Which medium is best suited for high data rate local area networks?

• A. Two-wire
• B. Shielded
• C. Ethernet
• D. Plenum

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is which medium can support very fast data transfer in a local area network. Ethernet is the standard designed for high-speed LAN communication and has evolved to support speeds from gigabits per second upward over common media like copper twisted pair and fiber. That makes it well suited for high data rate requirements in a LAN.

Two-wire describes a simple two-conductor path, which doesn’t provide the bandwidth or signaling options needed for modern high-speed networks. Shielded refers to a cable’s protective layering against interference, not to the data-rate capability on its own. Plenum describes the installation rating for the cable (safety and fire performance in air spaces), not its speed. Since Ethernet is the technology that defines and enables high data rate LANs across appropriate media, it is the best choice.