manually and helps prevent addressing conflicts. DNS resolves names to IP addresses, NTP synchronizes system clocks, and FTP provides file-transfer functionality. When troubleshooting network connectivity, checking whether a device successfully received a DHCP lease is often an important diagnostic step. Therefore, DHCP provides the described configuration.
Question 297
Which backup approach stores only data that has changed since the most recent backup of any type?
- Incremental
- Differential
- Full
- Mirror
Correct Answer: 1
Explanation
An incremental backup stores data that has changed since the previous backup, regardless of whether that previous backup was full or incremental. This usually makes individual incremental backups smaller and faster than full or differential backups. However, a complete restoration generally requires the original full backup followed by each necessary incremental backup in sequence. Differential backups instead include changes since the most recent full backup. A full backup copies all selected data, while a mirror maintains a direct copy. Therefore, incremental is the correct backup approach.
Question 298
Which security principle requires access permissions to be limited according to a user’s specific job responsibilities?
- Open access
- Least privilege
- Shared administration
- Maximum privilege
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation
Least privilege means users and processes should receive only the permissions required to perform their authorized responsibilities. Applying this principle reduces the potential damage caused by compromised credentials, malware, accidental changes, or misuse of administrative capabilities. For example, a user who only needs to read documents should not automatically receive permission to modify or delete them. Open access and maximum privilege provide broader permissions, while shared administration can weaken accountability. Therefore, least privilege is the security principle that aligns access rights with job responsibilities.
Question 299
Which physical security control can prevent an unauthorized person from entering a restricted room by requiring a credential at the entrance?
- Surge protector
- Cable lock
- Badge reader
- Privacy filter
Correct Answer: 3
Explanation
A badge reader is an access-control device that verifies an authorized credential before allowing entry through a secured door. Organizations can use badge systems to restrict access to server rooms, offices, laboratories, and other sensitive areas. Access logs can also help organizations determine when credentials were used and potentially investigate security incidents. A surge protector protects electrical equipment, a cable lock physically secures a device, and a privacy filter reduces visual exposure of a display. Therefore, a badge reader provides the described physical access control.
Question 300
Which action should a technician perform after completing a repair to verify that the original problem has actually been resolved?
- Replace another unrelated component
- Delete the troubleshooting notes
- Disable the device’s security controls
- Test the system against the original symptoms
Correct Answer: 4
Explanation
After completing a repair, the technician should verify that the system operates correctly and that the original symptoms are no longer present. Testing against the original problem confirms that the corrective action actually resolved the issue rather than merely changing the system’s behavior. The technician should also verify related functionality and document the completed work. Replacing unrelated components, deleting troubleshooting records, or disabling security controls can introduce unnecessary risks. Therefore, testing the system against the original symptoms is the appropriate verification step.