Which command would you use to peek at the kernel ring buffer for kernel event messages?

The command used to peek at the kernel ring buffer for kernel event messages is 'dmesg'. This command is specifically designed to print the message buffer of the kernel. It provides a way to access the kernel ring buffer which contains valuable information about system events that have occurred, including hardware and driver messages. When you execute 'dmesg', it outputs the logs of kernel events, allowing you to view diagnostic messages and debug information related to the system's operation.

The other options do not serve this purpose: 'lpq' and 'lpr' are commands related to printing tasks within the Linux environment, specifically for querying print jobs and sending print files to the printer, respectively. 'abrt' is a command-line tool used for Automatic Bug Reporting Tool (ABRT), which deals with error reporting and crash handling rather than reading kernel messages. Therefore, 'dmesg' is the only command suitable for viewing kernel event messages in the context provided.