Skip to content

Quiz: Shell Configuration and Environment

Test your understanding of environment variables, aliases, and shell configuration.

1. What is an environment variable?

  1. A file that stores passwords
  2. A named value accessible to programs and the shell
  3. A type of shell script
  4. A network setting
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Environment variables are named values that can be accessed by the shell and programs. Examples include PATH (command locations), HOME (your home directory), and USER (your username).

Concept Tested: Environment Variables

See: Chapter 11 - Environment Variables

2. How do you display the value of the PATH variable?

  1. path
  2. echo $PATH
  3. show PATH
  4. print PATH
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Use echo $PATH to display the value of the PATH variable. The $ prefix tells the shell to substitute the variable's value. You can also use printenv PATH.

Concept Tested: Environment Variables, Echo Command

See: Chapter 11 - Viewing Variables

3. What is the purpose of the PATH variable?

  1. Stores your browsing history
  2. Lists directories where the shell looks for executable commands
  3. Contains the path to your current directory
  4. Holds your home directory location
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. PATH contains a colon-separated list of directories the shell searches when you type a command. If a command isn't in any PATH directory, you get "command not found."

Concept Tested: PATH Variable

See: Chapter 11 - PATH Variable

4. What is an alias in Linux?

  1. A hidden file
  2. A shortcut name for a command or series of commands
  3. An alternate username
  4. A backup of a file
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. An alias is a shortcut for a command. For example, alias ll='ls -la' creates a shortcut so typing ll runs ls -la. Aliases save typing and can add default options to commands.

Concept Tested: Alias Command

See: Chapter 11 - Aliases

5. What is the .bashrc file used for?

  1. Storing system logs
  2. Configuring bash for interactive non-login shells
  3. Holding temporary files
  4. Recording command history
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The .bashrc file contains configuration that runs every time you start an interactive bash shell. It's where you put aliases, custom prompts, functions, and environment variable exports.

Concept Tested: Bashrc File

See: Chapter 11 - Bashrc

6. How do you make an environment variable available to child processes?

  1. Use uppercase letters only
  2. Use the export command
  3. Put it in quotes
  4. Add sudo before it
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Use export to make a variable available to child processes (programs you run). For example, export EDITOR=vim makes EDITOR available to any program that checks for it.

Concept Tested: Export Command

See: Chapter 11 - Exporting Variables

7. What does source .bashrc or . .bashrc do?

  1. Creates a backup of .bashrc
  2. Executes .bashrc in the current shell
  3. Opens .bashrc in an editor
  4. Deletes .bashrc
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The source command (or .) executes a script in the current shell. After editing .bashrc, run source ~/.bashrc to apply changes immediately without opening a new terminal.

Concept Tested: Source Command

See: Chapter 11 - Sourcing Files

8. What is PS1?

  1. A PlayStation 1 emulator
  2. The primary shell prompt variable
  3. A security protocol
  4. A printing service
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. PS1 (Prompt String 1) is the environment variable that defines your command prompt appearance. You can customize it to show username, hostname, current directory, colors, and more.

Concept Tested: Shell Prompt, PS1

See: Chapter 11 - Customizing the Prompt

9. Where should you put environment variables you want available in all shells?

  1. /etc/passwd
  2. ~/.profile or ~/.bash_profile
  3. /tmp/variables
  4. ~/.bash_history
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Put persistent environment variables in ~/.profile or ~/.bash_profile (for login shells). These are sourced once at login. Put shell-specific settings in .bashrc (sourced for each interactive shell).

Concept Tested: Shell Configuration Files

See: Chapter 11 - Configuration Files

10. What command temporarily sets a variable for just one command?

  1. It's not possible
  2. VAR=value command
  3. temp VAR=value && command
  4. export VAR=value; command
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. Prefixing a command with VAR=value sets that variable only for that command's execution. For example, LANG=C sort file.txt temporarily changes the locale for the sort command only.

Concept Tested: Environment Variables

See: Chapter 11 - Temporary Variables