Chapter 3: Linux Files and Directories

Fill-in-the-blank practice cards covering Linux directory trees, file types, shell wildcards, text viewing/searching commands, regular expressions, and text editors.

The top-level directory in the Linux filesystem hierarchy is called the __________ directory.

root

Unlike Windows, the Linux filesystem structure depicted here stems from a single root directory represented by the __________ character.

slash (/)

A(n) __________ pathname starts with a slash (/) and specifies the full path starting from the root directory.

absolute

A(n) __________ pathname does NOT start with a slash (/) and specifies a location relative to your current working directory.

relative

The metacharacter ~ is used to represent a user's __________ directory.

home

In relative directory paths, two dots (..) refer to the __________ directory.

parent

In relative directory paths, a single dot (.) represents the __________ directory.

current

The command used to display the current working directory is __________.

pwd

The command used to change directories in Linux is __________.

cd

If a typed command or path is ambiguous, pressing the __________ key twice in BASH will list all matching possibilities.

Tab

In long list output (ls -l), standard text files are indicated by the file type symbol __________.

-

In long list output (ls -l), directory files are indicated by the file type character __________.

d

In long list output (ls -l), linked files are represented by the file type character __________.

l

A temporary connection sending information from one process in memory to another on the same system is a __________ file.

named pipe

A __________ file is a named pipe that connects processes across two different computers.

socket

Linux filenames can contain up to __________ characters.

255

Hidden files in Linux have filenames that start with a __________.

dot (.)

The ls option __________ classifies filenames by appending an indicator symbol such as / for directories or * for executable programs.

-F

The ls option __________ provides a long listing format displaying permissions, ownership, file size, and modification time.

-l

To view all files including hidden files, use the ls option __________.

-a

To recursively list filenames in a directory and all of its subdirectories, use the ls option __________.

-R

To sort directory listings by file size with the largest files listed first, use the ls option __________.

-S

To sort directory listings by modification time with newest files listed first, use the ls option __________.

-t

The command used to analyze and display the file type of a specified filename is __________.

file

The command that displays additional details about a file such as inode numbers and access/modification timestamps is __________.

stat

The command that displays directory tree structures graphically in terminal output is __________.

tree

The shell wildcard metacharacter * matches __________ or more characters in a filename.

0

The shell wildcard metacharacter ? matches exactly __________ character in a filename.

1

The shell wildcard metacharacter pattern [!a-e] matches 1 character in a filename provided that character is NOT __________.

an a, b, c, d, or e

The cat command stands for __________ and displays the entire contents of a text file to the terminal screen.

concatenate

The command __________ displays the contents of a text file starting from the last line and ending with the first line.

tac

By default, the head command displays the first __________ lines of a text file.

10

By default, the tail command displays the last __________ lines of a text file.

10

The page-by-page text viewing command that allows navigating using cursor arrow keys is __________.

less

The command __________ searches for and displays text characters contained within a binary file.

strings

The command od displays the contents of a file in __________ format.

octal

To view file contents in hexadecimal format using the od command, pass the __________ option.

-x

Wildcard metacharacters are interpreted by the __________, whereas regular expression metacharacters are interpreted by text tool programs.

shell

In regular expressions, the ^ character matches target characters if they are the __________ characters on the line.

first

In regular expressions, the $ character matches target characters if they are the __________ characters on the line.

last

In extended regular expressions, the + metacharacter matches __________ or more occurrences of the previous character.

1

In extended regular expressions, the ? metacharacter matches __________ or 1 occurrences of the previous character.

0

The acronym grep stands for __________ regular expression print.

global

The egrep command is equivalent to running grep with the __________ option.

-E

To perform a case-insensitive search using grep, use the __________ option.

-i

The command __________ searches files for string patterns without interpreting regular expressions.

fgrep

The vi editor is described as a __________ editor because it operates in two distinct modes: Command mode and Insert mode.

bimodal

In vi, pressing the __________ key returns the user from Insert mode back to Command mode.

Esc

In vi Command mode, pressing __________ deletes the entire line starting where the cursor is positioned.

dd

In vi Command mode, pressing __________ copies one whole line starting from the cursor line into temporary memory.

yy

In vi Command mode, pressing __________ pastes copied or deleted text underneath the current line.

p

To save changes and quit the vi editor, enter __________ in command mode.

:wq

The text editor GNU Emacs stands for __________ MACroS.

Editor

The graphical text editor shown running in the Fedora desktop interface is __________.

gedit