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Free FC0-U71 practice test: 30 questions with answers
30 original questions for CompTIA Tech+, drawn from every topic area. Answer each one to see whether you got it right and why. No sign-up.
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- 100 questions
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All 30 FC0-U71 questions with answers
The same questions as the test above, grouped by exam topic. Open any question to see the answer and explanation.
Infrastructure (5 questions)
Question 1
A small office needs a device that connects its computers to each other and to the internet on one local network. Which device is most appropriate?
- AScanner
- BProjector
- CRouter
- DSpeaker
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Correct answer: CA router connects local networks to each other and to the internet, and switches connect local devices. The projector, scanner and speaker are peripherals, not networking devices.
Question 2
A technician must choose a storage device for a laptop that needs fast read and write speeds and no moving parts. Which option fits best?
- AOptical drive
- BTape library
- CFloppy disk drive
- DSolid-state drive
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Correct answer: DA solid-state drive uses flash memory with no moving parts, and it is much faster than mechanical drives. Floppy, optical and tape storage are slower or obsolete for laptops.
Question 3
A company needs to make a server accessible to other computers on the network using a fixed address. Which configuration is most appropriate?
- AAssign a static IP address to the server
- BTurn on airplane mode
- CUse a screen saver password
- DChange the monitor resolution
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Correct answer: AA static IP address gives the server a fixed address that clients can reliably reach. Airplane mode, display settings and screen savers do not affect network addressing.
Question 4
A user reports that a cloud-hosted application is slow only when accessed from home. Which tool would help identify where the delay occurs along the network path?
- ASpreadsheet
- BTraceroute
- CWord processor
- DImage editor
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Correct answer: BTraceroute shows each hop on the path and the time taken, which helps locate delays. The other tools do not measure network paths.
Question 5
Which cloud service model provides a complete application over the internet that users access through a web browser, without managing servers or software?
- APlatform as a Service for development only
- BOn-premises hosting
- CInfrastructure as a Service
- DSoftware as a Service
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Correct answer: DSaaS delivers complete applications that users access through a browser, with the provider managing the stack. IaaS provides virtual machines and storage to manage, PaaS supports developers, and on-premises hosting is not a cloud model.
Security (5 questions)
Question 6
A user receives an email asking for their password to fix an account problem. What is this attack called?
- AIndexing
- BPatching
- CBackup
- DPhishing
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Correct answer: DPhishing uses deceptive messages to trick users into revealing credentials. Patching, backups and indexing are not attacks.
Question 7
Which practice most effectively protects an account if its password is stolen?
- ASharing the password with a coworker
- BWriting the password on a note near the computer
- CMultifactor authentication
- DUsing the same password on every site
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Correct answer: CMultifactor authentication requires a second factor, so a stolen password alone is not enough. Reuse, written notes and sharing all weaken protection.
Question 8
A company wants to keep data unreadable if a laptop is stolen. Which control is most appropriate?
- AA screensaver with no password
- BTurning off the battery
- CFull-disk encryption
- DRenaming files with random names
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Correct answer: CFull-disk encryption makes the stored data unreadable without the key. A screensaver does not protect the disk, and renaming files or turning off the battery do not protect data.
Question 9
Which security tool filters network traffic based on rules to block unauthorized connections?
- ASpeaker
- BFirewall
- CKeyboard
- DMonitor
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Correct answer: BA firewall applies rules to allow or block traffic. Speakers, monitors and keyboards are not security filters.
Question 10
An employee downloads a file from an untrusted website that turns out to be malware. Which software is designed to detect and remove this type of threat?
- ASpreadsheet
- BCalendar application
- CAntivirus or anti-malware software
- DWord processor
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Correct answer: CAntivirus and anti-malware software detect and remove malicious code. The other applications do not provide protection.
Software development concepts (5 questions)
Question 11
A developer writes instructions that a computer executes step by step to perform a task. What is this set of instructions called?
- AA program
- BA monitor
- CA network port
- DA cable
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Correct answer: AA program is a set of instructions that a computer executes. Monitors, cables and ports are hardware.
Question 12
In programming, what is a variable?
- AA fixed value that never changes
- BA named storage location that holds a value that can change
- CA type of printer
- DA network protocol
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Correct answer: BA variable is a named location that stores a value which can change during execution. Printers and network protocols are not programming constructs, and a fixed value is a constant.
Question 13
A developer needs a repeatable way to perform a set of steps multiple times in a program. Which programming construct is most appropriate?
- AA printer driver
- BA database index
- CA comment
- DA loop
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Correct answer: DA loop repeats a block of code while a condition holds. Comments do not run, printer drivers are hardware software, and database indexes speed up queries.
Question 14
A programmer uses an if statement to run different code depending on whether a condition is true. What concept is this?
- AConditional logic
- BHardware cooling
- CData encryption
- DNetwork routing path
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Correct answer: AAn if statement is conditional logic, which chooses a path based on a condition. The other options are unrelated.
Question 15
A developer writes a note in source code to explain what a section does, and the note is ignored when the program runs. What is it called?
