Check Your Understanding: Tools and Connections

Answer from memory first, then check the key. Score one point per question. A score of 4 out of 5 passes. Below that, reread the lessons listed under the key.

Questions

• 1. What is MCP in one sentence?
• 2. What is the difference between a read tool and a write tool?
• 3. Why can too many connected tools hurt?
• 4. What is the safe order for access?
• 5. Give one thing an agent should never do on its own.

Answer Key

• 1. An open standard for connecting an AI agent to outside tools and data.
• 2. A read tool looks without changing anything. A write tool creates, edits, sends or deletes.
• 3. Each tool's description uses working context, which crowds out instructions and slows the agent.
• 4. Read only, then drafts a person approves, then low-risk changes with a log, then sending or deleting after weeks of clean results.
• 5. Any of: send customer email without review, move money, delete records, change billing.

Where to Reread

• MCP in Plain Language
• Connecting Email, Calendar, Docs and a CRM Safely
• Permissions, Secrets and What an Agent Should Never Do
• One Scenario, Four Tools