Which statement correctly contrasts keypad/card reader access control with biometric access control?

• A. Card reader uses credentials; biometric uses unique physical traits.
• B. Retinal scans used by card readers; biometrics uses passwords.
• C. Card reader requires physical keys; biometrics uses passwords.
• D. Card reader is always more secure than biometric.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how access control methods differ in what confirms a person’s identity. A card reader operates on a credential you carry—something like a keycard or fob. The system checks that credential against its records and grants access if it’s valid. Biometric access control, on the other hand, verifies who you are by measuring a unique physical trait you possess—such as a fingerprint, iris pattern, or facial features—and compares it to stored data.

This distinction is what makes the correct statement the best choice: it accurately contrasts credential-based systems (card readers) with biometric systems (unique physical traits). The other options mix up what these systems use—retinal scans are a biometric method, not something a card reader typically uses, and biometrics aren’t defined by passwords (passwords are a separate factor, and biometrics rely on intrinsic traits). Additionally, assuming one method is always more secure than the other isn’t correct, since security depends on implementation, context, and safeguards.