- AA function call
- BA network packet
- CA comment
- DA database key
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Correct answer: CComments document code and are ignored by the compiler or interpreter. Function calls execute code, database keys identify records, and packets carry network data.
Data and database fundamentals (5 questions)
Question 16
In a database, what is a table row also called?
- AA file system partition
- BA field
- CA key pair in a cache
- DA record
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Correct answer: DA row in a table is a record containing values for each field. A field is a column, and cache and partitions are other concepts.
Question 17
A business wants to make sure that each customer record in its database can be uniquely identified. Which element is most appropriate?
- AA printed label
- BA primary key
- CA duplicate column
- DA shared password
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Correct answer: BA primary key uniquely identifies each record. Duplicated columns, labels and passwords do not provide unique identification.
Question 18
Which term describes organizing data so that related information is linked across multiple tables to reduce duplication?
- AEncryption
- BNormalization
- CFragmentation
- DCompression
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Correct answer: BNormalization structures data into related tables to reduce redundancy. Compression reduces size, encryption protects data, and fragmentation describes disk layout.
Question 19
Which TWO statements about backups are accurate? (Choose two.)
- AA backup copy should be stored separately from the original data
- BBackups never need to be stored off-site
- CBackups make encryption unnecessary
- DA backup on the same disk as the original protects against disk failure
- EBackups are useful only if they are tested by restoring them
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Correct answer: A, ESeparate storage and restore testing make backups effective. A same-disk copy fails with the disk, off-site copies are needed for disasters, and backups still need protection.
Question 20
A data analyst wants to find all customers in a database who live in one city. Which language is most commonly used to query relational databases for this?
- AAssembly
- BCSS
- CHTML
- DSQL
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Correct answer: DSQL is the standard language for querying relational databases. HTML and CSS format web pages, and assembly is a low-level programming language.
Tech concepts and terminology (5 questions)
Question 21
A user asks what the term RAM means on a laptop spec sheet. Which description is correct?
- AVolatile memory that holds data for running programs and is cleared when power is removed
- BPermanent storage that keeps files after power loss
- CThe processor that performs calculations
- DThe graphics card that renders the display
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Correct answer: ARAM is volatile working memory, so data is lost when power is off. Permanent storage is the drive, the processor performs calculations, and the graphics card renders images.
Question 22
A help desk technician is explaining the difference between hardware and software. Which example is software?
- AAn operating system
- BA network switch
- CA keyboard
- DA solid-state drive
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Correct answer: AAn operating system is a set of instructions that runs on hardware, so it is software. The keyboard, drive and switch are physical devices.
Question 23
Which unit of data is the smallest, and is represented by a single 0 or 1?
- ABit
- BKilobyte
- CByte
- DMegabyte
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Correct answer: AA bit is a single binary digit. A byte is eight bits, and kilobytes and megabytes are larger multiples.
Question 24
A technician sees the abbreviation CPU on a device specification. What does it refer to?
- ACentral processing unit that executes program instructions
- BCloud processing utility that provisions virtual hosts for websites
- CComputer peripheral unit that manages printers and attached scanners
- DCentral power unit that stores nightly backup archives
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Correct answer: ACPU stands for central processing unit, which executes instructions. The other expansions do not describe a standard component.
Question 25
Which term describes a number system based on the digits 0 and 1 used by computers?
- ABinary
- BDecimal
- CRoman
- DHexadecimal only
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Correct answer: ABinary uses the digits 0 and 1 and underlies computer data representation. Decimal uses ten digits, Roman is a historical notation, and hexadecimal is a shorthand for binary.
Applications and software (5 questions)
Question 26
A user needs to create a spreadsheet to calculate monthly totals for a budget. Which application type is most appropriate?
- ADatabase server
- BFirewall
- CSpreadsheet application
- DVideo editor
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Correct answer: CA spreadsheet application performs calculations on tabular data. A video editor, database server and firewall serve different purposes.
Question 27
Which TWO are reasons to keep applications and operating systems up to date? (Choose two.)
- ATo avoid ever needing a password again
- BTo get bug fixes and improved features
- CTo stop all user errors
- DTo receive security fixes for known vulnerabilities
- ETo remove any need for backups
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Correct answer: D, EUpdates deliver security fixes and bug fixes. They do not replace backups or passwords, and cannot stop user errors.
Question 28
A user wants to edit a photograph by changing colours and cropping it. Which software type is most suitable?
- AEmail client
- BCommand-line firewall
- CDatabase management system
- DImage editing application
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Correct answer: DAn image editor modifies photos. The other software types serve different purposes.
Question 29
Which software category manages the hardware resources and provides a base for other applications on a computer?
- AOperating system
- BWeb browser
- CPresentation tool
- DMusic player
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Correct answer: AAn operating system manages hardware and provides services for applications. The other categories are application software.
Question 30
Which type of application is designed to help a business track customer contacts, sales leads, and support history?
- ADisk defragmenter for reorganizing disk sectors
- BCustomer relationship management software
- CGame engine for building 3D graphics and physics
- DScreen recorder for capturing on-screen video
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Correct answer: BCRM software tracks customers, leads and interactions. The other applications serve unrelated purposes.