CompTIA A+ Core 1 — All Questions

Which storage type is used in most modern laptops due to durability and speed?

• a.Optical drive
• b.Solid-state drive (M.2 or SATA)✓
• c.Tape drive
• d.5400 RPM hard drive

Modern laptops favor SSDs for their speed, low power draw, and resistance to shock from movement. Spinning drives, optical, and tape are largely obsolete in current portable designs.

A laptop battery no longer holds a charge and is swollen. What is the correct action?

• a.Keep using it until fully dead
• b.Freeze it overnight
• c.Puncture it to release gas
• d.Safely replace the battery and dispose of it properly✓

A swollen lithium-ion battery is a safety hazard and must be replaced and recycled through proper channels. Continuing to use, puncturing, or freezing it risks fire or rupture.

Which technology lets a smartphone make contactless payments when tapped at a terminal?

• a.GPS
• b.Infrared
• c.Bluetooth
• d.NFC✓

Near Field Communication (NFC) enables tap-to-pay over very short distances. Bluetooth pairs peripherals, GPS provides location, and infrared is a legacy line-of-sight link.

What does a laptop's inverter historically provide power to on older LCD screens?

• a.The webcam
• b.The trackpad
• c.The CCFL backlight✓
• d.The keyboard backlight

On older laptops the inverter supplied high voltage to the cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlight. Modern LED-backlit panels no longer need an inverter.

Which connector has become the common standard for charging and data on modern Android phones and many laptops?

• a.Micro-USB
• b.Mini-USB
• c.Lightning
• d.USB-C✓

USB-C is a reversible connector widely adopted for charging and data on Android devices and laptops. Micro-USB and Mini-USB are older, and Lightning is Apple-specific.

A user wants to sync a wireless headset to a phone. Which technology is used?

• a.Ethernet
• b.HDMI
• c.Bluetooth pairing✓
• d.NFC only

Bluetooth is used to pair and connect wireless audio devices to phones. NFC may initiate pairing on some devices but the audio link runs over Bluetooth; Ethernet and HDMI are wired.

Which component in a laptop allows it to connect to wireless networks and is often a replaceable M.2 card?

• a.CMOS battery
• b.Wi-Fi/WLAN card✓
• c.Northbridge
• d.Optical drive

The WLAN (Wi-Fi) card, frequently an M.2 module, provides wireless connectivity and can be serviced or upgraded. The CMOS battery, chipset, and optical drive serve different roles.

What is the benefit of mobile device MDM (mobile device management) in an enterprise?

• a.Improves battery chemistry
• b.Centralizes policy, security, and remote wipe control✓
• c.Adds physical ports
• d.Increases screen resolution

MDM lets IT enforce security policies, push configurations, and remotely wipe lost or stolen devices from a central console. It has no effect on hardware such as battery, screen, or ports.

A tablet's screen does not rotate when turned. Which sensor is most likely involved?

• a.Proximity sensor
• b.Fingerprint reader
• c.Accelerometer/gyroscope✓
• d.Ambient light sensor

Screen auto-rotation depends on the accelerometer and gyroscope detecting orientation. The proximity sensor handles call screen-off, the light sensor adjusts brightness, and the fingerprint reader handles authentication.

Which feature encrypts the data stored on a lost smartphone so it cannot be easily read?

• a.Screen timeout
• b.Full-device encryption with a passcode✓
• c.Airplane mode
• d.Do Not Disturb

Full-device encryption tied to a passcode protects stored data if the phone is lost or stolen. Airplane mode, Do Not Disturb, and screen timeout do not protect data at rest.

A laptop only charges intermittently and the port feels loose. What is the most likely fix?

• a.Reset the router
• b.Repair or replace the DC jack / charging port✓
• c.Replace the operating system
• d.Increase screen brightness

A loose, intermittently charging port usually indicates a worn or damaged DC jack that needs repair or replacement. Software, display, and network changes would not resolve a physical power connection fault.

Which of the following is a common way to expand storage on many Android phones and tablets?

• a.Adding a microSD card✓
• b.Adding a DIMM
• c.Attaching a PCIe card
• d.Installing a second CPU

Many Android devices accept a microSD card to expand storage. Phones do not accept desktop-style CPUs, PCIe cards, or DIMMs.

A user reports very short battery life after a recent update. What is a reasonable first troubleshooting step?

• a.Replace the motherboard
• b.Check battery usage stats and background apps in settings✓
• c.Swap the SIM card
• d.Reinstall the display driver

Reviewing the battery usage screen reveals which apps or processes are draining power, a logical first step after an update. Replacing hardware or swapping the SIM is premature and unrelated.

Which port on a modern laptop can carry video, data, and power over a single reversible connector using the appropriate standard?

• a.VGA
• b.RJ45
• c.PS/2
• d.USB-C with Thunderbolt/DP alt mode✓

A USB-C port supporting Thunderbolt or DisplayPort alt mode can deliver video, data, and power simultaneously. VGA carries analog video only, RJ45 is networking, and PS/2 is legacy input.